The Transformation of a Cigar Box into A Super Guitar

 Right before the holidays we were working on this Superman Cigar box for Vanstory Guitar in Mississippi.

We've always admired cigar box guitars and thought it was a great and fun way to upcycle an old cigar box. So, we are super excited to see the transformation Vanstory Guitar did to the Superman cigar box.

The guitar not only looks awesome, but sounds awesome.  Check out Vanstory Guitar on Facebook to see a video of how the guitar sounds. Keep an eye out for future Superhero guitars rolling out of Vanstory's workshop.

  

Also, we have a large selections of various DC Comics, Marvel and even some Vertigo and Dark Horse comics waiting for new life on a cigar box. If you have a favorite Superhero you want to see on a cigar box -- or cigar box guitar... contact  us or Vanstory Guitar.  We'd love to do it for you!

Check out the ReInnovations Upycle Shop on

Etsy

or

Ebay

Top Last Minute Eco Gifts for the Holidays

Do you need a last minute eco gift for the holidays?  We now offer gift certificates to our ReInnovations Upcycle Shop on Etsy.  The gift certificates are available in several different cash values and are only redeemable in our Etsy shop.  You can have your gift certificate delivered via email or you can print it and use it as a stocking stuffer for the holidays.  We have upcycled handmade gifts that are perfect for your earth loving friends and family.

Top 5 Eco Green Gifts for the Holidays

5.   These Superman bracelets are made from an old ripped up comic book.
  



4. We used an old ripped up Wonder Woman Comic book to restore these wonderful and gently used vintage heels we found in a thrift shop.

3.  These lovely butterfly earrings are decorated with butterflies punched from Cheerwine pop cans. They hang on a board made from the Cheerwine box packaging.







2. These paper beads are made from junk mail Kroger and Rite Aid flyers that are so annoying when they come in the mail, but make beautiful beads.






1.  We collect discarded cigar boxes from a cigar company and turn them into lovely comic book themed gifts.

Holiday Cheerwine Butterfly Earrings

 We absolutely love working with pop cans.  Cheerwine is a soda pop made in North Carolina where we have relocated.  We are pretty excited about how these earrings turned out.  There's even more listed in our Etsy and Ebay shop and each pair is made in a different style.

Upcycling a Vintage Purse with Wonder Woman

This vintage purse is one of our most favorite finds. It has an awesome flip mirror inside.  We decided to upcycled this purse with Wonder Woman comic books. The deep forest green of the bag compliments the comics nicely.  

We realized after starting the bag that it could use a leather shine with some dark green polish.  The bag is in great conditions, but does have some worn leather look in some areas. Some polish would make the artwork pop out more.

There is still  a lot of work that needs to be done to make this bag awesome. We're having fun doing it, though.  Once new life is breathed into this bag -- it will be available in our Etsy and Ebay shop.

New Comic Book Boxes Available!

 We make our comic book boxes by upcycling used cigar boxes we obtain from a cigar company once the cigars are sold as singles and are emptied. We also have a stack of old comic books that are torn and worn and waiting for new life.  

The comic book boxes are actually the most sought after items in our shop.  We do custom orders of your favorite comic, as well.

Comic Book Paper Beads and Bracelets!

Lately, we've been having a lot of fun working with comic books. They make pretty awesome paper beads.

 We begin by using sock size knitting needles to roll our beads.
 
Next, we add glue that dries clear and hard.  Once they dry, we coat them with a glossy finish.  The end effect is pretty stellar.

Some of the beads get made into awesome stretch bracelets or chain bracelets for our shop.  We have comic book paper bead bracelets available in adult and child size in our shop on Etsy and Ebay.

We also have bulk quantities of the beads available if you want to design your own comic book jewelry.

In the Making: Upcycled Comic Book Accessories for the Holiday Season

     We decided to begin sifting through the boxes of old comic books in our closet and to start giving them new life this holiday season.  It's fun watching an old item become a piece of pop art.

      I've always loved digging through the racks at thrift stores. Partially, because I can't bring myself to pay high prices for new low-quality clothes -- and partially because I love looking for treasure.

 
     Our new focus on working with comic books has given me an excuse to hunt for treasure.  The Wonder Woman heels in the picture above are my first attempt at covering an entire shoe with comics.  I'm pleased with how it turned out. The heels were an old vintage pair of heels that I found at a thrift shop.  Maybe someone would have bought them -- or maybe they would have sat there for years.  As a piece of canvas to work with -- they were irresistible to me.  The vintage style was perfect for laying down some vintage Wonder Woman.  Vintage Wonder Woman comics look so much better than the more modern comics.

     After that, I was officially on a Wonder Woman kick.  Last holiday season, comic book jewelry was a hit.  However, I didn't make a wide selection last year. This year, I decided to make theme sets of 5 paper bead stretch bracelets.  The first pack of Wonder Woman bracelets sold within a few hours of posting them to Ebay.  Keep an eye out in the next few weeks because more theme packs will be rolling out.  If you have a favorite comic book -- or have a friend you need a custom request for -- contact us and we'll make it for you.  These packs of 5 comic theme bracelets are going to be listed on Etsy and Ebay for $15 a pack.

      Another great thrift store find was a handful of red & pink  or brown & pink wallets.  I found them in almost new condition.  The surface of the wallets was just screaming to be filled with comic book heroes.  I decorated the first of the bunch with Supergirl.

     Hopefully, I'll have time to roll out more of these wallets before the holidays.  Anyhow, support upcycled gifts this holiday season.  Why would you want to?  We may be able to replicate a process - but never an item.  This means the gift you give to your loved one is going to be one of a kind -- the only one in the world. Why support mass production -- it's destructive to the environment and our health to keep creating new stuff.  There are thrift shops, garage sales and dumpster bins just full of stuff that can be given new life.

     All the upcycled items (except the bracelets- but we have other bracelets) are available in our Etsy and Ebay shop.  We also have some purses and clutches in the works that will be posted in the shops soon. Come visit us!

and Have an Upcycled Christmas this Season --