Upcycling is a new buzzword in do-it-yourself circles. Finding new and creative ways to reuse and recycle old, everyday objects to create something unique has become more than a hobby; it’s a movement and an industry unto itself.

Some call it shabby-chic. Some call it vintage-modern, which is kind of an oxymoron. The people who practice it are interested in keeping things out of the landfills that can be used again.

Pinterest is a great website to find ideas for projects. So is Facebook. Here’s one that is making the rounds.

Wooden crutches can be seen in thrift shops, antique stores and garage sales. And it seems they never sell. Making something from them presents a challenge. A set of shelves made from a pair of crutches and three or four scrap pieces of wood is a fun and funky project that anyone can do cheaply.

The great thing about this project is that you can paint the shelves to match any color in your home. The shelves will necessarily be different sizes, giving you the opportunity to show different size pieces on the shelves.

For a steady stream of great up-cycling projects, check out the Recreate Design Company(link to http://recreatedesigncompany.com/) website and follow them on their social media sites. They pull project ideas from artists and do-it-yourselfers from all over Europe and North America, which will give you inspiration for everything from decorating to functional home improvement ideas.

(You can find the photo on Recreate’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=544188935617440&set=a.358399550863047.74518.338542779515391&type=1&theater)