Post 3 – 2025 : Upcycle Progress

Cat Toy Progress The progress I have is I have the materials bought and a spinning prototype that doesn’t work. The toy consists of a sturdy, weighted base. The base is designed to ensure stability, preventing the toy from tipping over during play. I’ve decided to take out the spinning aspect as I tried to…

This will be written as if I were still at this point in the semester! My upcycle project was going very smoothly – I had created an initial design in CAD and started sourcing materials from around the ITLL. Materials Sourcing I spread the word among my coworkers to save any empty spools when a…

Upcycling Plan: Final Method & Materials Gathered After researching different ways to cut glass bottles for my upcycling project, I have decided on a method that seems both accessible and effective. I explored options like using a glass cutter and hot water method or even a wet saw for precision, but I wanted something that…

Quick Project Overview This project is a piece of wall art in the Mediterranean design style. The object is both a tech product and art piece that displays weather data visually via colors on a strip of smart LEDs. The intention is to place the LED strip within the recession of a deep picture frame…

Progress Check! My upcycle project is well underway, with significant progress made in gathering materials and beginning the fabrication process. I have been actively collecting materials from the Project Depot in the Engineering Center, which has provided a variety of useful components. Additionally, I explored the ITLL (Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory) to source metal…

For my upcycling project, I am creating a CU Boulder logo with LED backlighting, using recycled materials such as cardboard, foam board, or acrylic as the main structure. The design will feature a cut-out or raised CU logo, with strategically placed LED lights behind it to create a glowing effect. This project blends sustainability with…

As I was finalizing my plans for my upcycled ball shelf, I realized that it was important for me to have my materials before I finish the design of my shelf. The pieces of wood that I source matter a lot with how my shelf will look, its size, and shape. Because of this, I…

For my upcycling project, I decided to make a ski rack out of reclaimed barnwood. The original idea was to use a slab of Barnwood with cork padded pegs to grab the skis by their sidecut. While this idea would’ve likely worked well, I found an old scale head while digging through the barnwood, and…

My upcycle progress is taking a brief hiatus until Wednesday due to job applications, upcoming midterms, and last minute job interviews.  However, I did do some idea generation.  The first idea was to make any cuts into the back side of the book and maybe leave the first few pages in the front side untouched…

I have decided to make coasters out of an old hockey stick. I need to cut them to size I am looking at making a 4.5×4.5 inch box of cut sticks then hot glueing them together and casing the sticks with wood. Next I fill the wood casing with epoxy to make an even surfaces…

Upcycle Project: Ethernet Key Holder Rack For my upcycle project, the Ethernet key holder rack, I have started gathering the necessary materials to fully carry out my design. Below is a conceptual sketch of two key components that work together for this project: the router itself and the keychains, which will plug into the router…

For my Upcycle Project, a mid-century modern lamp, I have started with sketching the lamp, and its various components to help determine the parts needed and the layout of the lamp. It also allows me to explore different shapes and layouts, and I ultimately settled on a modified barrel shape made out of wooden strips,…

Upcycle progress For my plastic forest project, I have struggled to find areas where I can source the tree supports from without having to make my own. I have a finalized idea of how I want the model to look, featuring an ascending central location where the tallest tree will be in the middle. Also,…

This past week, I was able to source all the materials and tools I believe I will need to create my soda can tab guitar strap. The materials/tools are as follows: Soda Can Tabs – Main aesthetic material Spool of Black Nylon String – Guiding lines for first step of assembly  Black Paracord – Used…

So far, for my project, I decided to reuse the teddy bear pattern I made last semester for an acromatic project. Instead of making some of the patches or pieces a different fabric along with the sashiko pattern, I will make the bear entirely out of denim. However, I will make the holes for the…

As a brief overview of my project, I’m creating a lampshade that will look like a strangler fig tree. See my second post (Beauty in Death: Strangler Fig Lampshade) for more information on my inspiration for this project and initial design ideas.        [2] Purchased Lamp and Shade           …

Discovering Inspirational Materials for Upcycling Rusted Industrial Elements into Abstract Art Getting started with this project of upcycling rusted industrial materials into abstract art has been an engaging and continually evolving experience. What began as an experimental foray into the world of sustainability and creativity has turned into an ongoing search for unique, inspiring materials…

My upcycle project has been going well. I found an old lampshade at the thrift store, which I stripped for the frame, although it left some sticky residue that I plan to remove so it’s nice and clean, ready for jump rings and film slides. I made sure to pick a lampshade that I found…

For the upcoming upcycling project, I will be creating a lantern that falls under the aesthetic of a club or rave. The lantern will include old materials such as a plastic sheet, rod (PVC pipe or equivalent) or rope, disposable plastic water bottles, waterproof LED lights that are different colors, and water. Once assembled, the…

For the first week of undergoing this project, I spent most of my time preparing and planning. This involves some research into the best techniques and materials needed to produce the outcome I desire. One of the major hiccups in my design plan is deciding which stain or paint I want to use. After looking…

Since last week, I have made some progress on my Upcycle project. I have collected all my materials, including a sewing kit, embroidery hoop, needles, yarn, and some cute pink fabric. For the items I plan to embroider, I have gathered plain tote bags, a bucket hat (which I’ve already started embroidering), and my pink…

For my upcycling project I will be creating a portable climbing hangboard out of scrap wood. A traditional hangboard features flat ledges of varying depth and is used to warmup climber’s fingers before climbing or as a way to train tendon strength. This project will not only be used for a portfolio but it also…

For my upcycling project I’ve gathered the foundational materials that I need to complete the project and have scaled the original art piece so I can develop a sketch onto the cardboard.  Some things I’m currently missing are a hot glue gun to hold the paper beads in place and a glue stick for the…

It’s been a few weeks since I embarked on my upcycle project to turn a piece of scrap wood I found in the dumpster into a functional and stylish cutting board. While I’m not quite finished yet, I’ve made some progress and have had the opportunity to refine my design and woodworking skills along the…

For my upcycling project I will be making a chalk bag for climbing in the earthy neutral aesthetic. I will be upcycling some scrap fabric I already own, and acquiring more materials to implement into my upcycle. My chalk bag will also have a magnetic closure top to prevent chalk from spilling out without the…

Week one of this project mainly involved preparation work. I have collected about 16 cans to work with, which I believe will be more than enough. However, I still want to find some source of wire or something similar to stand in as the lasso or the body frame. So far, I have cleaned all…

On my previous post, I talked about how for my aesthetic I wanted to try and create something both functional and with a Frutiger Aero aesthetic. This meant I needed to find things to use that had many of the elements that can be found in the design of Frutiger Aero software. This includes bright…

Since my last post, I have decided to go a new route for my project. The other day I upgraded my PC, specifically the CPU (central processing unit) GPU (graphics processing unit) and RAM (random-access memory.) My friend who was helping me with the upgrade said, “You should take these apart and make an exploded…

In last weeks post, I detailed how I was going to create a topographic map of Greece and give it to my girlfriend. I drew inspiration from a previous students work, found here. The previous student was able to find a 3d model of a mountain range located in Estes Park. Since that area is…

Overall Project Following a vintage americana aesthetic, I will be making a chalk bag out of thrifted denim and thrifted ties. The ties will contain red, white, and/or blue in order to follow the aesthetic. Necessary Materials In order to sew a handmade, denim chalk bag I need the following items: Pattern (handmade) Thrifted Levi’s…

Overall Design I have made some progress in the last week. I have settled on a spherical design, 5 inches in diameter. The lamp will sit on a pedestal, large enough to conceal the control board and power input. In order to preserve the streamlined space age aesthetic, I designed internal cavities in the main…

I haven’t started on my textured ski painting; however, I have gotten the materials and started planning how I want it to look. [1] Original ski sport painting on canvas There are some examples where the canvas is just pure snow and skiers. These are much more minimalist, focusing on the shape and texture of…

Unfortunately, due to my Senior Design project, I have not been able to make much progress on my project. However, I have come up with an alternate design for my project. Rather than a view into the box from the side, I think having a top down view would be more interesting. I also figured…

I am happy to report that I am making steady progress on my Upcycle project! Over the last week, I have foraged for all of my necessary materials, including spare wood, epoxy resin, gold and copper flakes, and sawdust. Plus, I was able to borrow a few silicone bowl molds to simplify the resin casting…

After searching for materials, I created an artifact in the Pretotyping stage using felt, pipe cleaners, Lego gears, and glue. I sourced these materials from the Idea Forge Pretotyping collection. The artifact resembles the in-game artifact flower called the Marechaussee Hunter. I did my best to replicate its appearance, but I aim to elevate the…

Thus far, I’ve gathered all my materials and started making a few cards. Material Collection Many of my materials are things I already own, but I wanted to go to Art Parts to supplement. I was able to purchase some additional scrap paper, doilies, books, magazines, tags, paint swatches, cards, construction paper, and more for…

After deciding to make a peacock throne out of tires, I began sketching my design on paper. I soon realized that this wasn’t very helpful as circles are difficult to draw with correct perspective, and the relative sizes of the tires makes a big impact on the overall look. To remedy this issue I decided…

My “Upcycled Plastic Pointillism” project is coming along well. In last week’s post I had yet to select a reference image to create in the pointillist aesthetic, and this was the first thing I tackled for the project. The photo I have chosen to recreate is shown below: Taken by Jesse Varner. Edited by Schcambo…

I did a bit of research on what method I would like to use to create the coasters. I came across a YouTube video on someone experimenting with silicone molds.[4] His method of melting the filament can be recreated easily, so I will try and do the same. I have created a short BOM for…

As described in my previous post, I want to create a 3D printed art piece based on classical Japanese architecture. The main inspiration here is like that shown in the featured image, which is a photo from Marco Garcia of the Byodo-in Temple [1]. I have not made as much progress as I would have…

As mentioned in my previous post, I am making a wearable pop art item out of recycled eco-friendly fabric swatches.  At the beginning of this project, I experimented with the idea of making a headband, which led to me being drawn to the design of a bucket hat. After which, I began to gather the…

Upcycle Project Progress: Building a Lighthouse Over the past week, I’ve made significant progress on my Upcycle Project, which focuses on creating a lighthouse with a nautical aesthetic using repurposed materials. My goal is to construct a piece that captures the charm of coastal design while emphasizing sustainability by using discarded materials. Project Plans and…

Since my initial post, my upcycling project to create a cactus planter from recycled materials has progressed significantly. The idea originated from my desire to add a succulent, especially since my room is in the basement, to my room while contributing to environmental sustainability. After deliberating between cardboard, plastic bottles, and even aluminum canning (due…

Figure 1. AI Concept Image This week, I have made significant strides in developing my laser-cut tree sculpture, which follows the Unexpected Red Theory aesthetic. The primary focus has been refining the materials, design, and digital fabrication process. Material Collection and Planning One of the major steps I completed was sourcing scrap wood of various…

So, remember that old lamp I spotted at the old stuff place in my apartment building? The one I heroically decided to rescue? Well, I finally went downstairs and grabbed it—feeling all proud of myself—only to find out…it doesn’t work. Shocking. ? Clearly, someone abandoned it for a reason. But am I letting that stop…

As the focus of my Upcycle project, I decided to design and create a work stand for my sheet metal shrinker/stretcher tool that I could use in my workshop to allow me to manipulate sheet metal into complex shapes with ease. I concentrated my design around a utilitarian aesthetic in which my intent of the…

Since my last post I have gone to the thrift store and looked for glasses to make my candles in. It seemed like my manifesting worked from my last post because I found a lot of glassware that I liked! I also found some old candles there that I bought to melt down and use…

  Project video on YT shorts, < 1 min. https://youtube.com/shorts/zqCCWhxB-Lk?si=Gge8QooH7jQ3jotD For my upcycling project, I am repurposing old skateboard decks into colorful plywood for making jewelry and possibly a bowl. This project draws inspiration from Bauhaus and De Stijl aesthetics, emphasizing geometric patterns, sharp lines, and bold color contrasts. Material Collection and Prep I collected…

Since my last post I have been making steady progress towards completing my upcycling project! I have stayed true to my original vision of upcycling my old (ripped) pair of jeans into a water bottle sling that can hold my 64oz (or maybe even my 128oz) plastic water bottle. As I have only done some…

                        AI generated Beehive [1]For my upcycled artifact project, I am drawing inspiration from my Aesthetic Exploration on Non-Euclidean Art, which defies traditional rectangular geometry by distorting space into surreal, otherworldly perspectives. This exploration of warped and unconventional forms will seamlessly merge with Bee-core—a…

After sketching the initial design on the front of the Pokémon TCG deck box, I decided to start modeling the actual box within SolidWorks. I focused on making sure I had enough material to make a box. The main dimensions I went off of are the dimensions of a Pokémon card, which are 2.5″ by…

Screwdriver Stand – Final Design Iteration Thus far in the project, I have gone through multiple design iterations in SolidWorks, refining the proportions to align with both the functional criteria for Japanese stationery and the aesthetic principles of Japanese minimalism. My primary focus has been on achieving the right balance of form and function, ensuring…

Above is the damaged tiki torch that I have opted to upcycle for this project. As you can I have already removed the fire aspect of the torch, leaving the frame, which is what I am more interested in upcycling. I still need to decide how I will add the lighting aspect to this lamp.…

My project is to make a four point hat which reflects the “Ski Bum” culture. These hats are typically made out of soft materials so I am choosing to work with fleece. I went to the thrift store these weekend and found three different patterns (as shown above). They were all in the blanket/sheet section…

My upcycle project strives to create a shoe cleaner with a brutalist aesthetic. As I approached towards putting together my shoe cleaner, I have made some progress. Ultimately at this point, I am only concerned with possible alternative designs and with acquiring steel bristles to act as the shoe cleaner. A major concern I had…

Currently for my project I am planning on combining the aesthetic of nature and modern by using recycled PLA. The idea is to make a pencil holder similar to that seen below The main problem I will have, as this was generated by AI. Is how to get the non-uniform aspects to show up on…

My Project Aestetic:  I want to create something that follows a Parisian jazz aesthetic. The Parisian jazz style is warm and cozy, with a romantic and intimate atmosphere. Songs typically focus more on melodic beauty and almost have a flowery feeling. Typical colors are not normal jazz blue but more bright like a bright red…

For my upcycling project, I decided to create a Rustic Modern wood mosaic wall art piece using leftover firewood that had been sitting outside for years. My second post showcases the various mosaics that inspired this project. Now, I will outline the steps I took to create this piece so far. Step 1: Cutting the…

In considering the whole realm of possibilities for turning this old atlas into a self-supporting art frame – or “bookframe” – I arrived on a design that will add structural integrity to the fragile binding so it can be enjoyed for many years to come. The bookframe process involves six key evolutions: Measuring and cutting…

I have made significant progress on my Upcycle project, particularly in gathering materials and designing the adapter piece that will connect two recycled plastic bottles. My main focus has been on ensuring that all the components are accessible, sustainable, and practical for my intended design. Progress and Plans So far, I have secured one large…

Fabrication Progress So far I have made a decent bit of progress. I already had all of my materials which was a helpful head start with this project. It took me a while to set everything up along with cleaning off the glass which was quite dusty from sitting in boxes for almost 30 years.…