What is upcycling?

• Upcycling is the reusing of discarded objects, materials and other waste, to create something new.  

• Upcycling reduces waste in landfills. Waste emits greenhouse gases while breaking down.  

• Upcycling is more environmentally friendly than recycling, which uses more energy (which means fossil fuels), water and other resources in its processes of breaking down & release microplastics into the atmosphere.  

How to Get Started with Upcycling

• Look for inspiration on Pinterest, Instagram etc.

• Source items to upcycle such as cardboard, plastic, glass

• Useful art materials when upcycling are paint, glue & a resin sealant.

Steps to upcycling a wine, spirit bottle into a table lamp

1. Clean item thoroughly & allow to dry.

2. Drill a hole into the side of the bottle near the base to thread the lighting cable into once it is complete

3. Paint in PVA glue. Cover the bottle with air drying clay & mould your desired shape

4. Allow to dry

5. Paint with Gesso. This primers the area for painting.

6. Paint or spray your lamp base & allow to dry

7. Seal with resin sealant & allow to dry

8. Insert your lighting cable & fix the top in place with glue.

9. Fit shade. Voila!

   Materials Store

What I use to make my creations…plus love which I’m afraid you can’t buy!