Upcycling Ideas

1. Recycling Kitchen Knives - don't you hate to throw them away? Consider contacting one of the metal recycling places below - some of them even pay based on the metal content of the knives:

Aluminum Can/Metal Buy-Back Centers:
Custom Industries . . . 5400 W Old Bingham Hwy . . 801-280-3502
Metro Group . . . . . .401 W 900 S. . . . . . . . . 801-328-2051
Redwood Recycling . . . 6235 S Redwood Rd. . . . . 801-266-7298
Rocky Mtn. Recycling . . 3110 S 900 W. . . . . . . 801-972-5360
Utah Metal Works . . . . 805 W Everett Ave (1450 N)801-364-5679
Wasatch Metal . . . . . .205 W 3300 S . . . . . . .801-484-3511
Western Metals . . . . . 4221 W 700 S . . . . . . .801-975-9669
SIMS/Metal Mangmt . . . .3260 W 500 S . . . . . . .801-954-8888

2. Paper drinking straws are making a comeback:

http://www.aardvarkstraws.com/

(I had never heard of paper drinking straws before)

3. ReStore - Habitat for Humanity

ReStore is a Habitat for Humanity home improvement thrift store, where proceeds go toward building homes for low-income families. The store is at 1276 S. 500 West, Salt Lake City, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more or how to donate call 801-263-0136 or go to http://www.habitatsaltlake.com.

The store accepts all kinds of new and gently used items, such as appliances, doors, cabinets, electrical pieces, hardware, lawn and garden supplies, furniture, lumber, roofing materials, tools and windows, among many other things.

The store will even retrieve items from the homes of those who wish to donate.


4. Cork Board Craft Idea:

http://www.hgtv.ca/default - "Cork” Board
By: Wendy Russell, Host of She's Crafty

Materials:
• approximately 100 corks (plastic and real cork both work!), varying lengths
• 12” X 12” X 1 ¼ “ (30.48 cm X 30.48 cm X 3.18 cm) picture frame
• 12” X 12” (30.48 X 30.48 cm) hardboard
• strong white glue
• 8 framing points (aka glazier’s points)
• picture hanging kit
• flathead screwdriver, scissors, sanding block

Directions:

1. Glue two smaller sized corks vertically and parallel to one another onto the centre of the hardboard.

2. Glue two corks of the same size horizontally and centered, one across the tops and one across the bottoms, of the first two corks.

3. Glue another two corks vertically, with their ends together, and centered on either side of the first four corks. This will create an even square formation out of all of the corks. At this point, start alternating the plastic and real corks to create an even effect. Longer corks can be incorporated as well to help ensure a snug fit. HOT TIP: Any jagged ends of a cork can be cut off with scissors or sanded smooth with a sanding block.

4. Glue another two corks horizontally, with their ends together, and centered both above and below the square formation to create a rectangle formation.

5. Glue three corks vertically, with their ends together, and centered on either side of the rectangle formation to create an even square formation.

6. Continue in the above-listed manner until the hardboard is completely covered by one large square formation of corks.

7. Place the hardboard facedown into the picture frame. Secure into place with framing points. Use a flathead screwdriver to push two or three framing points into each side of the picture frame, just above the hardboard.

8. Attach a picture hanging kit to the back of the frame.