Ever heard of upcycling? It’s the process of reusing a product in a way that makes it even more valuable than the original material. In other words, taking a never-used collection of cloth napkins or vintage teacups and transforming them into a product you can use in your everyday life.
Vintage Teacup Candles
For an elegant way to use a standalone teacup, try making a candle. It’s also a great way to use up old candle stubs. Just pour hot wax (this bee’s wax works great) into the cup, positioning a wick in the center. You can use a wooden skewer and small piece of string to hold the wick in place as the wax dries.
To make a personalized gift, add essential oils, dyes or scents. Looking for more gift ideas? Here are clever presents you can fit in a Mason jar.
Teapot Pin Cushion
For anyone who loves sewing, this kettle-turned-pincushion is a genius way to store needles. Sadie Seasongoods explains how to make a pincushion out of a kettle lid on her blog, and you can follow the steps to reuse your own teapot. Even better? This clever craft will hide needles from prying children or pets. Find the full instructions here.
Have spare tea bags, too? Here are 8 ways to repurpose them.
“Tea Time” Bird Feeder
For a delicate way to hold birdseed, look no further than your kitchen cupboard. Use super glue to attach a half-overturned teacup onto a matching saucer, then fill with birdseed. Hang from a tree or perch using string attached to the teacup handle.
Looking for more ways to DIY a bird feeder? Birds & Blooms has a step-by-step guide.
Upcycled Mosaic
To take your garden from basic to next-level, this creative mosaic is a ticket to Wonderland. Balcony Garden Web shares their idea of setting half-teacups and coffee mugs into cement. Fill the remaining space with mosaic tile for a unique garden decoration that can hold small plants once it’s dry! See Balcony Garden Web’s full list of DIY mosaic ideas.
Stacked Centerpiece
Next time you invite friends over for tea or coffee, add an element of quirky coziness with this off-center table decoration. To make it, use hot glue to attach three stacked teacups to a saucer. Then, embellish with spare ornaments, floral pieces and various household items. For a polished look, match the decorations to the design on the cups, as shown.
Teacup Pumpkin
Thrifty Rebel Vintage blogger Tuula McPhee has a creative way to create a pumpkin out of cups. Just glue the pieces into a spiral formation on a copper plate, then use any stick-like object to create the stem. Tuula used a vintage screwdriver in her pumpkin. You can find the full set of instructions here.
Even better? All of the items you need for this project are already in your house! For more inexpensive projects, try looking through our list of DIYs under $100.
Cake Pop Display
If you’ve ever made cake pops or any other food on sticks, you know that presenting them can prove a challenge. Next time, find a cute mug, cut out a block of styrofoam or floral foam and poke the sticks into it. To hide the unattractive appearance of the foam, cover with sprinkles or confetti! Check out our step-by-step guide for how to make cake pops.
Kettle Dessert Stand
Stocked with tons of flea market and antique store teacups, Jane from Anyone for Tea? Catering had the idea to fashion them into a serving platter. By using plates of varying sizes and a soldering agent called epoxy, she created an adorable, antique way to display small treats. As she notes on the blog, be sure to measure and stack the exact center of each cup and saucer to make sure you don’t end with a leaning tower! See how it was done here.
Vintage Jewelry Organizer
Instead of letting your earrings and bracelets tangle together on a dish, organize them on a pretty vintage teacup. Just hang the hooks of earrings over the edge and set any broaches, bracelets or larger pieces inside the cup. It makes for a unique and elegant display.
Teacup Flowerpot
For a garden small enough to hold in your hand, try making these mini “fairy pots!” Just hot glue a cup to its saucer and fill with soil. You can use succulents, flowers and soil if you’re going for realism, or you can opt for a long-lasting decoration and use silk flowers and faux-moss instead. Get 12 more ideas for crafty DIY centerpieces here.
Did you like these ideas?
Consider upcycling some other kitchen items—here are clever ways to reuse glass jars and ideas to help you reinvent plastic bottles.
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The post 10 Things You Never Thought to Do With Your Vintage Teacups appeared first on Taste of Home.
Emma B. Kumer