Upcycling Craft Ideas
Recycling and upcycling are to some degree buzz words of the time we live in, but they both offer us different ways to help support the planet and reduce our carbon footprint. Upcycled art is increasingly gaining in popularity as it fits with many people’s values and ethics.
Most people strive to recycle on a regular basis and many people have considered trying some upcycling crafts at one time or another, but do you know exactly what each one is and more importantly how they differ from each other? Let us explain.
What is the difference between upcycled and recycled?
Recycling something means that the item undergoes a process designed to transform it into a new material that can be used again, typically the recycling of paper into new notebooks, disposable foam cups into pens or even glass used again for bottling or glazing.
Upcycling is the process of taking an item and instead of throwing it out or recycling it into a new material, it is used in its current form but reused in a different way.
What is upcycled art?
As art is in the eye of the beholder, literally anything could be used to create a piece of upcycled art. Whether you are a DIY art enthusiast and simply want to create something unique for your home, such as reusing old picture frames to create a photographic art wall, or you are a professional artist looking for a style that makes you unique, such as creating statues and art installations from pieces of old metal machinery, the options are endless.
From transforming old tin cans into funky cutlery holders, CDs into wind spinners or shells and mosaics into beautiful cosmetic holders we have something that will delight everyone. Ideal for schools to use as part of art lessons to reinforce the idea of reusing items or simply as fun things to create. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough shells, we stock a wide variety of natural shells.
What are the benefits of upcycled art?
The benefits of upcycled art are many and include:
• Reducing the amount of general landfill
• Saving useful items that would otherwise be lost
• Minimising or reducing manufacturing costs
• Supporting alternative creative artists
• Promoting the creation of unique art
• Making artisan art more affordable
• Helping to protect Mother Nature
• Increasing sustainability
Plan ahead to get the most from your upcycled art. How about some upcycled Christmas crafts? Again, perfect for school art lessons and a great way to keep costs down at this expensive time of year when making presents or decorations. Use wine bottles as candle holders or paint with festive designs to handmake pretty decorations using our Deco paint or glass pens.
We hope that this has inspired you to have a go at making some unique upcycled art. Go on, give it a go and share your creations with us on our Instagram or Facebook page.
Take a look at our Creative Station section where you will see lots of Upcycling and Recycling ideas to help inspire you. Have fun sticking, painting, spraying and reusing and don’t forget to send us a photo of what you make.
