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10 Easy Upcycling Ideas You Need To Try!

January 9, 2013 By Heidi 5 Comments

I may get paid for ads or purchases made through links in this post.

Easy Upcycling Ideas

Following is an Easy Upcycling Ideas guest post by frugal friend Angie… enjoy!!

Growing up in a huge family, one thing that has been engrained into my brain since birth is not to waste anything.

When I grew up I realized just how much my parents had instilled this in me because I would cringe when I saw people throw away food, and would use an item until it was no longer functional.

One day I realized that I had been throwing away so many items that could be used for storage, only to buy other storage devices.  Crazy!  Since then I have found many uses for everyday items that most people throw away.

These Easy Upcycling Ideas save money, reduce waste, and make your life easier.  Please leave a comment to let me know how you upcycle.

Easy Upcycling Ideas

1.  Baby Food Jar Hardware Storage: You can use baby food jars to store anything small such as nails and screws, small office supplies, and small craft supplies.  One easy method is to securely attach the jar lid on the underside of a shelf so that you can screw and unscrew the jar from there.

Easy Upcycling Ideas

2.  Baby Wipe Boxes: I also cover these in scrapbook paper, and use them for items that are too small for an oatmeal container.  Examples of items I keep in decorated baby wipe containers are manicure and pedicure items, girls’ hair accessories, and toys to keep in the car.

Easy Upcycling Ideas

3.  Yogurt Containers: Holding on to large plastic containers (such as the ones for sour cream or cottage cheese) always come in handy.  I use them for guests to take home leftovers because I won’t need them back, unlike Tupperware.

Easy Upcycling Ideas

4.  Ketchup Bottles: A ketchup bottle works great for easy dispensing of any liquid mixtures.  If you make your own sauces or jams, you can put them in cleaned-out ketchup bottles so that you don’t have to use a knife to spread it.  You can also fill it with pancake batter to easily make pancakes in a skillet.

5.  Wine Boxes: You can use a wine box to store anything to which you need easy access.  I use them to store shoes and kids’ winter outerwear, such as mittens and scarves.

6.  Oatmeal Containers: I cover oatmeal containers with scrapbook paper and use them to hold just about anything that needs a place to go.  Right now I have scrapbook supplies, extra toilet paper rolls, and gift bows in oatmeal containers, among many other items.

7.  Old T-Shirts: If you have many t-shirts that have sentimental value, but you don’t want to wear them, you can make a quilt out of them.  Here is an easy way to do this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Quilt-from-Your-Old-T-Shirts/

8.  Altoids Cans: You can use Altoids cans to keep items in your purse.  You can store bobby pins, cards, coupons, toothpicks, and jewelry.

9.  Pill Boxes: A pill box works well to store very small items.  I especially like to use these when traveling.  They’re perfect for earrings or buttons.

10.  Milk Jugs or Laundry Detergent Jugs: you can cut these jugs to create a large scoop.  These work well to wash kids’ hair in the bathtub, use as a sandbox toy, or for gardening.  Or, I like to use mine to store my Homemade Laundry Detergent   or Homemade Fabric Softener, both from The Frugal Girls.

About the Author: My name is Angie, and I am honored to be guest posting on The Frugal Girls.  I’m an avid reader of all types of helpful information, and known to friends and family as an “ideas person.”  I have enjoyed writing my entire life, and consider it my hobby.  My other hobbies are water sports, cooking, and trying to squeeze in some exercise when I can.  I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband, two spirited children, and a career that I love in academia. Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

Want even more easy tips for helping you declutter and get organized right now??  Here are more ideas I know you’ll love…

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Find even more ways to Save Money Around The House with these fun tips!

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Store Deals + Shopping Hacks That Will Save You So Much Money

Frugal Girls LOVE great deals!  Before you shop, check out these Insider Tips + Shopping Hacks that will save you so much money at your favorite stores!!

Store Deals + Shopping Hacks That Will Save You So Much Money

What are some ways YOU upcycle?? 

Got a Tip or Trick?  Leave a comment & share!

Filed Under: DIY, Guest Posts, Organizing

Comments

  1. Etta says

    February 2, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    For years I have stored my jewelry in Styrofoam egg cartons. They have lids so that I can stack them. Glue on a piece of colored paper and you can identify your red earrings etc. Or just use a Magic Marker for notes about the contents.
    I use single serving Orangina bottles ( the ones with the screw caps ) to make and store homemade vanilla. For Christmas gifts. A little cute fabric over the lid; tie it with some raffia or ribbon ; write on the bottle with a gold paint pen and you’ve done!

    Reply
  2. jo ann wells says

    June 30, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    I use the plastic containers oil of olay face wipes come in for my grandaughters ponytail bands , barrettes, and scrunchies..they are perfect size and easy to store in drawers

    Reply
  3. Darlene says

    October 17, 2013 at 7:13 pm

    I use the top tray of a cheese platter in my refrigerator and lay meats and such that I am defrosting, the top is large enough to hold a 30lb turkey and we all know the mess they can cause in the refrigerator…
    Also I have seen when my friends husband had taken the baby food jars and attached the covers to a wooden wheel he had made, with a little handle on the side to turn the wheel, he then filled it with his wifes favorite spices, it is adorable, now that both have left this plane of life I often think of that spice rack..

    Reply
  4. Doris says

    March 1, 2013 at 10:57 am

    A variation of #3: I wash and reuse take out containers of any size/shape to send home food with visitors.

    Reply
  5. Michelle says

    February 19, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    I use those little tubes that mini M&Ms come in (at the checkout counter) for quarters for the laundromat. I use yogurt containers for planting seeds in the spring (drill holes in bottom first). They’re also great for freezing single sized portions of fruit. The jars that fruit comes in (about mason jar size) are handy in the kitchen cabinet for chip clips and nuts, seeds, and beans once the plastic bags are ripped open. The bottles that the Starbucks frappuccino come in recently made adorable centerpieces at my niece’s bridal shower–just add a little ribbon, a cute tag, some flowers and voila.

    Reply

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Hey there... it's so nice to meet you! I'm Heidi: a Frugal Girl living in sunny Arizona! I love sharing Easy Recipes, DIY Decor, Style & Beauty Hacks, Gardening Tips, Travel Hacks, and Creative Ways to Live the Sweet Life on a Budget. I'm so glad you're here!
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