Turn Old Household Items into New Ones
Books are a good example of how junk can be turned into something nice. Use hardback books to make a secret hiding place by hollowing out the inside pages. Or make bookends out of old books by stacking them at different angles then gluing them together. Make the bookends even more unique by gluing things to the top of the stack, such as an old pair of glasses or small photo in frame.
Use old cardboard boxes and picture frames to make beautiful shadow boxes. Line the box with nice fabric and place miniatures inside to make a Christmas scene or maybe a Victorian scene. Glue the picture frame to the front of the box and use thread spools for legs. Decorate the outside of the box with paint, fabric or wallpaper. The shadow box can be made large or very tiny and can stand on a mantle or tabletop.
There’s all kinds of things that can be made from old clothes. Sew neckline and sleeves closed on any shirt or jacket then stuff with pillow stuffing, cotton or foam. Stitch shut and throw on the floor for a doggie bed. Cut the legs off of blue jeans and stitch the leg areas shut. Sew a rectangle of fabric onto the back waist area. Tuck the fabric rectangle between mattress and box springs and let the blue jean shorts hang out for a cute pocket organizer to hold remote, glasses or tv guide. Use velcro at the waistline to hold shut.
Sew pockets from old garments onto one long rectangular piece of fabric to throw over arms of chairs. Use to hold glasses and remote. Do something similar, with deep pockets, to hold knitting or crocheting supplies. Simply roll up and put away when finished. Thick fabrics can be used to make a roll-up carrier for tools, too.
Glue the ankles shut on a pair of baby pants and stuff the pants with cotton or batting. Glue a shirt waist to the pants waist, glue shut the sleeve cuffs, then stuff the shirt. Stuff a knee-hi nylon to make the shape of a baby doll head. Glue the head onto the neckline of the shirt. Glue on a cap to the doll head. Glue shoes onto the bottom of the pant legs. Now use hot glue to affix the sleeve cuffs to the eye area of the head to make a “pouting baby” that can be tossed on a couch or stand in a corner.
Old plates and saucers laying around in boxes in the basement? Use them to make all sorts of things. A plate or pie pan can be made into a table centerpiece. Cover the plate with garland and glue on pine cones or craft candy canes. Use cups to make a candle holder. Turn the cup upside down then make a lace “skirt” for it. Place a pillar candle on top and use the cup handle to carry the candle. Or, use old planks of wood and cups to build spice shelves. Place a board across two coffee cups then add the next shelf by placing two more cups and another plank. This design can be done in the bathroom, too, using old toothbrush holders.
Don’t throw away old, discolored candles. Use a potato peeler to make them look new again. Peel away a layer or two of wax and the candle will look new again. Or, upholster the candle with fabric and decorative tacks. Remove any decorative touches before actually burning the candle, though. Turn a plate upside down and place three pillar candles on it. Tie together with satin ribbon for a unique candle arrangement. Decorate the plate with tinsel, silk leaves and plastic fruits, or other embellishments.
An old pole lamp, even if it doesn’t work, can be made into a beautiful plant hanger. So can a coat rack. Got old shutters? Nail four together, aligning long sides, to form a square. Put a cutting board, mirror, or picture frame on top to make a unique plant or toiletry stand. Hinge old wooden doors together to make a room partition.
Old paint cans are perfect for Easter, Valentine, or Christmas surprises. Clean the can and put a fresh coat of paint on the inside. Wrap the outside with decorative foil or holiday paper. Paint and decorate the lid. Put tissue paper and wrapped candies, a stuffed animal, or other trinkets inside.
Melt down damaged candles and pour them into quart jars for the kitchen. Jars that formerly held spaghetti sauce or fruits make fabulous candles for the kitchen. Or, purchase white string lights, normally used during the holidays, and place them into a clear jar. Bring the cord up and out of the mouth of the jar. Cover the jar with a tatted circular doily and tie it over the mouth of the jar with satin ribbon, securing the cord at the same time. You can sprinkle essential oils on the doily and as the lights heat up slightly, the smell of the oils will waft throughout the room.
There are lots of great ways to turn junk into treasure. The next time you’re thinking of hauling off a load of junk from the attic or basement take a second look at the stuff to see if there’s something you can make. It’s fun to recycle junk into nice crafts and it helps the planet.
