DIY Upcycled Art Supplies
Step-by-Step Guide: Creative DIY Projects with Leftover Art Supplies
Got some dried-up markers, broken crayons, or old pastels lying around? Don’t toss them just yet! These simple DIY projects will give your old art supplies a new lease on life, helping you save money and reduce waste while unleashing your creativity. Let’s dive into these step-by-step guides!
1. DIY Watercolour Paints with Dried-Up Markers
What You Need:
- Dried-up water-based markers
- Small jars or containers
- Water
Steps:
- Remove the caps from your dried-up markers.
- Place each marker (tip down) into a small jar or container filled with a small amount of water.
- Leave them to soak for a few hours or overnight. The water will absorb the leftover pigment, creating vibrant watercolours.
- Once the colour has seeped into the water, remove the markers.
- Use your homemade watercolours for painting projects or crafts!
2. Turn Old Pastels into Custom Paints
What You Need:
- Old pastels
- Gum Arabic (available at art supply stores)
- A mortar and pestle (or sturdy bowl and spoon)
- Small jars
Steps:
- Break old pastels into small pieces and place them in a mortar and pestle.
- Grind the pastels into a fine powder.
- Mix the powdered pastels with a small amount of gum Arabic to create a water-based paint. Adjust the amount of gum Arabic to achieve your desired consistency.
- Transfer your custom paint into small jars for storage.
- Use your unique paint for creative projects!
3. Melted Crayon Art
What You Need:
- Broken crayons (paper wrappers removed)
- Canvas
- Hairdryer or heat gun
- Protective covering for your workspace
Steps:
- Protect your workspace with newspaper or plastic sheeting.
- Arrange your crayons on the canvas in your desired pattern or randomly.
- Use a hairdryer or heat gun to melt the crayons, holding it a few centimetres away from the canvas.
- As the crayons melt, tilt the canvas to create abstract drips and patterns.
- Allow the artwork to cool and dry before displaying your colourful masterpiece.
4. Handmade Paper from Scraps
What You Need:
- Paper scraps (e.g., old notes, junk mail, or wrapping paper)
- A blender
- A large tub or basin
- A deckle and mould (or DIY frame with a screen)
- Towels
Steps:
- Shred your paper scraps into small pieces and soak them in water for a few hours.
- Blend the soaked paper scraps into a pulp using a blender.
- Fill a tub with water and add your paper pulp, mixing well.
- Submerge your deckle and mould into the pulp mixture, ensuring it is evenly coated.
- Lift the deckle and mould out, letting the water drain.
- Press the wet paper onto a towel to absorb excess moisture and leave it to dry completely.
- Once dry, peel your handmade paper off the towel and enjoy!
5. Personalised Scrapbook Covers
What You Need:
- Sketchbooks or journals
- Fabric (your choice of pattern or colour)
- Scissors
- Fabric glue or a glue gun
Steps:
- Cut your fabric slightly larger than the cover of your book, leaving about 2-3 cm extra on each side.
- Apply fabric glue to the book cover and carefully place the fabric over it, smoothing out wrinkles.
- Fold the extra fabric over the edges and glue it to the inside cover.
- Let the glue dry completely before using your personalised sketchbook or journal.
6. Clay Mosaics
What You Need:
- Air-dry clay or leftover clay pieces
- Acrylic paint
- A sturdy base (e.g., wood or thick cardboard)
- Glue
Steps:
- Shape and flatten pieces of clay into small tiles or break leftover clay into random shapes.
- Allow the clay pieces to dry completely if they are not already hardened.
- Paint the dried clay pieces with your choice of colours and let them dry.
- Arrange the pieces on your base to create a mosaic pattern.
- Once satisfied with the design, glue the pieces in place.
- Let everything dry before displaying your unique mosaic artwork.
Each of these projects not only helps you recycle old materials but also offers a fun and creative way to spend your time. Try them out and enjoy the satisfaction of turning scraps into stunning creations!