Silverware for Butter Dish HandleUpdate a simple glass butter dish by adding a bent piece of silverware. Glue to top using a good adhesive like E-6000.
Converting a Drawer Unit Into a FootstoolI recently gave a very large desk to a gal just across the road from me. I had used it less and less over the last year, so it was time.
Upcycling Expired PlannersIt's 2023 now! Do you have any 2022 planners? While cleaning, I found a few 2022 planners that I used half way but never really utilized the planner to the fullest. While flipping through the planner there were lots of potential.
Copycat Paint Brush CoverI found a good use for all those political ads and other ads I have received in the mail. I pulled one out of my recycling paper. The size and thickness was perfect for making the paint brush cover that I needed. I had one that I liked and I traced it.
Simple Little BirdhouseMy husband made this cute birdhouse when we went to visit grandkids. The neighbor donated wood from a swing set and my husband used it to make the birdhouse. Even the dowels were saved from an old project. We already had the screws. So the birdhouse was no cost.
Recycled Ceramic Look VaseI used plaster of Paris to make this ceramic looking vase from a soda bottle.
Tootsie Roll Wrapper Fishing LureOnce when I went fishing, I caught a fish in the ocean using a shiny metal lure. I decided to make my own lure out of a Tootsie Roll candy wrapper with a little bit of a semi melted tootsie roll. I squished it and used the wrapper and twisted it and twisted it again and again to make a replica of a fish. Now I do not know what fish looks like a barcode but the inside liner was shiny foil like material, which I think during the day time the light to reflect off of it and produce an eye-catching lure for the fish!
Recycled Chair Leg Candlestick HoldersI had four chair legs left from a previous craft project (posted on Thriftyfun a few months ago). Rather than discard them, I made them into candlestick holders.
Knitted 3D Wire HeartYou don't need expensive materials and special tools to make beautiful jewelry. To make this original heart, you only need wire from an old transformer and knitting needles. Knitted wire jewelries look really amazing. This heart will look great as a pendant. You can add a brooch pin and you will have a beautiful brooch.
Buckle from Drink CanIf you need a small buckle, you can quickly and easily make one from pull tag of a drink can. This buckle will fit a strap about 1 inch wide. You can also paint the buckle any color you like.
Beads from Plastic BottleThere are many ways to use plastic bottles in craft. I suggest you make beads out of plastic bottles. It is not difficult at all and will not take much time.
Shank Button from Old Aluminum CanI want to share with you my idea for making Shank Buttons. This project will help not only to make original buttons, but also to reuse old aluminum cans.
Origami Dove Brooch from Old JeansOrigami is the art of paper folding. I made this brooch by folding denim from old jeans instead of paper. I used the origami scheme for folding a dove.
DIY Wiggly EyesWiggly eyes are hard to find in my place nowadays. I have gone to so many craft stores and I just couldn't find them. And maybe due to this pandemic, the supply of this craft material in my area has become scarce as it is not part of the essentials. Then I found out a simple hack on this at home.
Plastic Utensil DragonflyHere is a way to make a dragonfly using plastic utensils.
Upcycled TP Tube Gift BoxesOkay so I think it's safe to say we all have a lot of toilet paper rolls. Especially amid this pandemic, we all went through a little hoarding shopping spree of toilet paper! But it's okay;) instead of just endlessly throwing them out what do you say we have some fun and spread some love?
Gift Card Earbuds HolderGetting earbuds tangled up is not only annoying, but terrible for their lifespan. You can make this cute and convenient holder for your earbuds in less than 10 minutes. This is a great way to upcycle or make use of gift cards that have some sentimental value in them. I use these for storage purposes. I also for on-the-go times, popping them securely in my purse.
Upcycled Valentine's Candy Box Birthday GiftI always save packaging in case myself or the kids want to make something or use it for crafts. I finally thought of a great idea and gift for my mom for her birthday using this Valentine's heart candy box.
Notebook from Vinyl RecordsI made this notebook from 2 vinyl records. The holes were drilled with a fine drill. I also made the spiral to keep the sheets together. I used the sheets from another notebook, but you can also make them yourself.
Making Feather Bookmarks from CDsThis is a cute project that does not take a very long time to make. Younger children can make this project with a little help from their parents. Everyone is always looking for a way to mark the books they read. Here is a great way to recycle old CDs and have beautiful bookmarker.
DIY Shirt Collar Stays from Magnetic Hotel KeysThis is a simple way to recycle magnetic keys from past hotel stays into shirt stays. One key makes 6 stays.
Simple Wine Cork TrivetThis is fun, quick, and with supervision, a great kids' craft.
Notepad Stocking StuffersI love recycling paper into usable things that I need. When I am thinking of gifts to give to others - my first thought is to ask myself whether this gift would make me happy. This little adorable memo pad certainly would make me happy ;)
Upcycle Giftcard to Keychain with a FobDo you have any expired cards, empty gift cards, or coupon cards? Do not toss them out, you can upcycle them into a nice keychain fob.
Child's Backpack TagReuse any old gift cards you may have (especially if it's a cute print or pattern) as a child's backpack tag or a luggage tag.
Recycled Cardboard ShelfHave extra shoe boxes? Another simple and free project you can make is a recycled cardboard shelf. It is ideal for lightweight items; perfect to toss your wallet and keys, or mail on.
Recycled Cardboard Shelving UnitMy shelves are not being utilized to their full capacity so I thought it would be neat to up-cycle shoe boxes into a shelving unit. This is literally a free project you can make too!
Up-cycled ClipboardThis clipboard is primarily made from a cardboard envelope/folder and shopping catalogs. It is a cute up-cycled clipboard with lined paper for everyday notes.
Making Confetti from Magazines and Shopping CatalogsI receive the latest shopping catalog trends, but I never purchase anything because of the high retail prices. The quality of the color/paper is nice, so it'd be a waste to toss! You could make confetti or paper filling/stuffing to be used for scrapbooking, gifts, arts and craft projects.
Clear Plastic Cap MagnetsI have upcycled these salt/pepper containers into vases. I have the caps left and now finally figured out what I could do with them. I turned these caps into magnets!
Cute Mini NotebooksI found this craft somewhere on the internet and I'm trying to make my own. The difference is that I'm using recycled paper. One side is printed and the other is left blank, so I was thinking this can still be used for this kind of brilliant idea.
Handcrafted Rag Made From Old ShirtsI hate throwing away my stuff especially when I know that I could make other things from it, just like these two large sized cotton shirts. When I was very young, we made rags at school. They are made from strips of old shirts.
Decorative Recycled Drinking Glass StandPaper fasteners sometimes run out of locks so, I have a bundle of these which I have collected for months. Even though they are still useful as paper fasteners even without the locks, nobody seemed to ever want to use this stuff without its partner.
Expired Credit Cards for Storing EarphonesLet's make use of expired credit cards or old IDs. If you have a creative mind, you can make this craft. You never know; there are a lot of ideas for things you can do with those cards!
Calendar Flower CrownThis project is perfect if you want to save a lot of expense related to buying a flower crown.
Little Lady Key FobThis cute little lady is simple to make, but a little fiddly because she is so tiny. Have a little patience and take your time and you will be pleased with the result.
Flower Made of Plastic SpoonsI packed up all of my deceased coworker's things. I had to clean up her table. I found 9 disposable spoons. It seems like they had been there for a long time so I thought of creating something out of them so that they wouldn't just sit there for a long time without any use.
Kitchen Mitt From Old ShirtsThe usual pot holder doesn't have five fingers and I thought of making a unique one that looks like a glove. You can wear it with your five fingers where it will be easier to hold hot pots. I used old and unused shirts for this project.
Denim ScrubbersWhen you shorten jeans or have a pair you no longer want, you can cut them up and make little scrubbers for cleaning. They're perfect for cleaning bathtubs or sinks because they have just the right amount of abrasiveness but won't leave a scratch.
Mobile Phone Charging StationHere's how to make a phone charging station wall mount out of a shampoo bottle. It keeps your phone propped up and away from hazards, tangle-free. I have an incredibly on-call life and find this to be very useful in bathrooms while I shower or get ready.
Recycled Perrier Drinking GlassesI have been saving these pretty green Perrier bottles every time I splurge on sparkling water. They were very easy to cut in half and just a little more work to smooth the sharp edges. They make attractive drinking glasses that would be great in a bathroom or for a cheerful breakfast table.
Produce Bag Earring DisplayMy husband knows not to throw anything that does not decompose into the trash, because I will find a way to use it. I made this earring display out of a net bag, that once held apples, and a picture frame I got at the 99 cent store. I'm in love with the fishnet contrast. This is useful and it looks like art!
Plastic Bottle Starburst VaseDon't throw out your plastic bottles. A little cutting and folding will transform them into beautiful starburst vases!
Egg Carton ShipUse 2 eggs cartons to create a ship. You can put candy or any little things in it.
Vinyl Record Earrings DisplayThis project is for recycling vintage vinyl records. You can turn them into earrings display holders.
Sandal/Flip-Flop HolderI thought this would be an easy way of keeping track of your sandals. You can hang it in your closet. I'm going to put some flip-flops on it too. One hanger will hold about 3 or 4 pairs of flip-flops.
Wine Cork TrivetDon't throw away your wine corks. They can be repurposed as a gift or for your own kitchen decor. Cut a block of wood the size you'd need for the size of corks.
Empty Toilet Rolls Crafted into CrackersIt's always nice to reuse things. A good thing in our house is to make our own Christmas crackers or crackers for a special event. We saved some empty toilet rolls.
Circuit Board MagnetsDo you have an old, unused computer laying around? Why not take it apart and reuse the pieces to make cool stuff.
Oil Bottle CoverWhether I use the bottles that the oil comes in or I transfer it to fancy bottle, it always seems like the oil drips down the sides after each use. To solve this problem, I decided to make drip catchers out of my daughter's old tights.
Clean or Dirty Dishwasher IndicatorDishes would pile up in our house partially because nobody knew if the dishwasher was full of clean or dirty dishes. I was about to throw an old scratched CD away when this idea popped in my head, a recycled CD clean or dirty indicator!
Recycled Sweater Neck PillowAn easy way to recycle a sweater that is no longer usable into a nice child's pillow. Protect your child's head as you drive while they are in their booster seat.
Fun Bread Ties for KidsThis cute little craft is a great way to recycle and have fun at the same time. You can tie gifts with them or hook a bunch of pals on your shoelaces or pencils. Make some with your friends and trade!
Recycled Candle Wax Air FreshenerUse candle wax scraps to make an air freshener.
Recycled Cuff Pin CushionMake an easy quick gift all from recycled materials. You will need the cuff from an old shirt, scrap of light weight cardboard, a scrap of cotton batting or flannel, and some floss for stitching a design.
Decorated Quilted HangersBy taking second hand quilted hangers, you can embellish them to give or keep.
Refinishing an Old End TableI got this table free at a garage sale. It was not in the best of shape as one drawer was stuck and the outside just needed help. I was pretty sure I could refinish the top, but the bottom of the end table had too much "curly ques" to spend the time on.
Memorial Day WreathsMany years ago my mother-in-law taught me to make this wreath and this year I am making it for her.
Floating Wine Cork KeyringA frugal, floating keyring made from wine corks and scrap is a great Christmas gift for any boat enthusiast or fisherman.
Sea Glass MagnetsSo easy, your kids can do this homemade gift craft! Frozen juice can lids pair with glass to create a stylish and lovely accent for next to nothing.
Crafts that Reuse Tissue PaperI dislike seeing things thrown away without ever being used. We have thrown away large handfuls of gift tissue that comes in those gift bags and this is such a waste.
CD SpinnersKids will enjoy playing with these tops made from recycled CDs or DVDs. They also make great party favors.
Fabric Covered Tuna CanThis is a tuna can covered with a quilted fabric remnant and some left over cross-stitch mini squares, and a cardboard cloth covered lid.
Recycled Note HolderThis is a recycled craft that the kids can make for dad on his special day (with a little help from mom). It is made from a french fry container from McDonald's.
Recycled Domino PinUse your imagination and leftover scraps from other craft projects to create one-of-a-kind pins for yourself or for inexpensive gifts. This pin was created using a domino, canceled postage stamps, a tiny button, and gold embroidery thread.
Recycled Tin Can Pin CushionThis project lets you turn a clean tuna or cat food can, or the plastic thing that holds the icing for refrigerator cinnamon rolls, some easy crochet, fabric scraps, and glue to make an attractive pin cushion for your sewing basket or for gifts.
Wallpaper BookmarksWanting to have a small thank you gift lead me to make these free bookmarks from wallpaper.
Fun Star CrayonNever throw an old broken crayon away again. Renew it's life by making something old into something new. Recycle your old crayons into fun new new ones! Here's how...
Jar Lid PincushionHandy little pincushions made with quilt batting, fabric and a jar lid or small metal can. Measure the width of your lid/can. Cut a cardboard circle just a bit smaller than this measurement.
Bird Cage Night LightI bought an old bird cage hanger at an auction. Later found an old bird cage. I had to use them to make something. This is what I came up with. The light is on a timer to turn on and off in the living room each night. I can use as a night light until I go to bed.
CD Case FramesCreate fun photo or art work frames with CD cases. Kids love doing them and can be very creative by using recycled materials such as wool, ribbon, beans, googlie eyes, etc.
Magnetic Greeting Card BookmarksThis is one of the bookmarks I made to go with the less than a dollar new books I picked up on half.com to give as gifts this year.
Recycled Wind ClackersPerfect decoration for your clothes line! Drill four holes around the edge of the lid of a peanut butter jar. Drill a hole in the center of four liquid laundry detergent caps.
Recycled Jewelry OrganizerUse a hunk of Styrofoam packing from one of your technology purchases and a fabric scrap to make this organizer to hang all your baubles.
Pin Cushions from Recycled QuiltDon't throw away your old quilts; recycle them. Create pretty, heart-shaped pin cushions. You can add lace, buttons, etc. to decorate them. These would be great to sell at bazaars or craft shows.
Homemade Oil Diffuser/WarmerI made my own oil diffuser/warmer. I recycled all of the items I used. This is really cool.
Pin Cushion HolderPin cushion holder that resembles an ol' fashioned Easter hat. Cover 6 inch round circle with plain fabric and glue in middle-flatten. Take tuna can, add stuffing cover with printed fabric, make sure fabric is flattened underneath and glue to 6 inch circle.
Book AngelsFirst of all I would like to just say I love making these for any occasion. They are cheap and easy to make and best of all its a great way to recycle all those hard cover books you don't read anymore or the ones you can get at a yard sale for dirt cheap.
Tape Roll Finger DrumThis one stems from the fact that I now have to use masking tape across the top of my daughter's nappy for it to stay on! It's a home made percussion instrument. A finger drum.
Silverware WindchimesUse old silver silverware for the best "sounds", and usually they are more ornamental than what you find in a dollar store or such.
Reusing A Cornflake BoxReusing A Cornflake Box. I am presently working on a 100 other uses of cereal boxes but I will just give you the best one of them.
Juice Pouch Gift BagThis gift bag is easy to make and durable. It makes good use of Kool-Jammer or Capri Sun pouches. It's very similar to the lunch bag I published in the past, but instead of a Velcro enclosure, it uses eyelets and ribbon to make a gift bag handle.
Mini-book on Financial WisdomEver wonder what to do with those sample credit cards sent your way to entice your business?
