Got a few old t-shirts lying around your closet? Unclutter your space while reusing and reducing waste by watching this tutorial, where you'll find out how to breathe new life into an old t-shirt by transforming it into a mini messenger bag. This quick tutorial leverages an u ...more
Fringes are definitely trendy this season, and you can jump on the trend bus without breaking the bank! You can turn an old T-shirt into a fashionable fringed scarf just by making a few cuts. Pick a shirt as colorful as you want!
Got a bunch of old, too large t-shirts lying around that you don't want to throw away, but that you also can't seem to wear? Then take the high road by upcycling it into this on-trend puff sleeved shirt. Take a look at this fashion DIY video for the how-to.
Old t-shirts really don't get the loving they deserve. Most of us would either toss or donate our old clothes, thinking there's really no use for them other than the obvious clothing purpose. But old t-shirts possess a great ability to transform into something new. In this ep ...more
We all have a bag of old clothes somewhere, or old clothes lying randomly around the closet. You know, the t-shirt that's too ratty or that dress you got from Ann Taylor that looked perfectly in season a few years ago but now you can't bring yourself to wear anywhere. While y ...more
Do you find that there's no better way to unwind from a long, hectic day than to put on Joni Mitchell, kick off your heels, and pour yourself a glass of Chardonnay? If so, then you more likely than not have an assortment of wine corks from wine bottles you've inhaled. You pro ...more
Got a bunch of old mismatched (or just plain fugly) necklaces and bracelets lying around? If you're like us, your first thought is "ew" and your second thought is to toss them, fast. But there's more fashionable potential in these jewelry pieces than you think. Check out this ...more
A planter from a book? Recycling - or, rather, upcycling - these days seems to get weirder and weirder, but hear us out on this one. After all, there's no need to purchase new planters for small house plants at Home Depot when you can make a super cool vintage book planter you ...more
Got an old tank top that has a beautiful print but whose shape is a little out of fashion? Don't just let it collect dust in your closet or toss it over to Goodwill! Check out this DIY video to learn how to sew together an overall tank top. This overal tank top will add a fre ...more
When it comes to "Harry Potter" movie premieres, it seems that you just can't get through one without wondering if the movie theater you're at has turned into Hogwarts. The true fans always dress up in their wizarding best, from long cloaks to striped ties to Harry's famous gl ...more
Sometimes jeans are just beyond repair, but it doesn't seem quite right to throw them away. This video gives you a few good ideas on how you can upcycle a worn out pair of jeans into a lampshade or notebook cover.
We enjoy the fuzzy wool yarns at craft stores as much as any other knitter, but did you know that yarn doesn't have to be made from wool or any of the typical yarn fibers? In fact, you can make your own yarn at home. Don't worry, we're not going to put you in front of a weavin ...more
Need a camera stabilizer, but don't have the cash? With an old pair of jeans, a bag of lentils, and an hour or two of your time, you can make one for cheap. Maybe even free, if you have a bag of those legumes already. This tutorial comes courtesy of Jeff Meyer on TechRadar. H ...more
Rescue a piece of roadside furniture, or give your own loveseat or couch a new look. This tutorial shows you how you can upcycle and add some new upholstery. Make sure you are careful to clean any furniture you find on the side of the road.
Get a plain cardigan at a thrift store or vintage store and then use these few tips to jazz it up a bit! Switch out the buttons and add a few floral embellishemtns you can make out of felted wool.
You don't need to get your wine glasses from Bloomingdale's for them to look elegant, chic, and stylish. In fact, if you're trying to squeeze entertaining into your budget right now, you can just pick up a wine glass set from Goodwill and make them your own by personalizing th ...more
Can't quite figure out to do with your old clothes? Upcycle your old tees into a cozy beanbag pillow chair with this crafter's guide from the folks at MAKE. For more information on turning your own t-shirts into pillow cases, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watc ...more
If you're a habitual knitter, then you probably go through spools of yarn faster than you can buy them. And while rolls of yarn aren't all too expensive, purchasing many of them frequently does take its toll on your wallet. So why not opt for a cheaper and more eco-friendly ap ...more
Upcycle all your old wine corks into a cute Christmas craft! Take six wine corks, some glitter (red, green and gold), some glue and a screw top wine cap for the base of the tree. Add tiny eyelets or buttons as ornaments!
Upcycle your old T-shirts into a classy and fashionable corset top! All you need are some basic sewing notions, in addition to eyelets and eyelet pliers. Embellish your corset top with ribbon, appliques, rhinestones or any other accessory you fancy.
In Japan, kanzashi are hair ornaments, often in a floral or jeweled style, which adorn traditional female Japanese hairstyles. These are gorgeous long pins with a special adornment attached at the end. Kanzashi are what inspire this tutorial's messenger bag, which is similarl ...more
In honor of our Earth, Meg shows us how to upcycle old items into a rad new pendant lamp. Plus, learn some easy ways to contribute to your neighborhood. This video home decorating lesson shows an ecological way to add some style to your space. Threadbanger is one of WonderHow ...more
You know all those t-shirts that you accumulate randomly? Like that XXL t-shirt you got from Subway during their holiday promotion, or that Key Club t-shirt you wore once and never touched again? You can certainly throw these too big tees out, but have you ever thought about ...more
You don't need to be a Martha Stewart with the needle and thread to create cool, impressive clothing. In fact, you often don't need a needle and thread at all to upcycle your old, tired clothes. Next time, instead of throwing away your old sweater, why not make it edgier and ...more
Don't want to throw away that raggedy pair of old Levi's with small paint stains and random tears all over because it's stuck with you longer than your trusty 12-year-old jack russell terrier? We totally understand. Continue to use your favorite pair of blue jeans by watching ...more
A plastic bag made out of plastic bags that's stronger than its constituent parts and reusuable for shopping trips? How did we not think of this before? While there's been a green movement recently to upcycle "junk" or "trash" into something usable, like old t-shirts into groc ...more
Got a bag of old t-shirts that have been with you too long that you don't want to throw them away, but are piling up too fast that you're tempted to toss them on the counter at the Salvation Army? Keep your old t-shirts by your side without compromising storage space by making ...more
With the economy as brutal as it is, more people than ever are focusing on fixing what they've got rather than building or buying new furniture and decor. And oftentimes, a fresh coat of paint is all that's needed to turn a yucky old chair your mom passed down to you into a da ...more
With how quickly technology evolves in this day and age, it's only natural that people replace their computers every couple years—even sooner. It seems that right when you get a new desktop, there's always a faster model with more features released the following week. What do ...more
Everybody should have plants in their home. Not only do they give off oxygen, but they add a whole new level of decor and awesomeness to an otherwise drab room. So naturally, if you want to improve a room, just display a few plants. There are tons of cool ways to display plan ...more
The resourceful fisherman of Holy Island (Lindisfarne, Northumberland, UK) are upcycling beautiful old fishing vessels into storage sheds. Flip it upside down, add a door, and the result is striking. Image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Previously, Transform Dirty D ...more
Typically during the holiday season hostesses give very little attention to the plates that food is served on. Because the focus is on the food, the plate needs to be nothing more than a plain white backdrop, right? Wrong. Personalized and colorful plates are so much more fun ...more
Upcycling a too large t-shirt doesn't require that you have a degree from a fashion college or are an expert with the needle and thread. In fact, you don't need any needle at all to create the t-shirt project presented in this video. All you need to do is pick up a pair of sci ...more
There's something undeniably naughty about upcycling your boyfriend's old tie into a thong. Japanese site Panty Hanty offers a library of free sewing patterns in the art of underwear-making. The underwear thong: Plenty more patterns for plenty of panties: Not to worry, guys ...more
In this clip, you'll learn a trick for upcycling your old hard drives into a RAID server. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-comput ...more
Old t-shirts can be given new life when you take a gander at this upcycling tutorial. Using nothing but a raggedy old t-shirt, you'll learn how to make a cut here and put a stitch there in order to magically transform the shirt into a wonderous tank top. The tank is body cont ...more
Doesn't this feminine and romantic halter top look like something you'd see at a high end retailor like Ann Taylor? Silky and soft, this halter top is actually made from an old oversized t-shirt. Don't believe us? Then check out this video to get the how-to. A few stitches he ...more
Chances are you have a pile of old, unused clothing lying somewhere in your house. You're sure as hell never going to wear any of it, but you also don't want to throw anything away just yet. So how do you eliminate the unsightly pile without completely tossing it into a trash ...more
Tim Fishlock’s piece entitled What Watt? showcases 1,243 suspended retired light bulbs, the center illuminated by one low-energy fluorescent bulb. Beautiful eco-friendly design. Says Fishlock, "What Watt? is a memorial to the incandescent lightbulb. It’s a spherical chandeli ...more
In this video, Craftside blogger/author/craftster Stephanie Girard shows us how to make bird-like upcycled sweater bookmarks. Joining Stephanie Girard in this video is Jennie Hinchcliff, co-author of Good Mail Day. We're shown how to use a die cutting machine to die cut some s ...more
Do you have a bunch of old jeans that no longer fit you or are too outdated to wear in public? If you are handy with a sewing machine, the possibilities for upcycling your jeans into something crafty are endless. You can update your old denims into a jean tote bag, yoga mat ba ...more
Compact discs...remember those? Before you toss your old CD spindle cases away, consider upcycling them to a DIY terrarium, cable storage container, hamster toy, rainfall shower head, bird feeder, bagel sandwich lunch box, and more. Need a quick and easy iPhone or iPod touch ...more
What’s better in the summer than playing around in the water? Lounging in the pool, water balloon fights, and playing in the sprinklers helps us forget how much it sucks to be outside in 100+ degree weather. Sprinklers are especially fun to play around in, particularly if you ...more
With the upcycling revolution, folks are turning their otherwise useless junk into something functional for the home. Practically anything that you would normally toss or recycle can be reused for a bigger and better purpose. Your milk jugs, chopsticks, toilet paper cardboard, ...more
Always downing a glass of red wine in the evening? Don't be ashamed. Red wine has some great health benefits when consumed in moderation, including improved memory, lower risk of heart disease, and even bone strengthening. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik Aside from improving your hea ...more
One thing that's very crucial to gardening is the seed starter. Seed starters are very important for a number of reasons, including the fact that is an excellent way to make sure your seeds survive in their own little environment until you’re ready to transfer them to your gar ...more
When it comes to milk, my family consumes anywhere between two and four gallons every two weeks. That's about four to eight gallons every month. That's a lot of milk—and a lot of empty milk jugs! Instead of simply tossing them in the recycling bin, why not get creative and mak ...more
Summer is in full swing! Everywhere you look, plants are in full bloom and green is a way of life. Gardeners are clearly living up to their full potential. I cannot think of anything else that personifies summer better than gardening. When it comes to planting greenery, most ...more
The paper towel is a wondrous invention. It allows cooks to wipe up really gross stuff without having to constantly do laundry and drain fried foods so they're crunchy and crispy instead of oily and heavy. But did you know that your humble paper towel has several other uses be ...more
The world of spices can be bewildering. They promise to make your food more flavorful if you know how to make the most of them. Unless you know a couple of essential tricks, however, it just seems like you're adding bits of colored powder to your food. Most cooks buy a few bo ...more
If you want to put a fire pit in your backyard, but don't want to spend a lot of time or money on it, this $10 DIY Upcycled Fire Pit designed by Sarah and Joe over on House & Fig is the perfect weekend project. It's simple, looks great, and shouldn't take much more than an hou ...more
If you've ever wondered how paper gets recycled, find out for yourself by turning your used, unwanted paperwork into fresh homemade paper that you can use again. Any type of paper can be recycle, whether it's used computer paper, paper grocery bags, or old flyers. Using a ble ...more
Damn right, you don't just eat 'em. When you're done with your next Pringles can, you can turn it into a kaleidoscope, a pinhole camera, and even a solar hot dog cooker. But Instructables user TheSpodShed may have just created the most awesome way to upcycle empty Pringles ca ...more
Some people put up their holiday decorations as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Some wait until Christmas Eve. Right now, the only thing in my whole apartment that would tip you off is a tiny little fake tree on the counter. I've been planning on decorating all month, but I have ...more
For as long as I can remember, I've always sucked at wrapping presents. No matter how careful I am, my gift-wrapping usually ends up looking like a toddler did it, so I'm always looking for easy ways to spruce up my packages. If you've got a lot of gifts to wrap, store-bought ...more
WonderHowTo is a how-to website made up of niche communities called Worlds, with topics ranging from Minecraft to science experiments to Scrabble and everything in-between. Check in every Wednesday evening for a roundup of user-run activities and how-to projects from the commu ...more
Gatorade: its popular red flavor can stain the whitest fabric, and its sweet taste is oddly refreshing after breaking a sweat. If you've ever participated in a sport, you probably spent halftime at games and practice breaks chugging the stuff. Though it made its name as a spor ...more