Upcycling is a savvy way of turning old, unwanted items and materials into something new. Find out how to get involved with our latest piece.
There's a misconception that upcycling is expensive, but it can be a super cheap way to transform old items. Upcycling also benefits the environment by reducing the amount of raw materials we use and the volume of waste that goes into landfill sites.
Here are five easy ways to upcycle your old clothing and household items:
1. Decoupage
Decoupage lets you reuse old magazines and scraps of material by covering household items like lampshades, mirror frames, or boxes. It’s relaxing, making it a nice way to take a break from studying.
To start, you'll need some PVA glue, scissors, tweezers, cotton buds, a paintbrush, and some old magazines or wrapping paper. Make sure the object is clean and dust-free, then cut out the pictures and glue them on. Use tweezers to apply the smaller images. Use a cotton wool bud to wipe off excess glue. When the glue dries, add some extra coats to act as a varnish. You’ll need four to ten coats of glue in total.
2. Glass jar planters
Upcycle empty glass jars by turning them into flower pots, then get creative by painting on them.
Rinse out the jars until they're completely clean, then soak them in a sink filled with warm water with some washing-up liquid or two teaspoons of baking soda. Leave them until the labels peel off, then dry them before adding the soil and your plant.
3. Milk bottle watering cans
You'll need a watering can to feed glass jar plants, so why not upcycle an old milk bottle or a carton?
Firstly, you'll need to make sure that the container is clean. Make sure there are no traces of milk leftover, otherwise it'll go smelly. Then remove the label and take the lid off the top. Use permanent markers to draw designs onto the outside of the bottle.
4. Tin can pencil pots
Save money on stationery by making pencil pots out of empty tin cans. You can get creative with them to brighten up your workspace.
Start by carefully washing the tins and soaking the labels off in warm, soapy water. Use PVA glue and a paintbrush to stick the fabric to the outside of the tin. If you have more than one tin, you can choose different materials, some plain or brightly coloured fabric.
If you have some paint or craft materials, then you can also use these to cover the outside of the tin. Bright coloured paints workwell, so go wild and paint any pattern you want.
5. Stitch 'n' Save
According to Circular Economy, we spend almost £1,000 a year on new clothes with the rise of fast fashion and cheap online clothing retailers. Annually, almost two kilos of clothes end up in landfill per person.
To upcycle an old denim jacket or a pair of jeans, you could stitch or iron on some badges to create a whole new look. Most vintage shops sell cool badges for less than a fiver, or you can buy them online.
If you have a sewing machine, turn your t-shirts and skirts into crop tops.
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