I've always admired people with a knack for repurposing, the ones who can go to an antique store or garage sale and see endless potential in somebody else's old stuff. Kasey and Jordana Henke, the co-owners of an Etsy shop selling vintage goods, are two such people, and they've generously shared some of their ideas with us. From our video archives, here are three fun (and really simple!) repurposing projects.
MoreWe're constantly amazed at the ingenuity of making something out of almost nothing. Recently faced with a fruitless search for a desk at a thrift store, I gave up. But I should have turned my sights around to the seemingly endless assortment of bar stools, like these creative craftsmen who decided to DIY their desks from the reclaimed seating.
What to do when you've got a couple of flea market finds (or dumpster scores) that you're not really crazy about? You combine them into this crafty project that doesn't even look like the original. Can you guess how this bench was made?
Before sending your scraps to the trash or the compost heap, consider taking on this experiment in the kitchen...
If you are planning to plant a garden this year, you probably have some
garden supplies that need organizing. Here are some creative storage ideas for a
variety of spaces using things you might already have at home.
Putting a piece of wood on top of a pair of file cabinets or sawhorses is a tried-and-true method for getting a home office set up quickly and cheaply. But these three innovators have figured out how to upgrade, up-cycle and, completely makeover the simple three-piece desk concept with duck cloth, contact paper, wire shelves, table leaves and, yep, cardboard.
It's not unusual to see salvaged railroad ties being offered up for little to nothing on Craigslist. They're an extremely common landscaping material, but that doesn't mean they have to be used in common ways. Here are some ideas for using them in your landscape with a contemporary twist:
MoreIf you need some simple storage for your garden but don't quite need a potting bench, this eco-minded Etsy how-to upcycles a wooden pallet into outdoor shelving.
If you're dragging your feet on starting a get-fit-for-the-summer exercise routine, maybe this is just the push you need. Take your tunes with you on the road or treadmill with this DIY cell phone arm band made using a plastic place mat and a pair of hair bands. The arm band can be customized to fit even the tallest and smallest cell phone or music player, all without any sewing. Hurrah!































Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...