In honor of Earth Day, we’re going to talk about creating something new from something old, found materials and broken items. This is easier than you may think. Here are a few ideas to stimulate your own:
In the interests of art, some places in the US collect reusable discards and sell them to artists. One New Year’s Eve in Pittsburgh, more than 400 people used some of these discards to make collages, purses, hats, noisemakers, trophies, instruments, hockey sticks and more.
Found materials (others’ recyclables) used in art, either as sculpture or installation art. I’ve even seen an article about how car hoods are being repurposed into coffee table tops, skateboards into shelves!
Old blankets, sheets and towels are welcomed by the Animal Hospital or Humane Society in your area for use in the animal cages.
Empty jam jars—I’m not suggesting they be used as drinking glasses, however, they do make great food storage containers. You may even refill them when fruit is in season and gift at Christmas time.
Larger mason jars are excellent storage containers. With all the talk now about the toxins in plastic, glass jars are a healthy alternative.
Instead of buying a small watering can for your plants, use a pretty teapot whose lid is broken. It will give you a feeling of class. And your plants will feel very special.
Use a row of empty spice bottles as small vases, each holding a single flower, on your dining table for a unique centerpiece.
Create one-of-a-kind mosaic stepping stones for your garden by keeping broken dishes, pottery, and colored glass to place in cement to resemble mosaic tiles. Line pizza boxes (about 10 inches square) with foil or thick plastic and use a mold for quick-set cement. While the cement is still soft, place the crockery and glass on the top. If you want a pattern, design this before mixing the cement.
Small sturdy empty boxes can be repurposed as drawer dividers in any part of the house. Staple them together for stability.
Let your imagination run wild and see how many more ideas you can generate. Then let me know what you’ve come up with?
© Moreen Torpy
We would be honored for you to reprint this article. If you do, please include the resource box below with the hyperlinks intact.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moreen Torpy is the De-Clutter Coach, a Trained Professional Organizer, Author, and Speaker. Her new book is Going Forward: Downsizing, Moving and Settling In. See www.goforwarddownsize.com for more about the book, and www.decluttercoach.ca to learn about her organizing services.
