Wine Bottle + NY Times = Stylish Vase

If you have been inspired by our previous DIY project and created a geeky dictionary lamp, you will find this vase simply awesome.

It looks awesome and will complement any geeky interior perfectly!

 

Via Etsy

Repurposing Last Season's Sandals

Don't you hate it when a pair of your favorite sandals goes out of style the moment you take it home? I can't tell you how many times I have fallen prey to a fashion trend that quickly died out, and quite frankly, I'm tired of it.

In an effort to save money and get the most out of my footwear investments, I have found some ways to repurpose last season's sandals. Now I can really enjoy those funky flip flops I begged my husband to buy me, even if no one else in the world wants to wear them.

Here are some quick tips to help you reuse, recycle, and re-enjoy some of your favorite summer shoes:

New Sandals

You could just give your sandals a facelift to make them look new again. Add rhinestones, strings of beads, hemp, fabric ties, or whatever else you want to the shoes. You could also use fabric paint to change them to a different color, or you could replace the straps with a new material.

Make the sandals a perfect fit for your wardrobe, and you will know for a fact that they are one-of-a-kind.

Picture Frames

Why not make your shoes into cute displays for photos in your home? This will only work for sandals with a relatively flat soles and minimal straps.  You can us a box knife to cut out a rectangle to fit a picture in, and then you can set the picture in the shoe with a little piece of glass on top. You could get this glass from another picture frame, or you could use clear plastic instead. Most craft stores will sell thin sheets of Plexiglas that you can cut with scissors or a box knife. That will make the perfect cover.

If the edges around the photo look a little jagged, glue on some rope or part of the straps. Then just add a triangular piece of matting or cardboard to the back for support, and you can put this super chic frame on any table in your home.

Coat Racks

You could easily turn your sandals into hooks for hanging things. Just get a piece of wood to secure the shoes to, and then use screws or glue to put them toe-down on the board. Then you can buy some decorative clothes hangers and put one in the toe of each shoe.

You could also buy a hook to secure in the toe, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the shoe in general. Try to incorporate the footwear as much as you can. Add a wire to the back so you can hang this on the wall, and you should be good to go. Something like this may even be good enough to win you a scholarship if you play your cards right.

Coasters

At first glance, a pair of shoes on a table may seem out of place. If you clean them up nicely though, they can look like actual coasters for your drinks. Glue a circular piece of cork board to the inside of the shoe, and you will be able to use your sandals just like you would any other coasters. Who knows – you may start a trend for the neighborhood!

There are plenty of ways to repurpose last season's sandals if you just think outside the shoebox. Figure out a way to really let these shoes shine, and you will not have to worry about throwing away perfectly good shoes.

About the Author: Lisa Winehart is an active fashionista who is currently going to college on a left-handed scholarship. She uses her innovative creativity to propel her career and her hobbies at the same time.

Candy Wrappers Purse

We have already seen a bag made of recycled candy wrappers. Here's another one: it seems a bit easier to create.

I really like the way ti looks like:

Recycled Magazine Paper Hotpad

Kitchen gadgets are plenty but we'll never have enough of them, right? This one is both useful and easy to create: magazine paper hotpad.

I am not how long this one last but you can create a few:

CD Shower Curtain Holders

This looks both useful and nice. I am sure it will be a good fit for almost any bathroom interior.

Besides, that's a great way to take advantage of old CDs which is always good (we love recycling!)

Aluminum Cans Earrings

So you can make a lot of useful things of aluminum cans: this pop tabs belt i the best proof. But that one requires hard work and obviously some knowledge and talent.

Here's an easier one for you: earring made of aluminum cans (much like a yogurt cup plastic necklace posted in our readers' DIY inspiration post):

Via

Cool Newspaper Handbags

Like these candy wrappers bags and this magazine bowl we've seen earlier, these handbags must take plenty of time but they have quite a few benefits:

1. They won't cost you a penny;
2. If you create one, you will be proud of yourself;
3. This one should be fun to create (especially with kids).
   

Vinyl Record Book

Once you have a vinyl record bookend, why don't create a vinyl record book?

Well, joking aside, this looks like a good way to protect your book and keep it save for ages!

Make a Handy Vinyl Record Bookend

Do you still have vinyl records at home. Sadly, we used to move places so often that I couldn't keep them but if you still have, here's a great way to recycle a couple of them: a handy vinyl record bookend (if you still read offline books of course):

1. Dip the album into the water up to the bottom of the label, making sure your outside label is straight.
2. Start bending the album as it softens.