Old Jars Made New

canister storage jar lid recycle upcycle mayonaise jar paint lid

Use empty mayonnaise and pickle jars to store spices in the kitchen or crafts. Clean jars completely and dry. Attach wooden drawer pull (hardware stores have these for about 50 cents) with E6000 and let dry. You can also add a screw from the inside of the lid into the drawer pull for a secure lid. Spray paint the lid/drawer pull with a color of your choice and let dry. You might want two coats on here to give a nice covering. Spray or brush a clear coat of polyurethane to make sure the paint does not get scratched off.

Recycle Baby Food Jars Into Storage Containers

baby food jar chalk board paint herb seasonings store repurpose upcycle recycleWhen you use contents of baby food jar clean completely and dry. Paint the lids with two layers of chalkboard paint. Now you can use a top drawer and have your spices more easily available to you. Don’t stop at spices – what about all of your findings, sewing notions etc.? Would be great for your excess office supplies too like paper clips, rubber bands, staples.

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.