We recently gave you the chance to win a copy of Junk for Joy! We asked you for your upcycling projects and the competition judges were blown away by the response. Here’s a look at our winners.
Thinking outside the box
Take a look at this fantastic revamp project from Nina Walker.
“One of my upcycling projects was a chest of drawers my grandfather made. My dad handed it over when I needed new storage for my flat.
“It didn’t really suit my style (and was a bit rickety) so I stripped it down, varnished it and stuck some new handles on and fronts on the drawers. Hope you like it.”
Like it? We love it!
Sweet dreams
Or the toy chest in this baby bedroom makeover created by Victoria Gallon.
“I upcycled an old pine ottoman and painted it using a tester pot. I then made a seat on the top using foam pads I got in a local fabric shop and covered that by stapling material from a fleece blanket from Ikea which only cost £1.
“This has made a lovely toy chest and seat in my baby boy’s nursery. I also made all the cushions using remnants as well.”
Making magic with wrapping paper
Charlotte Craig used wrapping paper to create this stunning upcycled cabinet.
“I’ve upcycled this lovely wooden cabinet with glass doors, bought for twenty quid at a local flea market.
“I gave the outside a good scrub, painted the inside white and then lined the back and the shelves with Orla Kiely wrapping paper. Finished with 3 coats of decoupage varnish! I absolutely love it!!
Keep your coffee warm
Then there’s Patricia White’s great thermos cosy idea, just one of many Make it and Mend it ideas from Patricia.
“When my daughters were young, I made them dresses out of my husbands old shirts. They were lovely and often admired. When the washing machine finally broke we used the glass part of the door as a fruit bowl.
“We often use a vacuum flask when out walking. In cold winter weather it tended to lose some heat just when you need the extra warmth, so I made a tailor-made jacket for ours out of an old sleeping bag.
“It works a treat and stops the flask getting scratched as well. I’ve been using it for years and keep thinking of making a new one. As you can see from the photos, it is well worn so I guess I’ll be making another quite soon. I still have the remainder of the original sleeping bag waiting for another project!”
i-catching cases to Kindle your enthusiasm
Penny-Sue Wolfe created these fantastic cases to give her technology a touch of individual Make it and Mend it style.
“I recycled a pair of old trousers (black & white check) into an iPad case and a small offcut of Cath Kidston material from another project into a Kindle case!
“Both were made in the same way: Cut four matching size oblongs of material. I then sewed the top edges of outer fabric to lining putting a ribbon inside one to loop over button fastening.
“Turned them the right way then with the outer material both inside sewed up both sides so all 4 pieces were sewn together.
“I then stuffed both pockets with wadding and sewed the bottom edge so all 4 pieces were sewn together. I then turned it inside out, stitched on a button and dah dah!”
T-shirt chic
Sue Evans breathed new life into an old T-shirt: “My daughter’s university room mate was throwing out a pile of men’s T shirts that he didn’t like for one reason or another.
“My daughter knew I would be able to do something with them. so asked if she could have one. She loved the colour of this one, but not the gold design on the front.
“I used freezer paper to make a stencil of the Lion King logo and applied it to the front of the shirt and then “laddered” the back of the shirt and removed the sleeves to make the shirt more girly. My daughter loves it!”
Plus loads more creative ideas…
Winner also include Lynsey Searle with her gift tags from books that were otherwise destined for landfill, Jean Harrison with her passion for stripping and waxing pine furniture, Gemma Wilkinson, who’s incoporated her Gran’s old beads into new jewellery and Louise Johnson who helped upcycle her friend’s bedside table. “We lined the drawers with beautiful William Morris wrapping paper, painted the outside a duck-egg blue and replaced the drawer knobs with some pretty vintage-looking ones.”
Way to go Make it and Menders! We’re impressed.
Junk for Joy! by Sian Berry
Make it and Mend it fan Sian Berry is a DIY enthusiast who’s been rebuilding and reinventing everyday household items for years. In her new book, she delivers 50 fantastic projects designed to inspire the seasoned upcycling enthusiast as well as the beginner.
There are easy-to-follow instructions and it’s illustrated with beautiful photographs by Sarah Cuttle. It covers everything from revamping cupboards and tables, to creating your own placemats and mobiles. Plus there are some great interviews with Make it and Mend it members and co-founder Hilary Bruffell.
The projects not only offer you a way to save money and give worn items a new lease of life, but also to enjoy that wonderful feeling that comes with making and mending. As Hilary puts it in the book: “It just makes you feel good, and the key to that is what I call ‘self-efficacy’ – knowing you have some control of how the job will turn out and the feeling of achievement when you finished.”
» Save over £5 when you buy Junk For Joy! on Amazon
