Upcycling Salvation Army

Upcycling Salvation Army

I love upcycling old things that seem to have no use into new things that do.  This time I am upcycling Salvation Army. I recently took a trip to the Salvation Army and found a few items that I thought I could use once I made them my own.  I spent a total of $13 on the items and set out to recreate a new look and a new use for my items.  If you want to learn more about the Salvation Army click the link. It is a worthwhile charitable organization that helps many people and every time you purchase something from one of their shops you are helping someone in need.

 

I started with a small hand held chopping board which I decided was perfect for hammering in my heavy duty snaps, rivets and eyelets.  In the past I have always had to go into the garage to do it.  Now I have a handy tool that I can hang up in my sewing room to complete my projects using these handy notions.  Next I purchased a three tiered letter holder. There were probably millions of these made in the 60’s and 70’s for dividing letters, bills and misc items.  I thought this would be perfect for my Frixion Pens, Zippers, and small quilting rulers.  I then bought a round tin like the one I remember my parents’ sewing kit was in and decided it was perfect for my new embroidery hobby tools and thread.  Again, a few changes and a little paint and it was all mine.  Finally I bought a very large sized pair of jeans to make more new things from old jeans.  So, let’s get started.

Chopping Board to Rivet Installer

What you will need:

• Old hand held chopping board you obtained from any thrift store
• Primer
• Paint
• Wood Filler or drywall compound
• Ribbon

Step 1:

Fill in any holes or knife marks with the wood filler or dry wall compound.  Once it is dry, sand the entire board until smooth.  Primer the whole board.  I actually used two coats of primer for a nice smooth finish.

Step 2:

Once the primer has dried, paint the board any color and pattern you like.  I am not a very good painter but I decided to start a nautical theme to go along with a nautical painting that I also found in that same Salvation Army trip.  I painted my board to sort of look like Dory the fish in Disney’s latest movies Finding Dory.  I almost simply put a sticker on when I found this  literally rockin’ how to make your own stickers video.  I love these guys. Follow their instructions and it really works.

I hope you like a little Metallica.  If not just turn down the sound.

Step 3:

After all of the paint has dried, spray or paint it with 2-3 coats of polyurethane letting each coat dry before adding the next.  Once the polyurethane has dried, add a coordinating piece of ribbon through the hole in the handle so you can hang it anywhere you would like.

Letter Holder to Craft Supply Storage

What you will need:

• Old three level letter holder from any thrift store
• Primer
• Paint
• Wood Filler or drywall compound
• Sand paper
• Wood Letters

Step 1:

Fill in any chips or divots then sand smooth.  Primer the entire piece then paint it the colors of your choice.  I chose to paint mine the colors of the sun and sea to go along with my nautical theme.  You can use any colors you like.

Step 2:

Once all of the paint has dried embellish the letter holder to your taste.  I chose to add wood letters that spell out SEW since it is going in my sewing room and is being used to store sewing notions and sewing tools.

Step 3:

Once it was finished I coated it with Polyurethane and hung it on the wall and filled it with zipper, Frixion pens, and quilting rulers.

Cookie Tin to Embroidery Tool Holder

What you will need:

• Cookie tin you have on hand or that you obtained from any thrift store
• Primer
• Paint
• Poster Board
• 1/2″ Rope
• Twine

Step 1:

Cut two pieces of poster board to intersect and fit in the cookie tin.  This will divide the inside into 4 quarters.  Paint the poster board any way you like or just leave it white.

Step 2:

Spray paint the tin any color or pattern that you want.  I chose to paint mine the colors of the sea, blue and green.  I focused on the sea and painted signal flags on the top to continue with my nautical theme. I added two eyelets, one on each side.  I threaded the twine through it to use as a carrying handle then I decorated it with 1/2″ rope around the edge of the lid.

Step 3:

I sprayed the final product with Polyurethane to seal the paint and added the poster board interior.  I cut one long piece of poster board to go from one side to the other and a second piece that I cut in half which I put one on each side. This created four segments for different embroidery supplies. I am just a beginner so there aren’t very many.  Once that was done, I filled it with my new embroidery tools.  As you will see from my future laundry room makeover I am at the beginning of my embroidery skills but I am enjoying it so far.

More New things from Old Jeans

As you all know I love making new things from old jeans.  This time I purchased the largest pair of old jeans I could find while at the Salvation Army.  From these jeans I created a fun beach hat and two cuddly whales with enough jeans fabric left over to make two hand bags in the future.

What you will need Whales:

• Pattern
• Jeans fabric depending on the size of your whale
• Coordinating fabric depending on the size of your whale
• Scrap piece of felt
• Fiber fill
• Standard sewing supplies

What you will need Hat:

• Pattern
• Jeans fabric
• Lining fabric
• Pelon 808
• Pelon 101F

Whales:

This pattern comes in two sizes but you can make this whale in any size you like by changing the size of the pattern.

Step 1:

Cut out the main body of the whale on the jeans fabric and the belly and fins of the whale from the coordinating fabric.

Step 2:

With right sides together sew the fin pieces together leaving the top open.  This should give you two fins.  Stuff the fins and sew them right sides together between the main body pieces and the belly pieces.

Step 3:

With right sides together sew the two whale pieces together leaving room at the bottom for stuffing.  Stuff the entire whale with fiber fill then hand sew the opening closed.  add two small black felt eyes and your are finished turning some old jeans into a cuddly whale.

Hat:

Step 1:

Cut out the pattern pieces. This part may get a little tricky depending on the size of jeans you are working with.  I purchased a size 18 so it accommodated this project and the others.  If you are using a smaller size you may only be able to make one of these  projects. Make sure all of the outer layers are lined with fusible Pelon 808.

Step 2:

Cut a piece of the coordinating fabric on the bias to act as the hat band.  It is important that this piece be bias cut so that it will lay flat going around the hat band.  Once the strip is cut.  Turn the top under about 1/2″ and sew it to the hat band. Sew the two ends of the hat band together using 1/2″ seem allowance

Step 3:

Attach the hat band to the top circle pattern piece making sure there are no gaps.

Step 4:

Once the hat band is attached it is now time to attach the brim to the hat band. First, sew the two prim pieces together using 1/2″ seam allowance.  Place the hat band and top piece  right sides together with the brim and sew them together making sure there are no gaps.  Go slowly here because you are sewing in a circle and it is easy to get tangled up.  Once the exterior of the hat is complete set it aside and make the lining.

Step 5:

Make the lining part of the hat in the same way that you made the exterior but there is no need for a hat band.  You are going to line your pieces with Pelon 101F for extra strength. Once the lining is complete you will attach the two.

Step 6:

Attach the lining to the outer hat right sides together and sew them at the brim leaving an opening for turning. Once you have finished turning the hat push the lining to the inside and press the brim completely.  You can top stitch around the brim if you like.  Hand sew the opening and you are finished with your beach hat.  If you would like to turn up the back of you hat like I did, I suggest wither pinning it or including some invisible snaps.  The jeans fabric is too heavy for it to stay turned up on its own.  I you use cotton fabric it should stay on its own.

New Use for Old Fruit Basket

I didn’t do anything to this one.  I found this metal basket and knew it was perfect for my knitting.  I didn’t even need to do anything to it but turn my skeins into balls.  Here it is.

New Use for Old Jewelry Holder

Another Thing I didn’t do anything too.  I simply changed its use from jewelry holder to hat display.  Very easy.

Perked up Painting

I found this painting during my trip and I really liked it but the frame was in bad condition so I simply painted the frame and painted the mat from white to black and the painting has a new life.  Lovely.

here you have it 8 upcycling projects from Salvation Army that you can create while helping others.  I encourage everyone to stroll through their local branch and see what can be turned into something useful.  Good Luck.