I have al lot of aspirations to be crafty. I have always been quite ‘arty’ and I love to paint and draw but I do tend to be all fingers and thumbs when it comes to craft. So on the whole I have left upcycling to the experts and admired form afar.

This past week however I fell upon Reloved the most inspiring magazine I have seen in ages. In its own words Reloved is…

new magazine at the heart of thrifting, shabby chic and upcycling. With an emphasis on breathing new life into old, forgotten objects, it brings a hands-on approach to this thriving pastime. Featuring at least 25 substantial projects each issue and priced at only £4.99, Reloved is the practical magazine for everyone with a desire to create and adapt beautiful things.

It is fantastic.Love the concept it makes the concept of thrifting and resusing cool and stylish and gives it a hip and happening vibe. A far cry form hippy, dusty, dingy, garden shed stuff.

May’s issue has lots of ideas for upcyling things in your garden

I decided despite my clumsiness to have a go ant upcycling a pot.

Me and the kids hit the park and gathered loads of sticks up. Then we have to pop two elastic bands round a plastic plant pit and wiggle the sticks in before finally covering the bands in twine ( do not use hair bands as substitutes it does not work!!)  This may sound super easy but i found it fiddly but fun. Her is the work in progress (it’s pouring with rain right now and the project and my poor magazine remain outside half done on the kitchen table.

If you can visualize it …it will be covered in twigs with twine covering the elastic

I will finish it and at least I was inspired to have a go rather than sit by passively and say wow a lot to other people’s projects

We have lots of sticks left and I am going to have a look out at the charity shops and see if I can find a colindar. I quite fancy making his next.

The kids can do the painting. I love that i can involve the kids in therse projects it is a really good opportunity for me to talk with them about the natural world, limited resources and to encourage their creativity.

I have enjoyed this magazine. It is a great resource.

There is a lovely blog on the Reloved website too with lots of upcycling ideas, why not pop over and have a read. It costs £22.50 for 6 issues.

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Reloved is definitely my word of the week.