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Upcycling During Social Distancing Times

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Creative (14) Activities (10) Environment (9) Saving Money (9) COVID19 (7) Craft (4) Social Distancing (4) Upcycling (3) Sewing (2)

Image:Public Domain Pictures from Pixabay

I really like the concept of upcycling. In times gone by items were often upcycled from necessity. Resources were in short supply (for example during and after world wars and the Great Depression) or it was common for families to be on a limited budget. Then the standard of living improved with many households having two wage earners so there was more money but less time. Skills were lost and people wanted new and shiny. Bargain and op shops popped up everywhere. Why upcycle a jar into a vase when you could buy one for $3? Then along came COVID19 and the need for social distancing.

I read the following definition of upcycling in Upcycle Magazine, 'Upcycling is taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted and giving it new life as something that is either useful or creative.'

Why upcycle during social distancing times?
Some people are turning to upcycling projects at the moment because they -

have lots of free time

want a distraction from the current crisis

want to learn new skills

want to do something creative

are becoming more conscious of consumerism and want to change the way they approach life

don't have spare cash

are worried about the future

can't go to the shops to browse and buy knick knacks

want to be more environmentally responsible

Image:citypraiser from Pixabay

What can we learn from bygone days?
Lessons can be learnt from past generations. In bygone days people upcycled by -

reusing planks of wood from kerosene boxes and wood pallets to make furniture

making the good parts of worn clothing into clothes or toys for children

using fabric from old curtains to make cushions, aprons and clothes

making patchwork quilts from scraps of fabric

decorating jars and tins to use as vases and to store flour, sugar, spices and such

embellishing jars and cans to hold string, pencils, kitchen utensils and tools

cutting old car tyres and making them into garden ornaments

using a car tyre as a swing

using part of an old metal bed as a gate

How has social distancing changed my outlook on upcycling?
Previously I often felt -

it wasn't worth the effort of upcycling something when new or second hand items were available readily and cheaply.

I didn't have the time to research instructions for doing a project

I had so many other things to do rather than upcycle

I thought the resulting upcycled item might look amateurish

Now I am not going going to aqua exercise classes, meeting friends for coffee, browsing op shops or going to my writers' group so I have more time to research instructions and actually do some upcycling projects. I don't have the option of buying from a bargain or op shop.

Possible upcycling projects for modern times
Depending on your skills and materials available, you might be able to keep yourself busy -

making bird houses or decorative items out of scrap wood

building furniture or planter boxes from wood pallets

converting jars into vases

decorating cans for storing pencils, craft tools, etc

decoupaging cardboard boxes as storage containers

painting discarded metal pots, teapots, kettles etc as garden containers

making paper mache bowls for storage or display

making jewellery

sewing patchwork quilts, clothing, bags, cushions and more

mending and adding decorative touches to clothing

using old tiles or broken china items for mosaics

decorating small boxes with old buttons, scraps of coloured paper

repairing, painting and decorating old items of furniture

creating art work using old wood, left over house paint, scraps of metal and the like

Patchwork can be used to make various things Image:Julia S from Pixabay

Challenges
At the present time there are problems with getting materials for some upcycling projects, especially if you have done lots of decluttering. A short time ago it would have been okay to grab some supplies from an op shop. One could have collected items from Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, garage sales or family members who live in another house.

These are generally not options at the moment as we are told to stay at home unless leaving the house is essential. Therefore there is greater need to make use of what we already have.

Fortunately many items such as glue, paint and wire which may be needed to complete a project can be ordered online and delivered. Sometimes thinking outside the box will help you come up with an alternative material.

At the moment there are more reasons than ever for upcycling. It could fill in spare time, help you stay positive, boost your creativity, provide a way of using up spare materials, give you activities to do with your children, inspire others and make you feel more self reliant and confident in the future.

# Activities
# COVID19
# Craft
# Creative
# Environment
# Saving Money
# Sewing
# Social Distancing
# Upcycling

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