Kids grow up, and that’s a fact. It’s hard to see them age, but it’s also a blast to see how they change! One certain downfall in all of this is the way you have to continually buy new things for your kids as they grow. This kind of change can be expensive, but fortunately, you can repurpose these items in the following ways.
1. Make ribbon from the fabric
Ribbon can be expensive if you buy it brand new and use it a lot. Why buy it when you can get some recycling in and make it yourself? It’s very easy, and you don’t even need to finish the edges if you want an easy, breezy look. Simply cut your favorite t-shirts or long pants into spiral strips! Use this ribbon for hairstyles, headscarves or on gifts during the holidays.
2. Make pillow shams
If you have old pillows that need a little update, why not add a brand new sham from old blanket or clothing cloth? All you need are two equally sized pieces to sew together. Leave one of the sides open to insert the old pillow before sewing back together with a hidden stitch on the outside.
3. Make a quilt
Old t-shirts may not be ready for the trash, but if they don’t fit your kids anymore, you can take the fronts of them and make them into an easy quilt. Simply create equally sized squares, and sew them together for a beautiful and personal quilt top.
4. Turn a crib into a storage unit
Cribs are expensive and very necessary when you have a little one, but later, who needs them? Why not turn your old crib into a storage unit. Simply take the mattress pad out and the front gate off. Get a large piece of buffered safety glass to set on top as a table top, and screw in the gate as an extra shelf in the middle.
5. Use baby food jars for storage
If you have a bunch of baby food jars lying around, you can use them for anything! They make great storage units. For example, if you have a lot of push pins, paper clips or binder clips lying around, organize them in individual jars with labels. You can also easily use baby food jars to organize herbs and spices in the kitchen. They’re a great size for these, and their tight seals keep the herbs and spices fresh!
6. Repurpose storage tubs
Barbies, Legos, blocks and other toys often come in large storage tubs. When the toys are no longer interesting to your kids, give them away or sell them, but keep the storage tubs! Just like the baby food jars, these are great for keeping your life in order. You can use them in your sock drawer, in the kitchen or in the garage to keep track of tools and other miscellaneous items.
When you repurpose your kids’ old things, you are not only helping the environment, but you are also saving money and having a bit of fun! Who doesn’t love being able to use one thing for two purposes?