In this day and age of digital media, print is quickly losing its relevance. Instead of sending your much loved print titles to the landfill, why not make 3-D book page art out of them? It’s as easy as recycling an old frame and learning a little origami. For the project shown, I found a book page flower tutorial online and followed the instructions. I then painted the flower with milk paint and added gold for effect. Next, I framed an unaltered book page, then glued the flower to the page and voila! There are so many possible interpretations of this project. Why not create an origami bird instead of the flower, or frame a beautifully illustrated vintage book page without the 3-D origami?
Muffin Pan Drawer Organizer
Put a new spin on those old fashioned muffin tins by turning them into muffin pan drawer organizers! I’m all about reduce, reuse, recycle, anything that involves less crowded landfills. Flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores and yard sales are the perfect hunting ground for old fashioned kitchen ware which can be up-cycled in untold ways. I especially love the way these muffin pans allow me to divide and store my little office supplies without the drawer becoming one big junk drawer.
Up-cycle Old Picture Frames with Milk Paint
Milk paint is a non-toxic, water based paint with pigment added for color. You can make it yourself (online tutorials abound for this) or purchase one of the many brands available on the market today. It comes in powder form and has an almost forever shelf life as long as it is not mixed. To use you just mix it with water according to the manufacturers instructions. I love to breath new life into old picture frames with milk paint. You can get a multitude of interesting effects layering different colors or lightly sand each layer to create a distressed look. You can even create that ultra in vogue crackled paint look by using a specially formulated additive such as Old Fashioned Milk Paint’s Antique Crackle. For the ones pictured, I simply sanded some old frames, added a couple layers of milk paint, then finished with pure tung oil mixed with mineral spirits. For solid coverage and for paint to adhere to non porous surfaces, most companies sell a bond to mixed with the milk paint. I personally like to experiment and there are a multitude of online resources to research before you even lift the brush. Have fun with it!
Make an Antique Window Frame into Art
Spruce up an old window frame and turn it into art. Discarded windows are great finds at flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores. Photographer Ruth Rosenfeld of Georgetown, Colorado took this curved Victorian window and used it to frame four of her own photographs of doorways and windows from around town. From one pane to multiple paned windows, the creative possibilities are endless. You will need an old window frame, photograph/s, paint (if you plan on painting your frame) and wood or cardboard. Choose a favorite photograph and have it printed to the size of your window pane. Slide the photograph into window, then apply glue to edges of your wood/cardboard cut-out and attach to frame behind photograph to hold into place.
Transform an Old Trunk into an Outdoor Planter
When my partner brought home two old rusted, smelly trunks and I refused to let him bring them in the house, he made lemons out of lemonade, and made me happy in the end. I would have never thought to transform an old trunk into an outdoor planter, but that is exactly what he did. In our case he mounted each chest to a wooden platform (which is optional). Otherwise, just fill the chest up with dirt and plant your favorite perennials, annuals or make a trunk herb garden, whatever you prefer.
Use a Tennis Ball to Park the Car
Have trouble judging how far to pull into the garage so you don’t hit the wall or stick out? Here’s an easy fix for that. Use a tennis ball to park the car. Well not literally, but as a parking guide in the garage. Park your car at just the right spot, then attach a tennis ball to some twine and hang it from ceiling so when you pull in, the tennis ball hits your windshield at that sweet spot of perfect parking.
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