To me, recycling is about everything – think wider than furniture, cutlery and crockery, make use of all the little bits that you received from a house clean or move. These projects are all about the little odd things that will end up in the recycle bin.

Silhoutte art

A bag of sigarette filters was in one of the boxes I received. This find inspired me to glue it around the boundery line of the drawn silhouette on a pan. It gave the slihoutte some depth and texture.

Spoiled milk paperweights

I used old cremeboule jars filled them with white plaster to give a milk effect and place a plastic flie on top of the wet plaster. It all sets beautifully.

Backscratch hooks

I am not sure what you do with three back scratchers but they came to great use for this project. A metal saw helped me to cut the plastic hands from the handle. Fasten it to the wood with thin screws and a drill, then decorate it with black ribbon for a neat look.

Sharpie art

Sharpies are great to give any plain object a new coat. Masking tape was my  pattern guide and a bended ruler helped me to draw straight sharpie lines.

Sustaining cracked glass

A single felt table mat sustained the crackes on this glass vase. Use fabric glue to fasten it on the glass, allow to dry and display. Ideal for a candle or tealight holder.

Crisscross vinyl table tray

Recycled items

Old table

Old vinyl bag

Also needed

Staple gun and bullets

White insulation tape

Scissors

White acrylic paint, brush and roller

Fine sandpaper

Damp cloth

Method:

1. The table was in a good condition and only needed a good sanding to remove the varnish. When sanding varnish from wood, use a fine grade of sandpaper to prevent the wood from being scratched. Wipe it with a damp cloth to clean off any sanding dust.
2. Paint the legs and the top with white paint. I used an acrylic paint and a small foam roller for a smooth finish. Apply two to three coats. Between each coat, leave the paint to dry, gently sand it with a fine sandpaper and wipe away any dust with a damp cloth before applying the next layer. When you are satisfied with your table you can add the vinyl tray
3. Cut the vinyl bag open all along the zip and make sure that you have a rectangle piece of vinyl that can fit underneath the table. Use the white insulation tape to neaten the edges of the rectangular piece of vinyl.
4. Fasten the vinyl to the wood underneath the table top with the staple gun all along the two sides opposite each other to form a tray.
5. Your newly made table is ready to display books.