Upcycle

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.

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

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

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

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

Are you a big fan of anime and cosplay? Getting dressed up for anime conventions is super fun, but you can add to the excitement and save money by making your own costume. In this tutorial, you'll be shown how to upcycle a plain large t-shirt into a romper. This particular vi ...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!

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

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

Despite the fact that many stores are offering incentives for toting around reusuable bags for your merchandise, many people still cling to their plastic shopping bags. They're convenient, after all, and you don't have to worry about lugging around several reusuable bags to ev ...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

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

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

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

This is a fun and funky project you can use to recover a boring pillow. All you need is a wool sweater (which you can find easily at a thrift store) and the pillow you want to cover. You'll also need to be able to felt the wool.

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

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

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.

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 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.

Don't have a matching glass cup set? No problem. If you have a bunch of variously shaped and sized water glasses, you can make them match easily - and stylishly - by painting on some easy animal patterns. Check out this video to learn how to upcycle your mismatched water glas ...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

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

Creativity Prompt demonstrates how to turn a yogurt container into a mini-album. First, measure the lid's diameter. Then, cut a corresponding circle from your patterned paper. Use Mod Podge to adhere the paper circle to the lid and seal it with another layer of adhesive. Next, ...more

Take one plain Mason jar or glass jar. Add your favorite scraps of fabric, ribbon and other embellishments. Decoraate with lace, beads, sequins and applique. You now have a lovely upcycled glass jar, perfect to give as a gift or favor.

Love entertaining but don't want to shell out a fortune to throw a good party? Then you're in luck. Check out this video to learn how to make a variety of cheap and chic table settings, from colorful wine glasses to monogrammed napkins, quickly and easily. Then follow along a ...more

The holiday season is now in full swing, which means you should be prepared for serving large crowds and dressing your house to the nines for the occasion. While you may think this would cost you a lot of money, it actually doesn't take much to throw a fun party. If you're in ...more

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.

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

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

Kick back with John Park as he demonstrates how to upcycle a no-longer-usable shopping cart into an easy chair. This Make: magazine-based project offers an introductory look at how to cut, bend, and shape metal using metal cutters, saws, vice grips, and other tools common to h ...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

These rosettes can be used as embellishments however you like - turn them into hair accessories, attach them to a sweater or use them to upcycle another T-shirt. Dress them up with beads or ribbon. All you need are some scissors and a hot glue gun.

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

A nifty step-by-step guide to making your very own laundry detergent lamp. Upcycle that recyclable detergent bottle and gain a swell lighting fixture for your home! This involves some basic circuitry and wiring of a cheap lamp fixture. You use the laundry detergent bottle as t ...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

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

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!

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

Recycle plastic bags! Watch this video to learn from Threadbanger how you can turn those wasteful and polluting plastic bags into something useful. Upcycle them into a laptop case. It's convenient and something you'll always have a need for. So why not? Watch this video and yo ...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