If you're the kind of person who hates throwing anything away, we are right there with you. Sustainability should be at the front of everyone's mind, and there's no better time to turn your unwanted items into gorgeous DIY projects. From reusing old wine corks to creating beautiful table-settings to transforming mason jars into rustic chandeliers, these ideas ensure that nothing goes to waste. After all, one person's trash is another's treasure, right?
For reusing mason jars, wine bottles, and other food or beverage containers, be sure to keep sustainability practices in mind when cleaning them. You can do this by using plant-based and compostable products like Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes and making sure you don't overdo it on the water while washing and rinsing them out.
Once those vessels are ready, it's time to let the creativity flow! Keep reading to get inspired by these DIY ideas for ordinary household objects.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Emily Co
If you're looking for a planter, opt for a mason jar instead of opaque pots. It's cool to actually see the soil, and it'll give your home an earthy vibe.
Liven up your garden or patio with a wind chime made from the tops of recycled wine bottles. For the doable DIY, all you have to do is string them together.
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13Spray-Painted Plastic Containers
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Instead of tossing it in the recycling, give a plastic container a quick refresh and upcycle it into smart kitchen storage.
Shape gift tags and bookmarks out of old maps and laminate them for a longer shelf life. Consider punching a hole on top and tying a string — or perhaps a piece of rope — to dress it up.
Buy a really cheap lamp and glue a map around the shade. Or you can even cut the map into strips and glue it onto the shade for a shaggy effect. The thinner the map, the better the light shines through, so you might want to use the nonglossy kind for this project.
You'll need some hardware (and oil and the proper flame) to pull this one off, but a tiki torch made from wine bottles is a fun way to light up your outdoor space. If all else fails, placing the right-size candle in the bottle neck will get the job done, too.
Turn an old pair of jeans into a fun wreath to decorate your home with. Sew the jean scraps together and display your creation where everyone can see it.
Hanging vases would make a great gift or addition to any room in the house. To get the look, save a few wine bottles and search for mounting brackets that fit around the bottleneck.
Use an old crate to make breakfast in bed an even cozier affair. Sand down the box so it's smooth to the touch, and then add your favorite breakfast treats inside.
Nowhere to put your beautiful blooms? Use mason jars! You can choose to spray-paint them or cover the jar with lace or some other material, but personally, I think it's the most beautiful as a vase when it's in its original translucent form.
Terrariums are cheap to make, and they're a nice way to add some greenery to the home or even the office. Using a mason jar to store the plant arrangement is a nice twist on the traditional terrarium holders.
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31Greeting Card Magnets
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Use pictures and greeting cards to make magnets for your fridge. Here's a tutorial on how to make picture magnets.
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32Floating Candle Jars
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Now that it's getting warmer, it's the perfect time to sit back on your patio and enjoy the breeze. Worried about bugs? We've got you covered. Make these floating candle jars to keep the bugs away, and enjoy the beautiful scent while you're at it.
If you have unused colorful construction paper in your home, turn the unwanted scraps into a beautiful paper flower chandelier. Simply cut out leaf and flower shapes and attach each piece to a hanging light or lampshade.
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35Cookie-Cutter Candles
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These cookie cutters will perfectly shape your candles.
Turn old books into new decor when you shape the pages into a beautiful wreath. Cut the pages into any shape you like, glue them together, and hang the wreath where everyone can enjoy it.
Making your own candle topper is simpler than you might think: all it takes is cutting off the bottom of a used wine bottle and securing it over a tea light candle and base.
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47Towel Travel Kit
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Turn an old towel into a travel kit for your toiletries that you can also use to wash your face with!
Mason jars make great candle holders because they are able to withstand a lot of heat. Plus simple jars add a rustic touch to the decor. You can use them as simple candle holders or turn them into garden lights to decorate your walkway.
Cut up paper into strips and fold them into origami stars. You can fill up a glass jar and give it as a gift to a friend, use them as confetti, or turn them into home decor.
Have an old t-shirt with a cute pattern lying around? Transform it into the perfect sundress for your little one with some help from a sewing machine and scissors.
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66Mason Jar Shakers
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Don't toss that big cardboard container of salt or sugar if you're almost finished with it. Repurpose the top into a cute mason-jar seasoning shaker. This DIY project costs less than a few dollars to make and is a great way to spruce up your kitchen without investing in expensive containers.
Make mini cards out of maps to store things like favors or after-dinner mints at a wedding. You can also use them to send cute cards to friends across the world.
Use one, two, or three corks to make unique place-card holders for special events like a dinner party or a wedding. Cut a slit in the cork if you're only using one. Tie it up with a ribbon or stick a trinket on it to jazz it up.
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73Sweater Pillow
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Cut up an old sweater and turn it into a pillow — perfect for those ugly Christmas sweaters that you never wear!
Use old book pages to make vintage-style wedding paper cones to hold your confetti.
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86Button Bracelet
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When your collection of old buttons starts to take over, you should repurpose them into adorable baubles that make unique gifts for all the girls in your life. Get the DIY here.
There's nothing sadder than when one of your favorite teacups or coffee mugs ends up with a crack or chip. But instead of tossing out your beloved drinking cup, transform it into a sweet candle.
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93Scented Sweater Satchel
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Instead of donating those old sweaters, upcycle them into adorable hand-sewn scented heart satchels. Along with being seriously cute, these little hearts can be filled with fragrant potpourri.
Cover a notebook with a map or create your own using paper for the pages, cardboard or cork for the covers, and a string to tie the covers together for the stem.
Piece corks together for a coaster that's perfect for any wine-lover. Slice the corks in half vertically before mounting them on the base of the coaster.
Take an old t-shirt, snip it up, and turn it into a fashionable scarf. There are so many different styles to choose from — fringing, braiding, and more.
Use a mason jar instead of a regular lunch box, and it'll keep your lunch fresh! It's perfect for soup, salad, pasta, and more. Here are a few mason jar salads to get you started.
Roll up your calendar, newspaper, or magazine pages to create fun paper beads that you can string up to make necklaces and bracelets. Instructions here.
Use the cover of an old book to create a cover for your ereader. It's perfect for the nostalgic bookworm who made the transition from paper to digital.
Going on a trip, but can't lug your big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and more along? Create these single-use travel packets from straws as a smart solution!
Create a map pendant with a cutout of your favorite spot on the map. You can paint the piece with lacquer or glue a glass gem on top to make it more durable.
Take old door knobs, buttons, and other things toddlers love to touch and grab, then nail them to a piece of wood, and voila! A device to keep your toddler entertained for hours.
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124Gold Glass Jar Organizers
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Instead of throwing glass jars into the recycling bin, upcycle those pasta and condiment containers into chic organizers. Here's how.
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125Safety Pin Bracelet
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You'd be surprised at how sophisticated a safety pin bracelet can look. Not only is it beautiful, but it also makes a very eco-friendly fashion statement.
The beauty of the safety pin bracelet is that anyone can make it. All it takes is some common craft materials and a lot of time. Here are the instructions.
Braid plastic bags together to make a basket. Get more instructions here.
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128Magazine Garland
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If you've got a stack of magazines and newspapers cluttering a corner of your home, a paper garland is the perfect project for transforming them into something really sweet.
It's not the nightlight from your childhood, that's for sure, but these additions would make the perfect accents for an outdoor party. Find an old wine bottle and fill it with stringed bulbs so that the light reflects the color of the design. Look for small batteries or an outlet to make it light up.
Break up plastic spoons and stick them on a cardboard wreath form you can get from a crafts store. Paint them with a color you like, and stick a mirror in the center. Done and done!
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137Lemon-Rind Soaps
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They might look like lemon candy, but they're actually supercute lemon soaps! Instead of throwing away lemon rinds, make these homemade soaps for brighter, softer hands.
Setting your table to impress doesn't have to involve pricey napkin holders. Just wrap some twine or rope about each napkin and personalize everyone's place by adding a small initial detail to complete the look.
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140Plastic Bottle Wallet
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Use the ends of soda bottles to create this nifty wallet.
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141Favor Boxes
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Would you guess that these wedding-favor boxes used to be toilet paper tubes? Add this to your list of budget-friendly wedding ideas.
Turn your t-shirts into yarn to use for other cool DIY projects. There's a special way of cutting up your t-shirt so it becomes a continuous roll of yarn, so be sure to learn how to do it here.
Travel with this compact candle to fill your hotel room with beautiful scents.
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150Rose-Petal Bath Salts
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If you had a particularly rough week, you'll want nothing more than a steaming, relaxing bath. But why use expensive store-bought bath products when you can make your own? Try this bath salt DIY using withered flowers from Mother's Day or any special occasion.
Get a frame and squeeze some corks into it for a creative and shabby-chic jewelry holder. If the frame is bigger, then you can even turn it into a bulletin board.
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155Gilded Honey Bears
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Look at this adorable family of honey bears — doesn't it remind you of the story of the three bears? Upcycle your empty honey bear bottles and turn them into your new favorite multifunctional decor pieces.
Whether you're dressing up a notebook, diary, or scrapbook, magazine scraps will make the covers come alive. Take your favorite images from old magazines and experiment by sticking them on the covers.
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158Scarf Camera Strap
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Keep your camera secure and fabulous by making this chic camera strap using a scarf.
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159Bottle Charging Station
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Keep your phone and wires in place with this charging station made from a plastic bottle.
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160Coffee-Filter Flowers
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All you need are coffee filters and food coloring to create this beautiful flower decor. The pastel pink color is perfect for any wedding, a bridal shower, or even your bedroom.
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161Office-Supplies Gift Wrap
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Use office supplies for a unique gift wrap that will wow recipients.
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162Spoon Candle Holder
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Plastic spoons left over from a party? DIY this candleholder to make good use of them.
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163Wineglass Dioramas
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Turn ordinary wineglasses into extraordinary dioramas.