Recycle, refashion and repurpose for the May challenge

Recycle, refashion and repurpose for the May challenge

The challenge for May is recycle so you can produce any type of creative project with that theme. The challenge topic (recycle) just needs to be a starting point for your inspiration so you could do a creative project made with recycled materials (refashion, repurpose, upcycle, altered art) or maybe using up scraps that might otherwise be binned…….you can do anything you think is linked to recycling. Please link up your project at the end of the post.
The Creative Loops challenge is for all types of creatives and is truly anything goes- art, mixed media, sewing, knitting, quilting, card making, paper-craft, cross-stitch, photography, altered art, creative writing, graphic design, floral design……if it is creative and inspired by the challenge theme you can join in. The idea is to connect and inspire creatives. We are a local group that meet weekly but anyone is welcome to join the challenge and link up their project.
Feel free to add any ideas and to chat about inspirations in the comments. I always appreciate knowing someone is reading.
Here is an inspiration board of ideas you could use with the links listed below. Links with tutorials or patterns are shown with a *. Links to items which you could buy are shown with **
Please add your finished projects at the bottom of this post.

Creative loops challenge recycle

Links
By members of Creative Loops
1. I used scraps to add embellishments to a skirt at achelois.co
2. Beautiful dresses and other clothes made with vintage fabric by Carrie Trigg and available to buy at Sidcup & Co and her Etsy shop**
3. Using paper scraps up to make a card by Haith’s Handmade
4. Another way to use paper scraps in a card by me at achelois.co
5. Hedgehog book art by artist Jocelyn Leigh
6. Art on a bag at my Etsy shop**
7. How I made mini gift bags from envelopes at achelois.co

Inspiration from others
8. Making a bath mat from old towels*
9. Using tissue paper on glass vases and candle holders*
10. Refashioning skirts and tops by adding peplums*
11. 25 ideas for using shoe boxes*
12. 50+ fabric stash busters*
13. T-shirt shrug tutorial*
14. Skirt refashion with stencilling*
15. Beautiful home décor art at Romancing the Home
16. Mixed media palette
17. Different ideas for refinishing wooden furniture
18. Easy t-shirt skirts*
19. Patchwork style card using scraps*
20. Necktie aqua handbag by Rick Rack Ruby
21. 6 ways to make necklaces using buttons
22. The Bookworm by Tammy Smith Design
23. 50+ things to make with old sweaters
24. Lots of ideas on how to recycle old Singer sewing machines

Hopefully that provided enough ideas to inspire you. Now all you need to do is
1. Get inspired
2. Create (original and new creations only, please respect copyright)
3. Take photos of your creation
4. Link up
5. Check out the other linked projects, comment on them etc. We want to build a community.

If you have a blog please write about your inspiration, how it links to this challenge and include a link to this post. Add a photo of your project with your name and a short description below. If you do not have a blog post you can upload and share your photo or email me a copy of the photo and details. If you have any problems linking up there is a how to video and tutorial here.

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Refashion to make hot water bottle cover

Refashion to make hot water bottle cover

Ever have any clothes you really don’t want to get rid of for sentimental reasons? My old fleecy PJs are a real comfort thing during the Winter but they’ve lost their snuggle factor after years of wear. I bought some cheap new ones last year but somehow the old ones refused to leave the house to free up space!!

I bought a small hot water bottle in Poundland and keep meaning to make a cover for it. When I was trying to declutter in the bedroom it struck me that I could use the old PJs to make a hot water bottle cover. I get to hold onto some meomories but the old PJs become useful again!

This is only my second project on the overlocker and it came close to disaster!! I used the ribbon tags from inside the PJ bottoms to make the fastening and I used the leg to make the cover.

Refashioned PJ bottoms

Refashioned PJ bottoms

Hi!
In my simplify life quest I’m trying to gradually go through the house having an audit of possessions and having a good declutter. A few weeks ago I was sorting through my nightwear and I realised that I had more than enough PJ bottoms for Winter but was a bit lacking in things to wear when it gets warmer.

It struck me as a bit silly to get rid of PJ bottoms only to go out and buy shorts new. I decided to try a refashion and it was the perfect opportunity to use my new overlocker!

I decided that my stripey cotton PJs could be shortened and would look fine if I overlocked the edges and didn’t hem. So here are the new cotton shorts….They look wonky in the photo as I didn’t lay them out very well!!

The originals had buttons on the inside with tabs so you could shorten the trousers to 3/4 length. I reused the buttons at the bottom of the side seam to give the shorts a more finished look! Here is a lovely close up to show my first go at overlocking with all the imperfections!!

I’m quite pleased to have something I can actually wear from this first attempt!!