WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
Totally get what you mean about the “imperfections” giving it character. I’ve done a few upcycle projects where I left some dents or old nail holes on purpose—stuff you just can’t fake when building new. But I’ll admit, sometimes starting from scratch is just easier if you need something to fit a weird space. Upcycling feels more rewarding though, especially when you see the transformation. Your ladder bookshelf sounds like it turned out pretty cool.
WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
That’s a good point about fitting odd spaces—sometimes you just can’t force an old piece to work, no matter how much you want to save it. I do like the challenge of upcycling, though. There’s something about working within constraints that gets my brain going. Ever find that upcycling sometimes takes longer than starting from scratch? I swear, figuring out how to make an old cabinet fit a new spot took me twice as long as just building one... but it was worth it in the end.
WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
Totally get what you mean about upcycling taking longer. Last year, I tried turning an old barn door into a coffee table for my den. Took forever to sand it down and make the legs fit right. Honestly, building from scratch would've been faster, but the character in the finished piece made it worth the hassle. Sometimes you just can't replicate that old wood look with new materials.
WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
I totally hear you on the time thing—upcycling can be a pain, but it’s so much cheaper most of the time. I once made a bookshelf out of some busted pallets and an old ladder, and yeah, it took a while to get it looking halfway decent. But honestly, I just can’t bring myself to drop cash on new wood when there’s so much cool old stuff lying around. Do you ever find yourself torn between saving money and just wanting something done quick?
WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
That’s exactly where I get stuck—sometimes I want the satisfaction of a quick project, but my wallet says otherwise. Upcycling definitely takes more patience, though I’ve found the results feel more personal. Plus, those “imperfections” usually end up being my favorite part.
