The Repurpose & Upcycle thread....

[Hollylane]

Come share your reclaimed, repurposed, and/or upcycled treasures!


Photo credit not given at:http://www.redstickranch.com/2011/05...gardening.html

I thought of creating this thread, because today, I repurposed two Starbuck's coffee bladders into ice bags to use in the cooler that I use to ice the fish I catch.
One of them was unopened and filled with hot Pike Place coffee, and my co-workers were just going to toss it in the trash. I stopped them in the nick of time, and stuck it in the fridge at work. This morning, I poured it into a clean milk jug, poured a container of heavy whipping cream in, and added Stevia and vanilla. I now have some pretty fabulous iced coffee, that will last me a week. Yum!

I am coming out of the junk closet! As a small child, when my single, working mother had little money, my sister and I ate an awful lot of powdered milk and oatmeal, and had few toys that weren't handed down from cousins. By the time I was 6, I was quick to spot "free" things whenever I took our trash to the dumpster at our apartment complex.

One of those treasures was an old beat up spice rack that I picked out of the dumpster when I was about 8 years old. I set my self up in my neighbor's wood shop, sanded it down, repaired it, and carefully applied fresh varnish to it. That spice rack is still in my mother's kitchen, and is still one of her favorite Mother's Day gifts.

Around 9 years old, I built my own desert clubhouse, walling it in under a mesquite tree, with discarded shipping flats. It was filled with trinkets, bobbles, old clocks, and old furniture, and it was my favorite place to hang out with my friends (real and imagined ), or just read a book.

When my mom met my step-father, and we visited his apartment, I remember thinking how awesome he must be, because he had an entire wall unit made of cinder block and reclaimed wood. His furniture had all been picked up at rummage sales, and he had reupholstered the couch and chairs with a mash up of junk fabric he'd found at Goodwill.

My Papa was a train set enthusiast. He would take walks down on the riverfront in Astoria, and would repurpose things he picked up along the shore for his train set. Crushed charcoal became coal, can labels became billboards, popsicle sticks became wood siding, etc...


So, I guess it runs in the family, and we began repurposing and upcycling before it was cool!

For the last few months, I have been wanting to make Obi a dog bed from an old drawer, and now that I have Chessie, I'm looking for an old wooden toddler bed to turn into a bed for him. He's elderly, and I just know he would appreciate something with a mattress! If I can't find one, I'll probably pick up some unpainted used lumber at the Rebuilding center, and make a box frame for a toddler mattress, and then repurpose some old quilts into a mattress cover.

[Kelt]

This is a little bit off to the side of strictly recycling, but in the same spirit.

I've been spending a lot of time at my local library lately and discovered something they are doing that makes a lot of sense to me.

They have gotten into gardening. As in, lending small hand tools so that if someone wants to start some vegetables or something they can try it out without the expense or need acquire the basics. You just check them out with your library card like anything else. There is a neighboring town that has a full scale tool library for larger hand and power tools, and this is a nice complement to that.

They have also set up some of the old physical 'card' catalogue cabinets and are working with a local seed savers club so that folks can 'check out' seeds with nothing more than the promise to contribute in the future. They are right next to the gardening book section so that people with find them.

I really like seeing these grassroots community efforts being hosted in this centralized way. I think more people will find this resource here rather than in scattered little groups around town that a person would have to scout out to find.

FREE is always good.

[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by Kelt

This is a little bit off to the side of strictly recycling, but in the same spirit.

I've been spending a lot of time at my local library lately and discovered something they are doing that makes a lot of sense to me.

They have gotten into gardening. As in, lending small hand tools so that if someone wants to start some vegetables or something they can try it out without the expense or need acquire the basics. You just check them out with your library card like anything else. There is a neighboring town that has a full scale tool library for larger hand and power tools, and this is a nice complement to that.

They have also set up some of the old physical 'card' catalogue cabinets and are working with a local seed savers club so that folks can 'check out' seeds with nothing more than the promise to contribute in the future. They are right next to the gardening book section so that people with find them.

I really like seeing these grassroots community efforts being hosted in this centralized way. I think more people with find this resource here rather than in scattered little groups around town that a person would have to scout out to find.

FREE is always good.

Yes! This is an awesome service for the community. In the Portland area, a lot of our parks have sectioned off areas (repurposed earth) where people can grow their own vegetables, and The Oregon Food Bank offers classes for urban gardening. I love that!

[cinnamongrrl]

another great thread Hollylane!

I like to reimagine things as well. I make a lot of great finds and luck into some good stuff...

one of my projects on deck atm is a lovely old dresser that I found in our "free spot" (a man that cleans out houses for a living leaves things he cant use) It had no drawers to speak of, but it had such lovely lines and good bones, I couldn't bare to leave it to the elements.... I'm wanting to turn it from a 4 drawer dresser to 2 level shelf. With nice wide shelving it would be perfect for displaying the pottery I'm accruing....

another project is a very very old multi frame (previously glass) window that I rescued from an abandoned house...It needs a good sanding...and I'm thinking of making a "primitive" sort of picture with it... I have ANOTHER window frame that is long and narrow that I plan to make into headboard...

and lastly, a small project..at the same free spot I found one singular very old stair spindle...I have considered putting it on nice brackets and using it for a towel bar or using it as some kind of jewelry holder...bracelets and such...

One very cool thing I saw and loved was a small window that had an old screen on which was hung earrings...and hooks on the side which held necklaces... I'm always looking at things and trying to think of other ways to reuse them...that's part and parcel with reduce/reuse/recycle

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Hollylane

Come share your reclaimed, repurposed, and/or upcycled treasures!


Photo credit not given at:http://www.redstickranch.com/2011/05...gardening.html

I thought of creating this thread, because today, I repurposed two Starbuck's coffee bladders into ice bags to use in the cooler that I use to ice the fish I catch.

For the last few months, I have been wanting to make Obi a dog bed from an old drawer, and now that I have Chessie, I'm looking for an old wooden toddler bed to turn into a bed for him. He's elderly, and I just know he would appreciate something with a mattress! If I can't find one, I'll probably pick up some unpainted used lumber at the Rebuilding center, and make a box frame for a toddler mattress, and then repurpose some old quilts into a mattress cover.

Another great thread.
Would an old wooden swing, or framed wooden table in the Goodwill surplus yard be a possibility (upside down) . Turn it over...table , cut off the legs, baby bed mattress, or 2nd hand lawn or chair pads u can throw in the washer?

I am into the redoing thing too. I hate throwing things into my recylce trash can if I can repurpose it.

I turn empty and washed 35 pound contaners that held Litter Purrfect Lemongrass from Costco into all kinds of things. They are sturdy plastic with about a 4" round lid. Yard treatments, plant treatment, turf builder, bird seed, miracle grow, etc. that come's in plastic bags that tear and never reseal go into the jug. I cut off the original label and tape to the container

Cut the top off and use for storing garden tools. I cut one apart and am rooting 3 Plumeria cutings...


, another one has strawberry's and one has chives starting out.

[maryam]

I like this thread! I grew up in a medium sized but poor family. We had a garden when we lived in the country. We canned EVERYTHING (which I'm learning to do this summer. YAY) and shopped at thrift stores and yes, we still check out free stuff and see what's a yard sales and stuff. Most people in our complex are good about leaving good stuff outside of the dumpsters so peeps can pick it up easily. My latest find was a small laminate file cabinet that's going to be repainted so it can be my nightstand. I'm hoping to get it sanded and primed tomorrow.

I also have a hard time finding stuff in my size at Goodwill, so I'm doing a lot of shopping there and repurposing and altering stuff. And when I find a good sweater, I sometimes by it and take it apart to knit it into something new. Lots of fun stuff that way.

[Hollylane]

I just remembered freecycle.org, and I posted that I was looking for a wooden toddler bed with or without the mattress. Maybe I'll get lucky!

I'm going to start putting some large plants out on my patio this year. My friend, Allison, gave me a bag full of wine corks, and I'm going to use those to cover the top of the soil, instead of using peat moss.

[maryam]

So today, I went bebopping out to the recycle dumpster and someone had left a Craftsman WeedWacker out there. The dome doohickey on the bottom is cracked. But I know that it's easy to get that replaced, so I snagged it. When I got back in, I called Sears to see if they had them instore before I ordered one online, and the dude says "bring it on in, and I'm sure I can find one in the back that'll fit it, since we do repairs here." I said "but I didn't buy it there, so I have no idea if there's a protection plan on it." But he said that it didn't matter, for a quick easy repair like that, he'd just give it to me if they had it in.

So now I have a WeedWacker for my tiny yard and can lock the landscapers out in good conscience! Y'see, we're only supposed to do that if we're caring for the yard ourselves. But last year we problems with the landscapers maiming the garden plants and helping themselves to our veg, so we've had to let them in. But I'm not above hanging around inside so they know I'm watching them....

Note: I don't want to seem rude or evil about watching the garden, but it's a financial thing with us, not just a health one. Part of the reason we have a garden is to stretch our food dollars, because we're kind of in a precarious position paycheck wise. So the part of me that wants everyone to have enough to eat says "maybe they needed it." But that part of me that's buying groceries says "CRAP! More Ramen this week!" when the veggies go astray.

[LaneyDoll]

D/s lifestylers are typically notorious for re-purposing things. We call it "perverting" them. I went to the thrift store today and loaded up on items that will be reinvented and sold at a fundraiser. I spent about $40 on it all and if I resell everything, it should bring in at least triple my investment.

[Rockinonahigh]

Years ago when we lived out in the country we had to haul stuff to the dumpster,they had a place for wood,metal aplances,old toys ect.So one day I fould a pretty big kids red flyer wagon with three wheels on it but the rest looked really good so I took it home found an old wheel that was nearly the match to the others then oiled all the squeekie places then re painted the undercariage.Since I have wanted an herb guarden I found some medium sised clay pots then planted them with whatever herbs I wanted so I have a
rolling guarden with all the fresh herbs I will ever need.Now that I have gotten a dehydrator I am drying out hrebs for the winter when the time comes also being I roll it out of the bad weather I can have fresher herbs even in the winter now I have fixed a fue lamps to set the wagon under to give it a light supply.Works just fine.

[cinnamongrrl]

So...I found a lovely old heater grate and figured I could paint it and hang it..it's pretty enough to be art! Then I got curious about what else could be done...this is what I found on Pininterest. Which is quickly becoming a favorite site! I also found many good uses for the wine bottles that I somehow empty...

http://pinterest.com/tickledpinktony...repurpose-diy/ : grates

http://pinterest.com/therelaxnation/...-wine-bottles/ : wine bottles

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by cinnamongrrl563

So...I found a lovely old heater grate and figured I could paint it and hang it..it's pretty enough to be art! Then I got curious about what else could be done...this is what I found on Pininterest. Which is quickly becoming a favorite site! I also found many good uses for the wine bottles that I somehow empty...

http://pinterest.com/tickledpinktony...repurpose-diy/ : grates

http://pinterest.com/therelaxnation/...-wine-bottles/ : wine bottles

Eventually, there will come a day when I actually do something I've thought about on and off over the years....take broken colored glass and make my own stained glass window and/or picture design.

I liked some of those wine bottle and cork uses.

[Penelope]

We're a fan of re-purposing and up cycling. There's a Habitat for Humanity Re-Store near by that has treasures of great potential. We bought a beautiful old door with glass panes, cleaned it up and painted it red for our front door. I found small cabinet doors with glass insets that I hung on the wall as art.

If I can figure out photos on here, I will post pics of my latest "projects". We had old wooden pop cases that are now hanging on my wall with art pieces. Then I found some unused picture frames of mine, had my bf put pegboard on them and I screwed on door knobs and pulls to hang jewelry. There was an old wooden pencil holder (of sorts) sitting in our basement as well so it was easy to add a few hooks and use for jewelry, too. I bought a wood-framed screen that is also waiting for its second life, possibly as a jewelry holder though I don't have any more that needs holding. LOL

[Hollylane]

I used gravel, old aquarium rock (natural colors), a floating moss ball, some rescued (unwatered at Walgreen's for apparently months) and nearly dead lucky bamboo (at 1/2 off),and some objects found by my co-worker to create a aquascape in an odd shaped glass vase she found at Goodwill.

I liked it so much, that I too went to Goodwill, and found some different glass objects to create one for myself. For mine, I used some shells found on the beach in Virginia Beach (Gaige & I went there last year in May), some rocks that I had from my Papa (he liked to think of himself as a Geologist), and some rocks I had picked up on hikes here in Oregon.

I will post pictures tomorrow, after I take them to work (where there is much better lighting).

[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by Hollylane

I used gravel, old aquarium rock (natural colors), a floating moss ball, some rescued (unwatered at Walgreen's for apparently months) and nearly dead lucky bamboo (at 1/2 off),and some objects found by my co-worker to create a aquascape in an odd shaped glass vase she found at Goodwill.

I liked it so much, that I too went to Goodwill, and found some different glass objects to create one for myself. For mine, I used some shells found on the beach in Virginia Beach (Gaige & I went there last year in May), some rocks that I had from my Papa (he liked to think of himself as a Geologist), and some rocks I had picked up on hikes here in Oregon.

I will post pictures tomorrow, after I take them to work (where there is much better lighting).

Okay, I posted photos of these in the gallery. They look pretty scraggly, but I'm hoping they'll make a good comeback. I'm going to give them plant food when I go back to work on Tuesday. I'm thinking about rescuing more of these plants (haggling for them), and nursing them back to health, and finding more interesting ways to display them. They look much better in person, and several people at work have already hinted around at wanting one of their own. There might even be a chance of earning a few $$, while having fun!

[Soft*Silver]

I had an old gutter attached to my garage wall. I have a healthy lettuce garden growing in there. To irrigate it, I used an old hose that had sprung a few leaks, adding more holes. I laid it in the gutter and covered it with soil.

I took plastic bins that had lost their lids, punched holes in the bottom and filled them with soil. They are now growing tomatoes and potatoes and peppers.

I have wash tubs filled with geraniums...

I am looking for a maytag wringer washer so i can fill it w petunias.

I have a broken propane grill, that I am in the process of painting pink and green, which will house my garden tools, and act as my potting bench.

old work shoes and kids rain boots have become planters for hens and chicks and johny jump ups

a coffee can made of plastic ..the one with a natural indented handle is one of my fav garden tools. I carry tools in one, I use another to scoop soil, another one to water with (holes punched in the bottom)

I have made several bird waterers and feeders out of various dishes, teacups, teapots, bowls, etc..glued together and hung with mesh chains from shepards hooks

so...I am very into upcycling for the garden...

photos to come as the plants grow

[Hollylane]

$80 each, for two new x-large dog beds (one for my room, one for his daytime room), no way!

I vote for $20 ($10 each) for two baby mattresses found one on Craigslist.org, and at a yard sale spotted on the way home from picking up the first one. That's what I'm talking about! Now my big arthritic boy has two beds that are actually comfortably padded, and I can have someone make me some zippered, washable covers from old sheets from Goodwill. No matter where I looked, the x-large dog beds were not padded enough to support his 85 pounds, and were not easily washable. Chessie is happily snoozing away as I post this!

I found a good place to get nice healthy lucky bamboo, and I have been scouring the Goodwill for interesting glass containers and aquarium or gravel to make more lucky bamboo art. I made another simple one this week, and I'll post a photo of that today. They are so satisfying to make, and people at work are still requesting them.

[Sweet Bliss]

The girls volleyball team had a rummage sale, and I scored three terracotta coffee cups perfect for small plants. Am going to plant poppy seeds in them, they will be so happy! Will snap some photos and post them when I get access to a computer again.

Which I hope will be soon.

[Siren's Song]

I get excited hearing about all your creative ideas for re-purposing things! I enjoy the challenge of taking something with possibility and watching it transform. I agree Craigslist is a wonderful resource for this. One of my favorite finds was a Spanish hand blown amber glass and wrought iron chandelier. It's huge and ornate. I got it for $40 because it had been on someones porch and rusted. I used steel wool to remove the rust and repainted the wrought iron a flat black. It took me about 30 hours, but it looks like new. I have seen similar ones on EBAY for hundreds of dollars, and I smile knowing I can have anything I want if I am creative enough to figure it out.

[Hollylane]

Two new betta tanks that I put together recently. I sold one of them for $50 (total cost to make about $25 with new and reused items & bettas), and the other for $35. If you decide to make one of these yourself, you'll need a turkey baster for cleaning, the only reason you should need to disassemble the tank is if you get a lot of algae growth (keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid this)







I also recently scored at a sale at the Portland Priory, as they were finishing up, it was $1 per bag, and I got picture frames, pottery, clothing, accessories, a wireless headset for the TV, a shower curtain, brand new feather pillow, a new purse, aquarium items, and more for a total of $1 (though I gladly donated $5 to the priory as well).