12 basic tools to start upcycling today
Welcome do the D’ECO lifestyle! This blog aims to offer you a safe space for creation around a more conscious way of living. When a lot of us try to reduce our waste consumption, it is indeed very difficult to actually suppress it entirely, unless you live in the countryside with an enormous rich garden that provides your with everything you need. :)
As I have been researching more and more into this new wave of sustainability, I realised that, more than buying new sustainable products, as soap, boxes and stainless steel straws, which are of course very useful and important, I realised that a real change must come from within us, and not only from the sustainable products we use.
Actually, instead of buying new, which does not necessarily change our consumption habits, we can actually make them ourselves from our own objects, with very simple tips and tricks.
But what prevents us from doing it? It is not always time … Most of the time, friends tell me ‘I am not good at this or that’, they ‘can’t hold a pair os scissors’, or event worse…. they say ‘i’m not creative’.
Now my friend, we. are. all. born. creative.
Did you know experience shapes our references? How can we be creative when we are not requested, even at early age, to explore our inner potential?
Get your hands on the dirt and make it shine! And guess what, we do not need a lot of sophisticated tools to make it work!
SO, here is a list of 12 basic tools that you can use to make any-thing out of very little, with (lots) of reused and natural materials.
Hands and heart, indeed
Mind is power, but hands bring it to the world, don’t be afraid to use them and develop your thoughts! Intellect and practice go hand in hand and stimulate each other!
Drilling and measuring tools
These tools are not always necessary, but it is good to have them close by. Always wear protecting masks and gloves for more risky work.
Paper, (any) paper
Paper is perfect for structure. As a material made from threes, dense of fiber, you juste have to explore its potential by bending and gluing it.
You can go from white paper, journal/magazine paper to thin and thick cardboard paper, the important is that you really grab anything you already have so that you can give it a second life.
White glue
Extremely easy to find and cheap, white glue is perfect for any kind of production. Very solid for wood, it is water based, won’t smell and dried fast and is solid once dried. You can find it at your local craft store or even in the school section from supermarkets.
Metal wires
you can use from jewellery wire to paper clips of event wires grids, pay attention to the thickness of your material and how you are going to polish it.
Hot and cold water
Hot water is great for making objects smoother and melt others, and cold water is great for cleaning or mix with other components such as the white glue or event paint!
Gloves, and protective glasses, my friend
Protect your hands with adapted gloves.
A pair of scissors and paper cutter knife
Great for precision. You can easily find one at your convenience store, but if you don’t have one, you can use a very sharpened knife, it will do the job.
Basic bending/cutting tools
These really depend on the tools you already have at home and you can always improvise with forks and knives, but if you want to have it easier, here’s a list of the most common tools used for small scale productions:
a round nose plier, perfect to curve wires perfectly
a flat nose plier, to bend and flatten curvy wires
a wire cutter, I recommend having two sizes, one small and one bigger, depending on the thickness of your wire and the scale of your production
Plastic and paper tape
From plastic tape to paper tape, thick or thin, it is a great tool we all have at home and can use it for diverse purposes! Do not mind plastic tape if you are using it to your final object, plastic won’t get lost to the trash. Try to prioritise paper tape for single use or do not use it at all if you can avoid!
Hot glue gun
This glue is an optional but a great tool to have next to you. It glues instantly small or big pieces, but I have to say, it might be very hot so be careful to not burn your fingers! The glue has a component of plastic and is relatively toxic, therefore make sure to use it in an open air area or a very ventilated one.
Paint brushes
Great for the application of glue, paint, finishes and making effects!