I am a huge fan of Anna Maria Horner and her gorgeous fabrics. No wait, that may not be accurate. I LOVE her stuff and really enjoy reading her blog. When I saw her post yesterday, I knew our readers would love it too.  Here is her step-by-step tutorial for making garland from yarn and fabric scraps.  It is now on my “to-do” list for this Christmas. It is so cute and I really love the fact that my kids can help with the project. Happy Upcycling, Jill …

I love luminaries or luminarias (depending on where you are from) . In some neighborhoods in our area,  families will set our luminaries on Christmas Eve.  When there is snow on they ground, it is so pretty.  The tradition goes back many years when families set out the lights as a way to guide the Christ Child to their home. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for making upcyled luminaries: These are durable and can be used year after year. Made from vinyl flashing, they are perfect for …

Thanksgiving is almost here! Try this quick and easy idea to decorate your Thanksgiving table. Upcycle any kind of glass jar you have on hand.  Here we have used popcorn, cranberries and dried beans. You could use a variety of different fillers to form a grouping in the center of the table or consider using all the same and make a line down the table. You can use whatever candles you have available or don’t use any candles at all. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Aren’t these turkeys cute? A perfect project to try with the children in your life this week. The creative folks at Plum Pudding posted this project. They have included detailed instructions and a full tutorial on their site. We love that they are upcycled from cereal boxes. If you save your Popsicle sticks, then those are upcycled too! Now, go get those boxes out of the recycle bin and start crafting! Happy Upcycling, Jill

This is the easiest sewing project ever! You can upcycle a men’s  white hankie into a little girl’s pilgrim hat in about 5-10 minutes.  The end result is the cutest little pilgrim at the Thanksgiving table. Materials: 1. Plain white hankie, washed and ironed with a little starch. 2. Length of white ribbon, about 24 inches depending on your child’s size. 3. Iron and board 4. Sewing machine and ability to sew a mostly straight line (though you could easily get away with just a needle and white …

We are still counting our blessings here and enjoying the Thanksgiving Season. This week we are focusing on getting our homes and families ready for a day of gratefulness. It’s not Christmas yet… First up, a scrapy little pumpkin. Made with fall colored material scraps and stuffed with old newspaper. It is fun, easy and looks great in any room of your house. Materials: 1. Material scraps in a variety of fall colors. 2. Twine 3. Newspaper or upcycled wrapping or tissue paper 4. A very small amount …

Welcome Morgan of King Soleil! Enjoy her free step-by-step tutorial for making an Upcycled Crochet Rug. Thank you Morgan! Step-by-Step Upcycled Crochet Rug Tutorial There is something so completely satisfying when you are able to create a piece for your home that is functional, cozy, and perfectly your style. All the more rewarding when you are eco-friendly, making the world a greener place, and adding that handmade flair to your everyday. I am thrilled to be a guest blogger at Upcycle Magazine, a site utterly devoted …

Welcome guest author Elizabeth Smyth of Precision Paragon. Thank you Elizabeth! Shining a New Light on Old Things – Upcycled Lighting Fixtures After a holiday filled with too many cookies, a flourishing display of crisply wrapped boxes tied with ribbons and bows and twenty four hour light spectacles showing in the front yard, the new year is a welcomed time to detox from our wasteful, albeit festive, ways. In the spirit of the New Year and our intentions to do better, the trend of upcycling has been bestowed upon …

(Editor’s note: Today we would like to welcome guest writer and fellow upcycler Nikki Fotheringham of Guerilla Gnomes. Thank you for this great tutorial Nikki!) It was time to replace my incandescent light bulbs. I reluctantly substituted them for their curly pigtailed compatriots. I can’t explain my reluctance. I know how much energy we would save if everyone made the change and I support the government’s phasing out of incandescent, but somehow I had become attached. They’ve been with me since I can remember. They kept the …

Check out this denim conforter made from old jeans. My dear sweet Grandma made this many years ago from my Grandpa and my Aunt’s old jeans. We had many comforters similar to this in my home when I was growing up. My Great-Grandma used to make the same style with her old clothes and material scrapes. The reverse side is a cotton flannel and the filling was either a lofty quilt batting or an old blanket that needed a new use. This particular comforter measures 70 inches by …