29th March 2010

UPCYCLING / RECYCLE

Up-cycling is a process in which disposable or discarded items are re-purposed to make them valuable, useful, or simply aesthetically pleasing.

Up-cycling is designed to work in opposition to consumer culture, encouraging people to think of new and innovative ways to use things, instead of simply buying new . It also benefits the environment, by promotingreuse over discarding whenever possible. By wise geek.

Our inspiration came wanting to create some props to display a range of vintage sports equipment for fathers day last year, not only did the containers create alot of interest but we found may uses for them as well

Original Purpose: Vitamin storage bin with clip lock lids

Sourced from: REVERSE GARBAGE West End Brisbane

Content: strong card board with aluminum strip edging

We suggest that before starting your own project to wipe out interior & exterior with damp cloth and remove dust dirt n grit

Line if required either glue paper or fabric to inner sides/top/bottom. Use PVA glue, water down to ¾ strength as the base glue to glue your sheets on then as a sealer on top of the paper and  we used a 2′ paint brush to apply glue mix

Tasmania’s 1909 “The Mercury”  newspapers were used to decorate our bins but there are unlimited options available, just let your imagination run wild: wallpaper – new or old, old magazines, photocopied photo’s, fabric etc 

Our bins have created an immense amount of interest since being on display in the shop andwe have used them as props/stands for displaying our gorgeous products and even as a seat occasionally. I have one at home as a coffee / lamp table and my daughter wants a couple for bedside tables in her room – she’ll also use them as storage for her array of “precious” keepsakes that she has a tendency to collect- at least they will be out of sight  and off the floor.