Upcycled Art (making pretty unique gifts from junk!)

Creating art should not about going to Hobbycraft and buying lots of tat, in order to make something nice. Real creativity is about turning found items or thrift shop finds into something new. If you’re feeling creative, here are some lovely inspiring ideas. Whether you do this for a hobby or create a cottage industry!

If making your own junk art:

• Don’t remove sand, pebbles, shells or driftwood from beaches (these prevent coastal erosion, the latter two often home to tiny marine creatures). Don’t remove fallen leaves either, they are likely home to tiny insects.
• Be sure raw materials are free from lead paint, old pallets free from rusty nails etc. Also keep glue away from children and pets. For plant pots, read of toxic plants to avoid near pets and avoid displaying indoor plants to gardens, to stop birds flying into windows.
• Also leave items like wildlife homes to the experts (for instance, never use upcycled tin or bright colours to make birdhouses, these can overheat and attract predators)

Junk Mail Art (Cornish art from old magazines)

Junk Mail Art offers beautiful and unique art collage prints and greetings cards, featuring places in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. A lovely way to pretty up a wall, or send a card to someone you love. Custom commissions are welcomed.

And although FSC-certified paper means it has not come from rainforests, it still means growing fast-growing plantations of young trees (usually with pesticides) on land that could be used for old-growth slow-growing trees, that support birds and native wildlife.

Although old newspapers can be ripped up and placed in compost bins, magazines need to go in recycling bins, due to inks that would not break down.

Upcycled Plastic Roses (creative inspiration)

These recycled plastic bottle roses are so pretty! Each petal is hand-cut and sandblasted, then sculpted around a stem made from stainless steel. Place them in her upcycled coca-cola bottle vase!

Sarah also makes creative goods from upcycled cans of cola and tonic!

Always fully remove lids and pop inside or pull ring-pulls back over holes before recycling cans (and pinch tops shut), to avoid wildlife getting trapped.

Upcycled Carrier Bag Flowers (creative inspiration)

Ruth Moilliet is a sculptor who makes beautiful flowers, made from recycled plastic waste. The ‘flower petals’ are made from heat-pressed recycled plastic carrier, food and postal bags, displayed on a stainless steel rim. Display in a shady spot, as colours may fade over time.

For wall display only, keep away from children and pets.

Upcycled Friendly Robots (creative inspiration)

ThinkUp Upcycled Stuff! is a fun indie brand was created by a couple in Italy, who upcycle junk into truly original and fun creations. Showing that using up trash can be a great source of creativity, as well as being good for the planet.

Keep away from small children & pets. A few items contain batteries, so locate your nearest recycling points (they are choking hazards).

Some of these items are electrical, but include cables to CE standards. Made in Italy, so check instructions for different voltages and plugs.

But really this post is for show – how talented are this couple?

Poetry, romance, design and technology. All together, and respecting the environment. Stefano & Lucia

Look what two people can create with various recovered metals, old iron pipes and upcycled biscuit tins. Is it wrong to start to fall in love with a few robots, made from recycled metal?

This small copper robot is made from all the bits and bobs leftover from the artist’s workbench. Not a toy.