Trash to Treasure: Your Garbage Deserves a Second Life!
Boy oh boy, do we produce a lot of waste. It’s kind of disturbing. And if you’re anything like me, doing weekly grocery runs in health food stores is, very sadly, not financially friendly, which inevitably means buying your favorite products wrapped in far more plastic than anyone needs. But again, if you’re anything like me, you like to get artsy and also crafty. Put these two things together, and your trash becomes art. Or maybe it becomes storage. Or something completely different. Let’s list possibilities.
Collage
One of my friends had a collage birthday party back in February. She used cut up cereal boxes as everyone’s base. As for collage materials, she provided her own old magazines, and people brought some of their own too. A few of us based ours off of dreams we’d had recently. Now I have a collage scene that depicts a bunch of tiny people dancing on a hill under a big ol glowing moon.
Jars
You know this one for sure, but your jars can immediately be turned into storage. No need to buy any. But also, you could turn it into something completely unexpected. How about planters? A terrarium, even! Or put your candles in there. I know, I know, you know this… Maybe I’m just projecting, but often I find myself knowing and not doing. So perhaps this is just your reminder:you can make this happen! You really can!
Pop Tabs
The jewelry I get the most compliments on are my little soda can tab earrings. I quite literally just grab the tabs off my cans or my friends’ and stack them on my hoops. Sometimes I switch them out with some that were found on memorable nights out. It has to be the easiest way to turn your trash into treasure. I have also heard whispers of some more laborious projects with soda can tabs, such as handbags or skirts. Me personally, no. But please do go wherever your creative drive takes you!!
Here’s a video of someone showing you how to make chainmail, which is a good base for any kind of project you might take up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPH5pqV24wQ
Junk Journaling
Maybe you went to the movies with your crush and had some Jolly Ranchers. Maybe you found a heart shaped piece of cardboard on the floor at work. Maybe you had a snack and the wrapper was so cute. Trash can have sentimental value! So journal it! 10 years from now you will be so happy to look back upon it.
Crocheting with Plastic Bags
I wish I didn’t forget my reusable bag as often as I do. I really do spend those extra 10 cents on a store-provided plastic bag more frequently than I wish to admit. But what if I told you there’s something to be made out of all that waste? If you cut a plastic bag into one long strip of plastic, you now have something to crochet with. I’ve seen people crochet baskets out of their old plastic bags. Maybe you could come up with something new.
Here’s how to make your plastic yarn. Plarn? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFjCRmB275M
These are just a few examples I have been able to think up. I guess a little goes a long way. And I’m sure you have some other ideas floating around that brain of yours. Perhaps something to do with old shoe boxes. Actually! Here’s my idea for old shoe boxes: make a tiny set for a stop-motion video you want to make. Or a place for your trinkets to reside. You could even do that inside of an old television. I digress. May your trash live another day!
