UpCycleIt http://blog.upcycleit.com where trash becomes treasure Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:48:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Upcycled Wine Bottle Torch http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/09/19/upcycled-wine-bottle-torch/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/09/19/upcycled-wine-bottle-torch/#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:48:31 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/?p=41 Wine Bottle Torch

Wine Bottle Torch

Gerard & Co has a nice write up on how to turn a a used wine bottle into a rather elegant looking outdoor torch. Could be a pretty cheap project for your next party if you’ve got some wine bottles laying around.

Link [via Make:]

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/09/19/upcycled-wine-bottle-torch/feed/ 0 Turn a lame ass shopping cart into a bad ass easy chair. http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/03/09/turn-a-lame-ass-shopping-cart-into-a-bad-ass-easy-chair/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/03/09/turn-a-lame-ass-shopping-cart-into-a-bad-ass-easy-chair/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:49:02 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/03/09/turn-a-lame-ass-shopping-cart-into-a-bad-ass-easy-chair/ Shopping Cart Chair
Living in Gainesville, Fl I see literally hundreds of shopping carts abandoned on the side of the road. As far as I know, most of these will end up in landfills since many are generic with no identification for where they’re from or damaged to a point that stores can’t reuse them. So, if you see a shopping cart lying around that seems like it will most likely be disposed of and you’re in need of a pretty sweet chair, this PDF from Make Magazine is for you.

Link (PDF file)

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2009/03/09/turn-a-lame-ass-shopping-cart-into-a-bad-ass-easy-chair/feed/ 1 Toy kits require recycled goods http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/05/21/toy-kits-require-recycled-goods/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/05/21/toy-kits-require-recycled-goods/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 17:06:24 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/05/21/toy-kits-require-recycled-goods/ Uberstix bottle

I remember as a kid I always wanted all kinds of kits to build, but inevitably parts would break and you’d just have to buy more parts or the whole kit all over again. It sucked. Well the folks at ÜBERSTIX have solved part of the problem. The toys you build don’t only require what comes in the box, but instead you have to find “trash” around your house to finish them off. They basically supply connectors to link the junk together and provide you with project ideas. Great way to jump start your kid into the world of upcycling.

Link

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/05/21/toy-kits-require-recycled-goods/feed/ 0 Store extension cords using paper towel tubes http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/16/store-extension-cords-using-paper-towel-tubes/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/16/store-extension-cords-using-paper-towel-tubes/#comments Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:40:28 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/16/store-extension-cords-using-paper-towel-tubes/ Paper towel tube extension cord

Another simple idea using paper towel tubes, use them to store extension cords.

Link-via unclutterer

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/16/store-extension-cords-using-paper-towel-tubes/feed/ 0 Paper/Vinyl Wallet http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/07/papervinyl-wallet/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/07/papervinyl-wallet/#comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:10:53 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/07/papervinyl-wallet/ I bought a wallet made from Tyvek about 2 years ago and it’s held up pretty well but is now starting to fall apart, so maybe I’ll make myself one of these guys.

Vinyl Wallet

Demokr from Instructables has a nice write up of how to make these from either paper or vinyl. I have scrap paper all over the place but I think that will just be a mess, and I don’t think vinyl is that readily available to the average person ( that is without buying it, big no no). Instead you could use some of those plastic bags you have laying around, bind them together and make it out of that.

Link-via Instructables

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/07/papervinyl-wallet/feed/ 0 The Family Handyman http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/05/the-family-handyman/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/05/the-family-handyman/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:18:32 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/05/the-family-handyman/ Picked up a copy of The Family Handyman issue “228 Storage Tips & Easy Projects” and I was pleasantly surprised to find all kinds of projects using commonly thrown away things. Some of the things they found use for:

  • PVC piping odds and ends
  • Old paint buckets
  • Altoid tins
  • Bulk CD cases
  • Coffee cans
  • Egg cartons
  • Variously shaped food containers

Tried to find a link to a site that sells this exact issue online, but no dice, and don’t even bother with their website, it seems to be mostly useless. The issue should be displayed until 04/08/2008 so search your local hardware stores.

Anyone else know of any good books/magazines that embrace the philosophy of upcycling?

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/03/05/the-family-handyman/feed/ 0 No cost laptop sleeves http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/25/no-cost-laptop-sleeves/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/25/no-cost-laptop-sleeves/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:38:24 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/25/no-cost-laptop-sleeves/ No Cost Laptop Sleeve

Here’s a link to several ways of making low to no cost laptop sleeves provided by Geek Technique.

Link

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/25/no-cost-laptop-sleeves/feed/ 0 Polystyrene (a.k.a. Styrofoam) to glue http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/08/polystyrene-aka-styrofoam-to-glue/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/08/polystyrene-aka-styrofoam-to-glue/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:23:07 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/08/polystyrene-aka-styrofoam-to-glue/ polystyrene

We just added a new article on what to do with all that Styrofoam you usually have lying around. Thanks, Brad.

This procedure involves dissolving Styrofoam in a solvent and using the resultant gloop as a glue.

Let us know if you’ve tried this, we’d love to hear how well it works.

Link

]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/08/polystyrene-aka-styrofoam-to-glue/feed/ 1 Buy and sell electronics http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/01/buy-and-sell-electronics/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/01/buy-and-sell-electronics/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:32:24 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/01/buy-and-sell-electronics/ Electronics Components

Electronics Lab is a kind of eBay like store for electronics in which you can buy or sell all kinds of electronics. Could be useful if you wanted to dismantle your old electronics and sell the parts.

Link

Read our article on how to identify your electronic parts
]]> http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/02/01/buy-and-sell-electronics/feed/ 0 Recycled Chopsticks Folding Baskets http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/01/30/recycled-chopsticks-folding-baskets/ http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/01/30/recycled-chopsticks-folding-baskets/#comments Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:25:03 +0000 Devin http://blog.upcycleit.com/2008/01/30/recycled-chopsticks-folding-baskets/ Chopsticks Basket

Kwytza Kraft has some cool products made from old chopsticks, like the fruit basket pictured above. They also offer some other products, like lamps and a necklace. It would probably be pretty easy to make these on your own, I know I have enough chopsticks laying around at my place to do it…..

Link

Add your chopsticks project to the UpCycleIt archives.
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