Inspiration Index: Windows

Have you ever heard somebody say, "you make a better door than a window"? (so rude, we know.) Well, these windows make better tables, mirrors, garden sheds and shelves. Repurposing these paned glass beauties is great for your wallet and even better for the environment! 

Read on for a wild walk through the wonderful world of windows. Then put your project pants on, hike up your tool belt and break out a little elbow grease. Make sure your watch is on, because it's time to get DIYing. 

For even more ideas, follow us on Pinterest for a plethora of perfectly pleasant projects.  

This rustic window is the perfect backdrop for a romantic mantle
Books + window = perfect coffee table
Replace the glass in an old window for a chic mirror
Eat your heart out, Anthropologie! Love this dreamy DIY

Easily create a faux stained glass window with a bit of paint
One resourceful couple made a stunning country retreat completely out of windows!
Let the light shine with this Do it Yourself greenhouse
This mirror lived a previous life as a window. Fantastic!

Use a window as the perfect canvas for your artistic creation!

U-S-A! D-I-Y! Let your flag fly with this patriotic project

Remind everyone of bathroom protocol with this great sign

A reused window becomes a tray with this chevron-styled DIY project

Inspiration Index: Let there be light (fixtures)

We've all seen them: sad, dusty, slightly dingy light fixtures. Often missing parts, covered in a thin layer of grime, these once brilliant luminaries seem lackluster and limp. Should we just toss them? Pass them by at our local reuse center or thrift shop? Sigh and think of their former glory days with nostalgia?

Of course not! A quick cleaning, some slight modifications and POW, these light fixtures are good as new (better, some might say!). SHAZAM, a chandelier is repurposed into an earthy planter. WHAM, a pendant light is upcycled into a hip terrarium. ZONKS, a ceiling light is transformed into a tranquil bird feeder. Holy reuse, batman! 

Check out these great reuse ideas, then dust off a light fixture and make it something awesome. For more inspiration, follow us on Pinterest. We're super pinners. 

Remove the bulb and electric parts. Fill with succulents and sand. Enjoy.
Easily turn a ceiling light into a tranquil bird feeder.
Paint the glass panes of a light fixture for an Anthropologie knockoff mirror.
A glass paneled light makes the perfect hanging planter.
Bring Jurassic Park to your desktop with this luscious terrarium.

Give your pots a hand (or 10!) with help from a chandelier.
A pendant light makes a gorgeous, inexpensive terrarium.

Follow PlanetReuse Marketplace's board Bright ideas for upcycled lighting on Pinterest.

Last Minute Halloween DIYs that Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose

Happy Halloween! We're so excited to celebrate with trick-or-treating, an afternoon party and lots (we mean LOTS) of tiny candy bars. If, like us, you tend to wait until the very last minute to make those holiday decorations, fear not! We've rounded up a handful of scarily smart Halloween-themed DIYs that aren't only spookily stylish but also reuse items you have around your house!

Recycled glass bottles are the basis of this bloodsucking decor. 

The kids will love this: upcycle TP rolls into fun monsters!

Need a quick costume? Make this Lego Man from 2 cardboard boxes! Awesome! 

This adorable haunted house is made from several repurposed shoeboxes.

Reuse toilet paper rolls as candy holder "poppers"

Show trick-or-treaters the way with tin can luminaries. 

Leftover wood becomes chic halloween decorations.

Who needs pumpkins when you have milk jugs and christmas lights? Love it! 

House/Boats

We've all heard of houseboats, the floating ship/home hybrids that ride down a river or bob lazily in a lake. But what about boat houses? Some very enterprising builders have repurposed out-of-commision sloops, steamboats and skiffs into very interesting single family homes.

The result? Aquatic-themed abodes that will amaze and astound you.  And while plopping a yacht in the neighborhood might make you a feel like a fish out of water, we have a feeling these upcyclers think their creations are definitely something to "sea."

Follow us on Pinterest for even more inspiration.

Upcycled, overturned boats make adorable sheds!

Loving this landlocked boat-turned-house. 

Two boats are better than one house! 

A tugboat is recycled into a charming lake house.

A retired boat captain repurposed an old boat into a rustic seaside abode.

Would you believe this vacation hotel used to be an oil rig? 

The Apple Jack was lovingly restored by an upcycling pro. 

This hotel in thailand uses colorful recycled boats as guest rooms. 

A repurposed boat lends its shape to the roof of this tiny house. 

Posted by: Sarah Rendo

From Extra to Extraordinary: Thanksgiving Leftovers

Welcome back!  What a wonderful long weekend it was, filled to the brim with family, friends and so…much…food.  Now that the Tryptophan coma has worn off, are you wondering what to do with the leftovers, both of the decorative and delicious varieties?  We’ve rounded up some great tips on how to recycle, repurpose and reuse those Turkey Day extras (If what you have leftover is green bean casserole, just send it this way, I’ll make sure it goes to a good home).

If you have leftover Food:

LEFTOVER PUMPKIN PIE MILKSHAKE

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
• 1⁄3 cup milk
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon

Slice cold baked pumpkin pie, cut into chunks (from 9-inch pie)
Whipped cream, if desired
Cinnamon sticks, if desired

In blender, place ice cream and milk. 

Cover and blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. 

Add pie chunks; cover and blend until smooth, stopping blender to scrape down sides if necessary. 

Pour into 2 glasses; top with sweetened whipped cream and pecans. 

Serve immediately. (For future shakes, individually wrap pie slices and store in freezer).

LEFTOVER SWEET POTATO MUFFINS

•   2 cups self-rising flour
•   2 cups sugar
•   2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•   1 egg
•   2 cups leftover sweet potatoes, from  casserole
•   3⁄4 cup canola oil

  Glaze:

•   1 cup confectioners’ sugar
•   2 tbsp plus 1-1⁄2 tsp Milk    
•   11⁄2 teaspoons butter, melted
•   1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•   1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar and cinnamon. 

In another bowl, whisk the egg, sweet potatoes and oil. 

Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm muffins. Yield: 2 dozen. Courtesy of Canton Rep News

If you have leftover Pie Tins:

http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com

http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com

http://www.flamingotoes.com

If you have leftover cans:

http://ruffledblog.com

http://www.bhg.com

http://1800recycling.com

A warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has arrived in New York City.

Here's a great Material Reuse/Recycling Story (especially when materials are unable to be Reused in their current condition):

The Navy assault ship USS New York, built in Louisiana with tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center, passes in front of the Empire State Building as it arrives in New York Harbor Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. The bow of the $1 billion ship, built in Louisiana, contains about 7.5 tons of trade center steel. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

From BBC News: The USS New York sailed up the Hudson River to near Ground Zero, where it fired a 21-gun salute in tribute to those killed in the 2001 attacks. It was watched by relatives of 9/11 victims, along with members of the emergency services and the public. The US Navy is to hold an official commissioning ceremony for the new warship on Saturday. The New York set off on its maiden voyage from Louisiana, where it was built, nearly three weeks ago. The bow of the boat contains 7.5 tonnes of melted steel from the fallen buildings of the World Trade Center.

The ship's crest includes images of the Twin Towers and features the colours of the city departments that first responded to the terrorist attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died.

'A transformation'

People gathered by the waterfront to watch the ship's 21-gun salute honouring those who died in the 11 September attacks. The crew stood to attention along the deck as the guns were fired.

Among those watching was JoAnn Atlas, who lost her firefighter husband in the attacks. "We have to remember. It's a way to honour them," she told the Associated Press news agency. Rosaleen Tallon, whose firefighter brother was among those killed, said she was pleased that the steel from the towers had been reused in the ship. "It's a transformation of it from something really twisted and ugly," she told AP. "I'm proud that our military is using that steel."

About one in seven of the 361 sailors serving on the ship are from New York state, a higher percentage than would normally be the case, a Navy spokeswoman told AP. She said there had been many requests from Navy personnel to serve on the ship.

Introducing Pre-Fab Modular Housing!

We have added a new category for the sake of sustainable efforts and per users requests. Now under Outdoor Structures we have created the Modular Housing Category for homes especially, pre-fab structures to be sold and create a second life for the structures.

We are very excited about this in that now pre-fabricated home owners have a great resource to sell their housing, "kit of parts" after they are done with the home!

Look for this addition tomorrow the 26th!