Skip to content
Trashmagination
  • My Projects
  • About
  • Fluffy Rug Class
  • Podcast Categories
  • SHOP
  • World Tour Plan
Filter By:
  • Show All
  • Creative Reuse Inspirations
  • Family Stories
  • Podcast
  • Taiko
  • Trashmagination Design
  • Weaving

Polystyrene Foam or Styrofoam

Polystyrene foam plates for sale on a shelf in a store

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. Read more ›

July 30, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
plastic

Insects and Creative Reuse Art

In the Midnight Garden by Jennifer Angus at the Renwick Gallery, December 2015

Creative reuse artists make insect sculptures from recycled materials, while others actually work with live insects to make art. Read more ›

July 8, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
metal, plastic

Fairy Gardens from Recycled Materials

Fairy, bunny and mushroom made from recycled plastic caps

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. Read more ›

June 16, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast

Justice and Creative Reuse

Piece by Jeremy Okai Davis at GLEAN Exhibit, August 2019

How can creative reuse be part of a personal practice living and working for justice? Read more ›

June 5, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast

Lessons from 100 Podcasts

Phases of the Moon rug that I made for my dad

This is the 101st episode of the Trashmagination podcast, so I’ll take a moment to talk about what I have learned from making 100 podcast episodes on creative reuse. Read more ›

May 25, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast

Money – Coins and Bills

Artists cut, paint, stack, carve and weld coins, as well as fold and embroider paper bills to make art. Read more ›

May 12, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
metal, sewing

Robot Sculptures from Recycled Materials

Capulet

Folk artists around the world make robots from recycled materials – and you can too! Read more ›

April 27, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast, Trashmagination Design
metal, plastic

Creative Reuse Trends during Social Distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Puppets made by my nephew and brother from recycled materials - named "Kevin" and "Frank"

People are generously making masks and hand sanitizer, teaching art with recycled materials and using up what they have in the kitchen. Read more ›

April 16, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
community building, fabric, sewing

Toilet Paper Rolls and Other Cardboard Tubes

A stuffed toy bird tied on a branch for a pretend nature scavenger hunt

You can make just about anything from toilet paper rolls or tubes – get fun activities for younger children, older children and adults. Read more ›

March 31, 2020
Carla Brown
Podcast
cardboard, family, Japan, paper

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
← Older posts
Newer posts →
© Trashmagination


Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

A theme by Sampression