Bread tabs. Bottle caps.
Half-used skeins of yarn. One Ohio shop sells all of it on purpose, and creative people treat it like treasure.
The idea is simple and kind of brilliant. Leftover art and craft supplies get donated instead of tossed, then they land on shelves for the next maker.
Since 2014, this little nonprofit has kept over 54 tons of stuff out of landfills. The shop playfully compares that to 19 rhinoceroses.
I like how a pile of buttons and paint bottles can add up to something that big.
I believe the best craft supplies come with a backstory. Old vinyl records, faux flowers, vintage stationery, and mystery trinkets all wait for a second life here.
So what would you build with a bag of bread tabs?
Shopping Here Feels Like A Treasure Hunt With Better Prices
Most art stores sell shiny new supplies in neat plastic packages. Upcycle Parts Shop in Cleveland takes a much more surprising route.
This nonprofit runs as a creative reuse store. It sells secondhand art and craft materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
That means the shelves change based on what people donate. One week might bring piles of fabric scraps.
Another might bring buttons, beads, or partial skeins of yarn.
The mix is half the fun. You could come for one thing and leave with five ideas you never planned.
The shop calls itself a non-traditional art supply store, and that label fits. Opened bottles of paint sit near scrapbooking supplies and drawing tools.
Jewelry and faux flowers share space with stationery and trinkets.
A loose plan works best here. Bring a project idea, but stay open to detours.
Teachers, scout leaders, and hobby crafters can all stretch a budget further this way. It’s also a smart stop for kids who love making things.
Good luck leaving empty-handed. The odds are not in your favor.
Bread Tabs And Bottle Caps Finally Get Their Moment
Bread tabs are usually the thing you lose in a kitchen drawer. Here, they’re actual craft material.
The same goes for bottle caps, small trinkets, and other odds and ends. Things most people toss without thinking get a spot on the shelf.
Why does that matter? Tiny objects make amazing mosaics, collages, and mixed-media art.
A bottle cap can become a flower center. A bread tab could turn into a tiny robot part or a doll accessory.
Old vinyl records also show up in the mix. Some makers turn them into wall art, bowls, or funky signs.
I can’t imagine a better place for someone who likes building with weird pieces. It feels like a giant junk drawer that somebody finally organized.
Kids especially love this kind of material. Small, colorful objects spark ideas fast, and they cost little to experiment with.
A practical tip helps here. Bring a rough size in mind for your project, so you grab enough pieces.
After all, running out of bottle caps halfway through a mosaic would be a sad little plot twist. Nobody wants that ending.
The Craft Café Lets You Make Something On The Spot
Not every craft session needs to happen at your messy kitchen table. The Craft Café gives makers a real studio space instead.
It runs Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. You can pay a fee to use the studio’s supplies and tools.
Already have your own materials? Then you can use the space for free.
That’s a pretty sweet deal for anyone short on room at home. It also helps when you want to try a new craft without buying every tool first.
Groups of friends could turn it into a creative hangout. A parent and kid could tackle a project together on a slow weekend afternoon.
The best part might be the inspiration around you. Shelves full of odd materials sit close by, so new ideas pop up quickly.
Plan your visit inside that three-hour window. Arriving near opening gives you the most time to work without rushing.
Bring a bag for finished projects, too. Glitter has a habit of following people home, and it rarely asks permission.
Saturdays On St. Clair Teach Skills You Didn’t Know You Wanted
Miniature armchairs. Junk journals.
Articulated dolls made by hand.
Those are just some of the topics in the Saturdays on St. Clair workshop series. Each class focuses on creative reuse and upcycling techniques.
Bleach art t-shirts have also been on the list. That one turns a plain shirt into a bold design with a surprisingly simple method.
Workshops like these are great for beginners. Someone shows you the steps, so you skip the frustrating guesswork.
They also make a fun outing with a friend. Learning something new side by side beats scrolling on the couch every weekend.
Topics rotate, so checking the schedule ahead of time is smart. Popular classes can fill up, and nobody likes missing the doll-making day.
I like how these classes treat leftovers as a starting point. A scrap of fabric or an old book becomes something worth keeping.
You’ll leave with a finished project and a new skill. That combo is hard to beat on a Saturday.
Who knew a tiny armchair could feel like such a big win? Your shelf will soon agree.
Bottle Blossoms Became The Shop’s Unofficial Mascot
Plastic bottles usually head for the recycling bin. At this shop, they bloom.
Bottle blossoms are flowers crafted from cut plastic bottles. They’ve become a signature item that many people connect with Upcycle Parts Shop.
The idea shows the whole mission in one simple object. Something ordinary and disposable turns into something bright and cheerful.
Kids at the Upcycle Summer Camp make them too. It’s one of the hands-on projects listed for campers.
Part of the charm is how doable they feel. You don’t need fancy art skills to make a bottle look like a flower.
They also work as decorations, gifts, or classroom projects. A bunch of them on a windowsill catches light in a fun way.
Try saving a few bottles in different colors before a visit. Clear, green, and blue ones can make a nice mix.
Honestly, it’s a great reminder that trash can have style. A soda bottle with a glow-up deserves some respect.
Once you notice bottle blossoms, you start seeing flower potential everywhere. Your recycling bin may never look the same.
Summer Camp Here Involves T-Shirt Surgery, And Yes, Kids Love It
T-shirt surgery sounds dramatic, but no doctors are involved. It’s one of the projects at Upcycle Summer Camp.
The camp welcomes kids ages 8 and up. Activities focus on hands-on making with reused materials.
Campers turn old shirts into new creations. They also make bottle blossoms from plastic bottles.
For parents in Ohio hunting for summer plans, this one stands out. It mixes creativity with lessons about waste and resourcefulness.
Kids get to cut, build, and experiment freely. That kind of messy freedom can be hard to find at home.
The skills stick around after camp ends, too. A kid who learns to remake a shirt might start eyeing everything in the closet.
Consider that a warning and a compliment. Your old band tee might end up as a tote bag.
Spots for summer programs often go quickly, so planning early makes sense. Keep an eye on the shop’s announcements in spring.
Camp also helps kids meet others who love making things. Friendships built over glue guns can be surprisingly strong.
Parties, Field Trips, And Team Days Get A Creative Twist
Birthday parties at a craft studio beat another round of pizza and bounce houses. Upcycle Parts Shop hosts them, along with plenty of other group events.
The list includes private workshops and field trips. Team-building retreats are on the menu as well.
Private shopping appointments are another option. That could work well for teachers or groups who want calm, focused browsing.
Each event centers on making something from reused materials. Guests get to create, laugh, and maybe discover a hidden talent.
Coworkers might find the team-building option refreshing. Building a weird sculpture together tells you a lot about a person.
Field trips give students a real look at reuse in action. They see how leftovers become supplies for new art.
Planning ahead is the key here. Reach out early to set a date and talk through what your group wants.
Kids’ parties especially benefit from a clear theme. Mention ages and interests so the project fits the crowd.
Either way, everyone goes home with something handmade. That beats a goody bag full of plastic whistles.
Your Old Craft Stash Could Start Someone Else’s Masterpiece
Every crafter has that closet. You know, the one packed with yarn, beads, and paint from abandoned projects.
Upcycle Parts Shop gladly takes gently used art and craft supplies. Donations happen by appointment only on Thursdays and Sundays.
That appointment system keeps things organized. It also means you won’t show up to find the doors closed for drop-offs.
Your donation becomes stock for other makers. A teacher might grab your fabric, or a student could use your markers.
Since opening, the shop has kept more than 54 tons of materials out of landfills. Every box of buttons helps push that number higher.
Before booking, sort through your stuff a bit. Make sure items are clean and still usable for crafting.
It feels good to pass along supplies that meant something to you. Projects you never finished could find a happy ending with someone new.
Plus, your closet gets some breathing room again. That might be the best side effect of all.
Just try not to shop for new supplies right after donating. Then again, no promises here.
A Neighborhood Shop That Got A National Shout-Out
Nicole McGee got the spark after seeing a creative reuse center in Durham, North Carolina. She brought that idea home to Cleveland.
Co-founder Devon Fegen-Herdman joined in early 2014. The shop opened at 6419 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103, in July of that year.
It sits in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, and community is a big part of its mission. The goal is to provoke creativity and promote connection through reuse and relationships.
Upcycle Parts Shop became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2019. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024.
That same year brought big changes. The shop expanded into the next-door storefront, a former hardware store, adding ground-level studio space.
Kaliya Smith also stepped in as executive director in early 2024. Then came national attention on The Kelly Clarkson Show’s Good Neighbor segment.
The shop was a finalist and received a grant from American Greetings. Not bad for a store full of bread tabs.
Open hours run Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Ohio makers, your next favorite afternoon is waiting.
