Welcome to North Carolina, the Tar Heel State! It’s the birthplace of Pepsi, where the Wright Brothers completed the first successful flight, and home of the infamous Outer Banks, aka Shipwreck Central. But it’s also home to some fantastic thrift stores that any bargain-hunter would love.Read more ›
Wooden Pendant Necklace from Old Tennis Rackets
February 22, 2024 · By · 74 Comments
I didn’t set out to make a wooden pendant necklace when I lopped the heads off of some old tennis rackets for my Christmas cross stitch project. But, crafting kismet took over right from the start. Here, allow me to explain and show you what I mean.
Read more ›
Bird Nesting Material in a Rusty Spring
February 21, 2024 · By · 77 Comments
We have a lot of birds that frequent our yard. We offer multiple bird feeders, bird baths, and bird houses (many of which are upcycling projects of mine), and I wanted to make a new one for them. Bird nesting material is something I wanted to make plentiful for them, and I had an idea of just how to do it.Read more ›
DIY Fire Starters from Household Waste
February 20, 2024 · By · 45 Comments
We’ve all been told to clean out the lint trays in our dryers to avoid a house fire. And for good reason- dryer lint burns like crazy! Which means it’s the perfect ingredient for DIY Fire Starters. And those things come in SUPER HANDY when you need to get a fire going, either in your fireplace or a fire pit outside. Read more ›
Farmhouse Lamp from a Wood Baluster
February 16, 2024 · By · 28 Comments
Many moons ago, I had spotted a gorgeous farmhouse lamp at a highfalutin antique shop in Cashiers, North Carolina. Constructed from an old porch baluster (the spindle’s more robust cousin), it was striking…and strikingly expensive. I went from defeated to determined, though, when Jon whispered to me in the shop, “We can make that.”Read more ›
Suet Feeder in a Coffee Mug
February 15, 2024 · By · 155 Comments
I love to feed the wild birds in my yard all year long, especially during the cold winter months. So I decided to make a suet feeder that would keep them fat, happy, and healthy through the cold winter. And to keep it extra interesting (and very Sadie-esque), I decided to try my hand at making homemade bird suet that I would pour in a coffee mug.
Read more ›
Winter Scenes in Silver Plate
February 14, 2024 · By · Leave a Comment
Ever since I put together this collection of ways to repurpose silver plate, I’ve been itching to add a new project to it. So, when I found these silver-plated goblets while thrifting, I decided they’d be fun to play with. And putting together winter scenes in the tarnished silver seemed perfect for this time of year.Read more ›
Upcycle Ideas for Craft Room Organization
February 1, 2024 · By · Leave a Comment
Craft room organization is an upward battle for most crafters and makers. Paints, brushes, beads, notions- all these supplies (and so much more) get easily out of hand in a disorganized mess. Organizing and storing them is key to a crafter’s sanity and saves them from having to re-purchase supplies they already have (but got lost in the mess). These upcycled projects are a great way to get your craft supplies organized in a thrifty AND crafty way.Read more ›
Upcycling Ideas for Silver Plate
January 29, 2024 · By · 14 Comments
Most thrift stores are positively littered with the remnants of wedding registries from days gone by. In particular, stacks of silver plate (not to be confused with stamped sterling silver) are a pretty common sight at secondhand shops. Trays, platters, bread baskets, pitchers- there are just scads of it available at thrift shops, varying in price and quality. Thankfully, today’s crafters are finding fresh ways to repurpose those silver-plated items into new and exciting projects.Read more ›
Upcycled Projects as Boredom Busters
January 26, 2024 · By · Leave a Comment
As winter drags on, boredom can easily set in. You’ve read the books, you’ve watched the shows, and you’ve played the games- now what? Simple upcycle crafts are a great way to disrupt the cycle of screen time- and perhaps these projects will be the boredom busters you’ve been looking for.Read more ›
