Blog Posts

Creative ways to recycle wrapping paper

So, Christmas is over and the January birthdays are rolling in fast. It's easy to get buried under a giant pile of wrapping paper at this time of year, but don't throw it away! Here at Spotlight we’ve put our heads together and come up with some great ideas to ...

Leftover fabric use

Use leftover pieces of dress fabric to cover notebooks and diaries. Fur fabrics, velour and crushed velvets make sumptuous covers. The fabric can be glued in place with hot glue from a glue gun, and you can buy animal and flower motifs to use as trims. Barb (SA)

Projects

Pullover to purse

Don’t throw away those old knits yet... consider throwing them in a hot wash & starting anew with the results. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Dancing girl card

One of our in-house graphic designers, Sonia Barras, has utilised household items in these gorgeous, funky cards.

Altered bag

Great project for a teen

Elephant card

One of our in-house graphic designers, Sonia Barras, has utilised household items in these gorgeous, funky cards.

Napkin rings

Here’s a fun project that anyone can create very quickly to add pizzazz to a table setting. We’ve taken an empty cardboard roll & created these glamorous napkin rings.

Tank tote

Recycle your old tank tops to make this funky tote.

Hosiery flowers

Finally a use for those fashion-coloured hose that only ever went with that one outfit!

Beads by design

Recycle papers to make these beads.

Neck tie purse

If spring cleaning means cleaning out the wardrobe, don’t throw away all the ties.

Bottle top jewellery

Turn discarded bottle tops into jewellery that tells a very special story. By Helen Bradley.

Recycled envelope book

Don’t let bills get you down... instead use the envelopes they come in for creative purposes.

Recycle bonbon

The word ‘bonbon’ stems from the French where ‘bon’ means good. While we might think of Christmas treats as bonbons, in the USA the term also refers to small blocks of icecream or cream cheese covered in chocolate.

Door knob coat hook

Old door knobs get a new lease on life with this clever & quirky idea.

Cup candles

Old crockery gets a new life with this DIY decorator idea.

Doily décor - black square cushion

Recycle grandma’s doilies with ready-made or handmade cushion covers.

Doily décor - pink square cushion

Recycle grandma’s doilies with ready-made or handmade cushion covers.

Doily décor - pink rectangle cushion

Recycle grandma’s doilies with ready-made or handmade cushion covers.

Earrings & gift box

Who knew an unused matchbox could hold such beauty? Grab beads & silver head pins to create this self contained gift.

Recycled shoe box

Transform your desk, work table, bookshelves or wardrobe with fabric off-cuts & a little imagination.

Recycled magazine box

Transform your desk, work table, bookshelves or wardrobe with fabric off-cuts & a little imagination.

Braided rag mat

Originally these mats & rugs were created using real rags & worn clothing in random colours.

Glove pooch

This is a truly delightful softy project using ordinary gloves

Indie-viduals

These toys are a great way to use up your left over fabrics and yarns. Be adventurous and use different fabrics for the front and the back. Use the socks that are left behind when the mate has gone to the ‘sock planet’ during washing.

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