5 upcycling projects you can make with your Cricut

I’ve always been fascinated with the idea that you can repurpose something to make it unique and new. So I pulled out my trusty Cricut and brainstormed some ways to breathe new life into items that were on their way to the dumpster. Keep reading to see all the upcycling projects I’ve made so far!

Cereal box lamp

I’ve had this IKEA LED lamp for years, and I was really tempted to get rid of it to get something new, but I’m so glad I didn’t! I found this lampshade project on Design Space that used chipboard, but I didn’t have that material lying around. So, I decided to browse through my recycling and landed on some cereal boxes, and voila! I now have a brand-new lamp, and the best part is that I can say I made it. This upcycled cereal box project definitely took some time, but it was probably one of my favorite projects I’ve ever made.

Upcycled book page garland

I love books, and I wanted to show some love for them in a different way! So I took some book pages, fishing line, and a dowel/branch to create this upcycled book page garland. And before you get sad about using book pages, this was a misprinted edition of a book I love so it felt like a good way to repurpose instead of throwing it away!

Upcycled shoes

I’ve had a pair of blue heels for a few years, and while I really like them, I just feel like they could be a bit more fun. And I figure by adding some flower embellishments, it will extend the wear of my shoes for another couple of years! I took some organza and fabric glue (you could maybe sew them on depending on the shoe), and attached them to the toe strap to create these upcycled floral shoes.

T-shirt upcycling project

Maybe you have some old t-shirts that have seen better days, or you went to a thrift store and thought something was cool, but now you’re thinking it’s not. Well, the good news is that there are so many ways you can upcycle a t-shirt and give it new life! For this upcycled shirt, I thought I would use Cricut’s Stencil vinyl and bleach to create this cool dragon design. I was a little worried that it wouldn’t turn out how I wanted, but I kept going and I’m so glad I did! If you decide to do this project, just make sure to use a synthetic paint brush and be in a well-ventilated area.

Repurposed painting

I had an old painting that I made a few years ago, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. So, I hopped on Design Space and found the cutest little magic snake (#MM400C81C6) that I wanted to put on it. I used a few different colors of permanent vinyl, and one layer of removeable vinyl (on the bottom), so that I can remove this design in the future in case I want to change it out. This upcycled painting now has a spot on my office wall and brings a bit of magic into my work.

I hope some of these ideas inspired you to start making upcycling projects with items you already have! If you create any of these projects, make sure to tag #cricut on social media so we can see all the things you’ve made!