My husband and I have purchased our fair share of watering cans and none of them seem to work really well.  So, on a whim, I decided to try and fancy up one of my own.  A milk jug and a few holes later and VIOLA! a cheap and effective way to water the garden.  If you’d like to make one for yourself, simply (and carefully) poke several small holes along the top of a used milk jug.  Fill that new watering can with water, secure the top, and have at it.  Your new seedlings and young plants will be happy you did.

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1. Quick Tip: Make it yourself.

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I have an old cotton skirt I used to wear to the beach or around the house, but just decided it wasn’t really my style anymore. I decided it would look better as a big, slouchy, cozy bag. Here is what I did to turn an old skirt (along with a bit of an old shirt) into a cute and upcycled purse.

How to REuse a Skirt to make a Purse:

1. Turn the skirt inside out.
2. Sew the bottom of the skirt together.

3. Flip the skirt right side out.

4. Cut three strips of fabric from the bottom of a shirt (about 1 inch wide for each).

5. Cut the fabric pieces so they are strips instead of loops.

6. Tie the three strips into a knot.

7. Shut the knot into a drawer or a door, ask a friend or significant other to hold it…something that will keep it in place.

8. Braid the 3 strips of fabric together. If you do not know how to braid, check out this link.

*The width of the shirt you use will determine the length of your handle. I used an XL tshirt for my handle*

9. Tie the end of the braid in a knot.

10. Pin the braided handle to your new purse and sew. I just did 3 lines of thread as the normal X inside a square wouldn’t work with the knot in the handle.

11. What’s awesome about your new braided handle is that you can shorten it and turn your new upcycled purse from a messenger type bag into a shoulder tote in minutes. Just tie a knot at the top to make your handle a desired length.

Related posts:

1. How to Reuse a Sweatshirt to make a Steering Wheel Cover.
2. How to Reuse a blouse to make a wedding hairpin.
3. How to REuse playing cards to make a wedding boutonniere.

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Not that you should need a holiday to remind your honeybunny how much he/she means to you, but Valentine’s Day is as good as any to make him/her an extra special bouquet of flowers. It’s personalized, cost effective, and eco-friendly. Way to go YOU! Just follow these super easy steps and you’ll be impressing your sweetheart in no time with your creative reuse skills.

How to reuse a magazine to make a bouquet of flowers:

1. Take one piece of magazine paper and fold it about 1 inch.

2. Repeat this step across the entire page. Tape in place.

3. Roll the paper into itself to create a paper rose. Tape in place.

4. Tape the new paper rose to the bottom right corner of another piece of paper.

5. Start rolling the paper at the bottom left aiming towards the top right.

6. Roll the paper around the rose. (You may need to make small adjustments to make sure it looks good).
7. Tape the “stem”.
8. Make as many of these bad boys as your heart desires and hand them out and make people smile!

Related posts:

1. Creative Link Share: 22 Crafty Ways to Reuse Magazine
2. How to REuse playing cards to make a wedding boutonniere.
3. How to Reuse a Sweatshirt to make a Steering Wheel Cover.

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IT WORKS!  The bathmat folds nicely and is heavier than a towel so it stays in place.  It snuggles perfectly to the door and keeps the cold air out and toasty warm air in.

Try it!

Nice one hubby (:

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How to Reuse a Sweatshirt to make a Steering Wheel Cover:

1.  Measure the circumference and the thickness of your steering wheel to make sure the sweatshirt arm will be long and wide enough to cover half of the wheel.  You will be cutting the fabric in half lengthwise and making the cover from two pieces.

2. Cut your sweatshirt arm open along the seam.  Cut the sweatshirt arm in half lengthwise.

3.  Cut each piece into a rectangle.

4.  Take one piece and cut holes across from each other at each end of the fabric.  Cut the hole about 1/2 inch from the side of the fabric and separate each hole by 2 inches.

5.  Place the top half of your cover on to the steering wheel and use yarn to tie the first hole tightly to the steering wheel.  If you can tie the yarn underneath a part of the steering wheel it will help the fabric from falling as you secure the rest of the fabric.

6.  Use a very long piece of yarn and go in through the front hole, out through the back hole, then over the steering wheel.  Repeat with the remaining holes.

7.  Tie the yarn to itself and make a knot.

8.  Repeat this process with the bottom half.

9.  Make sure to tie the ends of each piece tightly to the steering wheel.  It helps to go around the steering wheel a couple of time.

Take it out for a test drive!

Related posts:

1. How to Reuse a blouse to make a wedding hairpin.
2. How to REuse playing cards to make a wedding boutonniere.

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Obvious answer. Make more popsicles! Over at The Mother Huddle you’ll find a list of fantastic choices for recipes.

In case of an emergency. If the kiddos (or adults) are running around and someone gets hurt, use that popsicle stick for a readymade splint!  Then, of course, get yourself to the doctor.

Keep your stuff tidy. Make yourself a popsicle basket to hold pens, mail, and other important stuff.  Paint them fun colors first to add a bit of spice!

tutorial HERE

Name that plant. Use popsicle sticks make wonderful plant label.  Just write the name of the plant on one end and stick the other end in the ground near your plant.  You will never get lost in your garden again.

Keep cool.  Make yourself a paper fan and stay cool on those extra hot days.

tutorial HERE

Paint tracker. The next time your home needs a painting update, keep some extra popsicle sticks around to keep track of which paint color was used where.  Dip one side in the paint and let it dry.  Write the name of the paint color and where that paint was used on the opposite side of the popsicle stick.

Make a bracelet.

tutorial HERE.

Wall art. Need or want a simple work of art that feels sculptural?  Create abstract mixed media works with painted popsicle sticks.  This is great for kids and adults.  A simple way to have a unique work of art for your home.

tutorial on this work HERE

Say something. You can decorate a children’s bedroom with his/her name or come up with a nice message to hang on the wall.  Cut your sticks, glue together the letters, paint it and you’re done.

One of the most unique purses you will ever own. Don’t know if you would call this practical, but certainly fun.

tutorial HERE

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1. Creative Link Share: 22 Crafty Ways to Reuse Magazine

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I received an excited email from my sister-in-law last week as she shared photos she took of a DIY creative reuse project she had just finished.  I loved it the second I saw it.  One of her photo frames broke and instead of giving up on it and throwing it away, she turned it into an upcycled jewelry holder.

What a great idea!

It is upcycling, home decor, and function, all wrapped up into a cute package.

Not only did she reuse an old frame, but she reused an old window screen as well for the jewelry holder background.

Thanks sis!

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Here’s my first attempt.

An old long sleeved shirt into a new slouch short sleeved shirt.

What do you think?

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I have several boxes full of stuff that has randomly been donated to me by friends and family.  I love jumping into them every once in a while in search of creative reuse inspiration.  Today I found this string bikini top and knew it could easily be transformed into a new drawstring pouch.  If you have an old string bikini top that needs a new life, follow the step by step tutorial below and turn that bathing suit into a new small pouch!

How to reuse a string bikini top to make a small pouch:

1.  Remove the non-drawstring part of the bikini top.  The strings you use to tie the bikini around your neck.

2.  Fold the bikini top in half and sew around the two non-drawstring edges.

3.  Fill your new pouch up with make up, travel supplies, whatever your heart desires!

This makes a great accompaniment to any beach bag and fits the aesthetic too!

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image courtesy of www.casasugar.com

CRAFT STEW  sent a link my way with 22 fun ways to reuse your old magazines.

Here’s a taste:

3D Pop up Flower

Handbound Book

Make a stool from magazines, who knew?

for more:  craftstew.com

If you have a link that involves creative reuse, send it my way.  You can contact me HERE.

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1. Creative REuse Wedding Centerpiece.

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