Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reimagine, Redesign

One of the things that inspires me most when arting and crafting is reuse. I truly believe that there is just so much beauty in so many things that we all tend to ignore.

Having said that, I do also believe that reusing items is going to help us (and the planet) in the long run. In the past there were three main priorities when it came to helping the environment. I think there are two new priorities that will be more helpful when added to the previous 3 R's.

What do you throw away a lot? Is there a certain product you use that has a lot of packaging that gets thrown away? What about prescription bottles? If nothing else, we all have plastic bags and plastic containers that out food comes in. We always have too much plastic!

I challenge you to think of ways that you can reuse items that you frequently throw out or get rid of. It's as simple as reusing old containers instead of buying new ones when you need to store items for your crafting, for your desk, or even for art at your children's school. Ask an elementary school art teacher - I bet they can use a lot of products that we throw away - magazines, paper towel tubes, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass jars from food, tin cans, egg cartons, etc etc etc.


Magazine Coasters

I have a tendency to hold on to my old magazines. Maybe it's my background in print media, but I just don't usually have the heart to throw them away. So instead I made coasters!

Supplies needed:

• Old magazine
• Glue

Optional: 

• Sealer, like mod podge or even white school glue (non washable kind).

Fold magazines into straight strips, approximately ¼ to ½ inch wide. The strips will be think. Start to roll it, gluing it as you go. When you reach the end of the strip, start with another, gluing it on. Keep going to desired size. You can use this to make coasters, place mats, wall art or the bottom of magazine/newspaper baskets.

There are just so many ways to reuse things!

As an activity, give your elementary school child or student a "project" of sorts. Ask them to come up with ways to reuse items for every letter. You never know, they might be able to come up with items for those hard letters! How wonderful it would be to get the next generation starting to think about our planet before they even understand that they need to. If it is something they grow up doing, it will become a way of life.

If you have ideas, feel free to share! I'd be happy to repost and give you credit for your ways to reuse common items!

Here are some creative ways to reuse everyday items that came from a little bit of brainstorming:

• Turn your old plastic soda bottle into a spray bottle
• Toilet paper roll fire starter (fill with dried leaves, wrap in newspaper, twist ends)
• Cut soda bottle in half and make a container for crafts (or anything)
• Plastic soda bottle plant waterer - Remove the cap and the bottom of the bottle. Turn the bottle upside down, and set the spout into the ground or pot. Fill with water and this will allow your plants to be watered when you are going to be away for a few days.
• Tin foil Christmas tree garland
• Tin foil wrapping paper
• Wire hanger Christmas ornaments. Using wire cutters and pliers, bend and shape wire into a variety of shapes to hang on your tree. Decorate with glitter, ribbon, fabric, etc.
• Wire hanger into a marshmallow/hotdog roasting stick
• Egg carton golf ball storage
• Egg carton bead sorter
• Egg carton plant/seed starter
• Styrofoam egg carton paint palette
• Break up egg cartons, preferably Styrofoam ones, and use it as packing material when shipping.
• Old hose blade guard - Slit a section of hose and slip it over the blade of an ax or saw when not in use.
• Use newspaper for a glass cleaner - After you wash your windows or mirrors with soap and water or regular glass cleaner, polish the glass with a piece of crumpled newspaper for a streak-free shine.
• Cut magazines into long triangular pieces. Roll them (starting with the large end) into beads.
• Magazine Coasters or round place mats. Fold magazines into straight strips, approximately ¼ to ½ inch wide. The strips will be think. Start to roll it, gluing it as you go. When you reach the end of the strip, start with another, gluing it on. Keep going to desired size.
• Rolled Magazine basket. Roll magazine pages diagonally into tubes. Connect one end to another and roll into a basket shape.
• Collage furniture. Perfect for teens! Cut out images from magazines that are appealing to you. Use an old piece of furniture (night stand, bookshelf, small dresser, end table are suggested). Attach images, with overlap. If desired, coat finished piece in a clear gloss.
• Candle holders out of baby food jars – just add ribbon around the outside.
• Work bench storage out of baby food jars. Nail several jar lids onto a 2x4. Nail the 2x4 to the bottom of a shelf over your craft bench. Fill the jars with nails, pins, bitty things you have lying around and screw them onto their lids.
• Make a picture mat out of leftover wallpaper.
• Use extra wallpaper to make envelopes.
• Make place mats that match your walls by pasting two pieces of wallpaper together (to make it 2 sided.) Laminate if desired.
• Cover boring gift boxes with wallpaper for a designer look.
• Use old keyboard keys to make the numbers for a clock
• Keyboard keys can be used as mosaic pieces on a photo frame.
• Make a bowl from an old Record.  (This is actually easier that you might think)
• Turn a tank top into a tote bag.
• T-shirt quilt. Take t-shirts with designs on them and cut equal sized squares out of them. 
• Cut the toes out of old socks to make baby leg warmers.
• Make a cork board from wine corks. 
• Turn an old beat up cookie tray into a message board with just a little bit of paint. Use magnets with it.
• Revitalize a set of retro dishes by adding designs with a ceramic pen. 
• Mosaic flowerpots with old dishes.
• Use a chopstick wrapper for a bookmark.
• Tea bags for fertilizer. Tea bags do wonders for the garden. They enrich the soil by increasing nitrogen levels, and also give earthworms (fertilizers) something yummy to eat.
• Changing you bathroom décor? Save your old shower curtain for a drop cloth for painting or crafts. Especially great for kids!
• Use a tire as a planter in your yard
• With a little paint, turn an old wooden ladder into a decorative plant stand. This is especially good for climbing plants! You don't even necessarily have to paint it - a weathered look is always fun!
• Use a tennis ball to cushion the blow of a hammer. Cut an X in a tennis ball and slip it over the head of a hammer so you don’t ding up walls, wood, or other fragile materials while you’re pounding away.
• Reuse bits of old jewelry combined with new elements to make something awesome! Old watch parts are super in style right now.