My Favorite Upcycling Supplies That Aren’t Actually Craft Supplies
Because I’ve been crafting for so long, I don’t always see things for what they are. I see what they could become.
- A yogurt jar can become a container.
- An old T-shirt can become fabric.
- A broken necklace can become jewelry parts.
- And a good cardboard box? I’m going to look at it before it goes in the recycling bin.
Some of my favorite craft materials are everyday items, secondhand finds, packaging, and scraps. Here are a few things that often make me think:
I could make something out of that.
Glass jars are very useful. After you remove the label and clean them, they become a blank canvas.
I once turned a yogurt jar into a container for handmade clay blueberries. I decorated the lid with ribbon, lace, hot glue, and strips of T-shirt fabric.
You can watch the video here: Clay Blueberry Storage Jar Video
Clothing is one of my favorite materials to use. Flannels, graphic tees, button-down shirts, and interesting prints can all become something new.
- Two shirts might become one upcycled piece.
- A dress shirt might become a bag.
- Sometimes I only want the graphic, buttons, pocket, or trim.
Once you stop seeing clothing as a finished product, you notice how much useful material it contains.
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This is where things get fun. Random household objects.
Frames, containers, trays, old decorations, hardware, fabric scraps, and kitchen items can all become craft materials. Sometimes the best material is something that was never meant for crafting. Those projects are often the most satisfying because the change is so dramatic.
I love being able to say: “Guess what this used to be.”
Creativity does not always start at the craft store. Sometimes it starts in your closet, recycling bin, kitchen, or local thrift store. It might even start with something you have been saving for months because you think you will eventually find a use for it.