Zero Waste Week - tell us your best upcycling and re-use tips

Living_proof

I have a two-tier planting basket on a stand which would ideally fit into a corner of the decking but the liners to fit are really quite expensive, so I devised a plan to use old fabric or wool or even an old khaki blanket to line it, with black poly inside to give the appearance of moss. Today at the local Age UK Pound shop I managed to get an enormous Alexon skirt in a mossy green which will fit inside the two planters. I have some leftover winter pansies, so for just a pound I should get a good display of flowers on an off into late spring 2015. I will continue to buy suitable green items if very cheap for future years.

GreyQueen

Living_proof wrote: »

I have a two-tier planting basket on a stand which would ideally fit into a corner of the decking but the liners to fit are really quite expensive, so I devised a plan to use old fabric or wool or even an old khaki blanket to line it, with black poly inside to give the appearance of moss. Today at the local Age UK Pound shop I managed to get an enormous Alexon skirt in a mossy green which will fit inside the two planters. I have some leftover winter pansies, so for just a pound I should get a good display of flowers on an off into late spring 2015. I will continue to buy suitable green items if very cheap for future years.

:T That's a good idea. I was wondering if some quick papier mache from roughly torn newspapers, with flour paste, mightn't work, with a bowl for a mold? Of course, it woudn't be green.....just a thought.

Living_proof

GreyQueen wrote: »

:T That's a good idea. I was wondering if some quick papier mache from roughly torn newspapers, with flour paste, mightn't work, with a bowl for a mold? Of course, it woudn't be green.....just a thought.

I never buy a newspaper and have to beg old copies to clean my windows from my hairdresser! But I had quite forgotten papier mache and i will try and keep it in my mind (not easy - like a colander these days!) for future projects.

good_advice

My latest craft is sewing bags out of old sheets/clothes, anything cotton.
Pencil bags, jewelry bags, laundry bag for holidays. Peg bags.
Infact any fully lined bag, most have zips.
Have found many uses for them.

The peg bags look fancy with embellishments stitched on. Ok bits I have cut off some clothing.
My sewing machine can do some embroidery stitches.
Just a bit of fun.

Katiehound

Living_proof wrote: »

I never buy a newspaper and have to beg old copies to clean my windows from my hairdresser! But I had quite forgotten papier mache and i will try and keep it in my mind (not easy - like a colander these days!) for future projects.

Don't forget there is also layered papier mache.
I have made huge bowls/platters about 1 metre diameter (it was a college project) I used strips of paper torn from unwanted business letters, bank statements etc. Maybe 10 layers pasted together- very firm. The only downside as I see it is that wallpaper paste (the only expenditure) contains fungicide. Using better quality paper means the item is a lot stronger just like the original paper.

kboss2010

My flatmate used her wallpaper samples to wrap presents.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Happy New Year everyone!

What have you done to re-use Christmas wrapping and packaging, Christmas cards etc?

Are you making re-use one of your New Year Resolutions?

ZeroWasteWeek

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

What have you done to re-use Christmas wrapping and packaging, Christmas cards etc?

I have a bit of a 'thing' about excessive Christmas wrap :mad: After all - we only want what's inside any way

My Grandma used to carefully unwrap then iron for reuse - I used to think she was mad and stingy, but it looks like there might be a few genes that have passed onto me after all!

I still love making tags from last year's cards - ok, they end up binned / recycled in the end, but at least they've had a second life.

And I'm getting into furoshiki more and more - using material to wrap gifts in. It only works for people who 'get' that you're a zero waster mind you

Former_MSE_Andrea

Is anyone else making gift tags from their Christmas cards? We'd love to see them!

TravellingAbuela

kboss2010 wrote: »

My flatmate used her wallpaper samples to wrap presents.

I had a sample of some lovely wallpaper I had picked up in Homebase. Duckegg blue background with sort of branches on it. I cut some butterflies out of some wrapping paper and stuck them on, fluttering round the branches, then framed it. It's made a lovely picture for DGD's bedroom and she loves it.