How to Repurpose Art Projects

Old fabric art projects can be repurposed into colorful quilts and wall hangings.

If your home is filled with old art projects that you can no longer use but can't bear to part with, it may be time to repurpose some of them. Not all art projects can be repurposed, so the first step is to separate them into piles that you can use and those you can't. You'll find that some art projects don't come out exactly as you'd like, but you may be able to reuse the materials, and even the entire project, to create a practical item.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric scraps
• Needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Stuffing
• Embroidery hoops
• Bead necklaces
• Ribbon
• Paper
• Old drawings
• Laminator
• Pottery

Instructions

1. Reuse the cloth from sewing and quilting projects. You can tear the cloth into strips and weave the strips into rag rugs. Cutting old cloth projects into squares will give you material to sew together to make cushions. Stuff the cushions with new stuffing or other cloth scraps.

2. Create wall hangings from swatches of fabric, tie dye or embroidery art projects by framing the cloth in old embroidery hoops. Hang the hoops on the wall as decoration.

3. Restring beads onto ribbon or nylon string to make new jewelry from old bead projects. Glue beads from bead art projects onto card stock to make colorful birthday or holiday cards.

4. Cut drawings and old paper-based art projects into strips. Laminate the strips and make bookmarks to give as gifts. Layer the paper from several projects for a more interesting look.

5. Turn paper-based art projects into new envelopes. Take apart an envelope to use as a template. Cut the old paper to fit and glue it together. These make great envelopes for gift cards.

6. Break up pottery art projects that didn't turn out right, or that you no longer use, and use the pieces to make mosaics.

References

• The Crafty Crow: Repurpose Children's Clothing into Wall Art
• Making this Home: A Handmade Artist on the Importance of Repurposing