Craft Ideas For Elevating What You Own

Stuff. We all love it, we also all hate it. There is more stuff out there than ever before thanks to the fast consumerism cycle going on in the modern day. There are some true gems that you will be happy with for years to come, but there is mostly cheap pieces of trash that will fall apart within minutes. It sucks that this is a thing, but the societal forces at play are beyond the control of most individuals. However, one of the things that we can do is customizing and re-purposing items, giving them a further sense of ownership and avoiding throwing them in a landfill.

Repurposing Old Clothing

Old clothing that have seen better days don't need to go to a landfill. Any clothing you like have parts that can be reused, either into a new object or as a piece of decoration. Tougher materials such as denim are great for items such as bags, and clothing with graphics or patterns on them can turn into patches, fabric jewelry, or any other decorative piece. It is best to be careful, especially if what you are trying to reuse is a piece of fast fashion. However, if you can find a successful way to reuse anything you own, then you will end up with something new and perhaps practical.

Decorating

Just...decorate! Slap some stickers on your laptop, paint your phone's case, stick a pin to your favorite hat. Turn anything and everything you own into unique one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Not only will they become yours, but recognizable objects are less likely to be stolen as they are easier to track down and more difficult to sell. Plus, getting the items to decorate with can be a great way to either use your own tools as an artist or support local artists.

This may be simple, but it will make your beloved items more interesting and give them stories to share. You can turn items into fascinating conversation pieces and potential ways to make new friends. Conversely, if you have pieces of technology that look neat on their own, decorating them can turn into neat pieces of decoration if or when they stop working completely due to age or neglect.

Heck, make your own decorations! You can find sticker makers for cheap and easily make buttons with old bottle caps. Paper can be folded and cut into all sorts of things. Don't limit yourself to things that already exist. There is so much more out there if you are willing to put in the effort and perhaps learn some new skills along the way.

Replacing Parts

Whether your beloved plush companion lost a piece or your bought lady pants that need good pockets, replacing parts are a simple way to personalize your items. Take my favorite Spring Bonnie plush, for example.

He is an emotional support doll who often goes out into the world with me. He rides in the bags I carry and is always there when I believe I'm about to enter an anxiety-inducing environment (within reason). Well, one day, his nose popped off and disappeared. So, I got a felt nose for him and glued it in place. This cheap Amazon knockoff of a doll currently valued at $100 is now the only Spring Bonnie in the world with a soft nose. Unless someone decides to replace the nose of their Spring Bonnie, there are no other copies of this doll with this nose in existence, and it is my doll.

Dismantling Old Tech

Many bricks that used to be your favorite device still have usable parts. For instance: the humble laptop. It is a treasure trove of projects just waiting for you to break in and use. In fact, there is this amazing Youtube video that shows you some parts and a possibility you can do with them.

I'm not a tech person, so there is not much else I can say about. Dismantling your tech opens the doors for modding, re-using parts, and other things I don't know enough to name. But if this is something you wish to learn or already have experience in, then this could be a fun way to elevate your stuff.

Conclusion

All in all, there is so much you can do with your things. Even if they are no longer usable as a whole, they still have potential in part. You can be the sole owner of anything you want with just a little bit of creativity. It truly does not take much in order to make something you are proud of and is full of stories.