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Social Distancing: 20 Creative Reuse Activities to Do at Home

Butterfly made from a recycled plastic water jug

If you are staying close to home due to social distancing, you can do these creative reuse activities with items that you likely already have at home so you don’t need to go to the store. Read more ›

March 17, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
food, plastic, quilting, sewing, wood

Weighted Blankets

Weighted Blanket sewn by Trashmagination from recycled denim jeans and red wool coat

Most weighted blankets get their heft by containing plastic or glass pellets but I made one with recycled denim blue jeans. Read more ›

February 21, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast, Trashmagination Design
fabric, quilting, wool

Tissue Paper Creative Reuse

Dyed tissue paper by Gena VanValkenburgh

Most municipal recycling programs do not want your tissue paper – so what can you make with it? Read more ›

February 11, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
paper

Fundraising with Scrap Quilts

Quilter holds up small quilt made from hexagon-shaped blocks with messages of encouragement sewn on each block

You can fundraise for a cause AND build community if you make scrap quilts that include messages from your supporters. Read more ›

January 24, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
charity, fabric, Lester B. Pearson College, quilting, sewing, taiko

Mylar Balloons

Mylar Balloons - round one says Happy Birthday to you and the other looks like Thomas the Train

Mylar balloons cause many power outages and seabird deaths – but you can make a difference by not buying them and creatively reusing old ones. Read more ›

January 10, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
birthdays, holidays, metal

Exercise Equipment from Recycled Materials

Medicine Ball / Kettle Bell and Yoga Block from Denim Fabric Scraps

Get inspired to keep your new year’s resolutions about exercise by making exercise equipment from recycled materials. Read more ›

December 20, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
sewing

Vintage Linens and Needlework Creative Reuse

Rectangular hooked rug with pink, purple, blue and orange flowers in a traditional design

Even if you love the vintage handkerchiefs, pillowcases or quilts that you inherited, what can you do with them? Read more ›

December 2, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
fabric, rug hooking, sewing, wool, yarn

Plastic Toys Creative Reuse

Girl playing with large plastic blocks and toy cars

Get ideas for ways you can divert plastic toys from landfill – either to more children, to artists or to be made into plastic furniture. Read more ›

November 20, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
family, holidays, plastic, toys

Furniture Upcycling

Seat of a rocking chair colorfully painted by Trashmagination - decorated with vegetables - called the Vege-chair

When you see furniture curbside, do you wish you knew a way to bring it back to life? Read more ›

November 7, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
wood

My Good List

Two hexagon quilt blocks with words written on them

A thing, a habit, a work of art and a philosophy – these are the four items that Tsh Oxenreider asks guests to describe on her podcast Simple. So what are my answers? Read more ›

October 21, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
family, Lester B. Pearson College, quilting

Bras Creative Reuse

Black bra on a mannequin

Whether your bras are gently-used or well-worn, get tips on places you can donate or art you can make. Read more ›

October 10, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
sewing

Sayaka Ganz, Plasticware Artist

Two horse sculptures emerging from the wall

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. Read more ›

September 24, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
plastic

Artist Residences at Landfills

Pieces by Miel-Margarita Paredes, GLEAN Exhibit, August 2019

If you want unlimited art supplies, one option is to do an artist residency at a landfill or transfer station. Read more ›

September 4, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
plastic, weaving, wood

Egg Shells and Egg Cartons Creative Reuse

Dyed Eggs photo by Breakingpic on Pexels

Many artists work with egg shells and egg cartons. Get inspired to make art and craft from these easy-to-find materials! Read more ›

August 23, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
cardboard, food

Books Creative Reuse

Little Free Library - share books in your neighborhood

If you have books that no one wants to read anymore – such as out-of-date reference or text books – what can you make with them? Read more ›

August 6, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
paper

Recycled Art Sculpture Trails

Parrotfish from Washed Ashore Exhibit, Smithsonian National Zoo

Would you like to attract people to your town to enjoy nature and art? You could organize a recycled art sculpture trail. Read more ›

July 30, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
community building, metal, plastic, wood

Tennis Balls and Rackets Creative Reuse

Marna with recycled tennis balls

Each year, 325 million tennis balls are made in the world, but there are many ways to creatively reuse tennis balls and rackets – so get started today! Read more ›

July 9, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
plastic

Rope Creative Reuse

Gold and silver medals made from recycled lids and rope shopping bag handles

From shopping bag handles to fishing gear, there is a lot of rope that can be creatively reused! Read more ›

June 21, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast, Trashmagination Design
plastic

Igloo from Plastic Jugs

Jugloo at the Maker Faire NoVa

We built an igloo from plastic jugs for Maker Faire NoVa and we used a method no one had used before (zip ties!) Read more ›

June 5, 2019
Carla Brown
Family Stories, Podcast, Trashmagination Design
family, plastic

Cosmetics Creative Reuse

Spilled and broken cosmetics photo from Free Creative Stuff

Since most cosmetics are sold in plastic packaging and contain toxic chemicals, they can be challenging to creatively reuse, so get ideas for what to do with your expired cosmetics. Read more ›

May 27, 2019
Carla Brown
Podcast
plastic
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