As you’ve seen from previous posts, I love taking old, unused, or unwanted items and turning them into something new.  Here is a list of a few of my favorite websites that share this same passion.  Feel free to add your projects, ideas, and best sites to the comments below.

1. Funky Junk Interiors

Photo Credit: FunkyJunkInteriors.net

From mattress springs to drop cloth curtains, nothing is off limits for Donna, the author of Funky Junk Interiors.  She has a style all her own with a wonderful point of view.  It takes a special person to turn twigs into a chandelier and rusty license plates into shelving.  Using materials she finds or picks up at rummage sales and thrift stores, Donna has a gift for incorporating unusual items to create fun pieces and vignettes.  Her site not only has beautiful photographs of her work, but instructions for making the projects yourself.   Follow along as she explores  “creative decorating with…junk”.

2. My {re}Purposed Life

Photo Credit: MyRepurposedLife.net

Full of personal tutorials as well as guest posts and the best from other sites, My {re}Purposed Life is fresh, educational, and inspiring.  Creative mind Gail Wilson is a former teacher and her goal is to help others “learn to DIY on a budget by transforming secondhand finds”.  Converting coffee pots into lamps and giving old window shutters new life as a magazine rack are just two of the great projects you’ll find at her site. Whether you are considering removing the carpet and painting your stairs or getting the kids involved in making a children’s bench, My {re}Purposed Life will give you the inspiration and the instructions to get it done.

3. IKEA Hackers

Photo Credit: IKEAHackers.net

IKEA, the Swedish furniture company, has been around for decades and has a massive fan base.  Known for their  sleek, minimalistic designs requiring at-home construction to keep costs low, their products are found in houses and dorms across the world.  The very nature of their furniture assembly process lends itself to easy modifications and upgrades.  Realizing that the internet was full of wonderful ideas and projects from various people, IKEA Hackers was created to make a centralized website for them all.  It is amazing to see what people can do with just a few pieces of wood and an Allen wrench.  Some show easy ways to glam up a simple table for a custom look, others are finding completely new uses for materials to construct items such as acoustic amplifiers and tabletop greenhouses.  Don’t be limited by the generic instruction manual , get creative and check out IKEA Hackers to take your pieces to the next level.

4. Roadkill Rescue and Infarrantly Creative

Photo Credit: RoadkillRescue.net

Roadkill Rescue is the name of Beckie Farrant’s website, and the term she coined for “finding something curbside and transforming it into useable and beautiful decor”.  This site actually sprung from her original blog, Infarrantly Creative.  Both are full of fantastic creations supplemented with step-by-step instructions.  I especially love the Knock Offs page where she shows how to make designer pieces for a fraction of the cost, and the Recycled section highlighting crafts that can be made from everyday items that would normally end up in the trash.  Two great sites from one talented author, Infarrantly Creative and Roadkill Rescue are sure to please.

5. Dollar Store Crafts

Photo Credit: DollarStoreCrafts.com

Everyone likes to save money, but it’s no surprise that crafting and art projects can add up fast.  The need to purchase specialized tools and pricey materials can leave one frustrated and broke before they even leave the store.  Thankfully, there is help.  Dollar Store Crafts is a place you can turn to for the best tutorials that won’t break the bank. Using general office supplies and a few paint brushes that nearly everyone already has in their homes along with a couple of items from the discount store, they focus on keeping projects “cheap, chic, and easy”.  But don’t let the name fool you, this site is not for Popsicle sticks and macaroni art.  From jewelry to party decorations, Dollar Store Crafts shows us that projects don’t have to dominate all of your time, living room, and budget.

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