Trashmagination: Recent Episodes
Carla Brown, Creative Reuse Blogger
This video tells the story of how my family built an igloo for a Maker Faire in 2019 from about 400 plastic milk jugs. We got the jugs from our local Starbucks stores. Most people who have done this before achieved the structure by using a lot of hot glue. We wanted to make a design that we could build, take apart, and put up again in another location, so hot glue was not an option. That’s why we designed our igloo with zip ties. It gets its structure from three garment racks inside. The total cost of this project was about $20 for zip ties because we already owned the garment racks and the soldering iron. Thank you to the many people who made this project successful – especially the Scouts and adult volunteers from Troop 1577, the Maker Faire organizers and the employees at our local Starbucks store.
As you know, I am passionate about diverting textiles from landfill and also about weaving. In 2020, I started weaving t-shirts into rugs. Later I shared my method in my online course located at https://trashmagination.thinkific.com/courses/fluffy-rug-weaving.
Thank you to all my followers who purchased the course! I really appreciate the support! But I also wanted to inspire more people to divert t-shirts from landfill. So I decided to make this video tutorial and share it on YouTube. My online course goes into more detail, but I’m hoping this will inspire more people to start making fluffy rugs – whether they need the detail or not.
Please contact me if you make a fluffy rug! I would love to see your work!
This is a big year for me because I am becoming a high school teacher! It feels like a big pivot and I’m filled with energy about it.
When I started this quilt in January, I wanted to upcycle a small kite that we had purchased many years ago, but never flew well. It sat in a drawer. I decided this was the year for it to be reborn since 2024 is Year of the Dragon in the Chinese horoscope.
I love how the dragon is filled with energy! It’s taking off! A great reminder of the changes ahead for me.
I play an instrument called a fue or shinobue with my taiko group. The fue are made from bamboo and need to be handled carefully. I can’t quickly buy a replacement if they were broken and they are also expensive. I needed to make sure that my fue would be safe in my bag, which can sometimes be squished between all our other gear.
I made this case using a PVC tube as the protection. If you need to make a case for a fragile flute or similar item, maybe this will help!
Here’s a tip about cutting PVC pipe to the right length. If they don’t have a service to cut your pipe at the hardware store, sometimes you can find a community workshop where you can pay a fee to use tools. That was what we did.
Regarding the drawstring, it was made from a new shoelace. I cut off the two ends and sewed them together so both ends would have the “aglets.” I used a cord stop salvaged from a backpack that I disassembled, although you can buy cord stops in the notions sections of fabric stores.
To learn more about my taiko group Nen Daiko, located near Washington DC, visit http://nendaiko.weebly.com/. We do most of our performances at community festivals from March-July.
Are your chairs looking a little scruffy? I made new seat covers for two of our dining room chairs from upcycled blue jeans. Also, when I took off the old torn cover, one of the chair seats was actually broken, so check out how we repaired it.
Get inspired to refresh and recover your own chair seats!
When I got married in 1997, I made a wedding quilt to display behind us during the ceremony. But that quilt has changed a lot since then! I made a video about how I upcycled my own wedding quilt into items that I like more than the original design.
My son had a play tent shaped like a rectangular tunnel. Over time, the plastic tubes got bent. I unstitched the panels to upcycle them. This week I made three play mats or wall hangings.
For the batting, I had a sleeping bag with a broken zipper so I took it apart. I did not realize how much beautiful batting you can recover from a sleeping bag! It was very soft and a nice weight for this project.
One challenge of this project is that the fabric is a synthetic type that you might find on shopping bags. It melts if you iron it for very long. Since it was “stiffer” than most fabrics I use, it took some experimentation to get the quilting to work.
I hope this inspires you to upcycle any broken play tents or sleeping bags that are no longer usable!
My next necktie quilt is done and the tutorial is on YouTube! This quilt is a complementary project to the hexagon design. While the hexagons use the wider section of ties, this uses the narrow sections. To learn the basics of how to prepare your neckties and other skills needed for this quilt, be sure to watch my first necktie upcycling video at https://trashmagination.com/recycle-neckties-into-a-quilt/.
This quilt design was my husband’s idea!
Here’s the template PDF to get the tie and gem shapes.
I would love to see any quilts that you make inspired by this new design!
I’m very excited that so many people are enjoying my necktie quilt tutorial! Check it out!
What makes this ornament even more fun is that it contains a recycled CD to give it shape!
To make this ornament, I used a recycled CD, an upholstery sample (or any thick fabric scrap), pony beads, embroidery floss, a strip of t-shirt yarn and some felt.
Learn how to make this ornament in my YouTube tutorial:
For my grandmother’s celebration of life, I made adorable embroidered portraits of her with each of her children.
If you would like to sew a similar gift for someone special, you need a small three-inch hoop and embroidery floss, as well as fabric and felt scraps. Here’s my tutorial:
Please let me know if you make a portrait inspired by this tutorial! I’d love to see your work!
If you follow Trashmagination, you know that I make rugs from t-shirts called fluffy rugs. Each of those recycles about 50+ t-shirts. I can make t-shirt yarn and “fluffies” from all the parts except the collars, cuffs and waistbands. This project uses up those bits, plus it also uses up worn out socks. The only tools you need are scissors and a basic loom – mine is made from a large wooden frame that I found in the trash. I made this rug in about three hours. Hopefully this inspires you to use up your socks and maybe t-shirts leftover from making t-shirt yarn.
In this tutorial, I share how to make fun bags from plastic packaging. Fruit, nuts, juice pouches and many other foods come in thick plastic packaging. Check out how I upcycle this into grocery bags with a regular sewing machine, needle and thread. It also allows me to use up fabric that I own but am not likely to use in other projects.
Please take a short listener survey to help me decide whether to continue with the Trashmagination podcast. Read more ›
Laundry soap and cooking oil come in heavy-duty plastic tubs or jugs that are tough to recycle - but you can creative reuse them at home and to make art. Read more ›
Plastic, metal and wooden hangers can all be creatively reused to make furniture, costumes and other art. Read more ›
Artists and entrepreneurs around the world find creative ways to make beautiful and useful things from bread and grains. Read more ›
How can you creatively reuse your cookie, biscuit, candy or tea tin containers that make you feel sentimental? Read more ›
When I shared my new fluffy rug method made from recycled t-shirts, the social media posts went viral, so I have now made an online course so you can make your own! Read more ›
You can make so many useful items from a broken umbrella, using just the fabric, just the frame, or both! Read more ›
You can paint and sculpt plastic hub caps to make exquisite works of art - you'll never look at a hub cap the same way again! Read more ›
Learn how to make your own paper and get inspired by artists who creatively reuse paper into clothing, sculptures and collages. Read more ›
Many paints are made with plastic so let's find way to reduce our impact, and learn about ways to creatively reuse paint, brushes, graffiti, spray paint cans and more. Read more ›
You can make very cute woven rugs from recycled t-shirts without spending much on equipment. Read more ›
Learn how artists and scientists are creatively reusing fish scales, skin and bones - from jewelry, to paintings, to even a replacement for petroleum-based plastic. Read more ›
Get lots of ideas for how to use your old yoga mats, plus learn about a type of yoga mat made from recycled neoprene wetsuits! Read more ›
Trashmagination is all about encouraging you to creatively reuse found items and recyclables to make art. However, some materials can be hazardous to your health if you don't take precautions when working with them. Read more ›
There is a creative reuse trend to mend your clothes with decorative stitches, making the item stronger and also more beautiful. Read more ›
What can you make from that leather couch on the curb, your old leather jacket or even the leather labels on your jeans? Read more ›
Designers around the world are building machines that allow people to DIY their plastic recycling. Read more ›
Inflatables made from vinyl, rubber and nylon are very difficult to recycle but they are extremely popular during hot summer months and as holiday decorations. Read more ›
Learn about the incredible ways artists work with buttons and get ideas for creatively reusing your own buttons. Read more ›
Polystyrene foam (more commonly called styrofoam) is notoriously difficult to recycle and awful for the environment, but you can avoid it and reuse it with creative thinking. Read more ›
Creative reuse artists make insect sculptures from recycled materials, while others actually work with live insects to make art. Read more ›
Most fairy gardens are made from garden center statuettes or items removed from nature but you can make your own fairy garden from recycled materials. Read more ›
How can creative reuse be part of a personal practice living and working for justice? Read more ›
This is the 101st episode of the Trashmagination podcast, so I'll take a moment to talk about what I have learned from making 100 podcast episodes on creative reuse. Read more ›
Artists cut, paint, stack, carve and weld coins, as well as fold and embroider paper bills to make art. Read more ›
Folk artists around the world make robots from recycled materials - and you can too! Read more ›
People are generously making masks and hand sanitizer, teaching art with recycled materials and using up what they have in the kitchen. Read more ›
You can make just about anything from toilet paper rolls or tubes - get fun activities for younger children, older children and adults. Read more ›
If you are staying close to home due to social distancing, you can do these creative reuse activities with items that you likely already have at home so you don’t need to go to the store. Read more ›
Most weighted blankets get their heft by containing plastic or glass pellets but I made one with recycled denim blue jeans. Read more ›
Most municipal recycling programs do not want your tissue paper - so what can you make with it? Read more ›
You can fundraise for a cause AND build community if you make scrap quilts that include messages from your supporters. Read more ›
Mylar balloons cause many power outages and seabird deaths - but you can make a difference by not buying them and creatively reusing old ones. Read more ›
Get inspired to keep your new year's resolutions about exercise by making exercise equipment from recycled materials. Read more ›
Even if you love the vintage handkerchiefs, pillowcases or quilts that you inherited, what can you do with them? Read more ›
Get ideas for ways you can divert plastic toys from landfill - either to more children, to artists or to be made into plastic furniture. Read more ›
When you see furniture curbside, do you wish you knew a way to bring it back to life? Read more ›
A thing, a habit, a work of art and a philosophy - these are the four items that Tsh Oxenreider asks guests to describe on her podcast Simple. So what are my answers? Read more ›
Whether your bras are gently-used or well-worn, get tips on places you can donate or art you can make. Read more ›
Sayaka Ganz makes giant wildlife sculptures from plastic spatulas, hangers, toys and lots of other plastic items, and she's one of my top 5 favorite creative reuse artists in the world. Read more ›
If you want unlimited art supplies, one option is to do an artist residency at a landfill or transfer station. Read more ›
Many artists work with egg shells and egg cartons. Get inspired to make art and craft from these easy-to-find materials! Read more ›
If you have books that no one wants to read anymore - such as out-of-date reference or text books - what can you make with them? Read more ›
Would you like to attract people to your town to enjoy nature and art? You could organize a recycled art sculpture trail. Read more ›
Each year, 325 million tennis balls are made in the world, but there are many ways to creatively reuse tennis balls and rackets - so get started today! Read more ›
From shopping bag handles to fishing gear, there is a lot of rope that can be creatively reused! Read more ›
We built an igloo from plastic jugs for Maker Faire NoVa and we used a method no one had used before (zip ties!) Read more ›
Since most cosmetics are sold in plastic packaging and contain toxic chemicals, they can be challenging to creatively reuse, so get ideas for what to do with your expired cosmetics. Read more ›
Do you have piles of bubble wrap due to online shopping? Check out what some artists make with bubble wrap! Read more ›
You likely have a pile of broken skateboards if you love skateboarding but the good news is that many artists creatively reuse skateboards to make awesome stuff. And if you are into woodworking, get inspired to source material from the skate park. Read more ›
Composting is a great way to dispose of fruit and vegetable peels, but here are lots of ways you can creatively reuse peels as food, cleaners, crafts and more. Read more ›
Making toys from trash. Building homes from trash. Weaving art from trash. Next-level creative reuse in Egypt and Japan. These are the topics of my five favorite TED Talks about creative reuse. Read more ›
Find out how you can build stronger community while also creatively reusing trash. It's like a 2-for-1 good deed! Read more ›
Plastic Mardi Gras beads create tons of litter and contain toxic chemicals such as lead - so get ideas on making your own non-toxic Mardi Gras bead necklaces. Read more ›
If you like coffee made from K-Cups or Nespresso pods, this episode will inspire you to not only recycle them, but make them into beautiful and useful items. Plus your coffee grounds can be used for much more than just compost. Read more ›
If you are cleaning out your unwanted or chipped dishes, inspired by the show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, get lots of ideas of what to do with ceramic, porcelain, clay or glass dishes. Read more ›
Bojagi are Korean wrapping cloths and they are a great way to creatively reuse fabric remnants in more delicate fabrics like silk, ramie and organza. Read more ›
Some artisans call inner tubes vegan leather because they can be cut and sewn together like leather, so come get ideas for what you can do with recycled inner tubes. Read more ›
You put most holiday or greeting cards in paper recycling, but some require more creative reuse. Get tips on where you can send used holiday and greeting cards to help others, or get inspired to make holiday decorations from them. Read more ›
From shrunken felted sweaters to tiny balls of leftover yarn, get ideas for ways to creatively reuse your sweaters, wool and yarn. Read more ›
Many people wrap gifts in brown paper bags or fabric, but that is only the start of ways you can wrap gifts without creating trash. Read more ›
Make a beautiful and reusable gift tag and bow from recycled plastic materials to reduce holiday packaging waste. Read more ›
Avoid buying more plastic and make spooky decorations from recycled materials this Halloween! Read more ›
Get strategies to help you achieve your goals of minimalism AND creative reuse! Read more ›
An innovative designer is recycling chewed-up gum into plastic products, and many artists incorporate gum and wrappers into their work. Read more ›
Make jewelry, home decor and even musical instruments from bicycle parts such as chains, spokes, rims, gears, brake cables, handlebars, pedals, seats and frames. Read more ›
You can make mosaic tiles, toy hover crafts and hand weights from discarded CDs and DVDs, and that's just the start of the many beautiful and useful items you can make Read more ›
How many plastic containers in your home could you replace with glass containers? Read more ›
Art and crafts from cigarette butts? Disgusting! Get amazed by what people have made from thousands of cigarette butts, plastic lighters, cigarette packaging, cigar boxes and cigarette vending machines. Read more ›
Trashmagination is working on a prototype of giant flowers, and I need your tent poles and colorful plastic bottles. Read more ›
What can you make with jeans that are out-of-style, ripped beyond repair or painted, or with the leftovers when you make a quilt from jeans? Read more ›
Even if you don’t have kids, playgrounds can be a great case study in creative reuse. Come learn about playgrounds made from recycled tires, wood, metal, plastic, cardboard and fabric. Read more ›
I designed a clementine box craft called a lenticular photo display using the triangular wood shapes from clementine boxes. Read more ›
Bread tags or clips may seem like a small item, but when you realize that there are millions of them in the world, it adds up to a lot of plastic that is challenging to recycle. Read more ›
Plastic clamshell packaging often cannot be recycled, resulting in people "wishcycling" it in their recycling bins. Read more ›
Global demand for disposable chopsticks has been increasing so remember to carry your own, and get ideas on creatively reusing your old disposable ones. Read more ›
Learn how to plan vacations or staycations where you can meet people who are doing next-level creative reuse awesomeness. Read more ›
Each month, I make a handmade gift for my grandmother Rea from recycled materials - which brings her joy and increases my discipline around getting creative projects done. Read more ›
Prescription packaging and medical supplies can be tough to recycle, but there are creative ways to reuse prescription bottles, blister packs and other supplies. Read more ›
I would like to develop online courses about trash fashion - and I would love to interview you about what you'd want in such a course. Read more ›
Many performance groups specialize in making musical instruments from trash, and so can you - especially a Newfoundland Ugly Stick! Read more ›
Did you know some teabags contain plastic, so they will not decompose in your compost bin? Read more ›
The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference is taking place, people are heading out on spring break, and people are figuring out that plastic straws are terrible - it's time to make art from beach trash! Read more ›
T-shirts have a big environmental impact but luckily there are a ton of ways to creatively reuse t-shirts - so let's get busy! Read more ›
Whether your shoes are in great shape or falling apart, get tips on what you can do to reduce your shoe collection. Read more ›
Did you know the stickers on fruit are made from plastic? Be sure to remove them before you compost and now get creative ideas for what to do with them. Read more ›
Found objects and recycled materials can be a great inspiration for monster sculptures. Read more ›
The next time a zipper breaks, don't throw away the item and the zipper! You might be able to salvage both. Read more ›
A suitcase can be a cat tree and a backpack can be a giant puppet - get creative ideas to make with unwanted or broken luggage. Read more ›
Did you make dollhouse furniture when you were small? Maybe a sleeping bag from a sock? Check out the world of modern dollhouse accessorizing! Read more ›
What can you give to someone who wants to produce less trash? Here are three gifts for friends and family who want to reduce their waste in 2018. Read more ›
To engage people in your community in creative reuse, a recycled art contest is a great way to inspire people from many ages and backgrounds. Read more ›
Did you know you can make Christmas trees from scrap wood, cardboard, plastic, metal and fabric? There are so many more choices than chopping down a tree or buying a plastic one. Read more ›
Making an Advent or countdown calendars from recycled materials is a perfect project for creative reuse enthusiasts because it involves 24 little containers arranged in a beautiful way. Read more ›
Around the world, there are recycling celebrations in many countries. How could you celebrate recycling this November? Read more ›
After natural disasters, there are piles of trash as people clean out their ruined homes and possessions. Some artists transform those discarded items into art. Read more ›