greenUPGRADER

Craft Recycled: 11 More Project Ideas Straight from the Trash Bin

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Becky Striepe.

Last week, we took a look at craft projects for empty wine and beer bottles, scrap paper, and empty glass jars. Really though, that’s just a small part of the things we trash that can be useful again!
After the jump, we’ve got some projects for empty cans, plastic bottles, and laminated cardboard, but we’d [...]

Craft Recycled: Project Ideas Straight from the Trash Bin Part 1

Posted on 09. Nov, 2009 by Becky Striepe.

I wish I had gotten a picture of this, but the whole thing happened so fast! At a craft show and outdoor festival this past weekend, I was gabbing with my pal Liz when a man came running through the park wearing a suit and mask made of garbage. He was moving quickly [...]

Gardening and Wine Drinking: A Match Made in DIY Heaven?

Posted on 15. Sep, 2009 by Becky Striepe.

We love to entertain and hate to toss out anything that might prove useful later on. Of course, what that means is quite a little collection of empty wine bottles and the corks to match.
Luckily, it’s time to get our Fall garden planted, and our boozy hoarding behavior might just pay off!

DIY Upcycled Wine Bottle Gas Lamp

Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by Matt Embrey.

Upcycle an old wine bottle into an eclectic porch gas lamp…
While I haven’t tried this DIY yet I think it’s my new favorite. Erik Anderson of Gerardot & Co. (a team of branding experts, creative marketers and designers) came up with this DIY when he was looking for a Tiki Style lamp to fend [...]

Crafting Cradle to Cradle: Upcycled Vocabulary

Posted on 29. Jun, 2009 by Becky Striepe.

I know, I’m about seven years late to the party here, but I’m just now reading Cradle to Cradle. As I made my way through the book, a terrible realization slowly dawned on me, and this one line from The Princess Bride has been running through my head since then:

I am the Vizzini in [...]

Etsy Find: Tubular Upcycled Notebook

Posted on 08. May, 2009 by Matt Embrey.

I love this repurposed bike tire notebook from the Palepink Etsy shop. Palepink takes used bike tires, cleans them up then sews them onto a hard plastic cover, lines them with felt, bounds the notepaper (I hope it’s recycled paper!) and seals them with an fabric elastic band. Since these are made from actual used bike tires each notbook is different with slightly different treads and some with repaired battle wounds.

Beautiful Garden Accessories From Can Misprints

Posted on 07. May, 2009 by Paula Mitchell Bentley.

If plants could read, they’d definitely be inspired to grow by this wall hanging. A designer from VivaTerra managed to get his hands on misprinted cans from several different factories. The printing on them is crooked or incomplete but that doesn’t make them garbage when viewed from the eye of an upcycler. These items definitely show that one person’s garbage is another’s treasure. The designer has re-purposed these cast off cans into a range of colorful products that are definitely worth taking a peek at.

Etsy Find: Upcycled Bike Clock

Posted on 05. May, 2009 by Matt Embrey.

I love bike gears and this is by far the best re-use I have seen to date.

What Do You Get When You Turn a Soccer Ball Inside Out?

Posted on 01. May, 2009 by Paula Mitchell Bentley.

A purse of course is what you get when you turn a soccer ball inside out! Check out this clever reused ball that’s being sold through Branch. It’s on sale until the end of the month for $98. When the sale is over, it’ll cost you $198! Each ball is used which makes each purse truly unique. This is a “must have” for all the soccer moms on the go in their hybrids!

Crafty By Nature Creations

Posted on 28. Apr, 2009 by Matt Embrey.

The entries are in for CraftStylish’s Earth Month “Crafty by Nature” contest and the judging is underway. All of the are great, but here are my favorites…