Making and ReMaking at a new blog!!

Hi there ReMakers! It's been a while since my last post and I wanted to give you an update on what I've been up to. I'm still ReMaking anything and everything that I can get my hands on. I've just been contributing more regularly to the super-awesome website Made + Remade over at the DIY Network. So..... rather than simply duplicating posts and projects I'm doing over there on here, you should go straight to the source! Check back regularly at Made + Remade to see my latest in remade projects. It's sure to be jam-packed with do-it-yourself recycling goodness!

You can always find my products, designs, do-it-yourself projects and more over at TiffanyThreadgould.com

Have a great, upcycled holiday and keep on ReMaking It!

ReMake this blockbuster lamp!

If you're in New York this weekend, come to Maker Faire and ReMake projects with me and the rest of the designers, hackers, makers and creators there!

Catch my old movie filmstrip into lampshade project on Saturday at 11am on the Maker Square Stage. Plus the first 25 of ya'll will get your own materials to create a gift bow.

If you can't MAKE it there, then ReMake this lampshade by following along with the instructions I wrote up for Made + Remade over at the DIY Network.

MAKE it this weekend!

Hey ReMakers! The Greatest Show (And Tell) on Earth is coming to NYC this weekend and I know I wouldn't miss it. This fourth annual World Maker Faire will launch on Saturday and Sunday at the NY Hall of Science. Where else can you make something explode, solder a circuit board, learn to knit, pick a lock, find a secret restaurant, upcycle your soda bottle, and just join one big celebration of geekdom with your fellow Makers? Maker Faire - that's where!

I'll be on-site on Saturday at the Maker Square Stage from 11 - 11:30 showing you how to upcycle movie film into a lampshade and more. PLUS, the first 25 people at my demo will get their own kit of materials to ReMake a gift bow from movie film which I'll walk them through step-by-step. These projects are easy to do - and they're sure to be blockbuster hits.

If you can't make it to the NYC Faire, then see if there's an event in your neck of the woods. I hear there's even Maker Faire Rome coming soon. A world of Making is out there!

This dog has been upcycled!

Then


Now


It's been over 8 months since I rescued my wonder dog, Tomatilla, from an animal shelter. I didn't realize just how much this Pomeranian has changed since I first got her, until I started comparing photos from then and now. She certainly has grown in size and fluff over these short months. When I first rescued her, she was full grown and about 3 years old. At that time she weighed in at at 7 pounds. Now she's a whopping 9 pounds - still smaller than most cats. A 2 pound weight gain may not sound like much, but imagine if you gained 25% of your body weight in less than a year.

I'm proud to report that Tia is much healthier now, has a full coat of hair, and is just the sweetest thing ever. She loves belly rubs, attention, and she just adores any kind of treats. Part dog, part fox-y creature, this animal is a whole lotta love. I highly recommend a rescuing your own pet, and giving it a little bit of upcycled TLC.

Then


Now

Don't shrug off old sweaters - ReMake them into new!

Update your wardrobe and upcycle your style with this sweater to shrug reconstruction project. A few simple steps turn this project into a bolero-style shrug that's cute as a button. You can follow the complete how-to over with photo instructions that I created just for you over at DIY Network. Woo hoo!

Turn an old button down and 2 neckties into this tank top DIY!

The summer heat is great inspiration for cool new projects. Use two old neckties, a button down shirt, and follow the complete how-to that I wrote up just for the good folks at Made + ReMade at the DIY Network. It's an easy project to do. Using the hems from the shirt and tie makes some of the tank already started for you.

Once you've made this project materialize, think of all of the other fashion accessories that can come from neckties like a - guitar strap, cell phone case and more.

ReMake a Box ‘bot at Maker Summer Camp!

Tune in to Maker Camp today and find out how to create your own world of upcycled robots. It's free to join Maker Camp and there are loads of great projects all month. I’ll be there today along with upcycling gurus Joe Szuecs, Judy Castro and the rest of the Maker Camp team. Check out to see how to create my own cereal box robot, Joe’s coffeebot and loads more upcycling goodness that will MAKE your summer compute to a recycled tune.

The international language of Garbage!

I recently had the amazing opportunity to travel to TerraCycle's Mexico office in Monterrey and to ReMake their office space. I worked with a team of people to upcycle everything from the light fixtures, to the chairs, tables, and more. The majority of the renovation took a week and a half, but there were several weeks of work prior to the renovation where a lot of materials were deconstructed, sewn, cut, glued, and more in preparation for the installation.

Typically projects have a longer lead time than a week and a half, so having the limited amount of time on-site and seeing the transformation take place over a short time was really amazing. It was also really fun to experiment with Mexican garbage and work with a new team of people. Working together to "Eliminate the idea of waste" or "Elimina la idea de basura" is what this is all about.

I could talk more about this project, but feel that the photos speak the international language of garbage and demonstrate the idea of upcycling perfectly. Nueva vida a la basura!


When you first walk into the office you're greated by a TerraCycle logo created from little sombreros cut out of Mexican branded food wrapper. There's also a dress sewn from Mexican bread bags that have been fused and sewn together in a traditional Mexican style


In the reception area, there is a seating space created from vintage theater seats, movie theater film end tables, a flowery food wrapper chandelier and more!


Walking up the stairs, you'll find a sculpture made from 3D glasses. This office space used to be an eyeglass factory, so the throwback to the glasses, was particularly appreciated by the staff.


In the meeting room on the second floor, you'll find a lounge area created from a chair made out of tires, an end table made from a pallet, and a poster-sized picture of the Monterrey Mountain, Cerro de la Silla, framed in circuit board picture frames.

You can get a link to even more pictures on the photo album here. Feliz upcycling!

Breath new life into old tents

Here's the perfect summer project that lets you bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. When your old curtains are ready to take a hike, upcycle retired tents into new window treatments.

I created this project just for the good folks at the Made + ReMade site on the DIY Network, where you can find the complete how-to. Not only will you create one-of-a-kind curtains for your lovely home, but if you're using old materials, this budget-friendly project can't get much cheaper than free. And that's something that everyone can go wild about.

Yes you "can" upcycle your paint cans!

Give a splash of color to your kitchen with fun paint cans turned planters. Simply use any leftover paint to paint the outside of the can and plant your favorite seedling inside. The complete how-to for this project is over at DIY Network.

Bottle cap magnet photo mementos!

This project is picture perfect for that next summer wedding or graduation that you're headed to. Once you've collected all of the supplies, it takes less than an hour to create. It's a great way to add your own handmade touch to your gift and preserve some precious memories... the upcycled way! It's even easy to do for the not-so-crafty. Just crack open a beer (or glass soda bottle), save the cap, and get to work.

You can view the complete how-to over at Made + Remade.

Tea Thyme!

Here's a great way to dish up your plants this summer - transform mismatched teacups into pretty planters. It's a great way to display herbs and flowers in your window or as a table centerpiece. The complete how to is over at DIY Network.

Destination: Maker Faire, San Mateo, California!

It's been five years since I last attended the Mother of all Maker Faires in San Mateo, California. And I'm very excited to be returning this year with GoGo squeeZ and TerraCycle!

If you're out that way, it's a must-see event. I've attended Maker Faires in Michigan and have a soft spot in my crafty heart for the one in New York City. But there's nothing like Maker Faire when it's hosted in its own hometown in California. You don't even bat an eyelash when you're standing in line at the coffee stand behind a motorized cupcake. Or when a car passes you adorned with robotic, singing fish. It's hacker-overload when you're at the Faire, and will hold promise to blow your crafty mind. Even though it's only a weekend long, you're sure to run home afterwards and want to make stuff, which is a mindset much longer than a weekend.

If you're at the Faire, be sure to stop by the GoGo squeeZ booth, get some free samples of delicious (preservative-free) applesauce, and Make some do-it-yourself goodness with me. I hope to see you there! Happy ReMakering!

Made + Remade !

Hey there readers - get ready for more upcycled fun at the newly launched Made + Remade blog! This site is hosted by the DIY Network and I'm excited to be one of the regular bloggers posting projects and ReMaking anything that comes my way.



My first posts are great crate designs made from upcycled wooden wine boxes. I've written and illustrated step-by-step instructions for turning a wine crate into a under-the-counter stemware holder. I've also provided the how-to for creating a minibar from two empty wine crates.



Help get the word out! If you want to "like" or "share" my projects, I wouldn't mind.

Put this new blog on your daily check list because new projects are posted every day. This new site is only just beginning of the Made + Remade posts. There will be a whole lot more do-it-yourself goodness coming your way. Let's hear it for Making + ReMaking! Hurray!

A recycled recycling bin?

Well, what else would you expect it to be made from?

I'm pleased to share that the crafty RePlayGround crew will be at the Queens Library over the next few weeks helping to spread our do-it-yourself recycling goodness to the good people there. These events not only include fun, upcycling projects, but they're also free and open to the public! Woo hoo! Our first stop is the Fresh Meadows Library at 4pm, this Friday, May 3rd.
Other locations and dates include:
Flushing, May 8 at 4pm
Windsor Park, May 13 at 4pm
McGoldrick, May 13 at 5pm
Central Library (Jamaica), May 22 at 4pm

We'll be demonstrating how to create a recycling bin from 2 hardcover books (retired books, of course!).

Why buy a new recycling bin when you can create your own? This one already has a great story!

Have a sweet Earth Day!

I know it only comes one day a year, but it's definitely the quality that counts! And I know that you've heard it before, but let's hear it again for some of those fave Earth Day phrases that do ring true - "It's all up to you!", "A little bit goes a long way!", "Do just one thing to help the Earth today."

There's no better time to be an Earth Day cheerleader than today! Woo hoo!

New! At the Brooklyn Brew!

The super brewers over at the Brooklyn Brewery are featuring brand new magnets and journals remade the upcycled way. You can pick them up in their online store or in person at the brewery shop.

The journals have you drinking write. They're made from upcycled 6 packs holders and are filled with 75 pages of lined paper (with recycled content, of course). Then you'll flip your lid over the new magnet sets with super-strong magnets. Drink up and support these local, handmade goods!

If you'd like to contribute your own collection of Brooklyn Brewery bottle caps to the creation of new magnets, send me an email to tiffany replayground com. I'll work out shipping details with you and will gladly cover costs if you have 250 bottle caps or more.

Happy ReMaking!

DIY wedding photo booth!

A good friend of mine got hitched to her honey this past weekend. I was honored to be assigned the project of capturing photos of guests while the wedding party was off with the wedding photographer getting their more traditional photos taken.

It's the perfect easy project to catch fun wedding pics. Plus who doesn't like to try on different mustaches for size?
Congrats Josette and Ajay! Hurray!


Materials you need: Props on a stick (like these from Etsy)
Dry erase board for writing messages to the bride and groom
Digital camera
Flickr account
Tripod
White wall or other plain background
Enthusiastic wedding guests!

Instructions:
1. Create (or order) your props.
2. Set up your tripod and digital camera. Test out a picture or two to make sure lighting is right.
3. Recruit wedding guests to try on a mustache, bow tie, or other prop. It helps to have a little champagne and a friend to help recruit guests!
4. Snap your shots.
5. Download from your camera, and upload them to a Flickr or other photo account. Share the memories and enjoy!

DIY treehouse!

Image courtesy Apartment Therapy

Even though it was snowing on the east coast this morning, Spring is definitely on its way. No better way to celebrate than to add a little play to your day.

I was happy to come across this simple treehouse with easy instructions over at Apartment Therapy.

Plus, as your carpentry skills increase over the years, you can always add on a level or two.


Image courtesy Inhabitat

Get growing in upcycled containers!

Show off your green thumb this St. Patrick's Day and plant a windowsill herb garden in upcycled containers you probably already have in your kitchen.

It's super simple to create - simply decorate any plastic container and then add your dirt and plants. The complete step-by-step is on TerraCycle's DIY website. Better yet, there's even a video where I'll walk you through it before you can say "parsley, sage, rosemary and....."

Upcycled Easter basket

Celebrate this Easter with a little upcycling flavor. I created this super simple project that from folded food wrapper. You can create it, too! You can download a PDF with the complete step-by-step over at DIY section on TerraCycle's website. When your basket is finished, load it up with your favorite sweet treats!

65,000 CDs float to a new tune

photos courtesy Bruce Monro

What do you do with 65,000 CDs? If you're Bruce Monro, you upcycle them into a floating art exhibit of oversized, upcycled waterlilies in Pennsylvania. A friend forwarded me this art installation which isn't too far away from where I'm located now. It's not clear on if the exhibition is still on display, but it's nice to read that no CDs were harmed for the creation of the exhibit and all materials will go into future art installations.

Make your own fingerless gloves!

I'm excited to share my latest DIY project that I wrote for the always-fantastic DIY Network. This project shows you how to transform old sweater sleeves into new fingerless gloves. Show off your crafty handiwork and reuse some of those old sweaters you have laying around. They're the perfect crafty accessory because your fingers can move freely... a necessity for creating even more craft projects!

Get the complete instructions in the decorating section of the DIY Network.

Help with my Happy project!

image courtesy Pinterest

Hey there RePlay blog readers! I recently moved and am having a blast decorating my new space. I have a large wall over my fireplace that is just begging to have a large-scale art piece and upcycled is my favorite genre of art. When I was a kid (and heck, even now) I always loved Happy Meal toys. I even had quite the collection when I was working at a toy company about 10 years ago. I don't eat so much fast food these days, but still love those toys and have some grand plans for my art project.

If you have any fast food or similar sized toys, send them to my way! Email me at tiffany(at)replayground(dot)com and I'll help to figure out shipping and the easiest way to get them to me.

Stay tuned. I'll be sure to post the finished work on this blog.

Re-bi-cycle

photo courtesy Fast Co Design

A bike made out of cardboard. That was the subject line of an email my brother recently sent to me along with this link. Pretty straightforward and certainly had me curious to click through.

Apparently the cardboard bike was inspired by a cardboard canoe, cost around $9 to create and could carry up to someone who weighed 300 pounds. This bike certainly gives new meaning to the word re-cycle.