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Creative new uses for . . .

. . . things that don't fit into the categories of other Unconsumption Pinterest boards!

2614 followers, 58 pins

Repurposed tennis ball swing

2 likes 10 repins

Coke crate spice racks

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Container gardening :)

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Isn't this assemblage of salvaged/found furniture pieces great? Made by Thomas Wold. Photographed by Markham Johnson. thomaswold.blogsp...

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Artist Julie Kornblum's globe covered in plastic -- that is, crocheted plarn (yarn made from plastic bags) -- definitely makes a colorful statement about "plastic covering the Earth," doesn't it? Click through to the post for links to tutorials to DIY -- to turn your own plastic bags into yarn, great to use for knitting or crocheting. #EarthDay

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Old bicycle -->> new garden gate!

10 likes 1 comment 37 repins

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GOOD We love this!

Vintage wooden soda crates repurposed as a combination coffee table/shadow box. To DIY: Attach crates to an old table base, then add a piece of tempered glass on top.

10 likes 3 comments 39 repins

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Brittany VanderMoore What about plexiglass?? I have a glass top table that's broken and think that's the next fix; at least til the kids grow up.

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Unconsumption @Brittany VanderMoore -- Seems like plexiglass could work. The idea of using glass came from the DIY Network's post itself. --Molly

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Green Issues @Brittany VanderMoore - that's what I was thinking of too!! :-)

Metal springs . . . the post links to several ideas for repurposing bed springs and larger springs, like truck springs. Some really great rustic looks.

6 likes 24 repins

Iron bed headboard repurposed as garden gate!

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Old bike helmets = new planters. Fantastic repurposing. Post links to other ideas for what to do with helmets that are no longer safe to use, plus answers regarding when to replace helmets. (Hat, or helmet, tip to @DoTheGreenThing for this!)

1 like 1 comment 16 repins

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Unconsumption @Do The Green Thing -- Apologies, my tagging of you in the post doesn't seem to work -- it isn't currently linking to you. Will try again later!

Why wait until next Easter to reuse plastic Easter eggs -- why not use them today as portable snack carriers or sewing kits, or turn them into bird feeders?

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Cool vertical gardening idea — repurposing cracked or broken teacups, coffee cups and mugs as planters.

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Jewelry holder made from plastic soda bottles. (Links to a tutorial, if you want to DIY.)

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Milk cartons wrapped in scrap fabric = planters

5 likes 4 comments 18 repins

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Paula Thornton Well it's a start to create a 'green room' out on my balcony. Keep 'em coming.

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Unconsumption @Paula Thornton -- Will do! I'm a condo-dweller, so I'm definitely a fan of container gardening. :)

Here’s another simple gardening-related repurposing idea: DIY “watering can” — made from a plastic jug. Heat the end of a needle to make small holes for water to pour through.

24 likes 4 comments 153 repins

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Jules Pieri I am so going to do this.

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Unconsumption @Jules Pieri -- Same here.

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Geri Pate Brilliant!

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Geri Pate Brilliant!

For Easter decor, why not make egg planters? After Easter, the plants — eggshells and all — can be planted in soil.

15 likes 36 repins

Bath-tub-turned-sofa. Audrey Hepburn. 1961. "Breakfast at Tiffany's." What's not to love about this? :) Additional note: I (@mollyblock) am now pinning items onto Newsweek's (a.k.a. @newsbeast's) 'Mad Men'-era decor Pinterest board. (I'm repinning this pin from that board.) Please give me a shout when you see things I should consider pinning on to it! -- pinterest.com/...

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Yes, this *is* a Jaguar, hung vertically, used as a bookshelf / cabinet . . . in a house! The house also features stairs made from skateboard decks and a chandelier made from teapots. Very interesting repurposing.

25 likes 6 comments 40 repins

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Unconsumption @Sunshine Buttercup -- I had a similar thought -- mine was related to home insurance, thinking the owner of that car/home may incur high insurance costs!

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Sunshine Buttercup Heh, totally. It's like that commercial where the guy says he has "already combined his car and house"...LOL.

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Unconsumption @Sunshine Buttercup -- :-)

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Siobhan Melnikas Do you have link for showcase of this home?

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jdfield Whats under the hood?

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Here’s another use for strips of film/negatives: bows!

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Strips of movie film + wood = collapsible shelves

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Old, unplayable records --> use them on tables as as chargers / charger plates.

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In Berkeley, California, at a mixed-use urban-infill project designed by Leger Wanaselja Architecture, there’s a gate constructed out of Volvo station wagon doors. (And it opens with a remote.) Other car parts and street signs are among the salvaged materials incorporated into the design of the project.

9 likes 2 comments 16 repins

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upcycle beijing I love this house!

Fridgecouch — made from a circa-1980 avocado-green “frost-clear deluxe Gibson refrigerator” and a 1986 BMW 325’s cherry-red-leather back seat. The freezer door now is that handy side table (that folds down). Designed by Adrian Johnson.

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Old neckties repurposed as chair seats. This example, from ToolGirl.com, is really well done. The post links to a tutorial, if you want to DIY.

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Isn’t this basket, woven from rolls of 35mm and 16mm film, a great new use for old film? Probably fairly easy to make, if you know how to weave. (Want a good tutorial for that? Click through to the post for DIY basket-weaving info.)

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Old gumball machine = new aquarium! (Links to a tutorial on Instructables, to #DIY.) A larger gumball machine may work better -- would give fish more living space. :)

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Second-hand crates get a second life as drawers in steel frames. Such cabinets vary (and are one-of-kind) based on supply of crates. Pretty cool.

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Vinyl records used as serving pieces -- DIY. (Caveat: I'd do something like with with unplayable records, not still-good records!)

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“A piece-of-cake Valentine project: bend regular paper clips into little heart shapes.” DIY fun -- and not just around Valentine's Day, but at any time of the year! (This is a favorite item from the Unconsumption 2009 archive.)

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More muffin pan repurposing.

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Muffin pan repurposing. Simple.

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Now here's a creative new use for paper clips and rubber bands -- and you can reuse them again and again . . .

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Make jump rope out of empty markers. This post links to a tutorial -- looks like it's good to cut the pens so they're similar in length. Another fun #DIY project!

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At last, a practical use for those plastic VHS tape boxes! A repurposed box does double duty here: First, as wall-mounted storage, and second, as display space for a photo. Clever -- and useful!

19 likes 1 comment 73 repins

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Do The Green Thing Love this! What a brilliant idea!

Here’s a simple tutorial that explains how to turn old game boards into boxes. Use them as storage for jewelry, office supplies, or any number of things. (Another fun DIY project for kids of all ages!)

59 likes 2 comments 268 repins

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Miffy Llewellyn love it - my love for storage continues - take that kmart and your crappy plastic boxes!

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Unconsumption Well said, Miffy!

Postage stamps --> soak them off of envelopes, dry them, then glue stamps onto a papier mache base (made of newspaper, water, and glue). Potentially a fun DIY project for kids.

3 likes 15 repins

Vintage bathtub = planter = coffee table. Multi-purpose repurposing!

41 likes 4 comments 189 repins

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Stephanie Walton that's cool! I see that the plants are still in tubs too.... which I like because I don't want to fill it up with dirt! But I like it!!!!--sw

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Unconsumption Not having to fill the tub with dirt would make the tub lighter/easier to move. I kind of like the idea of adding castors to the legs of something like this. [I like to move my furniture around! :) ]

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Rhonda Arnold Fabulous idea !

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Unconsumption @Rhonda Arnold -- I think so, too!

Here’s another kitchen-related reuse idea: Use a small dresser as an island in the kitchen. It’s an easy way to increase your storage and work space. Add wheels and it's mobile.

10 likes 2 comments 70 repins

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Greenshift Love this - going to hunt for something suitable to transform :)

Shutters used to cover a ceiling and walls. Pretty dramatic-looking.

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Shutters used as wall covering.

3 likes 2 comments 34 repins

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treasureagain Wow, this would take a bit of planned out puzzle piecing! So neat!

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Unconsumption I agree (on the both the neat and needing a bit of planning aspects)!

Use hangers for magazine storage. Doubles as wall decor!

17 likes 4 comments 39 repins

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Natalia * Totally fantastic! Simple and looks great

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Unconsumption Agreed! Though I no longer subscribe to any magazines. If I wanted to create such a magazine display, I'd need to ask my neighbors if they'd pass along some of their old ones. :)

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Natalia * Well, I only get the New Yorker and Yes! now, and both have lovely covers, so I would probably have enough nice ones. Let me know if you want me to send you one or two - for interior decorating purposes of course :)

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Unconsumption Ha! Thanks :)

Old toolboxes ---> container gardens

9 likes 39 repins

Another thing to possibly do (DIY) with old chairs -- turn them into swings.

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Sea glass -- hundreds of pieces of it -- collected from the beach and assembled into works of art, by Jonathan Fuller. This grouping is really beautiful, as are his stacked/vertical pieces. (I'm so glad to learn I'm not the only person who loves sea glass!)

3 likes 11 repins

Get more life out of old sweaters! This post links to a bunch of Web pages featuring felted sweater project ideas and tutorials -- make mittens, hats, iPad covers, blankets, no-sew Christmas wreaths and mini trees, and more

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Another way to reuse an old chair.

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Clever repurposing of a chair for wall-mounted storage

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Vintage funnels repurposed as candleholders. Love this idea. (via @Poppytalk Handmade)

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Jars -- reused as an indoor vertical garden. A fun #DIY project.

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Very creative up-"cycling"!

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