7 DIY Ideas for Old Tableware
It can happen that your favorite cup breaks into pieces, but you can’t find it in you to throw it away. Sometimes you get a mug as a present but you don’t like it and it stays in the back of your cabinet gathering dust. Or you have a few old dishes that are no longer decent enough to be put on the table.
5-Minute Crafts doesn’t recommend getting rid of old tableware. You can upcycle it by turning it into something unique.
Idea 1: Repair in Kintsugi style
You’ll need:
- glitter
- food-safe ceramic glue
The process:
Mix the glitter and glue in a bowl. Apply the resulting mixture to the fragments of the dish with a brush and press them against each other. Let the plate dry. You can use the finished plate to decorate your interior or as tableware.
This craft is made in the Kintsugi style, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. The Japanese mend the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum to underline breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
Idea 2: A toy as a mug handle
You’ll need:
- a plastic or rubber toy with 4 standing points
- non-toxic all-purpose glue that can be used on ceramic
- a mug without a handle or a glass
The process:
Apply all-purpose glue to the limbs of the toy. Attach it to the mug. Done!
This life hack will come in handy if you want to make an ordinary mug more convenient for your kid. Attach the toy to the empty side of the mug. This way, you’ll have a mug that your child can comfortably grip with both hands.
Idea 3: An organizer made of plates and candleholders
You’ll need:
- plates and candleholders
- a hot glue gun
The process:
Apply glue to the base of the candleholder and glue it to the center of the largest plate. Apply glue to the top of the candleholder to attach a smaller plate on top. Repeat your actions with the smallest plate or a bowl to place on the top of the future organizer. Let the glue dry. You can use this organizer for various items like beauty products.
If you are using plates in different designs that don’t look good together, make the organizer and change its color with porcelain and glass paint (choose one that doesn’t require further firing).
Idea 4: A home decor item
You’ll need:
- a cup and a saucer
- a fork
- a hot glue gun
- artificial flowers for home decor
The process:
Bend the fork slightly with its tines inward. Apply glue to the center of the saucer. Glue the fork to it. Then apply glue to the end of the fork and attach the cup to it. Glue the artificial flowers all over the fork. Done!
You can glue small battery-operated lights around the flowers to turn the composition into a night light.
Idea 5: A flower pot
You’ll need:
- drainage rocks for potted plants
- potting soil for succulents
- a cactus
- a cup and a saucer
The process:
Put a few drainage rocks on the bottom of the cup. Put the soil on top, plant a cactus, and add more soil. Lightly press it with your fingers. Water the plant lightly and place the cup with the cactus on the saucer.
It’ll look more interesting if you plant a few cacti or succulents in a large cup, and cover the top layer of soil with sand or stones.
Idea 6: A bird feeder
You’ll need:
- a cup and a saucer
- a hot glue gun
- jute twine
The process:
Apply glue to the edge of the saucer and glue the cup to it sideways with its handle up. Let the glue dry. Pour bird food into the saucer and cup. Use a piece of jute twine to tie the handle of the feeder to a tree branch.
Idea 7: A wall clock
You’ll need:
- a round tray
- 12 mugs
- a saucer
- a hot glue gun
- a clock mechanism with big hands
The process:
Use glue to attach the mugs along the inner diameter of the tray so that they resemble the face of a clock. Glue the saucer with the attached clock mechanism to the center of the tray. Done!
You can write numbers indicating hours on the bottom of each mug. Or you can put delicious souvenirs, mini-gifts, or messages timed to coincide with a specific hour for your family members.