Trashmagination Creative Reuse Podcast

Please take a short listener survey to help me decide whether to continue with the Trashmagination podcast. Read more ›

Please take a short listener survey to help me decide whether to continue with the Trashmagination podcast.

Laundry soap and cooking oil come in heavy-duty plastic tubs or jugs that are tough to recycle - but you can creative reuse them at home and to make art. Read more ›

Laundry soap and cooking oil come in heavy-duty plastic tubs or jugs that are often not recycled by municipal recycling programs. But there are many ways you can creatively reuse them at home and to make art.

Plastic, metal and wooden hangers can all be creatively reused to make furniture, costumes and other art. Read more ›

Plastic, metal and wooden hangers can all be creatively reused to make furniture, costumes and other art. Did you know that billions of plastic hangers are thrown away every year?

Artists and entrepreneurs around the world find creative ways to make beautiful and useful things from bread and grains. Read more ›

Artists and entrepreneurs around the world find creative ways to make beautiful and useful things from bread and grains.

How can you creatively reuse your cookie, biscuit, candy or tea tin containers that make you feel sentimental? Read more ›

How can you creatively reuse your cookie, biscuit, candy or tea tin containers that make you feel sentimental?  Get inspired by artists who cut them into panels to make quilt-like art on salvaged wood, or who make earrings from them. Get lots of ideas for those Altoid tins such as a little house for a toy mouse!

When I shared my new fluffy rug method made from recycled t-shirts, the social media posts went viral, so I have now made an online course so you can make your own! Read more ›

If you follow Trashmagination on social media, then you know that my fluffy rug posts went viral in February. There were so many requests for me to make an online course, so guess what? I did it! In today's podcast episode, I share what went into making the course, and why I hope you'll sign up to see at least the free videos.

You can make so many useful items from a broken umbrella, using just the fabric, just the frame, or both! Read more ›

You can make so many useful items from a broken umbrella, using just the fabric, just the frame, or both! In this episode, learn about artists who built a giant dome from umbrella skeletons, or who weave factory off-cuts into the frames of tossed patio umbrellas. Check out my bat costume made from a broken umbrella, and other costumes you can make too. Help your plants grow with umbrellas too. 

You can paint and sculpt plastic hub caps to make exquisite works of art - you'll never look at a hub cap the same way again! Read more ›

Learn how to make your own paper and get inspired by artists who creatively reuse paper into clothing, sculptures and collages. Read more ›

Have you ever made paper? In this episode, we'll talk about ways that artists creatively reuse all that stuff that comes in the mail. Learn how to make paper with simple supplies. Get inspired by artists who make both intricate and ginormous art from recycled paper.

Many paints are made with plastic so let's find way to reduce our impact, and learn about ways to creatively reuse paint, brushes, graffiti, spray paint cans and more. Read more ›

Many paints are made with plastic so let's find way to reduce our impact, and learn about ways to creatively reuse paint, brushes, graffiti, spray paint cans and more. Some artists work with the paint dried on their palettes. Other artists dis-assemble spray paint cans to make sculptures. Some artists grind chunks of graffiti to make jewelry. What will you make with your dried paint or paint brushes?

You can make very cute woven rugs from recycled t-shirts without spending much on equipment. Read more ›

You can creatively reuse t-shirts to make durable rugs - and you don't need expensive weaving equipment. Any large wooden frame would work. Learn how I make t-shirt yarn and find my happy place while weaving t-shirts we don't need anymore. 

Learn how artists and scientists are creatively reusing fish scales, skin and bones - from jewelry, to paintings, to even a replacement for petroleum-based plastic. Read more ›

People have been making leather from fish skin for centuries. Others have used fish scales to decorate boxes and make jewelry. Learn how artists have creatively reused these materials historically and to make art today. Plus there are opportunities to replace petroleum-based plastic with a product made from fish skin and scales.

Get lots of ideas for how to use your old yoga mats, plus learn about a type of yoga mat made from recycled neoprene wetsuits! Read more ›

Most yoga mats are made from types of plastic that are challenging to recycle. However, some are made from recycled wetsuits! Also learn about how yoga mats are used to make sandals, and get lots of ideas for ways you can use yoga mats at home - including sensory mats for kids. And learn about Alex Ebstein who cuts yoga mats into artwork similar to Matisse cutouts.

Trashmagination is all about encouraging you to creatively reuse found items and recyclables to make art. However, some materials can be hazardous to your health if you don't take precautions when working with them. Read more ›

Trashmagination is all about encouraging you to creatively reuse found items and recyclables to make art. However, some materials can be hazardous to your health if you don't take precautions when working with them. This episode gives 8 examples - shellfish shells, VCR or cassette tapes, plastic Mardi Gras beads, plastic glitter, nail polish, wood pallets, pastels / paints and feathers.

Can you creatively reuse natural or synthetic hair? Read more ›

Can you creatively reuse natural or synthetic hair? It seems like such a personal item that you might want to just put it in the trash. But for centuries, people have been incorporating hair into art and craft. Plus innovators are finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of synthetic hair.

There is a creative reuse trend to mend your clothes with decorative stitches, making the item stronger and also more beautiful. Read more ›

There is a creative reuse trend to mend your clothes with decorative stitches, making the item stronger and also more beautiful. Benefits of Visible Mending People get excited about learning new ways to repair their clothes. People reduce how much new clothes they buy. People experience the meditative aspects of stitching.

What can you make from that leather couch on the curb, your old leather jacket or even the leather labels on your jeans? Read more ›

Designers around the world are building machines that allow people to DIY their plastic recycling. Read more ›

Inflatables made from vinyl, rubber and nylon are very difficult to recycle but they are extremely popular during hot summer months and as holiday decorations. Read more ›

Inflatables made from vinyl, rubber and nylon are very difficult to recycle but they are extremely popular during hot summer months and as holiday decorations.

Learn about the incredible ways artists work with buttons and get ideas for creatively reusing your own buttons. Read more ›

Learn about the incredible ways artists work with buttons and get ideas for creatively reusing your own buttons.

Polystyrene foam (more commonly called styrofoam) is notoriously difficult to recycle and awful for the environment, but you can avoid it and reuse it with creative thinking. Read more ›

Polystyrene foam (more commonly called styrofoam) is notoriously difficult to recycle and awful for the environment, but you can avoid it and reuse it with creative thinking.

Creative reuse artists make insect sculptures from recycled materials, while others actually work with live insects to make art. Read more ›

Most fairy gardens are made from garden center statuettes or items removed from nature but you can make your own fairy garden from recycled materials. Read more ›

How can creative reuse be part of a personal practice living and working for justice? Read more ›

This is the 101st episode of the Trashmagination podcast, so I'll take a moment to talk about what I have learned from making 100 podcast episodes on creative reuse. Read more ›