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  • Upcycling an Old Fence Into a Hat Rack

    Upcycling an Old Fence Into a Hat Rack

    Any little boy will love this hat rack upcycled from an old fence. I received product for review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click on and make a purchase through them. 

    Upcycle an old fence into a hat rack. ad Lincoln has started amassing a bit of a hat collection. Around the time Harold was born, my Dad sent him a coon skin hat after a trip to the Davy Crockett Museum. On our family vacation to Illinois we picked him up a stovepipe hat at Lincoln’s home in Springfield. Then of course he has his ball caps, robot head, and Astronaut Helmet. 

    Related: Teaching Kids to Reach for the Stars

    After spending a lot of time trying to organize and clean up his room, it was apparent that he needed a hat rack! I proposed the idea to Mark, who is my go to awesome build anything hubby. 

    Upcycle an old fence into a hat rack. ad With the idea and plan in mind, I then picked some fancy looking hooks from Abodent. Abodent specializes in vintage style hooks and knobs, and while based in Bristol, they ship internationally! The Porch Coat Hook was exactly what I had envisioned. Hats, dress ups, coats, and medals will all look nice hanging from these hooks. 

    Check out the Cupboard knobs and Coat Hooks from Abodent.

    While I was looking for the hardware, Mark got to work on the actual hat rack. We’ve been collecting old fencing from neighbors and family over the past year or so (our dining room table is all old fencing!), so we had all the wood we needed on hand.

    The fence top and old nail holes give this hat rack a vintage style that matches the vintage style hooks. 

    Upcycle an old fence into a hat rack. ad Lincoln and I spent a bit of one on one time whitewashing the hat rack. While it dried, we headed to the hardware store for some hanging supplies. Finally, we got this little project hung up, and put to use. Eventually, I see LEGO creations, and maybe a trophy or two gracing that top shelf. I’m sure the hats will change over the years, but this is a timeless piece that will last a lifetime.

    Upcycle an old fence into a hat rack. ad  


  • 8 Ideas for Recycling Milk Jugs

    8 Ideas for Recycling Milk Jugs

    Gone are the days of milk men and glass milk bottles that were used over and over and over again. Now a days many milk jugs end up in the trash and landfills, some may make it to your recycling plant, but they don’t have to! Did you know you can reuse them at home in a myriad of ways? 

    8 simple ideas for recycling Milk Jugs and celebrating Earth Day

    A few years ago when I wanted to start planting but the weather wasn’t quite right, I decided to help the kids plant inside. We could have gone to the store and bought little pots for each of them, but why do that when we had a trash can with a couple empty milk jugs sitting in it? You can leave the milk jugs plain, or let the kids decorate them with paint, stickers, jewels, leaves, etc. This upcycling project will easily entertain the kids for a whole afternoon. What will you plant in your Milk Jug Planter?

    Milk Jug Planter

    If you don’t want to plant in the Milk Jug, One Creative Mommy turned one into a watering can. Again another SIMPLE craft the kids can help with. My kids are always fighting over who gets to water the plants, so I can easily keep 4 jugs out of the landfill by turning them into personalized watering jugs for my kids. Put them to work decorating again, and everyone will be happy this spring!

    DIY Watering Can from One Creative Mommy

    Dream Garden 101 teaches you how to turn a Milk Jug into an Upside Down Tomato planter. We love tomatoes, and growing our own, but when we rent there’s not always the space to grow a garden. This is a great space saver while still growing your own food, and teaching the kids about agriculture. Of course a little paint wouldn’t hurt to bring the planter more to life. She also shows how to turn a milk jug into a slow drip watering system.

    Milk Jug Upside down Tomato Planter from Dream Garden 101

    If you’re like me, perhaps you planted your garden a little early because you got too anxious waiting for the weather to warm up enough. That or maybe you did wait, and mother nature decided the weather should be weird this year! If that’s the case, Family Food Secure has a quick tutorial to turn Milk Jugs into a hot cap – or basically a little home for all your sprouts when the weather threatens a late frost. 

    Milk Jug Hot Caps from Family Food Secure

    Milk Jugs aren’t only good for reusing in the garden, though. Oh now! Check out these other really awesome ways to reuse your milk cartons. We all have a tupperware drawer (whether you use that brand or not…it’s just what I call those plastic food containers). Instead of losing lids, losing containers, or getting fed up with never having bottom and top match, just turn your Milk Jugs into a sandwich box! I found this idea over on Curbly.

    Milk Jug Lunch at Curbly

    If you have more of an inclination to dress up versus heading out to the garden, then this Storm Trooper Mask from Filth Wizardry is probably a better use of your empty milk jugs. 1 helmet uses 2 jugs! Imagine a whole family of Storm Troopers saving the planet 2 milk jugs at a time. 

    Milk Jug Storm Trooper at Filth Wizardry

    Finally, if you really want to get ambitious and save those milk jugs from the landfills, start asking your neighbors for their empty bottles, or plan on drinking a TON of milk for this one! A couple hands, and a few hours, and you can have a Milk Jug Reading Igloo just like the one Replay Report made. I’d personally be lost inside for the rest of my life. Toss me a book a pillow and a blanket, and I might consider living in it. 

    Milk Jug Igloo from Replay Report

    How are you reusing Milk Jugs?