Celebrate Earth Day with Upcycling Inspiration

Earth Day is upon us, and here at Stampington, we feel that this special day should be spent in celebration of this big, beautiful, planetary rock that we all share. Whether you’re planting a tree, going to an Earth Day event, or making an effort to be a more conscientious crafter, we invite you to join us as we explore ways in which some of our published artists have attempted to craft a greener world.

From mountaintops to ocean floors, vast open plains to thick lush jungles – the Earth fills our bellies and entices our souls by offering an endless wealth of inspiration. While the Earth does not have limitless resources, what it does give us is always multi-dimensional and holds a great capacity to be multi-purposed. We get joy from the process of creating; what’s more,  upcycling challenges us artistically to repurpose discarded materials that are destined for the landfill, to breathe new life into them and transform them into beautiful and functional works of art.

 

Inspirational Words About Upcycling

“I have a passion for old and discarded items—linens, jewelry, buttons, clothing, and handbags just to name a few. I see the potential to upcycle or repurpose an item by breathing new life into it.” ~Diane Utley-Aguilar from Haute Handbags

 

 

 

 

“Put junk mail, packaging, and advertisements to good use by incorporating them into your journal page. Either use the text to simply add interest to your page, or choose words and phrases that complement the theme of your design.” ~Amber Demien from Art Journaling

Project by Vicki Cotnoir

 

 

 

“When I saw the huge mound of unnoticed, unloved, and just plain abandoned paper, I did what any sane artist would have done: I inquired into the paper’s future. The company’s plan to recycle was certainly good enough for me, but I saw a better use.” ~Autumn Hathaway from Art Journaling

 

 

 

 

“Sue Elseth loves repurposing jewelry and trinkets. Not only do they bring new and meaningful life to her and others, but they also create the opportunity to teach new generations about the history behind those pieces.” ~Sue Elseth from Jewelry Affaire

Project by Ann Tatum

 

 

 

“What is the point of using recycled materials if you aren’t actually going to use what you make? Creating new from the old has always been a hobby of mine. It’s incredibly satisfying to take something someone else might consider old, worn out, or complete trash, and refashion it into something you are proud to wear.” ~Stephanie Snow from GreenCraft Magazine

 

 

 

 

 “I adore being able to repurpose something that might have been discarded but can be reborn as something new through creative daydreaming.” ~Brenda Bamford from Jewelry Affaire

 

 

 

 

“By salvaging the interesting features of a shirt to turn into necklaces, I am preserving the essence of what I loved about the shirt to begin with…” ~Johanna Love from GreenCraft Magazine

Project by Shawn Le Kohler

 

 

 

“Nothing makes my heart beat faster than a tattered piece of beautifully aged paper, mottled with stains and spots, delicate and fragile, soft and dreamy, aching to be reborn.” ~Layla Renzi from Digital Inspiration

Project by Lana Manis

 

 

 

Need more Earth Day inspiration?

In honor of Earth Day, we invite you to share your own upcycling projects or tell us what your plans are for tomorrow. If you happen to be running low on ideas, take a look inside our spring issue of GreenCraft Magazine, which is full of creative and truly unique projects.