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

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

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

5. Allow to dry

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

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

8. Seal with resin sealant & allow to dry

9. Fit shade. Voila!

   Materials Store

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