3 Favorite Upcycle/Recycle Projects

-
In honor of Earth Day this weekend, I thought we'd take a trip down memory lane to look at a few favorite upcycle/recycle projects from the Cottage.  Let's get started...
First up is the key rack turned into a jewelry organizer.  
I'd been looking for something for quite a while when I came across this key rack at a flea market:
Big difference, huh?  To read all about the transformation, click HERE.

My second project is this sweet, little planter:
This was also found at a flea market with a very 1970's look:
This planter lived on my front porch all Spring, Summer, and Fall.  For the Winter, it came inside.  I'm hoping it will have a new porch very soon.  To read how it was transformed, click HERE.

Last, but not least is the card catalog:
I've always wanted one, so when an old friend told me he had one in his garage and I could have it...I nearly fell over!  Here's the before:
It didn't need much work, just some cleaning and polishing.  For the full story, click HERE.

 Happy Earth Day, Everyone! Do you have a favorite upcycle/recycle project?  If you do, I'd love to hear about it.
Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

I hope you'll pin, share, comment, and follow.  If you click on those 3 little lines at the top right of the blog, you'll see where to find me!

Featured at:
Over the Moon


Comments

  1. DebraApril 21, 2018 at 6:40 PM

    You showed some good projects here. As bloggers who love to upcycle every day is Earth Day for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnnApril 21, 2018 at 8:12 PM

      Thank you, Debra, and, yes, every day is Earth Day!
      So glad you stopped by.

      Delete
  2. Tania PelletierApril 22, 2018 at 10:28 AM

    I love all these projects! Happy Earth Day!!

    Tania

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasApril 23, 2018 at 8:36 AM

    Fantastic projects!!
    Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting on my post about Retirement!! I enjoyed reading your heart felt comment!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnnApril 23, 2018 at 6:08 PM

      Thanks, Debbie! It's always fun to visit your blog.
      Have a great week!

      Delete
  4. Sum of their StoriesApril 24, 2018 at 9:18 AM

    All three are just lovely but I think the planter is my favourite. It's just so pretty. Fingers crossed for some good weather soon so it can go back out on display.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnnApril 24, 2018 at 1:19 PM

      Thank you, Julie. Good news, we actually have temperatures in the upper 60's today. I think Spring might be here!
      So glad you stopped by!

      Delete
  5. My thrift store addictionApril 25, 2018 at 5:50 PM

    What a wonderful collection of upcycled projects! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chas' Crazy CreationsApril 25, 2018 at 7:05 PM

    I love upcycling and these are just lovely! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma's House We Go!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dandelion BouquetsApril 25, 2018 at 9:17 PM

    The card catalogue is my favorite because it was given to you. I too wont pay alot for things i want to upcycle (or thrifted) its that much more rewarding to save the world and the wallet at the same time. Thanks for sharing my favorite crafts are upcycled and made from scraps and odds and ends

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnnApril 26, 2018 at 9:30 AM

      Thank you so much. I really love that card catalog too!
      So glad you stopped by the Cottage - come back again soon!
      Ann

      Delete
  8. aginglikeafinewine.comApril 26, 2018 at 10:40 PM

    I love the card catalog! What a fantastic gift. I worked in a technical library for about 5 years and have a fondness for library memorabilia. My husband and I upcycled an old computer armoir into a TV armoir and we are now enjoying it in our living room. Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnnApril 27, 2018 at 11:24 AM

      Thank you, it really is special. I love armoires - bet yours is beautiful!
      Thank you so much for visiting the Cottage.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Break Out Those Wine Corks!

-
Image
You've been self-isolating, drinking some wine, and saving the corks for a project.  But, before you think I'm accusing you of drinking too much, we both know that every wine-drinker has a stash of corks somewhere in their house.  It's time to dig them out and finally DO something with them.   Welcome back to 10 on the 10th , a group of bloggers sharing ideas and inspiration for less than $10.  This month we're sharing Tips While Social Distancing and we've got some great ideas for you.  Let's get started..... First, find those corks.  They're probably hiding in drawers or a cabinet...maybe in a box or bag.  You can find them. I have faith in you!  My first project is an easy one.  All you need is a hot glue gun, a can, and your corks.  This jade plant has been living in an aluminum can ever since I cut it away from the original plant.  It's doing quite well, but, let's face it, this container is not very pretty.   I chose my corks from
Read more

Wine Cork Wreath

-
Image
Just a note...I promised to share the wreath and picture in a previous post.  Here they are: Now, if you're anything like me, you've been saving wine corks for forever because there is a fabulous project that you will just HAVE to make with them.  The problem is, you haven't found it yet! Have no fear, your project is here! To get started, you will need lots of these: How many, you ask?  I estimate that I used between 200 and 250 corks.  You will also need a straw wreath, like this: Don't forget to remove the plastic! This next step is extremely important! Wrap some wire around the wreath and make a loop for hanging.  There is nothing worse than getting your wreath all done and then say to yourself, "Hmmm, how the heck do I hang this thing!?! Now you're ready to get started.  Be sure to cover your work surface to protect it.  I used a lovely old vinyl tablecloth that I had laying around.  You know the one - you
Read more

How To Decoupage Dresser Drawers - With Napkins!

-
Image
Welcome back!  Last week you saw a garage sale dresser transformed with paint and decoupaged napkins.  If you missed it, click here .  Today I have a little tutorial showing how it was done.  Let's get started, shall we? The drawers were sanded down to bare wood and the edges were painted black to match the rest of the dresser.  The napkins were found at the Dollar Store. Notice they are 2-ply napkins?  You only need one, so separate those layers! Iron the one-layer.  It helps when you are ready to lay it down on the wet decoupage medium.   Since the napkins were not wide enough to cover the entire drawer, I was going to have to piece them together.  These napkins also had a very definite pattern that was going to need matching, so it was time for some measuring.  I found the middle of the drawer and matched it to the middle of the napkin.  Then I marked the edges of the napkin on the edge of the drawer with chalk.  See the white (chalk) dot? There are actually
Read more

No More Polycrylic for My Tables!

-
Image
Behold, my newly refinished table - once again!  Yes, this is the second time this little beauty has been refinished. The table was originally refinished in 2013.  I carefully sanded, stained, and sealed it with polycrylic.  Everyone in blogland was singing the praises of polycrylic, so I thought I'd give it a try.  It went on great, clean-up was easy, and it dried quickly.   Win-Win, right?  WRONG!! After about a year and a half, I started noticing some wear on the edges of the table.  You know, the spot where people rest their arms?  As time went on, these spots actually started to feel a bit sticky and you could see them: It was really difficult to get a picture of them, but, if you look carefully where the arrows are pointing, you'll see dull spots in the finish.  We lived with it for a while, then I told my husband, "As soon as the weather gets nice, this table has a date with my sander!" Time for my full disclosure.  Normally, I sand things d
Read more