All of us throw away some amount of waste everyday. Yes, many of us might try to reuse a plastic container for other purposes, but what about all the other things we throw away? What about the picture frames, broken tables, or old suitcases? What if we could reuse these things while also having fun? I know I would be all for it. With search engines and websites like Pinterest and Instructables, the possibilities for repurposing projects are endless. You can turn that old picture frame into a [jewelry holder](jewelryholder.jpg) . That broken table? Now its a [desk](newdesk.jpg) for homework and other things. The old suitcase can be your own unique [medicine cabinet](medicinecabinet.jpg).

What is repurposing DIY? It's not an exact category, but I would say that it is finding creative ways to reuse old things in your house for different purposes. These repurposing DIY projects have all the benefits of regular DIY with added benefits. They are not only earth-friendly and cheap; they can be tons of fun! You can do these projects with a family member, with friends, or even by  yourself. You'll end up with tons of creative and unique things!

100 Creative Ways to Repurpose Old Things: http://www.diyncrafts.com/6081/repurpos … ld-items/1

I totally agree with you. Repurposing doesn't have to be boring. Doing DIY with kids is a good way to teach them about saving the earth. It could also be a fun activity to do with your friends and family. Everyone could find Items in their home to repurpose. Its easy to make It a monthly thing that is fun to do.

Hi Jolene!
Like danirak03, I agree with your ideas on repurposing items in a fun and handy way. I had no idea that broken picture frames or tables could turn into jewelry holders and homework desks! That's definitely something I'd like to try the next time I find a broken picture frame around my house. I also think that repurposing old or broken items found in our homes benefits our environment by decreasing the amount of things we put into the garbage.
Actually about two Christmases ago, my mom had my family hold onto all the "unusable" plastic bags (they had rips or holes in them from whatever we had purchased) we acquired during the month of December and tied them to twigs we found in our backyard to make ornaments. We arranged the twigs into star shapes, then used the plastic bags cutting them into strips and tying them onto the twigs. In total, we had just repurposed 60 or so plastic bags we had thought we'd throw away because we labeled them as pieces of trash. It was a lot of fun to make and did save us money for ornaments that year. I think that everyone should t ry to find something in their house they think is "garbage" and repurpose it because they will find that there are many things it could become useful for.

This is a great idea. There are so many items that I throw away, and I feel bad for wasting them, but with this idea, I can reuse them and reduce how much I waste. I use Pintrest too, and I have found some great ideas on how to creatively reuse old items. I also volunteered at a camp for elementary kids over the summer where they taught them how to reuse trash. It's a process called upcycling. We took some of the cardboard rolls used for paper towels and toilet paper, and we cut them up to make an art project. The kids enjoyed it and made some cool figures. We can upcycle and reuse our trash to make something new and useful or we can just make an art project out of it. Both ideas are fun and easy, and they help our environment.

I like D.I.Y myself, too. I often make something myself with old things or even throw-away things. The most frequently way I reuse things is that I save papers that are printed one side. I use the empty, white side for many purpose. I draft my the process of my math problems, I organize the different things for my writing, I write down brief notes for my reading, and I sometimes draw on them. I also D.I.Y. tools with those papers. I make boxes to contain small things such as coins, chocolate, and pencils. Although they don’t look nice and decorative, I feel myself very friendly to the environment.

I think your idea of reusing items that we would have thrown away could actually be implemented into a fun art project is very creative.  I especially liked how you wrote your entire post and has convinced me to start some of my own DIY projects.  In fact, my family has created some "DIY projects" a long time ago that I almost forgot about them.  In my backyard, we have a garden that grows all types of fruits and vegetables.  Since our space is limited in the backyard as well as our lack of pot supplies, we took all the old rubber rain boots that we could find and filled them with fertilized dirt.  Then, we placed various plants in them and then distributed them throughout the backyard.  Although it might sound strange and weird, these rain boot pots really do work!  My grandfather enjoyed gardening so he passed this tradition idea to my dad who then passed it on to me.  I think my grandfather was very creative because when he was growing up, he did not have a lot  of money to buy plant pots so he thought of other possibilities to hold plants.  Now, my family does it simply because it reminds us of him and it also saves us from buying those plastic pots found in Home Depot.

Making DIY projects is one of my most favorite things to do during my free time. Honestly, it is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. It saves money, as well as CO2. Driving to the store to buy your product or appliance emits carbon in the atmosphere, and then putting it in a plastic or paper bag rather than reusing affects one's footprint. And the town I currently live in has taken this wonderful gesture by charging 10 cents for a paper bag, reusing one of your own, or not buying one at all. Actions like this help reduce not only an individuals carbon footprint, but also the community.
         According to the shape of a carbon footprint, DIY projects can help decrease a person's monthly purchases. My DIY projects mainly consist of reusing old clothes. For example, when I feel like it is time for a new pair of shorts, instead of shopping at a brand named store, I would just get creative and cut my old jeans into any size, and add an artsy twist (upcycling). This is just one of the many ways DIY can benefit the environment. If doing all that work is not somethi ng for you, your parents always have clothes that they may not use, but somehow fit todays trends. Surprisingly, you will not look as bad as you think.
        Just start from the top: Driving to the store is an obvious CO2 emitting process. And then shopping in a store or mall that spends thousands of dollars worth of electric bills for your convenience is nice of them - but are we really thankful of that? Then comes the plastic bag, which nobody can deny in a brand named store. You will NEVER see anybody putting their purchases in a reusable bag anyplace in a mall or big shopping center - unless a new law had prevented the further manufacturing of them (which by the way also increases carbon in the atmosphere). You can DIY about anything thats old and worn out besides clothes. Just feel good about the fact that what you are doing is ultimately beneficial to the environment, and will work towards reducing your personal carbon footprint!

Hi Jolene!
I love love love this post. I am a Pinterest-aholic and I love DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects! Often times I find myself spending tons of hours in thrift stores such as Goodwill and Platos closet thinking of ways I can reuse tshirts. I think every item on this earth can be reused in some kind of way. At my house when our newspaper stand becomes full we take the old articles outside and burn them or sometimes we use them to cover glassware. DIY Projects save time and money so I highly suggest you try it! http://www.thediyworld.com/Off-Grid-Living-Projects.php

I agree that people should try to DIY items to use in their homes instead of buying and/or throwing out useful items. What some people don't think about is the plastic jugs that they throw away can actually be used for something else; or maybe a glass bottle that they have just finished drinking juice from? One project that I have started is taking the empty plastic jugs that I obtain from drinking water and turning them into bird feeders. I do this by cutting small sections and holes into the jug and hanging it outside in my backyard. I also upcycle, which I encourage doing. I take all my small clothes that I can't wear anymore and either donate them or cut them to make them sleep shirts or turn them into dust rags to clean the house with. I suggest doing any of these options.