Paint Glass Different Colors

420610_625983630765062_442155601_nMix a clear white paint with fabric dye/food coloring until you get desired color. Paint the outside of the glass and let dry. You should have a nice color and you can seal that with varnish or polyurethane to prevent it from peeling. Use to store food products (stored in zip lock bags) in the kitchen, craft items, office supplies in the office, seeds for your garden etc. Do not use these by directly putting food inside of them for your protection. You could paint the bottoms one color and when dry paint the tops another color letting them drip down. I think this being done to a larger size container could be used as a centerpiece for a wedding since you could color co-ordinate them with different color schemes. You can do this with recycled items or it would really bring a dollar store vase up a notch… and don’t stop at glass – you can do this same process with plastic.

Button Design Lampshade

374635_625988597431232_557376757_nWhat a clever way to update an old lampshade (one you already have or one you get second hand). Spray lampshade white and glue/sew old buttons on to create random or specific patterns. Use various shapes and color to create a hodge podge design or go for color specific and/or shape specific depending upon your desired outcome. Goop would be a great (more permanent) glue for this application. This has me thinking about what else could go onto a lampshade to update a room: bottle caps, hat pins, patches, scrap fabrics – it seems end less when you start and think about it.

Home Made Watering Can From Milk Gallon Jug

547438_466969193376226_717431435_nWhat a great way to reuse these over and over. Just punch a series of holes in the cap. You can also pre-mix fertilizers like miracle grow into the jug before you put cap on. Convenient, easy and you are saving the earth at the same time by recycling/upcycling.

Tool Storage – Recycled/Upcycle

58071_501256676589266_559393502_nWhat a great way to store your yard tools -and reuse something that might have just been thrown away. This is an old filing cabinet (a heavy duty one) that has been lightly sanded, primed and then painted. A Heavy coat of polyurethane has been added to protect from scratches – even those are inevitable in a garage. On each end a piece of pegboard has been attached to provide room for small tools to be hung. A piece of thick plywood has been attached to the bottom and wheels have been added. This will allow the piece to be moved around to clean and it won’t be sitting on the floor where it can easily rust.

Milk Carton/Juice Sandwich/Snack Container

060b200360ebbe504b6962c5131875f6I have always tried my best to recycle/up-cycle in my families lives. I have always felt bad throwing these container from milk/juice out. (If you do please cut them down and recycle them). I came across this idea and wanted to share it with you. Follow the diagram above and cut with an exact o knife – and please be careful.If the knife slips (which it will want to do) there could be a nasty cut. Fold over and attack a velcro dot as shown. Makes a nice little snack/sandwich container.