Upcycling Expert - Annie Temmink

The new school year brings great sports along with it. From junior high touch football, to high school volleyball, and collegiate intermural and novelty club sports, there’s a little something for everyone. The variety of college athletics, for example, can span anywhere from Quidditch to lawn bowling and medieval longsword sparing (this is a real sport!). Of course, you’ll also have the usual soccer, basketball and tennis too, but best of all, you can try several sports before settling on your favorite. But, that’s a lot to train for, and it can also be costly when you consider the cost of the equipment you might need for some of these sports. But, that’s where Goodwill comes in!

Topics: back to school, Goodwill, Annie Temmink, school sports

I found a vinyl banner at Goodwill last week and remembered some of the cool, used billboard bags I’ve seen before. With a new school year right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to make a pencil case out of the vinyl sign. To make your own pencil case, here’s what you’ll need:

Topics: back to school, Goodwill, Annie Temmink, upcycled pencil case, billboard bag

Sometimes you find a great dress at Goodwill, but what you really wanted was a top and skirt. Or, maybe like me, you’re going to an Indian wedding, borrowing a friend’s sari and need to make a matching top to go with it. It happens. But, you no longer have to fret because today I’m giving you instructions for turning a dress into a two-piece outfit (that looks cute even if you don’t need it for an Indian wedding)!

Topics: upcycled dress, Goodwill, Upcycling, Annie Temmink

Most of my friends are astonished when they find out I get most of my shoes from Goodwill.  A lot of people expect shoes to be the hardest thing to find second hand, but most of the time, you just need to know how to clean your shoes to have real luck with Goodwill footwear. 

Topics: upcycling shoes, shoe upcycle, retrobright, Goodwill, Annie Temmink

I saw several electrical spools on the street waiting for disposal a few weeks ago, so I picked one up thinking it might be good for something. Sure enough, here’s a simple tutorial for turning an electrical spool into an ottoman. This is great technique for small tables you find at Goodwill, too.  Maybe they need refinishing or a bit of a facelift? A simple slipcover like this one can do just that.

Topics: upcycle, Goodwill, Upcycling, Annie Temmink

Now that summer is really here, the time has come to fill your kitchen with plants and herbs.  Particularly with basil coming in, pesto pasta, and salads are a delicious summer treat that can be made so easily if you have a basil plant near by. You can pick up a few plants from your local nursery and repot them in a fun, summery planter to start your own kitchen herb garden. 

Topics: herb garden, upcycle, Goodwill, Annie Temmink

You never thought they’d make it, and frankly, neither did they, but with some remarkable luck you are now facing a graduate! This is an exciting time of year for so many students who finally have their coursework behind them and can move on to their next phase of life.  As a friend or family member it can be hard to pick the perfect gift for your graduate.  Luckily Goodwill can help.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Topics: Goodwill, Upcycling, Annie Temmink, graduation, graduations gifts

You just found a great pair of shoes at your local Goodwill, but they've got some wear and tear? Give them a fresh coat of paint and a whole new life. See instructions below:

	Step 1.  I just found these at my local Goodwill. I think they have a lot of potential! Before you start with your own shoes, it's a good idea to scrub them with soap and water and let them dry in the sun. (They will look better and the paint will stick better, too.)
	Step 2. To start, look at patterns and other designs that you like and find the style you want by testing your ideas on paper. Or forget that and just draw right onto the shoe from your imagination. It's helpful to use a marker that is similar to your shoe's color so that any mistakes can be covered up with paint later. (Dark ink can be hard to hide.)
	Step 3. I decided to go with a simple pattern of triangles, and drew out the full design that you see to the left.
	Step 4. Next, apply paint with a small brush. I like acrylic paint because you can find it at any craft store, it's water based and holds up well. House paint and other paints could also work, (preferably not enamel/oil paints based because they take ages to dry). Experiment!
	Step 5. It can be hard to paint crisp even edges so, once the paint dries, I like to outline the design in black permanent marker. It gives the shoes a sharper look.
	Now just lace them back up and they are ready to wear! (By the way, these are great shoes for swing dancing! Maybe now you have an excuse to cut a rug, too.)

 

Topics: Goodwill, DIY, Upcycling, Upcycling Expert, Annie Temmink