This is the eighteenth day of my 31 Days of Living Well & Spending Zero challenge. To read all the posts in order, start with Day One or visit the Overview Page.
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This week so far has been all about creatively using the things we already have. The intent has been to spark ideas, and the “assignments” this week (and this whole month for that matter) are not necessarily meant to be done day by day, but to be used as a rough guideline for approaching the things you already have in a slightly different way.
I don’t know if it is working for you, but it has definitely made me rethink my normal spending habits, as well as my normal willingness to quick run to Target or the craft store for supplies when I could’ve tried a little harder to improvise. It is amazing how much we really all have to work with once we are willing accept our limitations.
Today I rounded up 21 amazing, inspiring, & super creative ways to use old things in a new way. I am SO incredibly inspired by these upcycling ideas, and I hope that you will be too!
- Upcycled Crib into Magazine Rack {via Tip Junkie}
- Toilet Paper Roll Wall Art {via How-To Gal}
- Rake Wine Glass Rack {via Tattered Style}
- Tin Can Lanterns {via Grow Creative}
- Cookie Sheet Serving Tray {via Martha Stewart}
- Cereal Box 3D Cardboard Star {via Grey Luster Girl}
- Upcycled Sweater Pillow {via Infarrantly Creative}
- Broken Crayon Monogram Art {via Upcycle Us}
- Tuna Can Tealight Holders {via Practically Functional}
- Upcycled Nightstand into Kid’s Island Play Kitchen {via Paint on the Ceiling}
- Upcycled Books into Shelves {via Real Simple}
- Pallet Plate Rack {via Apartment Therapy}
- Upcycled Headboard into Chalkboard Welcome Sign {via Balancing Beauty & Bedlam}
- Shutter Magazine Rack {via My Repurposed Life}
- Woven Leather Belt Chair {via Saved by Love Creations}
- Rain Gutter Kids Bookshelves {via Sunshine on the Inside}
- Plastic Spoon Chrysanthemum Mirror {via Addicted 2 Decorating}
- Mason Jar Herb Garden {via Camille’s Style}
- Wine Cork Bathmat {via The Crafty Nest}
- Upcycled Spoon Ring {via Through the Front Door}
- Upcycled Blue Jean Purse {via Artfully Caroline}
Your assignment is to try to look at the things you already have in a new way. Do you have any furniture or clothing that aren’t working for you in their current state that you could possibly upcycle into something new? Is there something you need right now that you were planning to buy, that you could possibly create a solution for using something you already have? Give it some serious thought today!
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Have you ever upcycled or re-purposed anything? What did you make? Which of these 21 projects inspires you the most?
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Jennifer Green October 18, 2012 at 9:04 am
Wow some of these ideas are really neat! I love the rake wine glass holder and that spoon mirror is just amazing! How do people think of these things? Love it.
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:51 am
Honestly Jennifer, I don’t know! SO creative! I love that rake wine holder too. SO want to do that!
Alisha October 18, 2012 at 9:21 am
Oh, how I wish I could sew! I LOVE the sweater pillow– in fact, I bought an almost identical one at Target and spent way too much on it (not this month, of course!)
I also really like the mason jar herb garden…and the toilet paper wall art! I thought for sure I was reading that wrong! Such great and creative ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:52 am
Oh Alisha, don’t you remember 9th grade home-ec? It’s just a straight line…you can do it!
Alisha October 18, 2012 at 9:25 am
And holy cow! I just realized that adorable mirror is made out of plastic spoons– WHAT?!?
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:52 am
I know right? I LOVE that one!
Denise October 18, 2012 at 9:40 am
Another inspiring post! I love them ALL! Honestly Ruth, I don’t know how you keep coming up with this stuff day after day. This 31 day challenge rocks!
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:53 am
Thanks Denise! It has been a lot of fun coming up with all these ideas every day, but I will definitely be ready for a break come November 1st!
I’m so glad you are enjoying this challenge.
Claire ~ alittleClaireification.com October 18, 2012 at 9:28 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE this, Ruth!
I love the cookie sheet idea… and the pillow… and the Monogram letters made of crayons (soooo going to be the teacher end of year gift this year! Maybe Christmas).
My 31 Days series is going well but it has us pretty tired! It’s rewarding but not so easy some days! I am dedicating November to crafting some holiday gifts. Can’t wait to try some of these ideas!!
Zzzzz.
~ Claire
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:54 am
31 days is exhausting isn’t it? I can’t wait to try some of the same ones but I think I’m going to have to wait until November.
greenstrivings October 19, 2012 at 1:18 am
Love these! And wouldn’t it be nice to make the cookie sheeet tray, put some homemade kitchen goodies on it, and present that as a gift?
It suddenly occurred to me today that the children and I can use some of our leftover glass jars for Halloween luminarias, so hopefully we’ll get to that this weekend.
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:54 am
Love both those ideas!
Anje October 19, 2012 at 5:15 am
Wow. Such nice ideas. The plastic spoon mirror is so beautiful! And I simply must have a wine cork bathmath now.
Plus, I’m not ruling out my nightstand getting a new life as a play kitchen sometime in the future.
Ruth October 23, 2012 at 4:55 am
I know, I am kicking myself for not having the requisite 175 corks all saved up already. Guess I’ll just have to drink more wine!