DIY: Three Easy Craft Projects for Old Teacups

Melmac cups

For a few years now, I’ve been working on my vintage Melmac collection. Thanks to Goodwill’s fabulous prices, excellent variety, and social responsibility I feel great about the collection I’ve thrifted. Goodwill is comprised of 164 independent, community-based agencies in the U.S. and Canada, which collectively provided employment and training assistance to 4.2 million people in North America just in 2011. So with every teacup I buy from them, I’m confident that I’m helping my community.

My Melmac plates and bowls get plenty of use, but I have stacks of adorable teacups that we constantly pass up in favor of sturdy mugs. It’s about time to start thinking creatively about how to put them to work, but my imagination wasn’t jump-started until I went over to my friend’s house and saw a holiday project she had been working on – turning teacups into candles!

 

Use teacups as candles

Didn’t she do a wonderful job? The process is simple on this one, and the effect is darling. It’s also a great way to use up mostly-burned candles. Using two nesting pots on the stove, simmer water in the bottom one, and add your used candles to the top pot. When the wax is melted, use tongs to remove old wicks. Dip a new wick into the wax to prime it. Let it dry, then drape it into your clean teacup, stabilizing the top between two wooden skewers or chopsticks that are taped together at the ends and laid on the rim of the cup.

Pour a few drops of hot wax into the center of the teacup, stick the bottom end of the wick into it and wait for it to harden. This will ensure that your wick stays centered once the rest of the wax is poured in. Pour in the rest of your wax and wait for it to cool before removing the skewers and trimming down the wick!

 

Use teacups as a soap dish

Here’s the easiest one – a no-effort soap dish. My fiance and I prefer bar soap because we can get really great scents that are made locally, but we have never been able to find a real soap dish that we like! A teacup will be easy to clean, and is perfect for a shabby-chic or cottage style home.

 

Use teacups as planters

For plastic teacups like my Melmac, an indoor garden is a must. By simply drilling a hole in the bottom for drainage, a teacup on its saucer can make a lovely little herb garden and help to keep your spirits up even on the dreariest winter days. In ours, we’re growing wheat grass for the cats!

 

Drill a hole into a teacup

For even more ideas on how to repurpose teacups, check out our Pinboard! With the holiday season nearly behind us, I for one am looking forward to some great crafting time with a hot cup of tea in the dead of winter. What DIY projects have you accomplished that you are particularly proud of? We’d love to hear!

Happy New Year!

xx, Julia