My recycling bin was starting to judge me. It was overflowing with glass jars, cardboard boxes, and that one random wine cork I swore I’d do something with. We’ve all been there, right?
I finally decided to stop feeling guilty and start getting creative. So, I went down a rabbit hole of DIY upcycle crafts, and honestly? It was the best decision ever. Not only did I clear out the clutter, but I also ended up with some seriously cool stuff for my apartment. Plus, my wallet is thanking me.
So, grab that pile of “trash” you’ve been hoarding (I won’t tell), and let’s turn it into treasure. Here are 20 of my favorite DIY upcycle crafts for eco-friendly creating that are actually fun and don’t require you to be a professional crafter.
Kitchen & Dining Upcycles
This is ground zero for upcycling materials. Glass jars, tin cans, and old utensils are basically free crafting supplies waiting to happen.
Turn Glass Jars into Stylish Storage
I have a serious problem with buying pasta sauce, not for the sauce, but for the jar. My friends think I’m crazy. But IMO, a clean glass jar is the most versatile item in the upcycling world.
First, soak off the labels. Mix hot water and dish soap, let them sit for 20 minutes, and the paper should slide right off. For stubborn glue residue, a little baking soda mixed with oil works like a charm.
Now, for the fun part. You can:
- Paint the lids with chalk paint to label spices or baking supplies.
- Use glass paint to create a frosted look for bathroom storage (think cotton balls and q-tips).
- Wrap twine or jute around the base for a rustic farmhouse vibe to hold your paintbrushes.
Ever wondered why we buy expensive storage containers when we literally pay for food that comes in them? 😉
Tin Can Herb Planters
Don’t throw those tin cans in the recycling bin just yet! They make the absolute cutest planters for a kitchen windowsill herb garden.
Make sure the edges aren’t sharp. You can either file them down or, my preferred method, use a can opener that leaves a smooth, safe edge. Then, punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage with a hammer and nail.
Here’s where you can get creative:
- Paint them with bright, cheerful colors.
- Cover them in fabric scraps or old wrapping paper using Mod Podge.
- Leave them raw for an industrial, minimalist look.
Pop in some basil, mint, or chives, and you’ve got fresh herbs and a conversation starter. Just try not to kill them like I usually do. :/
Upcycled Wine Cork Trivets
If you’re a wine lover (no judgment here), you probably have a stash of corks you can’t bear to throw away. Instead of letting them gather dust in a bowl, turn them into a functional trivet.
You’ll need a bunch of corks (about 30-40 for a small trivet) and a hot glue gun. Simply glue the corks together on their sides in a pattern you like. You can do a simple grid, a circle, or a more random organic shape.
FYI, this project is a bit of a glue-gun marathon, so put on a good podcast or your favorite movie. The result is a heat-resistant and totally unique piece for your table that also holds great memories. Ever wondered what to do with all those corks? Problem solved.
Furniture & Home Decor
Got some tired-looking furniture or random bits and bobs lying around? Time to give them a major glow-up.
DIY Sweater Pillow Covers
We all have that one sweater. You know the one—maybe it shrunk in the wash, or it has a small stain, or you’re just simply bored of it. Instead of donating it, give it a second life as a cozy pillow cover.
This is so easy it’s almost silly. Turn the sweater inside out, place your pillow insert on top, and trace around it, leaving a 1-inch seam allowance. Cut it out, sew the sides (or use fabric glue for a no-sew version!), turn it right-side out, and stuff your pillow in.
The best part? You get a custom, textured throw pillow for zero dollars. The chunky knit or cable knit of the sweater adds so much character. I did this with an old cable-knit sweater that had a hole in the elbow, and now it’s the star of my couch.
Old Dresser into a Bathroom Vanity
Okay, this one is a weekend project, but the payoff is huge. If you have an old, solid-wood dresser that’s seen better days, don’t you dare leave it on the curb for bulk trash day.
With a little elbow grease, you can transform it into a stunning bathroom vanity. Here’s the general idea:
- Cut out the back and insides to make room for plumbing.
- Seal and paint the dresser with a moisture-resistant paint.
- Cut a hole in the top for a new sink basin.
- Install a countertop (a piece of butcher block or marble works great) and the faucet.
It creates a one-of-a-kind piece with built-in storage that you just can’t buy at a big box store. Plus, you saved a perfectly good piece of furniture from a landfill.
### Book Page Wreath
Before you yell at me about tearing up books, I’m talking about books that are literally falling apart—water-damaged, missing covers, or outdated encyclopedias. Give them a noble end as decor!
You’ll need a foam or wire wreath form, a hot glue gun, and a bunch of pages from your doomed book.
- Cut the pages into strips or various leaf shapes.
- Roll the ends of the paper around a pencil to curl them slightly for dimension.
- Hot glue the rolled pages onto the wreath form, layering them tightly together until the form is completely covered.
The finished product is an elegant, textural wreath that looks surprisingly high-end. It’s a great way to add a literary touch to your home without spending a dime.
Fashion & Accessories
Your closet is a goldmine for upcycle crafts. That stained shirt or those jeans from high school can become something new and trendy.
Denim Jean Pocket Organizer
We all have a pair of jeans with ripped knees or a weird stain that finally gave up. Before you toss them, cut them up! The most useful part? The back pockets.
Cut the pockets off the jeans, leaving a little bit of the surrounding fabric. Then, hot glue or sew them onto a piece of scrap wood, a canvas tote bag, or even just hang them on a command hook on the wall.
Now you have the perfect spot for:
- Storing mail and keys by the door.
- Holding remote controls in the living room.
- Organizing art supplies or hair brushes in the bathroom.
It’s quirky, functional, and uses the strongest part of the jeans. What’s not to love?
T-Shirt Yarn (Tarn) and Projects
Don’t throw away those old concert tees or stained t-shirts! Turn them into t-shirt yarn, or “tarn.” It’s free yarn, people!
To make tarn, lay the shirt flat and cut it into 1-inch strips, but don’t cut through the top seam. Then, cut diagonally from one strip to the next to create one continuous strip. Pull on the strip gently, and it will curl up into “yarn.”
Now, what to do with it?
- Arm knit a giant, chunky blanket. Seriously, it’s so fast and satisfying.
- Crochet a floor pouf or basket for storage.
- Weave it into a wall hanging.
The tarn gives your project a soft, stretchy, and incredibly durable texture. It’s the ultimate way to upcycle sentimental shirts you can’t wear anymore.
Broken Jewelry Refashion
Got a drawer full of single earrings or necklaces with broken chains? Don’t toss them! They are just begging to become something new.
Gather all your misfit pieces. You can:
- Turn a single statement earring into a pendant for a necklace.
- Combine charms from different bracelets onto one new chain.
- Glue broken pieces onto a plain picture frame or a small box to create a cool, eclectic mosaic.
This is one of my favorite DIY upcycle crafts because it feels like being a treasure hunter in your own home. You end up with new, custom jewelry that’s totally unique and has a history.
Garden & Outdoor Upcycles
Your yard and garden are the perfect places to get a little weird with your upcycling. Plants don’t judge!
Plastic Bottle Vertical Garden
If you drink a lot of soda or water, those plastic bottles are a major source of waste. But they can also be a major source of garden space!
This is a perfect project for a small balcony or patio.
- Clean the bottles and cut a rectangular hole in the side.
- Punch drainage holes in the bottom and holes for string or wire near the top.
- Thread sturdy string or wire through the bottles, tying knots underneath each one to hold them in place.
- Fill them with soil and your favorite herbs or small flowers.
Hang them on a fence or a wall, and you’ve got a living wall of plants that cost you nothing but a little time. It waters your plants and recycles plastic? That’s a win-win.
Old Tire Planter
Old tires are bulky and terrible for the environment. But painting them and turning them into planters? That’s a pretty great alternative.
This project takes a bit of muscle. You’ll need to clean the tire thoroughly. Then, the fun begins. You can:
- Stack and paint them in bright colors to create a unique raised garden bed.
- Cut them into fun shapes. With a sharp knife (be careful!), you can cut the tire to create a flower or scalloped edge.
- Turn one on its side, paint it, and fill it with flowers as a fun, circular planter.
They are practically indestructible, so they’ll last forever in your garden. Plus, a brightly painted tire planter is a great conversation piece. Ever wondered what to do with that old spare? Now you know.
Broken Clay Pot Fairy Garden
We’ve all been there. You drop a clay pot, and it shatters into a million pieces. Before you sweep it all into the trash, stop! Those broken pieces are perfect for fairy gardens.
Use the large curved pieces to create “stairs” or terraces in a larger pot. Bury them partially in the soil so the curved part sticks up like a little hobbit-hole archway.
The small shards make great:
- Tiny tombstones (for a spooky fairy garden).
- Pathway pavers.
- Mushroom caps when glued onto a stick.
It’s a great way to deal with an accident and create something magical for the kids (or for yourself, I won’t tell).
Organization & Storage
Get your home organized using things you were about to throw away. It’s oddly satisfying.
Cereal Box Magazine Holders
This is one of those DIY upcycle crafts that is so simple, it’s brilliant. Empty cereal boxes are made of the perfect weight of cardboard.
Here’s how to do it:
- Cut the top of the box off at an angle, so one side is higher than the other (like a traditional magazine holder).
- You can cover the boxes with wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or even fabric using Mod Podge for a cohesive look.
- Glue several together side-by-side for a larger set.
Now you have free, custom storage for magazines, notebooks, files, or even cutting boards in your kitchen. It clears up clutter and saves a few boxes from the bin.
Egg Carton Seed Starters
This is a classic for a reason. Cardboard egg cartons are the perfect biodegradable seed-starting pots.
Simply fill each egg cup with potting soil, plant your seeds, and water them lightly. The best part? When your seedlings are ready to go in the ground, you can cut the cups apart and plant the whole thing! The cardboard will break down in the soil, adding organic matter and not disturbing the delicate roots of your new plants.
It’s a foolproof way to get a jump on your garden without spending a cent on plastic seed trays. FYI, just make sure to poke a small drainage hole in the bottom of each cup first.
Shoebox Charging Station
Tangled cords are the bane of my existence. But a sturdy shoebox with a lid is the perfect solution.
Find a shoebox (a sturdy one from boots works best) and decorate the outside with fabric, paint, or paper to match your room.
Then, cut a few slits in the back of the box (large enough for charger heads to fit through) and a few smaller holes in the side. Put a power strip inside the box, plug all your chargers in, and feed the cables out through the slits. Close the lid, and voila! You have a hidden, organized charging station for your nightstand or desk. No more ugly cord nest!
Kids’ Crafts & Fun
Get the little ones involved in upcycling early. It teaches them about sustainability and sparks creativity.
Cardboard Box Rocket Ship
This is the ultimate upcycle project for kids. That giant Amazon box isn’t just packaging; it’s a spaceship waiting to happen.
Cut off the top flaps of a large box. Let your kids go to town with paint, markers, and stickers. You can help them cut out a round window and a door. Attach aluminum foil to the sides for a metallic look, and use paper towel rolls as telescopes or rocket boosters taped to the sides.
The amount of imaginative play a simple cardboard box can inspire is amazing. It’s way better than any expensive, battery-operated toy. IMO, this is the best use of an Amazon box, hands down.
Plastic Lid Stamps
The plastic lids from yogurt containers, peanut butter jars, and milk jugs are usually #2 plastic, which is great for this project.
Gather a bunch of different sized lids. Clean them off and dry them. Then, using a hot glue gun, draw shapes or patterns onto the flat side of the lid. You can do stars, hearts, swirls, or simple lines.
Let the glue dry completely. Then, pour some paint onto a paper plate, dip your new “stamp” into the paint, and stamp away on paper or fabric! It’s a fantastic way to make custom wrapping paper or cards, and it keeps more plastic out of the recycling bin.
Wipe Container Piggy Bank
Those round baby wipe containers are the perfect shape and have a convenient flip-top lid. They are just begging to become a piggy bank!
First, clean the container thoroughly. Then, let your child paint it or cover it with construction paper. Add googly eyes, a pink paper snout, and a pipe cleaner tail. The flip-top lid on top is the perfect slot for coins!
It’s a fun, quick afternoon project that gives your kid a safe place to save their allowance and keeps another piece of plastic in use.
Advanced & Creative Upcycles
Ready to level up your upcycling game? These projects require a bit more skill but produce stunning results.
Vintage Suitcase End Table
Vintage suitcases are often beautiful but have broken latches or torn linings, making them unusable for travel. But they are perfect for storage and decor!
Find two or three suitcases in a similar style but graduating sizes. Stack them, with the largest on the bottom. You can leave them as-is for a boho vibe, or for more stability, you can screw small furniture feet into the corners of each case to keep them from sliding.
You now have a unique end table with built-in storage. Store blankets, books, or out-of-season clothes inside. It’s a functional piece of art that adds instant character to any room.
Chandelier from Old Glass Bottles
This is a showstopper. If you have a collection of interesting glass bottles (think different colored wine bottles, old soda bottles, or unique olive oil bottles), you can turn them into a light fixture.
This project requires a glass cutter and some patience. You’ll need to cut the bottoms off the bottles. There are many tutorials online for this using a jig and a glass cutter. Once the bottoms are removed, you need to smooth the sharp edges with sandpaper.
Then, you thread the bottle necks onto the arms of a chandelier kit (or a pre-existing chandelier you don’t mind modifying). The light shines through the glass, creating a beautiful, colorful, and utterly unique lighting piece. It’s a serious statement maker.
Upcycled Book Ledger Art Journal
Old, thick books with sewn bindings make incredible bases for art journals. Think vintage encyclopedias, old textbooks, or damaged hardcovers.
First, glue several pages together in sections to create a thicker surface to paint on. Then, you can:
- Gesso over the printed text to create a surface for painting and collage.
- Cut out windows in some pages to create little niches.
- Sew pockets into pages to hold tags and treasures.
The spine of the book remains intact, giving you a beautiful, sturdy journal that’s full of texture and history. It’s a perfect place to experiment with mixed media art.
So, there you have it. Twenty ways to look at your trash in a whole new light. The next time you go to throw something away, just pause for a second. Ask yourself, “Could this be something else?” You might be surprised at what you come up with. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a pile of jam jars and a glue gun. Happy creating!
