So, About That Beautiful Box...
Last week, I asked what I should do with a beautiful box that just wasn’t quite me—and wow, you all delivered. I got so many creative suggestions: a shadow box, a mini craft supply organizer, a shrine, a gift box for a future handmade present… the list goes on. It was such a joy to read them all. A few of my favorite suggestions are below:
“Paint it with a bold stylized electronic circuity design, voila you now have a dedicated remote control box.”
“Many people make vision boards. I have a vision box because I have 3-D objects in it. I decorated the box in a way that spoke to my vision.”
“I’d mount it on the wall as a mini medicine cabinet in the bathroom or as a spice rack in the kitchen. It would be easy to add shelves inside using some scrap cardboard—and you could customize the shelf spacing to your bottle sizes. I did something similar using a shallow cardboard box. I decorated mine with paper and foil scraps.”
“The new fangled soap sheets for the washer? The mini moos and tea bags for company?”
In the end, I went with Lane’s suggestion to turn it into a tea bag box—which felt practical and just right for us. I started the transformation this week, but let’s just say… it’s still a work in progress. Realizing I wanted to modernize the box while keeping the beautiful florals, I went to fill the background with a light grey enamel. I may have gotten a little too enthusiastic with the paint, which led to some puckering (oops). Now to figure out how to cover that…
That said, I’m loving the direction it’s going. It’s not a beautiful upcycle yet, but it has real potential, and I’ll be sure to share more as it comes together.
Thanks again for all the ideas. Now, let’s get into what else has been happening around the community this week…
-Molly
🌱 What’s Happening in the Community
Project of the Week
This week’s project feature is one that came from your replies to my box upcycle project. Peppy shared some tips on how to upcycle a box using decoupage.
💎 Peppy’s Passion for Decoupage
Peppy’s been practicing creative reuse since before it was trendy—and her decoupage work is a joyful, detail-filled celebration of reduce, reuse, recycle.
For the last 25 years, she’s been transforming everyday items like soap boxes, cigar boxes, and vintage suitcases using nothing but magazine clippings, catalog pages, and her incredible eye for composition. No store-bought supplies here—Peppy’s creations are entirely made from reused materials she’s collected and sorted into themed stashes over the years.
She’s shared a few of her favorite pieces with us this week, including a leopard-patterned suitcase (her favorite!), and a box with painted bead feet and a luxe spread of pearls and gemstones. We love the way each one tells a story—and honors both craft and creativity.
Peppy, thank you for inspiring us—and for reminding us just how far scissors, glue, and a vision can go. ✂️💖
Like what you see? Pop over and give Peppy a note of encouragement here in our activity feed.
Peo Vee Events
Monthly Craft Café & Supply Swap
Join us April 13th (and the second Sunday of each month) and get in on the fun! Details and RSVP »
Other Upcycle Events
» Apr 12 / Escondido, CA / Upcycled Jar Pouring Workshop
» Apr 19 / Moreno Valley, CA / FREE Teacup Succulent Workshop
» Apr 26 / Chicago, IL / Zero Landfill Chicago Spring 2025
Caught our 👀
🧦 Sock darning techniques, always inspiring.
🐸 A Patagonia sweatshirt with personality.
🤧 An interesting idea for a tissue holder.
🔌 Easy upcycled cable wraps.
🧵 Featured Seller: Artichoke Crafts
This week’s featured Remnants seller is Artichoke Crafts, a treasure trove of unique craft books—and the prices include shipping! From specialty guides to quirky titles, there’s something here for every kind of maker. A few favorites:
Knit Your Own Zoo by Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne
Fabric Surface Design by Cheryl Rezendes
Jacket Jazz & Jacket Jazz Encore by Judy Murrah
Perfect for adding to your creative library or gifting to a crafty friend. Browse Artichoke Crafts on Remnants →
Thanks again to everyone who sent ideas and inspiration. And as always, if you’re working on something cool, repurposing something unexpected, or just in the mood to share—you can always hit reply. We love hearing from you.
Until next week,
Molly 💌
We're mission-driven to gather a community of upcyclers dedicated to reducing waste, sharing resources, sparking ideas, and bringing reuse to the forefront of our daily lives. But we can’t do it alone.
Keep reading
This month’s creative prompt is Kaleidoscope—explore three inspired project ideas, a new giveaway element, and details on our next Craft Café, virtual meetup, and Christmas in July supply drop.