Use It - No Waste - Upcycling

 Good morning on this Thursday.  What a beautiful sunrise this morning.  There was a 360* glorious painting in the sky.  Color everywhere you looked. Just lovely.  It is cooler this morning but maybe getting to 50* today.  I'll take it!

Let's talk about upcycling a little more today.  Not just food - but pretty much everything we have, and use can be used for something else!  We often spend money, when we have a perfectly good item already in our homes or garages.

Some things are simple, others are just creative.

Here are a few ideas for trash to treasure.

Cut the tops off those salt boxes and use them for a pour device for a mason jar.  Measure around the opening and then cut.  I have a few of these - they sure are handy.  Also you can use those lids from peanut butter and mayo jars - they fit canning jars.  Even the lids from the powdered parmesan cheese - they make great shake lids.

We often talk about old clothes - those not worthy of donating.  Keep the buttons and the zippers, then cut into rags, or make quilts with the good parts.  Large items can be cut down into material - to make 'new' smaller clothes or items.   Old t-shirts can be cut into long strips of material - many people use to crochet rugs, and it also makes great tie-ups for garden plants!  Nice and strong.

***IF you or your family has older prom dresses - here is a tip.  Before you donate to a thrift store or maybe before you sell it - think about girls who can't afford one.  Check with area high schools, to see if they accept donations to help young girls out!!!

Feed bags can be cut and made into reusable grocery/book bags.  Many are very pretty.  These are easy to make.  They can also be used as trash bags, as can the big packages from TP.  OR cut up and use as a weed deterrent in the garden.  If using in the garden - poke holes so water can get through.

Squeeze containers from the likes of ketchup or mustard - use for pancake mix.  Makes it easy to squirt in pan and get just the right size.  Use for icing to decorate cakes or cookies.  Even fun for the kiddos to play with - think squirt guns!  FREE

Stale bread - don't throw it out.  It makes toast, French toast, croutons, breadcrumbs, bread pudding

Peels from fruits and veggies!!!

Fruit peels - save.  They make great jelly.  Apples peels, peach peels - super great for cooking down to make a flavorful jelly.  I often freeze until I have enough.  When done with the jelly - compost the skins.  Corn cobs make good jelly as well!!

Tomato skins (when canning) make a great addition to soups.  Dry (dehydrate) until crispy and then grind up until it is a powder.  Use to flavor all kinds of items.

Truthfully there isn't much you can't dehydrate and turn into a powder.  Fruit, veggies - it all makes a great powder to add to baking, soups, casseroles, malts - smoothies, you name it!

Yard art.  You can use old pop bottles for a fun bird feeder or house.  A little paint and how pretty.  I use all kinds of things in my gardens.  I have old ice cream parlor chairs that have no seat - they are brightly painted, and then I put a large pot in the seat opening making a lovely look for potted plants.  I have old washstand that are used for flowers and garden.  Old terra cotta pots (broken) can be broken up and used as drainage in other pots.  You can also use old pop cans or plastic bottles in the bottom of big pots for drainage and to take up some space.

Stale soda pop - use it in Jello instead of water.

Those TP rolls (or paper towel) and cardboard egg cartons can be used to start seeds for flowers and garden.  You can plant them directly in the garden as they will break down and you don't disturb roots.  I sometimes keep those plastic clam shell containers you get produce in to use as mini greenhouses!  

They can also be used to gift homemade treats in!

Lots of body wash you may never use!  I get a lot of gifts of scented body wash, which I rarely use (allergies).  So I make it into hand soap but usually foaming hand wash.  I have a couple of those foaming hand soap containers and I refill them.  I use about a third of the bottle with body wash and then fill with water.  Works perfectly!!  I will never run out of foaming hand soap!

*Ice cream buckets - make great storage for bulk items.  

*Faded jeans - dye them!  I have done that many times.  I know the faded raggedy look is popular, but not for this gal.  Maybe if I was a kid again - but not now.  I mend and patch jeans as well - they make great garden wear!!!!

*Coffee grounds and used tea bags - great for garden plants

Jars - of all sorts.  I love glass jars and save most of the ones I may get.  I use them for storage of herbs, dehydrated items. and even gifts.  That is what I use to make my 'jar' recipes I gift - that way you don't lose canning jars!

OK, you get the point.  I could on and on.  We already have things in our home that can be upcycled and reused.  Why spend good money for something new and add even more crud to the landfills???

We all need to be good citizens of earth and recycle in one way or another.

You can help save the earth, save stuff and save MONEY!

What creative ideas do you have for using it up?  What fun things have you recreated into something new?  I want to learn more ideas!!!!

Have a lovely day.  Use what you have!!!