Posted by Tastefully Simple on February 22, 2023
We all know the old saying: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Upcycling is a fun way to turn your own trash into something to treasure, while showcasing your personal style and reducing waste at the same time. For example, once you’ve enjoyed the delicious products in your Tastefully Simple jars, bottles and boxes, why not give them new life by upcycling them into attractive and useful objects?
Here are some tips and ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
Seek inspiration. Seeing how others have upcycled can help you see the possibilities in the items you have at hand. Check out blogs, Pinterest boards, and Instagram feeds for ideas. You can also attend local crafting events and workshops to get inspired and connect with others.
Use what you have on hand. There’s no need to purchase expensive supplies ― the whole idea is to save money and reduce clutter by repurposing things you already have. Kids’ paints, bits of ribbon and fabric scraps, buttons, beads and colored paper can all be used to “prettify” our upcycling projects.
Make it a party. Upcycling is a perfect opportunity to get the kids involved, or host an upcycling party with your friends. Ideas and creativity grow and flow in good company!
Try something new. Maybe there’s a technique you’ve been wanting to try: decoupage, folk painting, bedazzling, etc. Upcycling is a good way to build new skills and experiment.
Get personal. Whatever you create in your upcycling project, it will be the only one like it in the world. Enjoy the opportunity to explore and develop your personal style.
Now that you’ve discovered how much fun upcycling can be, here are some ideas for giving your empty Tastefully Simple packaging a fresh and useful new life!
SEASONING JARS
Did you know … Last year, the U.S. produced 40 million tons of plastic waste, of which only about 5-6% – two million tons – was recycled, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
Tastefully Simple’s plastic seasoning jars are a handy size for storing small items, shaker tops and screw-tight lids. Remove the labels and use them:
- In the kitchen: Fill with flour to easily sprinkle cutting boards or your hands when kneading dough, or powdered sugar for sifting over baked goods and breakfast foods.
- For cleaning: Keep jars filled with baking soda for sprinkling on carpets before vacuuming, in the bathroom for quick cleaning jobs in sinks and bathtubs, and to freshen pet beddings and cat litter.
- For crafting: Store craft supplies like beads, sequins, glitter and small jewelry findings. Tip: Hang a spice rack to organize these supply jars neatly.
- In the garage or workshop: Use to organize and store screws, nails, wire, nuts, bolts and small tools
- For gardening: In the fall, gather seeds from annual flowers and store them over winter in a cool place in seasoning jars. Come spring, shake them over tilled ground and cover loosely with soil. Instant cottage garden!
- In the office: Fill with tacks, rubber bands, paper clips and other small desk items.
- In the car: Use to hold loose change for toll stations.
- For camping and RVing: Create a mini first aid kit with bandages, cotton swabs and antiseptic spray.
- In the RV: Wrangle condiment packets (ketchup, mustard, mayo, soy sauce), keep matchbooks and matchsticks dry and neat; assemble an emergency sewing kit with needles, thread, small scissors and hem tape.
BOTTLES and JARS
Did you know … The Environmental Protection Agency reports that only about a third of discarded glass is recycled yearly.
Tastefully Simple uses glass bottles and jars of varying shapes and sizes. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination. Wash, remove labels and …
- Paint or decorate to use as bud vases
- Fill several bottles and jars with water tinted different hues with food coloring. Arrange on a mantle or sunny windowsill
- Create a bottle tree yard ornament
- Repurpose as a candle holder
- Fill with unpopped popcorn, candies or dry soup mix and give as a gift
- Bottle and store homemade flavored oils, vinegars and other liquids
DRINK BUCKETS
Once your frozen drink mix has been enjoyed, the fun doesn’t have to end. The handy bucket can be used to organize and tote …
- Small toys (army men, legos, art supplies)
- Socks
- Makeup and toiletries
- Desk supplies
- Cookies
- Lunch
SHIPPING BOXES
Did you know … According to the American Forest & Paper Association, 35 million tons, or 85% of cardboard is recycled annually. Yet there are still plenty of empty boxes cluttering up our spare rooms and basements!
Tastefully Simple shipping boxes are sturdy and suitable for …
- Weed barrier between rows in the garden (flattened and cut into strips)
- Pet beds and cat castles (just cut holes to the desired shape and add soft bedding
- Kids toys, like a make-believe car, stove or table
- Storage for spray paint cans and art supplies
- Car trunk organizer
- Protecting the garage floor from oil spills
- Cake board, cut to size and covered with aluminum foil
How do YOU reuse and upcycle objects around the home? Share your creative ideas!