Sarah Ramberg

Firefly Lantern with Upcycled Lighting from Habitat ReStore

April 21, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 146 Comments

Upcycling projects with vintage light fixtures is a common theme on my blog and this particular project was inspired by the trendy shop, Anthropologie. After seeing their metalwork hurricanes online, I realized how much they resembled a brass light from Habitat ReStore. That’s when I decided I needed to repurpose one into a firefly lantern. And I suspected that it would be pretty easy to do!Read more ›

Categorized: Create, Yard & Garden · Tagged: brass chandelier, brass light fixture, DIY lantern, how to paint metal, lantern, light fixture, light fixture project, repurpose chandelier, repurpose light fixture, upcycle chandelier, upcycle light fixture, vintage chandelier, vintage light fixture

Upcycling a Vintage Window as a Quilt Frame for an Antique Quilt

April 14, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 100 Comments

Antique quilts aren’t something you see at thrift stores very often. But on a little jaunt through the Georgia mountains one weekend, I found TWO old quilts. I didn’t want to be greedy and buy both, but I did take one of them home. It was crumbling and damaged, so it was definitely a cutter quilt that was destined for upcycling. And I knew right away that I wanted to display it by using a vintage window as a quilt frame.Read more ›

Categorized: Create · Tagged: antique window, country farmhouse, old window, primitive farmhouse, quilt craft, quilt DIY, quilt project, repurpose quilt, repurpose salvaged window, repurpose vintage quilt, repurpose window, salvaged window, upcycle salvaged window, upcycle vintage quilt, upcycle window, vintage decor, vintage quilt, vintage window, window frame

DIY Ribbon Holder from a Countertop Wine Rack

April 7, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 84 Comments

I think we can all agree that my mind works in mysterious ways- sometimes it’s a great thing (when a project works out!) and sometimes it’s bothersome (when a project fails). But once again, there I was in a thrift store, looking at everything through Sadie-colored glasses. And one of the things I spotted was this countertop wine rack that was unexciting but full of potential. As I studied the small wine rack, my mind started to see it as a DIY ribbon holder. Read more ›

Categorized: Create, Organization & Storage · Tagged: craft ribbon holder, craft ribbon storage, craft room organization, craft room storage, organization, repurposed wine rack, ribbon holder, ribbon organization, ribbon storage, Storage, upcycle wine rack, wine rack

Dutch Wooden Clogs as Upcycled Planters

April 3, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 70 Comments

I’ve had a quiet fascination with all things Dutch for most of my life. Between the tulips and the windmills and summering near Holland, Michigan, I suppose it couldn’t be avoided. I also had my own pair of Dutch wooden clogs, and while I no longer have them, I still wanted to turn some into upcycled planters for our front porch.Read more ›

Categorized: Create, Yard & Garden · Tagged: DIY planter, repurpose planter, repurposed planter, upcycled planter, wooden planter

Spring Door Decor from a Straw Purse

March 31, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 147 Comments

To me, Spring is all about flowers. The fresh start after winter, the gorgeous colors hanging from branches and sprouting from the ground, and the fragrance that perfumes the air. And to celebrate the arrival of this season, I decided I needed some Spring door decor by upcycling a straw purse from the thrift store.
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Garden Decor Ideas and Projects

March 20, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 57 Comments

Upcycling projects and garden decor really do go hand in hand. Whether you like DIY planters or junk gardens or quirky garden ideas in general, there is a repurposing project out there for you. Read more ›

Categorized: Themed Round-Ups, Yard & Garden · Tagged: DIY garden, DIY garden decor, garden decor, repurpose garden, repurposed garden decor, repurposed planter, upcycle garden, upcycled garden decor, upcycled planter, vintage planter

Cloth Flowers from Flour Sack Fabric

March 17, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 78 Comments

After taking a lengthy break from upcycled jewelry making projects, I decided it was time for me to delve back into it. I’ve made plenty of bracelets and necklaces, but never a brooch or a pin! And I decided to make some cloth flowers with the same flour sack fabric that I used for this project with vintage wooden spools.Read more ›

Categorized: Create, Sewing · Tagged: brooch pin, DIY brooch, DIY jewelry, DIY pin, feed sack fabric, flower pin, grain sack fabric, jewelry, repurpose vintage button, repurpose vintage fabric, upcycle vintage button, upcycle vintage fabric, vintage button, vintage fabric

DIY Cat Scratcher from an Antique Cheese Grater

March 11, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 51 Comments

I have to admit- scratching posts for the cats are hit-or-miss in this house. But I had an antique cheese grater that I didn’t know what else to do with. It was COMPLETELY dull to the touch so I knew it would be safe for upcycling into a DIY cat toy of some sort. And the more I looked at it, the more I saw a DIY cat scratcher that I could hang from a doorknob.

Fashion Wall Art with Vintage Sewing Patterns

March 3, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 96 Comments

Whenever I’m in a thrift store and I see a box or bin full of vintage sewing patterns, I can’t help but paw through them. Usually, I find regrettable patterns for 1980s-era garb. But every now and again, I find wonderful vintage dress patterns that would be perfect for upcycling into fashion wall art. Read more ›

Categorized: Create · Tagged: how to repurpose sewing patterns, how to upcycle sewing patterns, paper craft, pattern, picture frame, repurpose sewing pattern, sewing pattern, thrift store sewing pattern, upcycle sewing pattern, vintage fabric, vintage linens, vintage sewing pattern, vintage sheet, vintage sheets

Silver Candelabra as a Jewelry Tree Stand

February 25, 2016 · By Sarah Ramberg · 69 Comments

I’ve upcycled a LOT of thrift store finds into jewelry storage and organization projects over the years. Probably because I have such an affinity for vintage costume jewelry. Give me flashy rhinestones over diamonds any day of the week! And while most of my jewelry organizers have been “quirky”, none of them would be considered “elegant”. That is, until I found a silver candelabra at the thrift store and decided to repurpose it into a jewelry tree stand.