Wooden Spoon Love

I love wooden spoons.



Not only are they a kitchen essential, they're also inexpensive to

 craft with and if personalized, make great gifts for cooks, 

moms, friends, from kids for teachers, the list goes on...

Take a look at the examples below and I think you'll agree!




Wooden tasting spoons

 Wood burned wooden spoons from Parizadhe


 Scandinavian style carved spoons


 

Ombre

Silverware Upcycled & Repurposed: Crafts With Spoons & Forks

What do you with extra silverware and old orphaned spoons?You create something awesome with them, of course!

Check out these unique creations crafted from old silverware, forks, spoons and knives...








Silverware flowers by Salvage Gallery







Hooks made from forks







Bell chime necklaces made from antique hollow dinner knives by Dishfunctional Designs 

(above and below)

The Salvaged & Repurposed Piano

What can you do with an old piano that is damaged beyond repair?

Can you really repurpose an old broken piano, and turn it into

 something completely new? 

Of course you can!




Why would you even want to do that?

Because they can have sentimental value. 

Yes, even if damaged beyond repair by insects, age, or things like floods, 

that old piano can be hard to part with. 

Check it out..

Nespresso Coffee Capsules: Upcycled & Repurposed

What can you make and do with old Nespresso coffee capsules, you may ask?

Lots! Check it out!







Table from Design Bloom












Nespresso capsule batteries by Mischer'Traxler from Dezeen









Necklace by Nolia Shakti









Flowers from sara-lo









Nespresso capsule insects by Alex Aebi









Curtain by Eltallerdelajulia








Nespresso earrings (above) and ornament (

What Does Upcycled Mean? Recycling & Upcycling Explained

Recycling, Repurposing, Upcycling – what’s the difference? 



…and what exactly is Upcycling?









We all know what recycling is. A plastic bag is used to carry home groceries, then is later reused by the owner who uses the bag a second or third time, perhaps to again carry groceries or to store items. The bag has been reused, and in a way, it has been recycled by its owner. The value of

DIY Mason Jar Crafts & Home Decor

Mason jar crafts for foodies and crafters, for weddings and home decor, for organization and storage...for anything!






Pretty hand painted mason jar from Theshabbyshore via etsy





Mason Jars for Foodies...






Cheesecake in a jar? Yes, please! from The Italian Dish










Individual cakes in jars by Mycakies blog








Mason jar drinking glasses from Eat Drink Pretty

How To Upcycle Thrift Shop Finds Into Trendy Home Decor: Part Two!

Thrift Shop Hot! What to look for right now...





In my previous post, "How To Upcycle Thrift Shop Finds Into Trendy Home Decor"  I shared some great tips for upcycling common thrift shop finds into swanky home decor and crafts, including silver plated serving trays, vintage scarves, maps and globes, picture frames, and old cashmere sweaters. 

(If you haven't read that article, you

Vintage Costume Jewelry: Upcycled & Repurposed

Vintage costume jewelry is one of those things that's really fun to upcycle into something new. Why? Because...well, they're pretty, and sparkly, and girlie... and if you're lucky enough to inherit some from your family, the pieces have a special meaning, since they are a connection not only to the past, but to the past of someone you love.

Enamel flower pins, rhinestone brooches, orphaned

Glass Bottles: Upcycled & Repurposed As Home Decor

Glass bottles - whether milk bottles, wine bottles, beer bottles, either new or old - whether recycled into one of the clever ideas shown below or just simply displayed on a sunny window sill - are one item that has stood the test of time and are still very much popular in home decorating. 

Take a look below at these photos of what some creative and innovative folks have done with bottles and I

Vintage Lace & Doilies: Upcycled and Repurposed

Don't know what to do with all those old remnants of lace and inherited doilies? Check out these unique and fun ways to recycle and reuse these fading treasures. 





Don't have any doilies of your own? Check your local thrift shops and yard sales and I think you'll be surprised at how plentiful (and inexpensive) these beauties are.





Lace doily curtains




Tablecloth embellished with

Home Decor & Art Made From Old Salvaged Reclaimed Wood

What's not to love about the rustic look and feel of a piece of old weathered wood? Check out this collection of art and home decor fashioned from salvaged, reclaimed wood and I think you'll agree that sometimes things become more beautiful with age!








Reclaimed wood mosaic picture frame by woodenaht via Etsy (above and below)











Mirror frame made from reclaimed wood






Rustic

The Upcycled Garden: Using Recycled Salvaged Materials In Your Garden

 I love an old-fashioned, cottage garden! What better way to showcase those worn and imperfect antiques and flea market finds than to incorporate them into your garden landscape? This is the perfect way to personalize your outdoor haven and add character to your garden! Take a look at these charming examples of ways you can add architectural salvage and vintage finds - recycled and repurposed

Old Furniture Upcycled Into Dollhouses & Play Kitchens

In many of my blog posts I've talked about upcycling salvaged materials and furniture and turning them into entirely new treasures. Did you ever think about upcycling something and turning it into a toy? Well that's just what these creative folks below did when they repurposed their old night stands, TV tables, bookcases and other furniture pieces into fabulous play sets for their children

Vintage Wood Crates: Upcycled & Repurposed

I'll never forget the surprise I got when I bought my first house (which was an estate sale - we bought the house and everything in it, and spent the first two weeks going through all the stuff and cleaning it all out!) ...and in the kitchen was an old white painted pie-safe-type cabinet with various odd-sized drawers. But that wasn't the big surprise. The big surprise came when I took the

This Ain't Yer Grandma's Porch Swing! DIY Swing Beds & Chairs

Porch + Swing + Bed = Awesome



Check out how some creative folks used salvaged wood, old doors, and reclaimed furniture to create these wonderful suspended beds, seats, and chair swings for either indoor or outdoor use. I think you'll agree this ain't yer grandma's porch swing!






I love the colors of this vintage inspired porch swing



 

photo by Roland Persson







 

Porch swing

Upcycled & Recycled Tires: Art, Home Decor & More!

Are you tired of the same old upcycled art?
I know I sometimes tire of seeing the same things over and over again. Often it seems like a lot of the same old ideas just go round and round! 
Sometimes when I'm looking for new ideas I feel like I'm treading water!
Well I gotta run, I'm getting tired!
Enjoy the post!





Recycled tire planter






Recycled tire furniture for indoor or outdoor

Upcycled: Vintage Tea, Spice, & Biscuit Tins

 Originally used to hold tea, biscuits, spices, or other dry foods, vintage tins often are saved and collected due to their beautiful colors and unique graphics. Check out these creative ways to upcycle those vintage tins!






Decorative doll sculptures from vintage tins










Belt buckles fashioned from vintage biscuit tins (above and below)
















Rustic Gypsy recycled tin

Tie One On! Upcycled and Repurposed Neckties

As all clothes do, neckties go in and out of style over time, so they are often donated to goodwill shops or given away to friends or family who might find a use for them. Other times, we may find ourselves the inheritor of ties when a loved one passes on. 



What do you do with those ties? Why not upcycle them into something brand new or create a unique memory craft in honor of a loved one

Dishfunctional Designs Featured on Recyclart!

A big thanks to Recyclart for featuring my broken china jewelry on their site today! Be sure to check out Recyclart for great ideas in upcycled home decor, art, and accessories.

Check Out My Crib! Upcycled Baby Cribs

What to do with that old baby crib that's in the attic? Check out these interesting new uses for old and recalled baby cribs, and be inspired!  







Crib spring DIY










From crib to play table DIY








Victorian crib repurposed to a settee from Country Living










Garden trellis










From old crib to new bench









Chalkboard easel DIY instructions








Awesome