Repurpose Without Work

I have a small collection of items in my garage, sitting, waiting to be used again.  These items can no longer be used for their initial purpose, but I just can't bring myself to throw them out.  The problem is, as crafty as I can be...I just don't have the time to repurpose these items.  The DIYer in my begs for me to wait until next weekend, then the next weekend, then the next.  As I'm constantly pushing back my repurpose list for a much more priority driven weekend to-do list, I'm hit with the hard question-will I ever find the time?

In my life, right now, the answer is simple...NO.  So I'm at a cross road-do I get rid of these things that I've been hanging on to, or by chance, can I repurpose them in another way, that requires less work?  I choose the latter.

The first item I have, is an old pallet.  I found it a year ago and thought up a million different cool things I could do with it.  I don't have the time to take it apart, so I'll leave it intact.  And now that old pallet, will become a pallet with a new life.  It will become my new herb garden.  All I have to get is landscape fabric, which I can find when I go to get my new herb plants at my local nursery...a few staples-DONE!

Inspired by this vertical garden from RecycleART

And while I'm at my local nursery, I've decided to pick up some bird seed so I can reuse my plastic bottles like this...

Inspired by this bird feeder from RunnerDuck

A few less bottles in my recycling bin, a few happier birds for the winter.

And then there is this little table my neighbor was throwing out.  Fine condition, and I just knew it could be used for something.  So now my son is going to have a new drawing table after this weekend.

Inspired by this table from Jill Of Most Trades

A few less pieces in my garage, a few new additions to the house and yard, and a feeling of accomplishment.  I'd say that makes for a happy weekend!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-Aluminum

Aluminium cans can be recycled at your curbside pickup, and Americans actually do a pretty decent job of recycling this material, but we can continue to do a better job by reusing cans and other aluminum materials  around our house in many great ways.  According to Greenwaste.com, less than 1% of the total US waste stream was made up of aluminum cans, however the energy required to replace that 1% of waste would be enough to meet the electricity needs of Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle combined!  Keep America Beautiful states that recycling 1 aluminum can could save the approximate amount of energy needed to run your television for 3 hours-just one little can!

So, in honor of these statistics, we've found some creative and useful ways to reuse cans and other metal items in your own household to keep these items out of the trash.

Have some old aluminum bakeware?  Cookie sheets can be turned into cute message boards for the kitchen.  Cupcake tins can be great drawer organizers or paint holders for the artist in your family.

courtesy of FamilyFun Magazine

Courtesy of Domestic Charm

As for reusing aluminum cans, the possibilities are endless.  Everything from functional organization to decor, food serving and kitchen ideas to gardening containers-take a look at these great ideas (also found on our Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Pinterest Board).

Drawer organizer and Art Supply organizer from HGTV

Can tabs to coordinate outfits from Ideabottle and a scarf organizer from HGTV

4th of July Windsock, 3 Tiered Vase, Hydrangea Vase Collection can all be found at Under The Table and Dreaming; Twig Vase from Simple Homemade

Fruit and Cupcake Pedestals can be found with many other crafts from this page on Under The Table and Dreaming

Biscuit cutter and wine rack from Real Simple

Wall garden (can also be used for herbs) and flower caddy from Under The Table and Dreaming