Join the Fun!

The School Security Guard Decided To Save The Discarded Benches And Gave Them A Second Life

Final score:

772points

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Bobert Robertson 3 years ago

Can this guy upcycle me to back in my glory days?

16points

I Take Plastic Shipping /Bale Straps From Hardware Store Waste, And Make Sturdy, Functional & Fashionable Baskets! (My Cats Also Love Them At Every Stage)

Final score:

772points

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Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

Wow, how do some people come up with these ideas. Great way to recycle those plastic strips.

136points

Every year we dump a massive 2.12 billion tons of waste. If all this waste was put on trucks, they would go around the world 24 times. This stunning amount of waste is partly because 99 percent of the stuff we buy is trashed within 6 months.

Luckily, more and more people are now becoming aware of the damage of the waste they produce and the footprint they leave on their planet by consuming stuff on a daily basis. Sustainable consumption is a way to do more and better with less, meaning that we give old products a whole new life.

To find out more about the now-trending practice of upcycling, we talked to Lina Survila, an editor-in-chief of Abstract Stylist magazine. “Upcycling is a re-use of no longer desirable items. It can be something that has lost its function or simply doesn't spark joy anymore,” Lina explained this buzzword.

Pulled Out Of A Trash Heap. It Was One Part Of A Military File Cabinet. Thorough Cleaning, Paint And A Little Shining Up Followed By Wrapping It In Wood From My Scrap Pile. Added Some Legs And Bingo Bango!

Pulled Out Of A Trash Heap. It Was One Part Of A Military File Cabinet. Thorough Cleaning, Paint And A Little Shining Up Followed By Wrapping It In Wood From My Scrap Pile. Added Some Legs And Bingo Bango!

Final score:

693points

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Gin. No tonic 3 years ago

Bingo Bango indeed!

91points

This Rug Used To Be A Bunch Of Ugly T-Shirts

Final score:

631points

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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago

Rug braiding is sooooo easy too! The hardest part is just the monotony of cutting enough strips of material. The braiding then stitching together is a breeze.

15points

I Convinced My Friend To Not Throw Away His Old Fencing And Let Me Build Him Garden Boxes. How Do You Think They Came Out?

Final score:

626points

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SentimentAndBadJokes 3 years ago

I think that your friend would've regretted otherwise. What wood ya know?

69points

“Creative upcycling is becoming more and more popular as people are looking for new ways to express their creativity and stay original,” she said and added that “the sustainability aspect is a strong motivator to give items a second life.”

When asked whether people are becoming more aware about producing less waste in their daily lives, Lina assured us that this is definitely the case. “People are definitely talking more about conscious lifestyle choices than they used to.”

But it’s not all up to them. If we talk about the greatest impact in producing waste, we need to realize that “big changes, especially in the fashion industry, should come from big brands making their supply chain more clean and transparent.” So the companies that produce huge amounts of stuff, like the famous fast fashion brands, are really the ones to blame.

Earrings Who Lost Their Mates Turned Into A Charm Bracelet

Final score:

598points

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Llewella 3 years ago

That's smart, I've got a lot of those orphans

104points

I Turned An Old Microwave Cart Into A Rolling LEGO Stand For My Daughters For Christmas

Final score:

576points

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Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

Super cute idea

69points

Upcycled 3 Old T-Shirts Into 1 New One

Final score:

530points

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Johnny Rodriguez 3 years ago

Looks like 'somebody that I used to know'..

127points

“The more we upcycle, the more we choose not to buy something new. It's like making dinner from scraps—you use something most people would throw away, and you save money,” Lina said. She’s also a believer in a conscious lifestyle that’s something to be affordable for all and not reserved for the people with higher incomes.

You can upcycle virtually anything, from clothes and accessories to household objects. “I upcycle paper boxes and bags, glass bottles, and old textiles. For example, you can upcycle your old bed linen to small kitchen napkins or towels. Also, use boxes as containers for storage, build compartments in your closet from them,” the editor concluded.

#10

Turned An Old Fan With A Bad Motor Into A Lamp

Final score:

515points

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80 Van 3 years ago

It would be super cool if the light bulbs could spin.

102points

#11

Made Some Shorts, A Bucket Hat And A Bag All From One Old Jacket

Final score:

508points

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Bobert Robertson 3 years ago

If only he had a matching jacket to go with that gear

188points

#12

A Rose For My Partner On Our Anniversary, Made From Recycled Cutlery

Final score:

484points

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Nope 3 years ago

That's pretty cool

51points

#13

My Vintage TV Barn Find Turned Into My New Bar Cart

Final score:

477points

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Johnny Rodriguez 3 years ago

More entertaining than real TV..

76points

#14

Turned An Old Office Credenza Into A New TV Stand

Final score:

458points

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ADHORTATOR 3 years ago

Impressive!

60points

#15

The Drink Tray I Got From A Cafe Is A Reused Milk Carton

Final score:

454points

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Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

Hey if it works.

66points

#16

Made A Fairy Succulent Garden Patio Area With A Broken Pot

Final score:

454points

POST

Chrissie Mörbe 3 years ago

Oh my goodness, this is absolutely adorable!!!

78points

#17

I Repurpoused My Old Grill Into A Small Herb Garden! I Hope All The Seeds Grow Soon

Final score:

446points

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Stacy S. 3 years ago

Great new garden bench.

19points

#18

Handpainted Them. Love How These Turned Out!

Final score:

434points

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ivan bolitekurac 3 years ago

Weird Mozilla browser but ok

48points

#19

Picked Up A Used Cardigan That Turned Out To Look Much Better In The Picture Than In Person, So I Turned It Back To Yarn And Crocheted The Yarn Into A Cat Bed (I Didn't Use A Pattern)

Final score:

429points

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Megan 3 years ago

I now want a cat so I have an excuse to have a cute bed like this in my house!

61points

#20

IKEA Backpack

Final score:

383points

POST

Oskar vanZandt 3 years ago

Those blue bags (the material) are almost indestructible... that backpack will last as long as the seams etc. do.

87points

#21

A Neighbor Was Giving Away This Kid Size Chest Of Drawers For Free, So I Snagged It And Made It Into A Quarantine Bar

Final score:

381points

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Luna Ralphson 3 years ago

I thought it said "neighbor gave away his kid"

2points

#22

Swater Not Won Since 1996 And A Zipper From An Old Bag = Wool Overall For My Kid

Final score:

359points

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Hugo A-niro 3 years ago

No he has his own swater

6points

#23

Turned A Thrifted Blanket Into These Ridiculous Sweats

Final score:

359points

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Lovefunnyreviews21 3 years ago

Keeps you toasty warm!

42points

#24

Unused Bags, It's Time To Do Some Handicraft

Final score:

352points

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ivan bolitekurac 3 years ago

This doesn't look like plastic in the 2nd pic

107points

JennyLaRue 3 years ago

That's the magic of Crochet

32points

pebs 3 years ago

Just the colored parts are plastic.

10points

Carol Dalton 3 years ago

I think the green, red and blue is plastic..

4points

Máyumi Kakizaki 3 years ago

OHH, the colors of the flowers, on the bag!

3points

Shelli Aderman 3 years ago

For those unwilling to Google, this is called, “Plarn,” and I’ve taught children how to do this. Not this fancy, of course, but it’s a real thing! https://www.kitchentableclassroom.com/plarn-plastic-bags-into-yarn/

13points

Yoga Kitty 3 years ago

Thank you, very useful!

2points

Jo Johannsen 3 years ago

Zoom in and you can see the shine. I vote in favor of real deal.

13points

WolfGirl23 3 years ago

We always save plastic bags and reuse them for trash, cat litter, dog poop, etc.

11points

Michael Müller 3 years ago

I thought, that's what almost everybody does?! But it seems to be quite different in the US... Sad.

1point

Billy Maguire 3 years ago

Me Too!

0points

Cass Malone 3 years ago

Same

0points

Giovanna 3 years ago

OMG HOW

5points

Pernille Dyre 3 years ago

Nice croched.... Really pretty. But how is to hold your hands against the plastic...

5points

WildHoneyPie 3 years ago

My mother in law used to crochet carriers for water bottles out of plastic bags. I remember the first one I saw was hanging from the handle on her walker, lol. I thought it was genius! And yes the white part is plastic too. She made a couple for us with our favorite NFL team's colors. Sadly they do get brittle with time and start to break so I don't have them anymore.

4points

Mommitude Attitude 3 years ago

I had a friend of mine that made tote bags out of plastic and I feel maybe I need to learn or try

3points

ewadora 3 years ago

how?

1point

Taco Da Guinea Pig 3 years ago

How... how?

1point

Miss Cris 3 years ago (edited)

Amazing! Cute and useful!!! Now I want to learn to do it!

1point

Shelli Aderman 3 years ago

WOW!

1point

Carmen Sandiego 3 years ago

Whoa!

1point

Shirley Heyn 3 years ago

So, do you shop at stores according to the color of bags you need for the project?

0points

Sue Clifford 3 years ago

Unbelievable 😲. You have quite a talent.

0points

Loraine D.G. MacGinness 3 years ago

I WANT to know how ?? I have so many, too many to add to the world's mountain !!

0points

Mihiteruarewa Rangitaawa 3 years ago

Love this!! 😎😎😎

0points

TexasWoman 3 years ago

The plastic look like fancy yarn

0points

Dorrie Kowalski 3 years ago

...it's waterproof!!

0points

Myra Alkins 3 years ago

Looks like the colored portions are plastic and the white is yarn.

0points

Amy Broderick 3 years ago

plarn!!

0points

Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 3 years ago

These wknt last long. Most plastic bags are designed to rot and break down within a few weeks. Lol

0points

Doris Bennett 3 years ago

Amazing!

0points

sharron lynn parsons 3 years ago

A job well done !!!

0points

Ashley Wright 3 years ago

Is the plastic now a liner?

0points

Annie 3 years ago

Really awesome! I would never have guessed you used the plastic bags. You ought to sell them!

0points

MAKtheknife 3 years ago

Granny Squares personified.

0points

Gail Watkins 3 years ago

Wow are you serious

0points

Onion rings like to make your breath smelly 3 years ago

What a great way to recycle!

0points

LJ Robinson 3 years ago

nice job!

0points

Lolly 3 years ago

How???! So good.

0points

Lyone Fein 3 years ago

Whoa

0points

Michael Müller 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Marilyn Holt 3 years ago

These can be made into 'yarn' and crocheted.

0points

tail_bite 3 years ago

nice try

0points

Mazer 3 years ago

Whoa, I have seen this before, people making blankets for the homeless out of these plastic bags. So much talent!

0points

Cary Lim 3 years ago

https://zen.yandex.ru/media/shebbi_shik/kuda-pristroit-nakopivshuiusia-goru-paketov-pokazyvaiu-kakuiu-poleznost-ia-iz-nih-sdelala-5e90d55c2d34573bbda18d3b

0points

Samantha PandaNotBored 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Shelli Aderman 3 years ago

Zoom in. And? I’ve made “plarn,” it’s a real thing. Just because you can’t, don’t say it can’t be done. 🤦🏽‍♀️

5points

Stacy S. 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Shelli Aderman 3 years ago

Zoom in. And? I’ve made “plarn,” it’s a real thing. Just because you can’t, don’t say it can’t be done. 🤦🏽‍♀️

3points

#25

I Read That A Lot Of Donated Clothes End Up In Landfills Anyway, So Started Saving Our Old Fabrics/Textiles That Didn’t Seem Nice Enough For Resale. Finally Used Them To Make This Pet Bed!

Final score:

339points

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TmKhr 3 years ago

That looks comfy!

39points

#26

A Raincoat For My Dog Made Out Of A Broken Promotional Umbrella (She’s Not Impress)

Final score:

335points

POST

Diana 3 years ago

Well, I am!

64points

#27

Teacup Birdfeeders Made By Me

Final score:

332points

POST

Johnny Rodriguez 3 years ago

What about the price tags? Do your birds have money?

69points

#28

Made A Bag For My Mom's Yarn From Old Window Screen

Final score:

328points

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Miss Cris 3 years ago

Nice!

24points

#29

Repurposed An Old Cable Spool Into A Table For My Zero Waste Store

Final score:

320points

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Alloydog 3 years ago

I've got one of those in my back-garden at the moment, with stuff on. It's not so much a "table" yet, as I haven't tarted it up at all, rather it's a "cable-reel that I use for putting stuff on" :)

46points

#30

My Old Favourite Jeans Turned Into A Pen Roll

Final score:

315points

POST

Hannah Edwards 3 years ago

I love the embroidery on it. I’m going to do this!

41points

#31

Denim Friends From Old Jeans

Final score:

313points

POST

ADHORTATOR 3 years ago

my daughter made a whale :-)

30points

#32

Got This Pillowcase At A Local Thrift Store For 50 Cents! Flipped It Into A Cute Purse!

Final score:

311points

POST

Nannychachi 3 years ago

Twice a year our local furniture store gives me their fabric upholstery swatches. Some are leather and I make purses with them. I used a lot of the fabric ones to make stuffed bunnies for kids at Easter.

71points

#33

A Knit A Sweater Made Entirely Of Old /Scrap Yarns I Had Lying Around

Final score:

309points

POST

Alexandra Davis 3 years ago

I would wear that. So unique and different

29points

Repurposed A Diaper Box + Some Contact Paper Into A Little Bookcase For My Son

Final score:

304points

POST

Tess the ferret 3 years ago

what's contact paper?

18points

#35

My Mom Made This Pig Planter

Final score:

304points

POST

ADHORTATOR 3 years ago

Oink! :-)

37points

#36

Ultimate Upcycling! Abandoned Car To Airbnb!

Final score:

298points

POST

Otter 3 years ago

Who wants to sleep in something out in the yard, with no curtains???

50points

#37

Bought A Men's Shirt For $3 And Turned It Into A Twin Set!

Final score:

292points

POST

Samantha PandaNotBored 3 years ago

I like this.

28points

#38

I Turned An Old Dresser Into A Microwave Stand!

Final score:

287points

POST

Ian Smith 3 years ago

It looks nice, but I wouldn't want to bend over for the micro.

52points

#39

Update! TV With Cats (And You Can See The Chandelier I Made From An Old Vase)

Final score:

284points

POST

ADHORTATOR 3 years ago

finally something interesting on TV!

99points

#40

Turned An Old Mannequin Hand And Gold Metal Tray Into A Light! (Not My Idea Originally, I Saw Some Similar Online)

Final score:

277points

POST

Johnny Rodriguez 3 years ago

Please hold the line..

36points

#41

From Ruined Jeans To An Area Rug

Final score:

266points

POST

imontape 3 years ago

Banana for scale

54points

Upcycled An Old Candle Lid

Final score:

265points

POST

Mommitude Attitude 3 years ago

This is really a neat idea!

31points

#43

IKEA Bags Into Windbreaker

Final score:

259points

POST

Danieletc 3 years ago

His expression says... "Should I tell boo what I REALLY think? Nah."

7points

#44

Old Handmade Writing Desk Turned Into A Changing Table For The New Nursery

Final score:

249points

POST

Chrissie Mörbe 3 years ago

Pretty, but much too small, frail and dangerous for a kid.

13points

#45

Upcycled Bicycle Wheel

Final score:

249points

POST

Andrew Gibb 3 years ago

'up cycled' lolz

69points

#46

Something I Made From Old Bicycle Parts And Christmas Lights

Final score:

236points

POST

Danieletc 3 years ago

I could make light of this. But I'll leave it unspoken.

80points

#47

I Turned Old Perfume Bottles Into Room Diffusers

Final score:

220points

POST

Miss Cris 3 years ago

Good idea and "easy" to copy!

35points

#48

I Turned My Friend's Old Dress Shirt Into A Crop Top With A Matching Mask And Scrunchie!

Final score:

215points

POST

Jo Johannsen 3 years ago

Cute.

26points

#49

Took Two Old Shirts And Made Two New Ones!

Final score:

195points

POST

Kirsten Kerkhof 3 years ago

I like how the hem is asymmetrical.

46points

Upcycled A Thrifted Suit By Painting On It ! It Took Me About 30 Hours, But I Love The Result

Final score:

186points

POST

troufaki13 3 years ago

A bit tacky for my taste, but impressive work nonetheless!

46points

Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Read less »

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Carmen Sandiego 3 years ago

This post makes me very happy!

25points

Vicky Z 3 years ago

It's amazing but it also makes me feel useless... how can people have so many skills?

20points

Brian Bennett 3 years ago

Most of these projects take a bit of talent. I have wonderful Ideas when I get done it looks like a group of kindergarten destroyers were let loose. I must be wonderful to have talent - I congratulate all of them!

18points

Memere 3 years ago (edited)

It takes practice, these are people who started out the same way & just focused on one thing, then practiced over & over til they improved. It's just like learning to play a musical instrument, or a sport - not one single person is perfect at anything when they are starting out. Pick one thing, keep working at it, and don't give up!

8points

denzoren 3 years ago

These were awesome! If only I had some sort of skill like this. lol

4points

Sasy 3 years ago

I liked these a lot, was super jealous of some, and do wish that things like the bag made of strapping had a step by step how to attached. The idea that these people spent some time on something that made them happy is enough for me to be also happy. Whether not your taste or style, that you do not see value in the item or not, see value in the initiative and time spent and how good they felt.

2points

PatriciaB 3 years ago

This reminds me of a TV show we have here in the UK called Money for nothing, they collect items from the tip (dump) to upcycle then sell on for a profit.

2points

John Topper 3 years ago

A bunch of these are fun ideas, but the labeling is deceptive. "I got this for $3" leaves out the considerable amount of skill and 6 hours of your time that went into it.

2points

Lyone Fein 3 years ago

This was a great article. All of these ideas are terrific. But one thing I don't understand is what is going on with all the negative comments. Didn't people ever learn about "if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything"? There is so much nastiness in the comments I was shocked.

1point

toyin Awesome 3 years ago

I really appreciate this post. Full of ingenious ideas

1point

Paradise 3 years ago

I would love the skill to do that stuff.

1point

Amy Dodds 3 years ago

My fiancée started a business in lockdown making furniture, decor and all sorts out of old whiskey barrels! Check out BarrelNation on Etsy and if you drop us a message we can give you a nice Bored Panda friends discount.

1point

Crazy Meerkat Lady 3 years ago

Can someone reccomend a YouTube channel where I can learn to stitch? For example making a top from a blanket or the person who made a child overall from the unused jumper. There are too many channels regarding that and I would prefer someone's recommendation.

1point

Dorothy Cloud 2 years ago

Some people have wonderful ideas!!

0points

backatya 3 years ago

Nice but it takes imagination and talent to do this

0points

katboxjanitor 3 years ago

My only issue is a pretty big one. The motivation to execute the project once the supplies are in hand.

0points

Thomas 3 years ago

Very crude compared to the other projects above, but this thing I made has proven to be darn useful since I don't have an AC. Broken table fan found in the trash + old PC fan + a spare 12V connector + a bit of duct tape to seal the side gaps = a powerful, low-consumption and ultra-quiet table fan with LED light! eb3bc7741f...284495.jpg e291b42e44...64da78.jpg

0points

Cass Malone 3 years ago

We use milk crates for our DVD rack. Got 18 crates and counting

0points

Cori 3 years ago

This has inspired me to turn a bunch of my kids old onesies that have been sitting in the back of the closet into a rug!

0points

Marcus James Heslop 3 years ago

This post should be called Turning Old Tat into Different Old Tat

-1point

Narunaru 3 years ago

Oh, wow. B6YeSKFCYA...5-jpeg.jpg

-1point

Neil Bidle 3 years ago

I really dislike the term "upcycling" because it's a stupid millennial buzz-word to describe the idea of fixing something or repurposing it instead of putting it in landfill. This is an idea is common sense and should be used by everyone, but the phrase is so often used for painting some old junk to make new junk. Saving all the old school benches? Fab. Putting a painted bicycle on the wall to use as a clothes rail? What??

-1point

John Baker 3 years ago

Speaking of stupid millennial buzzwords ... "repurposing."

-2points

POST

Carmen Sandiego 3 years ago

This post makes me very happy!

25points

Vicky Z 3 years ago

It's amazing but it also makes me feel useless... how can people have so many skills?

20points

Brian Bennett 3 years ago

18points

Memere 3 years ago (edited)

8points