How to Tie-Dye Cotton Shirts

by Evin // May 30, 2023 // No Comments

Though we often think of summer camp and cotton tee-shirts when we remember tie-dyeing, it can be done at home (outside) and with other kinds of cotton fabrics and clothing. For our tie-dye afternoon, we used polo shirts, tees, and... Continue reading →

Choose Upcycled Bedding for Your Next Sewing Project

by Evin // April 20, 2023 // 4 Comments

I recently started sewing from patterns for the first time. Until now, I just made clothes based on measurements and tried them on along the way. It is especially easy for me to do that with alterations. Since most of... Continue reading →

Create: Burp Cloths from Upcycled Materials

by Evin // June 8, 2021 // 3 Comments

Until you burp a baby regularly, I don’t think the concept of a good burp cloth even enters into your mind. At least it didn’t with me. Then I visited my nephews and was exposed to the strengths and pitfalls... Continue reading →

String of paper heart bunting from scrap paper | EvinOK

Making Heart Bunting From Drawing Paper

by Evin // February 9, 2021 // No Comments

We have a lot of drawings sitting around, some of which are keepers while others I scan then look for upcycling projects to reuse the paper. One approach I loved before was to cut paper snowflakes from old scrap paper... Continue reading →

child wearing handmade tie-dye tee and reading a book with a floppy sunhat on.

Summer Activity: Tie-dye!

by Evin // June 23, 2020 // No Comments

I’m always looking for ways to upcycle old clothes, and tie-dye is the perfect way to bring a new, colourful lease of life to an unworn T-shirt. It’s a fun activity to do with kids too, so it’s a great... Continue reading →

Best pet toys you can make with kids at home easily

by Evin // December 12, 2019 // No Comments

My sons LOVE their canine aunt and have such fun playing with her, but also know their toys need to be different. Buying toys for pets can get expensive, but you can create your own at home that are so... Continue reading →

Embracing the 80s with Upcycled Legwarmers

by Evin // January 15, 2019 // No Comments

For Halloween 2018, I made a kind of fun 80s Rainbow Brite inspired costume. I didn’t stay completely true to her original style and worked with what I already owned. Yep, I own these things. The leggings are LulaRoe. The... Continue reading →

A Tale of Two Play Kitchens

by Evin // October 11, 2018 // 1 Comment

We built and refurbished two play kitchens in recent years, but I thought it would be worth an update to share how well they have held up to significant abuse use. I’ll profile each separately since they’re quite different. The... Continue reading →

Making New Crayons from Broken Bits – Phoenix Crayons

by Evin // July 10, 2018 // No Comments

I’ve done it before and I’ll keep doing it because making new crayons from broken bits is such an easy recycling project that also is useful. I find my recycled crayons ideal for when we’re out and about or traveling... Continue reading →

DIY Terrarium made with Upcycled Materials

by Evin // August 5, 2015 // No Comments

Winter is coming and I am going to miss my terrace garden, so I decided to bring a bit of the outdoors in by creating my own little garden in a jar. After reading a few Pinterest tutorials, I decided to... Continue reading →

From Dollhouse to Firehouse: Thrift Find Reimagined

by Evin // December 10, 2014 // 2 Comments

About a year or two ago, while visiting an Enable Ireland thrift store here in Cork City, my son, LB, became enamoured of a Fisher-Price dollhouse. I paid €4, but similar houses are on eBay for £5–20. LB loved it... Continue reading →

Make Do and Mend: Upcycled Gradient Phoenix Crayons

by Evin // November 26, 2014 // No Comments

Remember a few months ago when I used the broken bits of crayon to make a new crayon (I even wrote a blog post)? Well, after that I thought that if I ever did it again, I would certainly separate the... Continue reading →

Make Do and Mend: Phoenix Crayons

by Evin // September 24, 2014 // No Comments

We’ve all seen it on Pinterest and wondered what parent has time to melt down crayon bits to create a new crayon. Well, I managed to find the time. Yes, I’m still a bit surprised it happened. And it was easy!... Continue reading →

Handmade Upcycled Child’s Play Kitchen

by Evin // September 12, 2014 // 2 Comments

It started with an idea for LB’s second birthday which grew to a collaboration and, finally, a creation. I wanted to make my son a play kitchen. The timeline was moved up just after his first birthday when I learned I... Continue reading →

Baby crawling on green shag carpet with word DUDE across bum.

Sewing Baby Pants from a Toddler Tee

by Evin // October 3, 2013 // No Comments

LB loves being active at home and wearing knit pants like sweatpants or jersey ones work best for that. Flexible pants to roll around on the floor in have become the standard attire here at home. A while back, we... Continue reading →

Upcycled Cork Nautical Keychain

by Evin // April 15, 2013 // No Comments

Upcycled Cork Keychain Time: 5-10 minutes, depending on whether you use gold paint a wait-to-dry time is also needed Supplies: an eye-screw leftover champagne or wine cork Paintbrush (optional) Gold paint (optional) keyring Instructions: 1. Screw the eye-screw into... Continue reading →

Books to Inspire You to… Renew! Recycle! Create!

by Evin // May 29, 2012 // 1 Comment

Taking something that already exists and creating something new with it has such poetry – or at least that’s how I see it. It can also be described as resourcefulness, flexibility, thrift, or upcycling. You’ve read about my adventures making... Continue reading →

Upcycled Cardigan Turned Felted Cropped Jacket

by Evin // May 9, 2012 // 5 Comments

I found the softest oversized cardigan at the second-hand shop last year. Its soft gray fibers begged to come home with me in spite of the fact that it resembled a coat more than a sweater. But it’s amazing what... Continue reading →

A Trivet Made of Upcycled Wine Corks

by Evin // May 2, 2012 // No Comments

Creating something new and useful from something already created is almost always appealing to me so the classic design of a wine cork just had to find a way to be enjoyed beyond the bottle. Considering what I needed most, I... Continue reading →

Upcycled Ladies Handkerchief Drawstring Bag, Stenciled to Personalize

by Evin // August 19, 2011 // 4 Comments

This is a small project that was made in less than an hour. The sewing would have gone quicker if my sewing machine doesn’t like to unthread itself regularly. I washed and ironed the two handkerchiefs and pressed a crease... Continue reading →