It’s hip, cool, and helpful to go green! Since today is “Buy Nothing Day” we thought we’d help you find some new ways to upcycle old things into creative DIY projects. Today we’re highlighting amazing ideas for repurposing broken, old, discarded items into new, beautiful, and useful things. From garage reorganization to creative cardboard construction to gift giving, we think you’ll find lots of ingenious ways to breathe new life into gift giving instead of the humdrum standards!
Add your personal touch to holiday gifting using things others might otherwise have discarded or ignored, and give your loved ones something truly special. And nothing says happy holidays like a day of fun-filled family bonding, which is why we’ve included great kid-friendly options for “make together” projects they can do with you. Let’s head into the garage for some DIY excitement!
Give Your Garage Tool or Workspace A DIY Overhaul
No need to spend hundreds on a garage remodel! Chances are you’ve got everything in your recycling pile that you need to update your workspace. Check out this amazing list of ways to repurpose household items, leftover packing supplies, and the leftover bits and bobs from other house projects. If you can’t find all the elements for these projects in your home, try scouring Freecycle or Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to find budget or free options. If you’ve got an eco-conscious family member in your midst, it may also be a great idea for a personalized gift to outline your plans, gather the materials and box them up, and gift them with a “coupon” for garage reorganization!
Gather Up Your Cardboard Recycling & Let’s Build Together
This tutorial from Parenting.com shows step by step how to build the kiddos their own car for pretend races. If you’re looking for something super creative with a little bit of a challenge, you can live out your architectural dreams with this Youtube Tutorial by Mr. Vereshchak for a Cardboard Kids Playhouse. Craft an entire Rainbow Town for playtime with the kids using this tutorial from Hellowonderful.co!
Repurpose Those Broken Dishes from Holiday Dinner
Got some broken dishes left behind from yesterday’s Thanksgiving festivities? No worries! We’re here to turn that tragic cracked plate into something bold, brilliant, and truly showstopping. Turn those cracked and broken dishes into art. Wash them well with soap and water, and put them in a box to be repurposed in a mosaic. Grab a pair of safety goggles and a trusty set of tile nippers and let’s get crafting. Find the most interesting pieces of your broken, cracked, or chipped plates and cut them with the nippers. Then adhere them onto sturdy containers and use them to hold your tools, apply them to a garden tile for a stepping stone, or even arrange them on a plank of reclaimed wood as an accent piece in your home.
Click here for a great tutorial on how to use the tile nippers on plates.
Blog Project Roundup: DIY Your Own Holiday Gifts
We’d love to see what you make if you try any of the projects on this list! Share a photo and tag us in a comment on social media.
Have an idea for a DIY project our readers would enjoy?
Let us know your suggestion and we may include it in a future post!
