5 Unbelievable Recycled Crafts

by 10/17/11 14 Comments

The notion of crafting trash into treasure can bring to mind the newspaper hats and sand-filled mason jars of your childhood. But recycled crafts don’t have to look a kid’s art project. To prove it, here are five chic and sophisticated craft ideas made from some pretty surprising materials.

craft, DIY, radiator cover, vase, lantern, centerpiece, homemade, reuse, recycle

Photo: Amanda, ruffledblog.com

1. Radiator vase

This elegant vase is prim and pretty enough to be sold in a store. But you can make one yourself in a snap using leftovers from home remodeling.

Crafty wife and vintage enthusiast Amanda – who chronicles her creations on her blog, Ruffled – rescued perforated metal sheets from an old radiator cover and transformed them into this stylish centerpiece. Flat pliers and some nontoxic paint are all you need to turn your trash into a focal point fit for even the grandest of dinner tables.

If you have some pieces left over, just use the same simple steps outlined in Amanda’s tutorial to create festive lanterns for your next outdoor party.

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Mary Mazzoni

Mary Mazzoni

Staff Writer


  1. Ashley's Art Box

    posted on October 18th, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    These are brilliant ideas! The kitchen cabinet headboard is amazing!

  2. Keep Martin Beautiful

    posted on October 19th, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    What great ideas for all of the simple things you can find around your house, and turn into creative focal points for every room! And all of these items stay out of the landfill -- even better!

  3. Katie Carr

    posted on October 19th, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Wow - so cute!

  4. Katie Carr

    posted on October 19th, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Nancy Robb - perfect for all those wine corks you have!

  5. Murad Billah

    posted on October 21st, 2011 at 5:59 pm

    Fantastic! Nothing is useless at the end.

  6. Julia Knauss

    posted on October 21st, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    great ideas. I did a wine cork by hot glue to a picture frame for a bulletin board also.

  7. Ginger Reed

    posted on October 21st, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    cool ideas - check 'em out!

  8. Erica Strother

    posted on October 26th, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    great ideas. I also just now came up with a good one doll house furniture little chairs with the corks.

  9. Emma Kay Dorsey

    posted on December 21st, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    We recycle a beautiful old door to make a head board and we are building a house out of all found materials from Craig's list I love free recycle!

  10. Emma Kay Dorsey

    posted on December 21st, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    This is a great Idea!

  11. Christina Sharkey Biggert

    posted on January 9th, 2012 at 3:34 am

    http://earth911.com/news/2011/10/17/5-unbelievable-recycled-crafts/5/

  12. Sharon Clausson

    posted on January 28th, 2012 at 2:22 am

    I am not sure how to share my poster board solar cooking class instructions. It shows how to make a working solar cooker in less than an hour with 2 sheets of poster board and foil for <$5.

  13. Erica Strother

    posted on January 30th, 2012 at 8:54 am

    do u hv a picture of it? I was thinking about doing that on a rond mirror.

  14. Paula Hrbacek

    posted on January 31st, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    Follow PHrbacek on Twitter or subscribe to my newspaper column for art lesson plans and kid's crafts that use a lot of recycled items. http://www.examiner.com/childrens-arts-and-crafts-1-in-panama-city/paula-hrbacek

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