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50 Times People Showed How They Remade Things Instead Of Throwing Them Away And The Internet Applauded Them
If you've never heard the buzzword ‘upcycle,’ you’ve probably been off to the moon. The trend of creative reuse is all about transforming products that would otherwise end up in the trash.
Why? Because it’s is a great way to reuse materials and reduce our footprint. Plus, it’s fun and if you're still not convinced, below we have plenty of evidence of people using their skills and ingenuity to give old stuff a new life.
From a handcrafted tote bag made from a bunch of plastic bags to an old grill transformed into a cute herb garden, nothing seems impossible for these handy people. Scroll down, upvote your fave remade objects, and be sure to share your own upcycling ideas in the comments below!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Kind Man Is Recycling Old Camp Coolers To Make Warm Kitty Shelters For Winter! How Cool Is This?!
Otter 4 years ago
I need to show this to the "cat lady" I know, she has some ferals that live in her yard. Perfect waterproof kitty hutches!
Night Owl 4 years ago
There are several similar great ideas with instructions on the internet
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William J Dougherty 4 years ago
I love this!! Feral cats often suffer due to overbuilding, as many animals do. Giving them comfort like this is a humane act of highest order!
PeachPossum 4 years ago
Do they have backdoors so our feline friends can make a hasty exit, stage right, just in case a skunk follows them in?
Laura kelly 4 years ago
What you would have to do is to leave the lid unlatched so a scared kitty could push it up and escape.
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Josey Griffin 4 years ago
Love it when people come up with great recycling ideas. Fantastic. We waste too much.
Judy Watson 4 years ago
Wow! how greate and creative,,kitties will love it..Thank you Mister =*..*=
Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago (edited)
This is common for feral cat communities and the people who serve them. I made several of these a few years ago when I was volunteering. You can line them with old clothes for insulation and then use like Mylar or some type of plastic to keep it dry. The hardest part is cutting the hole. We used big storage bins though and not coolers.
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
Cool and compassionate. I hope he's not going to be hated for it by some (too many) BP 'commentators'.
Lionelle Grosdemanche-dien 4 years ago
Magnifique, quelle bonne idée, bravo et merci monsieur.
Never Stop Learning 4 years ago
Absolutely please remove latches that snap lid down. A child could get caught in ice chest like one of those. With cat hole, child could breath but die if not immediately found.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Generally coolers like this are decommissioned from their original purpose because the live-hinge latches or plastic spine hinges are broken. Coolers with proper latches that have the possibility of actually trapping a child haven't been made in decades.
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Lisa Chambers 4 years ago
Oh I need that attachment for my drill! I cannot seem to cut a decent entry way into any of the kitty shelters I made! This is so great.
Valerie Hie 4 years ago
those are awesome, an idea though would be two exits so the animal can have an escape in case something blocks the one way
sharron lynn parsons 4 years ago
What is the winter like, being plastic, they may be rather cold, however, a wonderful man !!!
helen gray 4 years ago
They are insulated and it looks like he might be adding straw bedding. Straw is very warm to sleep in - I have tried it!
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Elsie Collins 4 years ago
Brilliant idea!! Hope he fills,them with straw!! It holds body heat and they can burrow under it!!
H.L.Lewis 4 years ago
Has he made them waterproof? Coolers do not have water tight lids, since most people are putting ice in them. But If you leave a cooler out in the rain, water will leak in from the lid. Since it is level and not beveled to keep water out. Otherwise, I find these quite cool!
Marilyn Holt 4 years ago
BTW, it's best to make a second hole on the other side so a kitty doesn't get trapped in there.
RELATED:
#2
The School Security Guard Decided To Save The Discarded Benches And Gave Them A Second Life
#3
I Take Plastic Shipping /Bale Straps From Hardware Store Waste, And Make Sturdy, Functional & Fashionable Baskets! (My Cats Also Love Them At Every Stage)
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
Wow, how do some people come up with these ideas. Great way to recycle those plastic strips.
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.
#4
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!
#5
This Rug Used To Be A Bunch Of Ugly T-Shirts
Kathryn Baylis 4 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.
#6
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?
SentimentAndBadJokes 4 years ago
I think that your friend would've regretted otherwise. What wood ya know?
“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.
#7
Earrings Who Lost Their Mates Turned Into A Charm Bracelet
#8
I Turned An Old Microwave Cart Into A Rolling LEGO Stand For My Daughters For Christmas
#9
Upcycled 3 Old T-Shirts Into 1 New One
“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
#11
Made Some Shorts, A Bucket Hat And A Bag All From One Old Jacket
#12
A Rose For My Partner On Our Anniversary, Made From Recycled Cutlery
#13
My Vintage TV Barn Find Turned Into My New Bar Cart
#14
Turned An Old Office Credenza Into A New TV Stand
#15
The Drink Tray I Got From A Cafe Is A Reused Milk Carton
#16
Made A Fairy Succulent Garden Patio Area With A Broken Pot
#17
I Repurpoused My Old Grill Into A Small Herb Garden! I Hope All The Seeds Grow Soon
#18
Handpainted Them. Love How These Turned Out!
#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)
#20
IKEA Backpack
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
Those blue bags (the material) are almost indestructible... that backpack will last as long as the seams etc. do.
#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
#22
Swater Not Won Since 1996 And A Zipper From An Old Bag = Wool Overall For My Kid
#23
Turned A Thrifted Blanket Into These Ridiculous Sweats
#24
Unused Bags, It's Time To Do Some Handicraft
#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!
#26
A Raincoat For My Dog Made Out Of A Broken Promotional Umbrella (She’s Not Impress)
#27
Teacup Birdfeeders Made By Me
#28
Made A Bag For My Mom's Yarn From Old Window Screen
#29
Repurposed An Old Cable Spool Into A Table For My Zero Waste Store
#30
My Old Favourite Jeans Turned Into A Pen Roll
#31
Denim Friends From Old Jeans
#32
Got This Pillowcase At A Local Thrift Store For 50 Cents! Flipped It Into A Cute Purse!
Nannychachi 4 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.
#33
A Knit A Sweater Made Entirely Of Old /Scrap Yarns I Had Lying Around
#34
Repurposed A Diaper Box + Some Contact Paper Into A Little Bookcase For My Son
#35
My Mom Made This Pig Planter
#36
Ultimate Upcycling! Abandoned Car To Airbnb!
#37
Bought A Men's Shirt For $3 And Turned It Into A Twin Set!
#38
I Turned An Old Dresser Into A Microwave Stand!
#39
Update! TV With Cats (And You Can See The Chandelier I Made From An Old Vase)
#40
Turned An Old Mannequin Hand And Gold Metal Tray Into A Light! (Not My Idea Originally, I Saw Some Similar Online)
#41
From Ruined Jeans To An Area Rug
#42
Upcycled An Old Candle Lid
#43
IKEA Bags Into Windbreaker
#44
Old Handmade Writing Desk Turned Into A Changing Table For The New Nursery
#45
Upcycled Bicycle Wheel
#46
Something I Made From Old Bicycle Parts And Christmas Lights
#47
I Turned Old Perfume Bottles Into Room Diffusers
#48
I Turned My Friend's Old Dress Shirt Into A Crop Top With A Matching Mask And Scrunchie!
#49
Took Two Old Shirts And Made Two New Ones!
#50
Upcycled A Thrifted Suit By Painting On It ! It Took Me About 30 Hours, But I Love The Result
#51
A Bed Made Out Of An Old Towel And Stuffing From An Even Older Soft Toy, For My Cat!
#52
I Made This Cosy Pj Set From My Old Blanket And I'm So Happy With The Outcome Since I've Never Made Shorts Before!
#55
I Needed A Travel Pill Container For A Big Trip. Rather Than Buying One, I Made One Out Of An Old Altoids Tin And An Old Plastic Membership Card
ShadowLand 🇨🇦 4 years ago (edited)
Rx medications should always be in their original bottles. That way you won't get busted for possession of an illegal substance. For example: the blue pills are a banned substance in the USA. Just saying...
#56
I Initially Thought This Was A Photo Organizer Or Recipe Card Holder, But It Appears To Be A Floppy Disk Organizer! Anyway, I Fell In Love With Its Little Roll Top At The Thrift Store And Took It Home To Upcycle Into A Charging Station. It’s So Nice To Have A Way To Hide All The Ugly Cables!
Johnny Rodriguez 4 years ago
Good ol' times..you could bypass the copy protection with a perforator..
#57
I Turned A 1952 Rca TV Into My New Home Bar
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
I see Kraken! Excellent choice of spiced rum for a friendly price. And still tastes well with coke for those who prefer a smoother ride.
#58
Used A Paper Towel Roll, Hot Glue, And Some Leftover Rope From Another Project To Make A Cat Scratcher For My New Kitten
#59
Repurposed My Old Bike As A Shirt Rack
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Vicky Z 4 years ago
It's amazing but it also makes me feel useless... how can people have so many skills?
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Brian Bennett 4 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!
Memere 4 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!
Load More Replies...
Sasy 4 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.
John Topper 4 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.
Lyone Fein 4 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.
Crazy Meerkat Lady 4 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.
katboxjanitor 4 years ago
My only issue is a pretty big one. The motivation to execute the project once the supplies are in hand.
Thomas 4 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 
Marcus James Heslop 4 years ago
This post should be called Turning Old Tat into Different Old Tat
John Baker 4 years ago
Speaking of stupid millennial buzzwords ... "repurposing."
Load More Replies... Vicky Z 4 years ago
It's amazing but it also makes me feel useless... how can people have so many skills?
Load More Replies... Brian Bennett 4 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!
Memere 4 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!
Load More Replies... Sasy 4 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.
John Topper 4 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.
Lyone Fein 4 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.
Crazy Meerkat Lady 4 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.
katboxjanitor 4 years ago
My only issue is a pretty big one. The motivation to execute the project once the supplies are in hand.
Thomas 4 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
Marcus James Heslop 4 years ago
This post should be called Turning Old Tat into Different Old Tat
John Baker 4 years ago
Speaking of stupid millennial buzzwords ... "repurposing."
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