Learning how to make lavender soap at home is easy. The scent of lavender is so relaxing, you may find you want to keep them for yourself instead of giving them away as gifts as you intended! Just be sure to make extra soap for yourself. Why this project works These DIY lavender soaps are... Go To project
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Today, it’s two trays, two ways, and a brand-new Thrift Shop Shakedown thrifting video!! Hello sweet friends! I’ve got a special project for you all today!! I know you are going to love it! Well, the projects are fun, but I know you are going to love this post. lol It’s been a long time...
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These adorable plastic spoon bugs on a branch are an excellent school activity or project to do at home with the kids to welcome in spring and summer! Why we love this project Summertime means flowers, animals foraging, and plenty of bugs. This plastic spoon bugs on a branch is a fun kid’s craft to... Go To project
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The average American discards roughly 82 pounds of clothing and textiles each year — and most of it lands in a landfill. According to the EPA, more than 17 million tons of textiles were generated as municipal solid waste in 2018, a figure the U.S. Government Accountability Office confirmed was more than 50% higher than in 2000 due largely to the rise of fast fashion. And the recycling rate for clothing and footwear? Just 13%.
Denim is one of the most salvageable things in that waste stream. Because authentic jeans are made mostly from cotton, a natural, biodegradable fiber, they can be recycled into building insulation, pet bed inserts, and thermal packaging, or given a second life through resale and creative reuse.
Here are five ways to put your worn-out jeans to work, and have some fun doing it.
Cotton Incorporated’s Blue Jeans Go Green program has been recycling denim into insulation since 2006. Since then, the program has collected more than 5 million pieces of denim and diverted over 2,290 tons of textile waste from landfills. That recycled fiber gets processed into UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation by Bonded Logic — used in homes, thermal packaging, and pet bedding — with some insulation donated each year to building projects in communities in need.
The program accepts any denim item (jeans, jackets, skirts, shirts) that’s at least 90% cotton, in any condition. Drop off locations include Anthropologie, which has committed to diverting 10 tons through the program, and a rotating list of retail partners you can find on the Blue Jeans Go Green recycle page.
You can also mail denim directly to the program at Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ Program c/o Phoenix Fibers – CIMI, 400 East Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85225 (a free prepaid label program ended in August 2025, so you’ll need to cover shipping).
Madewell’s denim trade-up program is one of the most practical ways to close the loop on old jeans, regardless of the brand. Drop any pair of jeans of any cut, color, or condition at a Madewell store and receive $20 off a full-priced pair of Madewell jeans. The program is year-round with no limit on how many pairs you bring in.
The program has collected more than 2.3 million preloved pieces. Gently worn jeans are resold through Madewell Forever, the brand’s resale platform with ThredUp; jeans beyond repair are recycled into housing insulation and sustainable packaging via the Blue Jeans Go Green partnership.
You can also mail in denim with a free Clean Out Kit or shipping label if you don’t have a Madewell nearby.
This is probably the easiest way to repurpose a pair of jeans. Even if you don’t sew, you can make long jeans into shorts. Get a pair of sharp scissors, figure out where you want to cut, and then enjoy your new shorts. Remember the old saying, “measure twice, and cut once.” If you’re a sewer (or good with a glue gun), check out this tutorial by Craft & Creativity for some adorable additions to cutoffs.
One of my favorite ways to upcycle denim is by making reusable bags. You can use the bags as an adorable way to package a gift, as a purse, and as a reusable grocery carrier, just to name a few. I also found this creative phone charging bag. This is another project that could be done simply with a glue gun or, if you don’t have one, some craft glue.
One of my girls’ favorite projects is to upcycle material, including denim, into friendship bracelets. They are able to use their creativity and make each bracelet a special work of art. First, gather supplies like fun buttons, embroidery floss, and any other embellishments you may have on hand. Then cut the denim into strips.
Next is where the fun really begins. Let your kids use their imaginations to dream up some adorable ways to decorate their friendship bracelets. They could even begin by sketching out their ideas so you know how to help them make their vision a reality.
Your kiddos can wear their bracelets proudly and give them as gifts.
Need more ideas on how to upcycle your worn denim? Visit this helpful Pinterest board.
This is a great idea for anyone who wants to organize their craft supplies in one spot. You could make it a kid-friendly craft supply holder by including washable markers, colored pencils, safety scissors and glue sticks. Add a handle and this could be a great way to bring craft supplies on the road with you. I found this example at 8Trends.com.
Denim scraps also work well as ties for garden plants, drawer liners, coasters (backed with felt), small coin pouches, and journal covers. Because denim frays attractively rather than looking ragged, even imperfect cuts tend to look intentional. There’s also a growing community of textile artists on Pinterest’s denim upcycle boards with ideas organized by skill level and material quantity.
Your old jeans are too valuable to throw away. If they’re still wearable, donate them to a local thrift store or trade them in at Madewell. If they’re worn out, recycle them through Blue Jeans Go Green — or cut them into something new. Use Earth911’s Recycling Search to find textile recycling drop-off spots near you.
Editor’s Note: Originally published by Wendy Gabriel on February 6, 2017, this article was updated in April 2026. Feature image courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
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Hello friends. I hope you’ve been keeping well. It’s been a little while since I posted. I’m not even sure if anyone is reading this blog anymore but regardless, here is a pretty Spring Mantel I put together a couple of weeks ago.
I used blue hydrangeas and these beautiful ferns. I bought these to make wreaths for our front doors and will still be using them…
But I just started to play with them on the mantel and thing led to the other and here we are.
It’s fun to play with decor and just see what turns out.
As usual, I took a lot of photos. I just enjoy taking photos and editing them.
I remember the good old days when photos and pretty pictures brought me so much joy. Nowadays, it seems like fast video is the thing,
Don’t get me wrong, I also enjoy creating videos but I miss the old blogging days so much.
Anyway, I hope you’re keeping well and hope to see you again soon.
much love,
Lucy
Keep the kids busy outdoors whether your hiking, camping, or going on a nature walk with this free printable spring scavenger hunt! Why we love these printables The bees are buzzing and the flowers are in full bloom, now is the time to get out of the house to stretch your legs and explore what... Go To project
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Turn old bottle caps into a rustic bottle cap flower to display in potted plants or right in your garden. Safe to leave outside too! Bottle Cap Flower Craft This bottle cap flower project was born from one of my craft books, Button Mania: Buttons, Bottlecaps and Beyond!, which is available now on Amazon! I save bottle caps,... Go To project
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Teach the kids the importance of our beautiful planet while creating a fun construction paper mosaic Earth craft. Mosaic Earth Day Craft April is Earth Month and the 22nd of April is Earth Day. Earth month is a great time to talk to children about taking care of our Earth and being mindful of what... Go To project
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A bright, cheery Tulip Wreath will add life to your front door. All you’ll need are 4 different supplies to create a beautiful statement piece for spring. Why we love this project A tulip wreath makes a lovely front door adornment for spring and Easter. Its colorful tulips make the early days of the rain-filled... Go To project
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I’m sharing a bunch of napkin decoupage ideas today! Lots of things you can do with pretty napkins, the ideas are endless! Hello, beautiful friends! Let’s decoupage with napkins! If you’ve been around here any time at all, you know I love decoupaging with napkins. The design possibilities are just endless with them. And the...
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Hello sweet friends! How many days until spring? OH, TWO!! Yay!! I am so beyond ready. And so sick of the cold this year. However, I really hope we get an actual spring, ya know?? Considering we’ve already had 80’s, I’d say it’s not looking good. lol With that in mind, I’m sharing the perfect...
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I’m sharing how to use UV Resin and how I made earrings with it, along with decorative napkins, using them as decoupage for the earrings! Hello friends! I’m back today, sharing all about the resin I used on my Air-Dry Clay bowls. Plus, I made some resin earrings using napkin decoupage. Fun fun! I’m loving...
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