From "Trash" to Treasure... a few simple Upcycling Ideas!

Being broke and fabulous is hard work. Not everyone can afford the newest trends or the coolest stuff, and for young people that can be a hard fact to swallow. Luckily, thanks to a certain handsome rapper… thrift stores are cooler than ever. (Thanks Macklemore!)

Sometimes, being broke isn’t the bummer you would expect it to be. I have had some of my most creative and fun ideas when I didn’t have more than $5 in my pocket. And I am always blown away by the amount of creativity my customers have. Just last week, a woman came in to Everything Under the Rainbow looking for broken jewelry… luckily, I have a hard time throwing away shiny things. She took them apart and made vintage looking headbands with a bit of bling! They looked like something you would spend $40 on at a boutique! And it only cost her $4 to make!

Many of you have heard of Pinterest.com. For crafty people like me, it’s dangerous! I started a folder on my account for “Thrift Store Upcycling”. Upcycling is like recycling but trendier. Taking something useless and making it into something trendy is the key. Today I am teaching a workshop for the youth at the Rainbow Community Center. We will be taking old t-shirts and making them into trendy accessories! Any excuse to pull out my hot glue gun or rotary cutter… I’m in!

Project number 1: Fringe Infinity scarves!
Lay your t-shirt flat on your workspace. Cut a straight line under the armpits , go from one side to the other. Cut off the hem at the bottom of the shirt. (You should now have a tube of jersey knit fabric.)  Use your scissors or rotary cutter to cut pinky thick strips from the bottom to the half way point of your fabric. After they are all cut up, pull each strip until the fabric curls into a tube. Drape it around your neck… accessorize with a button or broach… stomp the runway cover girl.

Project number 2: Obnoxious Rose Broaches!
Lay your t-shirt flat on your workspace. Trim off the hem at the bottom, throw away. Using your scissors or rotary cutter, cut 2 inch strips of fabric starting at the bottom. Cut one side of this to open up the tube. Using a single needle and 12 inch piece of thread, weave a simple stitch from one end to the other, slowly gather into a ruffle. Fold the ruffle in half at the stitch line. Next, cut out a circle of fabric (I prefer felt). Using your hot glue gun, start at the middle of circle and begin gluing your ruffle in a spiral. Add a pin to the back of your flower, or even a hair clip! Add it to your infinity scarf… dress up a plain blouse… or cover an embarrassing stain.  You will stop traffic with this new oversized accessory… and just think, you can make at least 4 out of a single t-shirt!

Project number 3: Super Loop necklace!
Lay your t-shirt flat on your workspace. Trim off the hem, save for later. Using your scissors or rotary cutter, cut pinky thick horizontal strips starting from the bottom (these should end up as loops of fabric). Cut as many you want! You can either have them all the same size, or take groups of these circular strips and make them different lengths for a more layered effect. Once you have them neatly grouped, use them strip from the hem to wrap  them together. If you are feeling fancy, add beads or buttons!  

These are just 3 examples of ways to upcycle your old t-shirts! Google it! There are thousands of great projects available online. Or if you are in need of a little inspiration, or perhaps just a dose of the latest gossip… stop by the store and see me!

All of these projects will be available for purchase at the store. All of the money that we raise from these recycled projects will go towards the San Francisco AIDS Walk to help me reach my goal of $10,000.

Always Thrifty, broke and fabulous… Jimmy

Everything Under the Rainbow: A Community Thrift Store
2095 Pacheco St
Concord, CA 94520
925 566 8078
Thursday – Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday 11am to 4pm

On Sale this Week: 25% Off all Clothing!