Ideas to help you reuse or repurpose your own items
There are so many ways that old things can be re-used or repurposed to make new things.
For example, an old tire used to just be a tire swing. But did you know you can also make a tiered garden out of old tires? A stack of tires makes an excellent potato growing station. The rubber from old tires can also be used as tough dog chews (always make sure the rubber is solid, not cracking, and the toy should always be much larger than the size of the dogs mouth to assure he won't try to swallow it). We've even seen people use old tires to make their own sandals!
Your old teacups and spoons might be chipped or bent, but even with imperfections, they could be used to make a whimsical wind chime!
Clothes that are too stained or torn to be wearable anymore can be cut up for other craft projects. The stains can be cut out and the clean portions can be cut into squares for quilting. The cloth could be cut into strips to be made into a recycled materials rope rug, or other similar project. Old socks (washed of course) can be stuffed with other fabric to become cheap and fun dog toys. Baby socks that have lost their match can be stuffed, sewn shut and a bell can be added to become a new cat toy. The leg from a pair of sweatpants (cut off from the rest) can be knotted up several times to become a dog toy too! Sew a few stained old shirts together and stuff them with other old clothes to make a comfy dog bed for the doghouse!
Old game pieces, books with torn pages, and old skeleton keys can be used for "altered art" projects, which are becoming more and more popular.
Even scrap fabric from that project you just finished, might be usable for a smaller project. Maybe it's just right to make doll clothes, a small dog sweater, or even a bracelet with old buttons sewn on.
For example, an old tire used to just be a tire swing. But did you know you can also make a tiered garden out of old tires? A stack of tires makes an excellent potato growing station. The rubber from old tires can also be used as tough dog chews (always make sure the rubber is solid, not cracking, and the toy should always be much larger than the size of the dogs mouth to assure he won't try to swallow it). We've even seen people use old tires to make their own sandals!
Your old teacups and spoons might be chipped or bent, but even with imperfections, they could be used to make a whimsical wind chime!
Clothes that are too stained or torn to be wearable anymore can be cut up for other craft projects. The stains can be cut out and the clean portions can be cut into squares for quilting. The cloth could be cut into strips to be made into a recycled materials rope rug, or other similar project. Old socks (washed of course) can be stuffed with other fabric to become cheap and fun dog toys. Baby socks that have lost their match can be stuffed, sewn shut and a bell can be added to become a new cat toy. The leg from a pair of sweatpants (cut off from the rest) can be knotted up several times to become a dog toy too! Sew a few stained old shirts together and stuff them with other old clothes to make a comfy dog bed for the doghouse!
Old game pieces, books with torn pages, and old skeleton keys can be used for "altered art" projects, which are becoming more and more popular.
Even scrap fabric from that project you just finished, might be usable for a smaller project. Maybe it's just right to make doll clothes, a small dog sweater, or even a bracelet with old buttons sewn on.