Create Craft
Upcycling’ uses creativity to keep items out of the trash
A facility in Alexandria, Virginia gathers, sorts, and sells little things that can be used for science, art, or craft projects.
Twins The Up-Cycle Creative Reuse Centre in Alexandria, Virginia, sells miniature bells that Lucia and Quinn Russell of Alexandria, Virginia, talk about using. In order to make toys, crafts, and other artistic endeavours, the centre accepts donations of art supplies, fabric, stones, jars, and a variety of other tiny items. Author: Ann Cameron Siegal
Use your imagination and take a second look at anything before you throw it in the garbage. That toothpaste tube top might be the ideal material for a dollhouse lampshade. A maze game could be made out of an empty CD case. Rolls of toilet paper might be joined together and decorated to resemble garages for toy vehicles.
It’s known as “upcycling.”
Recycling is the process of turning waste into something new, as when plastic bags are converted into decking material.The Russell twins, Lucia and Quinn, from Alexandria, Virginia, talk about how to use the little bells that can be purchased at the Up-Cycle Creative Reuse Centre in Alexandria. In order to make toys, crafts, and other artistic endeavours, the centre accepts donations of art supplies, fabric, stones, jars, and a variety of other tiny items. (Ann).
Upcycling is different.
The objective is to use your own creativity to come up with new applications for stuff you don’t need, according to Susan Miranda. She was a founding member of the Alexandria, Virginia-based Up-Cycle Creative Reuse Centre, which opened its doors ten years ago.
Entering this store is like entering a small world of possibilities. The secret to turning something that would ordinarily be thrown out into something enjoyable, appealing, and practical is to utilise your imagination.
No prepackaged kits with detailed instructions are available. Instead, you’ll discover two compact rooms filled with shelves, bins, and drawers stocked with materials for making art, fabric, yarn, buttons, bows, shells, stones, jars, and more. Volunteers sorted and organised all of the donated goods into clearly labelled groupings. They are priced at
The objective is to use your own creativity to come up with new applications for stuff you don’t need, according to Susan Miranda. She was a founding member of the Alexandria, Virginia-based Up-Cycle Creative Reuse Centre, which opened its doors ten years ago.
Entering this store is like entering a small world of possibilities. The secret to turning something that would ordinarily be thrown out into something enjoyable, appealing, and practical is to utilise your imagination.
No prepackaged kits with detailed instructions are available. Instead, you’ll discover two compact rooms filled with shelves, bins, and drawers stocked with materials for making art, fabric, yarn, buttons, bows, shells, stones, jars, and more. Volunteers sorted and organised all of the donated goods into clearly labelled groupings. They are priced atThe objective is to use your own creativity to come up with new applications for stuff you don’t need, according to Susan Miranda. She is one of the co-founders of the Up-Cycle Creative Reuse Centre, which debuted in Alexandria ten years ago and produced stamp pads for making greeting cards and wall art.
“With upcycled materials, you can experiment and take more creative risks,” Margot remarked. And it makes me feel good to know that I’m protecting the environment.
Lucia and Quinn Russell, twins from Alexandria, are frequent patrons of Upcycle.
“We come up with different ideas,” Quinn, who discovered blank badges and transformed one into a firefighter’s badge to pair with his makeshift helmet made of red paper and white tape, said.
To make hair barrettes, Lucia used ordinary clips and miniature “Hello Kitty” faces. Quinn pointed to some 12-sided dice and remarked that in a space-related endeavour, they may turn into asteroids.
Noa Organek, 12, of Alexandria, whose mother Kelley Organek is one of the center’s founders, advises considering the options available before making decisions by asking yourself, “I can use this for…”
Noa, who enjoys locating wire, stones, or sea glass there to turn into jewellery, declared that “art makes me happy.
“Alexandria’s UpCycle Creative Reuse Centre empowers children’s thought and thinking through creativity in a setting where conversation and innovation can thrive,” stated Kelley Organek.
Miranda described upcycling as Step 2 of a three-step process aimed at reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. “To upcycle is to reuse before recycling,” she explained.
Simply acquire less in Step 1. Avoid purchasing something you don’t actually need.
Step 2: Reuse: Repurpose an unnecessary item.
Recycle: In the third step, experts turn paper, glass, plastic, or cardboard into new materials.
The upcycle challenge
Instead of buying new, you can make decorations, wrapping paper, cards, gifts, and supplies for school projects. See how many clean throwaways you can save from your home with your parent’s approval. (Avoid using objects with sharp edges, such as cans.)
After placing them in a “inspiration box,” ask a few others to do the same. Spending an afternoon reviewing objects gathered and exchanging suggestions for their reuse can be enjoyable. Encourage a youth organisation or community centre to follow suit.Step 2: Reuse: Repurpose an unnecessary item.
Recycle: In the third step, experts turn paper, glass, plastic, or cardboard into new materials.