See What Users Have Submitted!
Check out great examples of creative reuse projects from eBay Green Team members just like yourself.
Submitted By: Nina B.
16 November 2009
I recovered the floor in our family room with recycled brown paper grocery bags. It looks a lot like flagstone.
Submitted By: John S.
16 November 2009
It was a quick impulsive grab. We found this chair sitting along side the road waiting for it's final trip to the landfill. We had to laugh, because we were driving around in the mini cooper and thought "will it fit?" da da da .... Back up and give it a shot. Perfect fit and a first time upholstery project. Found the fabric in a cast off pile at our local fabric store that was going out of business. Just lucky enough to cover the front and a matching brown ultra suede for the back. Completely reworked it from the wood frame up to save this wonderful "GREEN" chair that was destined for the land fill.
Submitted By: Steve S.
16 November 2009
My twin sons and I are restoring a 1969 Mustang (bringing it back to life). They have totally disassembled the vehicle, all parts are bing cleaned, painted if needed, and put back together. Great father and son bonding project (finding a deceased mouse in one of the tail light housings), auto mechanics learning experieince, and budgeting experience as we need missing parts and using eBay to find. Thanks for your consideration....we are probably a year away from finalization (so after photo shows current stage).
Submitted By: Susan S.
15 November 2009
I cut strips of plastic bags and crochet them into purses, keychains, wallets, etc., then I usually attatch some piece of jewelry or hair barret or pin that I've picked up at a yard sale to embellish it.
Submitted By: Dan G.
12 November 2009
This table was made from all salvaged wood -- both dimensional lumber and plywood, mostly taken from demolished houses in and around Hale County, Alabama. It was commissioned by the good folks at PieLab (www.pielab.org), an initiative of Project M (www.projectmlab.com). PieLab is a pie shop, design center, teaching resource, and business incubator in Greensboro, Alabama.
The table was designed by our good friend Will Holman and we spent about one week total working on this after our day jobs and spare time. Will's work has been featured on Instructables.com and various blogs. This project was recently featured on Apartment Therapy Re-Nest. Thank you!
Submitted By: Lynn F.
11 November 2009
I make skirts from old shirts & flannel PJs
Submitted By: Charles S.
11 November 2009
Old Chair (stained and musty) bought at auction for $30.00. Stripped to wood frame, tightened joints and revitalized finish with kiwi bois (purchased on ebay for $11.00) and steel wool. Re-upholstered chair with 3 fabric remnants from Restoration Fabrics & Trims eBay store. Total cost for Fabulous Victorian Chair, including chair, refinishing and upholstery supplies, fabric, upholstery, and a couple of accent pillows from leftover fabrics and trim from a previous project: $265.00.
Submitted By: Richie S.
11 November 2009
This is a handbag handmade by me from a recycled inner tube. I intercept the tubes before they get to the landfill. There is also a pocket on the interior made from recycled vinyl signage. The adjustable strap is made from remnant nylon strap. check out my website www.groovygarbage.com for pictures in the gallery section of both old and new pieces. I participate in many non profit organizations and events.
Submitted By: Julia N.
11 November 2009
Instead of purchasing new fabric to make my dog collars with, I scoured ebay for an existing fabric to reuse. I found these old flour, feed, and sugar sacks, and they're perfect for reuse! Feed sacks are cut into strips, and then sewn onto hemp webbing. They look and feel great, and are very eco-conscious.
Submitted By: Victoria R.
10 November 2009
Discarded fence boards, salvaged barge boards and old roofing pulled from a curbside pile combined to make the sculptural frame treatment for this painting; which was done on a canvas drop cloth from a building supply recycling center.
Submitted By: Jenny M.
10 November 2009
I found this small dresser left out for the trash and was inspired by its form to create a fresh food storage container with a cutting board top. It was my goal to keep this project as eco-friendly as possible.
When working, I used only people powered hand tools (no electricity needed here!) All the materials that went into this project were salvaged from the trash. The cutting board is made from maple scraps donated by a local cue maker, inside are three fruit and vegetable boxes I made from salvaged wood, and the hardware and metal screen were found on the curb. I also used non-toxic milk paint to add the color and finished the piece with an all-natural homemade wood wax.
This re-purposed dresser is as green as I could get!
Submitted By: Karin L.
10 November 2009
I bought a dirty, beat up, brown varnished, 1970's (Thomasville) dresser at the St. Vincent de Paul in Los Angeles early last year. With MUCH effort, I stripped all the varnish off the dresser frame, drawers, curves and edges (with many requests for help to my carpenter neighbor). I stained it and clear coated it and ended up with a gorgeous, honey colored, refurbished dresser that I love. I even (at the recommendation of a friend) had a dresser Christening party for it before moving it into its place of honor in the house. The dresser was Christened 'Nueve' since it has 9 drawers. ;o)
(Sadly, I lost the 'before' photos I took with the varnish and bird poop.)
Submitted By: Melanie B.
09 November 2009
I reupholstered a darling little chair my neighbor found sitting next to a dumpster. It had great lines but was in pretty bad shape.
When I took the old upholstery off of the frame I discovered the foam was not salvageable. Happily there are alternatives to petroleum-based foam available these days! I purchase a soy based foam and hemp twine (to re-tie the springs) which aided in the structural refurbishing of the chair. While the fabric and foam were off of the frame, I stripped the old finish and used a low VOC stain/paint mixture to refinish the exposed wood.
I selected a gorgeous platinum colored linen (which I found on ebay!!!) and enrolled in an upholstery class offered at a local fabric store. And within 2 weeks I had a chair I am proud to display in my home!
It's true what they say: Some people's trash are other people's treasures!
Submitted By: Joshua P.
08 November 2009
I found this chair at an office auction; payed $2 for it because that was the minimum bid. Nobody else wanted it except me! Once I ripped off the old fabric, I really felt like the chair needed color badly so I went for it. The angular pattern of the seat and back give it unique visual interest. The addition of solid walnut armcaps add a natural touch to the playfully bright colors and give the chair some balance.
Submitted By: Joshua P.
07 November 2009
I saw this sofa abandoned on a street in my neighborhood in Los Angeles. The fabric was destroyed, ripped and stained, but the frame was solid, so I loaded it into my van. Once back to my small shop, I stripped all the nasty fabric and ruined foam off and started to daydream.
The frame has good proportions, and I knew that some deep tufting would really make the piece come alive. With new soy based foam was in place, I wasted no time but to start applying the fabric. As expected, the tufting really gives the sofa new identity. The addition of the custom made gold-plated legs adds just a touch of opulence to give the piece great balance.
The success of the project shows that there are tons of great furniture pieces just lying around waiting to be re-born.
Submitted By: Andrew S.
06 November 2009
I constructed a vegetable and herb garden using re-used lumber. My family replaced a broken deck and consequently we had scape redwood lumber. Rather than sending the lumber to a landfill, I used the lumber to make a 6'x4' raised planter for growing tomatoes, peppers, basil, and other herbs. Key benefits: 1) The project re-purposed scarce redwood, 2) reduces our carbon footprint since the food is not shipped, 3) saves money, and 4) get to exercise and stay outdoors in a new, beautiful garden!
Submitted By: Allison S.
06 November 2009
This Victorian side chair was rescued from the side of the road and a trip to the landfill. After stripping the chair back to the wood frame, it was sanded down, repainted a hammered metal faux finish and then built back up. The springs were still salvageable so they were retied in under the new padding and fabric to give this chair a new life.
Submitted By: Ingrid W.
05 November 2009
I bought a dusty, art-deco era platform rocker I found on craigslist and re-upholstered it with fabric I found at IKEA.
Submitted By: Glenn Walko.
05 November 2009
I won this Art Deco wrought iron garden table with original gold and maroon tiles. They were worn and cracked and the base was rusty. It looked really shabby which not my thing.
I removed the rust from the frame and used a metallic rub finish and sealed it to create the raw steel finish. Then created a new top with black glass mosaic tiles with black grout.
The results are chic and unique.
Submitted By: Leah L.
05 November 2009
I found this $7 dollar chair and saw some great potential. I stripped the material, replaced the foam, sanded and primed the wood, then began reupholstering. The fabric and trim were both on sale, and even though the project was time consuming, I was so happy with how it turned out!!!
Submitted By: Leah L.
05 November 2009
I had wanted a silver dresser for the longest time, but I was never able to find anything in my price range, or in the style that I wanted. I found this used French provincial dresser, cleaned it up, and spray painted it silver, adding a light gold trim. The result was a classy rendition that was original and uniquely me.
Submitted By: Karen G.
05 November 2009
I actually found this chair next to a trash can, in the alley near my house. It was headed to a land fill but I could see some potential. The fabric was pretty ugly, it even had a cigarette burn in it! But the chair frame is solid wood - I had an idea. I removed the cushions and stripped off the old fabric. I replaced the fabric with a gorgeous new Antler Damask pattern. I sanded the chair and primed and painted it a pretty cream to match the fabric. To make special I decided to paint a thin cinnamon red line around the chair to coordinate with the fabric. I think it turned out gorgeous and the whole project cost me less than $30!
Submitted By: Jenny L.
05 November 2009
Adirondack brought back to life? I took this oldie but goody and gave it some life.
Submitted By: Nadine W.
04 November 2009
An old picture with a bold blue tone was repurposed with some spray paint and paper butterflies adding a supple look to the soooo very white walls of my new place. This was a fun, simple and easy re-use!
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