Upcycling is the art of turning trash into treasure with a little bit of crafting skill and a whole lot of creativity. From recycled plastic, to painted bobby pins, and refashioned coffee pods, one of the 17 gorgeous creations below is sure to spark your imagination.
1. These pearlescent beads are made from bubble wrap, believe it or not.
Read how to make them here.
2. Melt colorful plastic and turn it into neat earrings.
See how it’s done here.
3. You can turn a coin into a ring with this tutorial.
4. These purses are woven with embroidery floss and soda tabs.
5. These decoupaged comic book bangles are made from an old water bottle.
Read the tutorial here.
6. This pretty medallion is a soda tab filled with clear resin and gold flecks.
7. Since washers already have holes in them, they are perfect to decorate and make into necklaces.
8. With a little bit of nail polish, you can turn bobby pins into colorful earrings.
Learn how to make these here.
9. Slice wine corks into disks and make these initial earrings.
10. Use old earrings and gemstones to turn keys into decorative brooches or necklaces.
Read more about these here.
11. With a flatware-bending device, you can make bracelets from spoons, knives, and forks.
Read more about the process here.
12. Fill an old watch with resin to create a new piece of jewelry. This one glows in the dark!
Read the instructions here.
13. Fashion instant espresso pods into necklaces and other jewelry.
In fact, there are a lot of different things you can DIY with instant espresso pods.
14. Grab a belt from a thrift store and turn it into a custom leather cuff.
Get the tutorial here.
15. Plastic takeout boxes make great upcycled Shrinky Dinks. Draw on the plastic with permanent markers and stick it in the oven for 30 minutes.
Read the full instructions here.
16. An old necktie becomes a cool cloth bangle with a few snips and a bit of sewing.
Read the instructions here.
17. Make tiny flowers with a soda can and glue them to hair pins.
You could also use this tutorial to make a necklace with your flowers.
I might have to invest in a flatware-bending machine now that I’ve seen that awesome bracelet made from a spoon. I also want to make those colorful bobby pin earrings ASAP. Which one of these projects inspired you to get creating?