By Staff

Recycling and “going green” are all the rage these days, so why not make some money while you’re saving the planet? You can do this pretty easily by finding an item that might unnecessarily be tossed out, for example old clothing, and applying a little bit of creativity to turn it into a new item that people would be interested in buying.

Some people have already made successful businesses for themselves by selling stuffed animals and purses, but what’s so great about creating this kind of business is that you can put your own unique spin on whatever product you are creating, like blankets, quilts, or anything else you can dream up. A home economics course is usually required at some point in grade school, and the sewing skills you learn there are most likely sufficient to get you started on a project like this. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a sewing project either – maybe you’re artsy and want to turn the glass from old bottles into a sculpture or even some kind of jewelry item. The more creative and unique, the better!

Once you decide on what you’d like to create, you’ll need to gather your supplies – ask for donations from Mom’s closet that she’d otherwise throw out, or take yourself shopping and visit some thrift stores for some funky clothing or other materials. Remember that when using recyclable materials, there’s usually a pretty easy and cheap way to get them. Grab anything else you might need (art supplies, needle/thread, etc) to get started and let those creative juices flow!

Test out your newly fashioned product by giving a few of them away to friends, or as gifts. If you can’t seem to generate much interest, it may be a sign to go back to the drawing board (or sewing machine!) and try something different.

If you see that friends and family would be interested in purchasing your item, it’s likely that others would be, too. Setting up an Ebay seller’s account is a really easy way to start marketing and selling your product. Another idea would be to find a local craft festival and set up shop. Craft fair attendees are always looking for unique, homemade items.

This doesn’t have to be a huge operation until you’re ready for it to be. Have fun with it and see where it takes you. Remember to play up the fact that you’re reusing material to make something original – people will pay top dollar for something eco-friendly AND one-of-a-kind.

Have any creative ideas or suggestions? Let us know!

Photo credit: urbanwoodswalker