Yoga Mats Creative Reuse
Get lots of ideas for how to use your old yoga mats, plus learn about a type of yoga mat made from recycled neoprene wetsuits!
8 Items You Might Not Creative Reuse
Trashmagination is all about encouraging you to creatively reuse found items and recyclables to make art. However, some materials can be hazardous to your health if you don’t take precautions when working with them.
Hair and Pet Fur Creative Reuse
Can you creatively reuse natural or synthetic hair?
Visible Mending
There is a creative reuse trend to mend your clothes with decorative stitches, making the item stronger and also more beautiful.
Leather Creative Reuse
What can you make from that leather couch on the curb, your old leather jacket or even the leather labels on your jeans?
DIY Plastic Recycling
Designers around the world are building machines that allow people to DIY their plastic recycling.
Inflatable Floats and Decorations Creative Reuse
Inflatables made from vinyl, rubber and nylon are very difficult to recycle but they are extremely popular during hot summer months and as holiday decorations.
Buttons Creative Reuse
Learn about the incredible ways artists work with buttons and get ideas for creatively reusing your own buttons.
Polystyrene Foam or Styrofoam
Polystyrene foam (more commonly called styrofoam) is notoriously difficult to recycle and awful for the environment, but you can avoid it and reuse it with creative thinking.
Insects and Creative Reuse Art
Creative reuse artists make insect sculptures from recycled materials, while others actually work with live insects to make art.
Fairy Gardens from Recycled Materials
Most fairy gardens are made from garden center statuettes or items removed from nature but you can make your own fairy garden from recycled materials.
Robot Sculptures from Recycled Materials
Folk artists around the world make robots from recycled materials – and you can too!
Toilet Paper Rolls and Other Cardboard Tubes
You can make just about anything from toilet paper rolls or tubes – get fun activities for younger children, older children and adults.
Weighted Blankets
Most weighted blankets get their heft by containing plastic or glass pellets but I made one with recycled denim blue jeans.
Tissue Paper Creative Reuse
Most municipal recycling programs do not want your tissue paper – so what can you make with it?
Fundraising with Scrap Quilts
You can fundraise for a cause AND build community if you make scrap quilts that include messages from your supporters.
Mylar Balloons
Mylar balloons cause many power outages and seabird deaths – but you can make a difference by not buying them and creatively reusing old ones.
Exercise Equipment from Recycled Materials
Get inspired to keep your new year’s resolutions about exercise by making exercise equipment from recycled materials.
Vintage Linens and Needlework Creative Reuse
Even if you love the vintage handkerchiefs, pillowcases or quilts that you inherited, what can you do with them?
Plastic Toys Creative Reuse
Get ideas for ways you can divert plastic toys from landfill – either to more children, to artists or to be made into plastic furniture.
Furniture Upcycling
When you see furniture curbside, do you wish you knew a way to bring it back to life?
Bras Creative Reuse
Whether your bras are gently-used or well-worn, get tips on places you can donate or art you can make.
Sayaka Ganz, Plasticware Artist
Sayaka Ganz makes giant wildlife sculptures from plastic spatulas, hangers, toys and lots of other plastic items, and she’s one of my top 5 favorite creative reuse artists in the world.
Artist Residences at Landfills
If you want unlimited art supplies, one option is to do an artist residency at a landfill or transfer station.
Egg Shells and Egg Cartons Creative Reuse
Many artists work with egg shells and egg cartons. Get inspired to make art and craft from these easy-to-find materials!