If you travel frequently, you eventually find a pile of maps sitting in a drawer or box somewhere. They can be hard to throw away, even if they’re way outdated and worn out. Instead of getting rid of them completely, you can save their beauty and nostalgic value by upcycling the map pages into something new.
1. Envelopes
via La Petite Fabrique
One of the most versatile party decorations are cupcakes. You can make them look classy and feminine, but there are also masculine cupcakes, like the ones from Butch Bakery in New York. With the right cake toppers, they can match any party theme. Best of all, you don’t have to pack away the decorations once you’re done. You just eat them.
Paper mâché might make you think of piñatas or childhood crafts, but it’s a handy hobby for adults to learn, too. Once you know how to make paper mâché and find the perfect paste recipe, you can recycle all kinds of old paper into useful objects, like these beautiful bowls.
1. via Etco
If you break a walnut perfectly in half, you can make a dozen things out of the shell. Even if it’s not perfect, there are still a few ideas to try.
1. Thumbelina sailboat
via Gifts & Stars
The American Independence Day is usually celebrated with a barbecue, but if you want to try something different, visit the Colonial Williamsburg website for American recipes from the 18th century. They have a whole department dedicated to researching and recreating colonial American foods, called the Department of Historic Foodways. They’re currently researching culinary topics like coffee, dairying, food preservation, beer brewing and military foods, but there’s a generous list of recipes already posted with instruction videos and background information about the dishes. Some examples:
Tomatoes and Eggs - recipe
Each piece of driftwood is unique, so you can’t always decide what you’re going to make before you find the driftwood. It’s less predictable, which makes the art more spontaneous. Nevertheless, here are inspiring ideas to get you started.
1. Coasters – made from Icelandic driftwood
via Railis
Last year, a number of anonymous book sculptures began to appear around Edinburgh. They were left as gifts in libraries, museums and cultural institutions, attached to brief notes that said some variety of ‘thank you’. The artist is still anonymous, but the artwork continues to amaze and inspire. (See the pictures and full story here.)
Book sculpting isn’t just a Scottish phenomenon. Here are some other awesome examples:
1. Vagabond Songs
via Brooke Schmidt
Lace used to bring to mind pictures of curtains, tablecloths and fancy dresses. Victorian gloves and doll’s clothing, but never necklaces…
1. Beautiful cobalt blue
via White Owl
Paper grocery bags are often reused as lunch, trash, and recycling sacks, but there are many more creative, longer-lasting options. If you have a pile of paper bags to whittle through, here are some awesome upcycling ideas:
1. Hair bow
via Neat Bows For Cool Kids
Usually, birds are more interesting than bird feeders–that is, generic factory bird feeders. Homemade feeders are a different species altogether. They can be made out of everything, it seems, and each is a unique piece of art.
1. Elegant and modern
via Ghenganette
