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| Upcycled Bird Bath |
What is Upcycling?
To define upcycling we should first understand each of the below terms.
Do it yourself (DIY): building, modifying, or repairing something without the aid of experts or professionals (usually with a how-to).
how-to: a blog, book, video, or training session that provides practical advice.
Craft: an activity involving skill in making things by hand (usually results in a finished product)
Art: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination (usually produces aesthetic works.
For more on arts and crafts and how they develop your child click here. Follow me for more on upcycling with children.
Upcycling is a form of diy-arts and crafts turning waste into something more useful, valuable and aesthetic. Upcycling encompasses recycling, reusing and repurposing with arts and crafts to make new items. Many upcyclers use a specific skill they are know with upcycled tools, materials and supplies to create upcycles. Others use a specific material and perform many skills to upcycle the material. Most simply see something that is not useful to them any longer and decide to make it better.
Skill: the ability to perform a particular ability
Tools:equipment used to perform a skill
Materials:original items used in a skill to complete an upcycling project
Supplies:items used to carry out skills.
Many upcyclers use a specific skill they know with upcycled tools, materials and supplies to create upcycles. Others use a specific material and perform many skills to upcycle the material. Read about us to find out which materials, skills and tools I use most.
Materials used by Upcyclers
This is not intended to be a complete list of materials. If you would like more information on a material not listed on this page email jennifer@theupcyclingnanny.com
Eventually I will link tutorials for upcycling with many of these materials.
Materials are original items used in a skill to complete an upcycling project. Upcyclers often use tools and supplies as materials.
Paper is defined as thin sheets of material manufactured from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances. As an upcycling material paper is fliers from school or work, spam snail mail, newspapers, magazines, scrap paper, wrapping paper, tissue paper, packing paper and many others. Upcyclers often use paper to make beads. Some decorate upcycles with paper. Others use methods at home to recycle it and form it into new items. There are too many way to use paper as an upcycling material for me to list them all here. Children ages 2 and up use this material.
Cardboard is made of the same material as paper but is more stiff and much thicker because it is layered. As an upcycling material cardboard is boxes, signs, business cards, playing cards, the hard covers of books, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, puzzles and many others. Upcyclers often build home decor and accessories from cardboard. Some use it for art. Others build usable furniture. There are too many ways to use cardboard as an upcycling material for me to list them all. Children ages 2 and up use this material.
Metals are solid materials that are typically hard, shiny and malleable. As an upcycling material metals are buckets, nails, cans, needles, silverware, jewelry, paper clips and many others. Upcyclers often use cans as a whole to build new things or they cut and reshape them for upcycles. Pop-tabs are often used in crochet, knitting, macrame and jewelry making. Silverware becomes jewelry and clocks. There are too many ways to use metals as an upcycling material for me to list them all. Children ages 2 and up use this material.
Plastic is a synthetic material made from organic polymers. As an upcycling material plastic is plastic bottles, cups, bowls, eating utensils, wrappers, plastic bags, buckets and many others. Upcyclers often paint plastic containers as containers and turn them into bowling pins or baskets. Some cut plastics into shapes and make holes for lacing. Others reshape them and make something new. Plastic bags become plarn, beads and plastic string.Children ages 2 and up use this material.
Wood is a hard fibrous material that comes from trees or shrubs. As an upcycling material wood is crates, pallets, furniture, home decor, fencing and many others. Upcyclers often make beds and other home furnishings from fencing. Some upcycle pallets into furniture. Children ages 2 and up use this material..
Glass is a hard, brittle substance that is usually transparent or translucent. It is made by fusing sand with soda, lime and other ingredients and cooling it rapidly. As an upcycling material glass is glass bottles, jars, windows, cups and many others Upcyclers often use glass bottles to make beads. Some upcycle jars into snow globes, ornaments and home decor. There are many other upcycles for glass materials. Children ages 2 and up use this material..
Cloth is woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fiber. Upcyclers often cut fabrics to make yarn or threads to work with. Others unravel fabrics to regain the materials. Some use no longer wanted fabrics to cover upcycles, make bags and many other things. Children ages 2 and up use this material.
Most materials fall into the above categories or a mixture of them. The materials listed below are often used for upcycled art by upcyclers who specialize in working with the material.
Computer components are the physical parts of a computer.Upcyclers often upcycle computer components into sculptures, light fixtures, home decor and much more. Children ages 7 and up use this material..
Vehicles are things used for transporting people or items on land. Upcyclers often use specific parts from many vehicles such as spark plugs, tires, hubcaps in their upcycles. Some find an upcycle for each part and upcycle a single vehicle. Upcyclers create furniture, home decor. sculptures, gardens and much more. Children ages 7 and up use this material.
Boats are things used for transporting people or items over water. Upcyclers often use specific pieces from many boats such as oars and anchors in their upcycles. Some find an upcycle for each part of a single boat. Upcyclers create furniture, home decor. sculptures, gardens and much more. Children ages 7 and up use this material.
Equipment is the necessary items for a particular purpose. In this case, I mean the specialized equipment used in some fields of work. Upcyclers often use old work equipment in their upcycles to create furniture, home decor. sculptures and much more. Children ages 7 and up use this material.
Skills used by Upcyclers
This is not intended to be a complete list of skills. If you would like more information about a skill not listed on this page email jennifer@theupcyclingnanny.com
You can purchase tools and supplies in my Amazon Store or my hand-made upcycled tools and products in My Shop.
Crochet is a craft in which yarn is looped with a hooked needle into a patterned fabric. Upcyclers often use t-shirt yarn, plarn, and plastic rag yarn. Children ages 7 and up learn this skill.
Knitting is a craft which interlocks loops of yarn with knitting needles into a patterned fabric. Upcyclers often use t-shirt yarn, plarn, and plastic rag yarn. Children ages 7 and up learn this skill.
Knooking is a craft which interlocks loops of yarn with crochet hooks with knitting needles on the opposite end into a patterned fabric. Upcyclers often use t-shirt yarn, plarn, and plastic rag yarn. Children ages 7 and up learn this skill.
Finger knitting is a craft which interlocks loops of yarn with your fingers. Upcyclers often use t-shirt yarn, plarn, and plastic rag yarn. Children ages 3 and up learn this skill.
Weaving is a craft in which thread is interlaced passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them. Upcyclers often use t-shirt yarn, plarn, and plastic rag yarn. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Sewing or Lacing is a craft which joins, fastens or repairs (something) by making stitches with a needle and thread or using a sewing machine. Upcyclers often sew by hand to attach items or use fabric scraps from old clothing. Children ages 2-6 learn lacing, ages 7 and up learn this skill.
Macrame is a craft in which cords or strings are knotted in patterns to make decorative articles. Upcyclers often use macrame on jewelry or to decorate projects. Children ages 3-6 learn basic knots, 7 and up learn this skill.
Scrapbooking is an art activity in which clippings, drawings, photos are placed in a book. Upcyclers often use scrapbooking to record finished projects. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Calligraphy is an art in which decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering is produced. Upcyclers often upcycle materials and supplies into tools or perform calligraphy to decorate a project. Children ages 3 and up learn this skill.
Beading is a craft which produces an artistic decoration or string of beads. Upcyclers often use beads in jewelry creations, attached to projects or they upcycle materials into beads for others to use. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill. Learn to roll paper beads!
Painting is a craft or art in which paint is made into a picture, decoration, or as a protective coating. Upcyclers often paint finished projects with colors and protectants, make painted art on upycled materials or with upcycled materials. Some even upcycle materials into paints. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Drawing/Sketching is a craft or art which produces a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen or crayon. Upcyclers often produce art made on or with upcycled materials or upcycle to produce materials used for this craft. Some may sketch a plan for a project or only draw projects upcycled by others. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Stamping is an art process of impressing a pattern or mark on a surface or object. Upcyclers often decorate projects with stamps or use upcycled materials to create stamps. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Stenciling is an art process of using a thin sheet of cardboard, plastic, or metal with a pattern or letters cut out of it to produce the cut out design on to a surface. Upcyclers often decorate projects, make art with stencils, or use upcycled materials to create stencils. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Recycling paper is the craft of breaking scraps of paper down and reforming them into new paper. Upcyclers often recycle paper to make beads and paper for writing. Others will not recycle paper before rolling beads. Children ages 2 and up learn this skill.
Woodworking is the craft or art of making things from wood. Upcyclers often make items from broken or no longer working wooden items. Children ages 2-5 learn the basics of this skill, ages 6 and up learn this skill.
Metalworking is the craft or art of making things from metals. Upcyclers often make items from cans, nails, needles, old or broken metal items and scrap metals. Children ages 2-5 learn the basics of this skill, ages 6 and up learn this skill.
Wire wrapping is the craft of using wire to make decorative pieces or jewelry with no soldering or heating of the wire. Upcyclers often decorate projects with wire or upcycle wire into other items. Some simply work with wire and do not wrap it. Children ages 2-5 learn the basics of this skill, ages 6 and up learn this skill.
Lampworking is a craft which uses glass bottles to make beads or formed pieces of glass. Upcyclers often use this craft to make beads for jewelry, decoration, or tiles for mosaic projects. This is not a craft I have learned to do myself, therefore I have not taught any Children how to do it on their own, or completed any projects working with children.
Reading DIY, how-to, tutorials, instructions, suggested adaptations, warning labels, ingredients Upcyclers often work with or mix materials, supplies and tools they are unfamiliar with. Reading allows upcyclers to remain safe while learning new skills. Children ages 3-6 are learning to use this skill, ages 7 and up use this skill.
Tools used by Upcyclers
This is not intended to be a complete list of tools. If you would like more information on a tool not listed on this page email jennifer@theupcyclingnanny.com
You can purchase tools and supplies in my Amazon Store or my hand-made upcycled tools and products in My Shop.
Anvil or hammering block are heavy blocks made of steel usually which you place metal on to hammer into desired shapes mostly used by wire workers with a hammer or mallet.
Bead Crimping tools are plier like tools that flatten crimp beads around wires, thread or cord used by jewelry makers.
Bead rollers are hand-held sticks or machines used to roll strips of papers into beads.
Bobbins are cylinders or cones holding string or wire. They are usually used in weaving and machine sewing.
Crochet hooks or needles are tools with a hook on the end to draw yarn or thread through loops. They come in a variety of styles and sizes for various patterns and techniques.
Drills are hand, power or machines with a rotating cutting tip used for making holes. Bead makers use reamers to make holes in their beads. Woodworking is another craft that uses this tool.
Hammers have a head mounted at a right angle to their handle and are used for breaking materials and driving in materials. Hammers are used in woodworking, lampworking and other crafts for regaining materials. Wire workers use chasing hammers most commonly on an anvil to flatten wire into shape. Nylon and rawhide hammers will harden wire but keep its shape.
Hot glue gun are usually shaped similar to a gun and melt adhesive sticks into a flowing shapeable liquid.
Jump Ring Makers are tools used to form wire into jump rings. Some are long metal which gets smaller toward the head of the tool for different sized rings and others are machine sets.
Jump Ring Makers are tools used to form wire into jump rings. Some are long metal which gets smaller toward the head of the tool for different sized rings and others are machine sets.
Knitting needles are long, pointed rods used as a pair for looping yarns and thread into fabric. They come in a variety of sizes and styles for various patterns and techniques.
Knook needle is a crochet hook with a knitting needle on the opposite end only one is needed to crochet knitted patterns.
Loom are equipment for used for weaving.
Needles thin slender piece of metal or plastic with a point at one end and hole for string at the other. Sewing, crochet, knitting, knooking, weaving, beading, lacing are a few crafts that use needles as tools.
Paint brushes and sponges are handled brushes and sponges made of varying materials to apply paints, glues and other liquids.
Pliers are tools with long parallel pincers. The pincers can be flat or round and are typically serrated.Pliers are used by upcyclers to grip small objects. For bending wire upcyclers and jewelry makers choose non-serrated pliers with no markings. Some use nylon covered pliers to straighten wire and protect the wire from markings.
Punches for metal and paper. Punches are usually steel rods with a shaped head on one end and a flat head on the opposite end. You place the shaped head onto metal or paper hit the flat end with a hammer to leave the marking in place. There are Punch machines for use with metals and paper. Punches can imprint letters, shapes, or make holes.
Rotary cutters have a round blade and are generally used on a mat to cut fabrics.
Rulers and tape measures can be straight strips or cylinders of any rigid material marked at regular intervals for measuring or used for shaping lines straight or round.
Scissors are instruments used for cutting materials.
Screwdrivers have a shaped tip that fits into the head of a screw or similar material to turn it. Screwdrivers are used in woodworking and other crafts.
Sewing machines any machine used for sewing or making stitches.
Stamps are tools with a shape, letter or marking on one side that will imprint onto an object (usually paper) with paint, ink or pressure.
Stencils are sheets of material with a pattern cut-out. The pattern can be traced, cut or colored once the stencil is laid over the desired area.
Wire cutters are plier like tools used for cutting wire. Flush cutters are the most commonly used in jewelry making.
X-acto knives or Box-Cutters are utility knives with sharp, replaceable blades. There are a variety of sharpeners available to sharpen pencils and tools.
The age ranges listed on this page for children are only suggestions. The ranges are not intended to limit or define your child’s abilities. Many materials on this page require not only supervision but also preparation for children to use them. Some children may lack the fine motor skills to use materials correctly. Some materials can be adapted to allow children to better use them. For more information on how materials develop your child’s skills read Arts and Crafts Defined. For my guide on completing arts and crafts with your child Click here.
Visit our supply store to purchase any supplies or tools you need to put your skills to work Upcycling with your child.
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This work by Jennifer@theupcyclingnanny.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at www.theupcyclingnanny.com.
