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10 Creative Thrift Store Glassware Repurposing Ideas

Published by | 765 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article. - 4 Comments

Anyone who's ever walked into a thrift store knows there is a LOT of glassware that ends up there. Vintage snack sets, vases, serving platters, and Pyrex. Not to mention tons of mugs and drinking glasses.

For glass, the thrift store is their last stop on the way to the trash bin.

In this article, you will discover 10 inspired ways to breathe new life into those forgotten pieces. It's a great way to reduce waste, give new purpose to discarded items and save a few dollars while you're at it.

So whether you're an avid DIY enthusiast or simply looking to add a few unique touches to your home decor, jump right in and see some creative examples of upcycling glassware.

Reimagine and Revive: Creative Ideas for Repurposing Thrifty Store Glassware

Window Art With Glass Plates

Using thrift store glass plates and an old window to make a stained glass window.
Learn how to make a faux stained glass window using glass plates and serving pieces from the thrift store.
When the afternoon light hits this window it's nothing short of magical! This is one of my favorite projects. Ever.
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Easy Homemade Candles In Granny's Candy Dish

Repurposing a 1970's era candy dish from the thrift store into a candle.
This 1970's era candy dish transforms easily into a fun and funky candle. You can find different varieties of this type of candy dish at thrift stores all the time.
And whatever happened to having candy dishes on the coffee table? I think it's time we bring back that trend (my hips say no, but my mouth says yes).
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Easy DIY Bird Bath

DIY bird bath made with thrift store plates and vases.
This DIY bird bath was very inexpensive to make and has held up wonderfully over the years (I think I made it in 2021). All pieces, besides the glue to hold them together, were found in one shopping trip to my local thrift store.
Now the only problem is keeping the dog out of it since she thinks it's her very own water bowl.
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Easy Pressed Flower Craft | DIY Decorative Glass Jar

Glass jar decoupaged with dried pressed flowers setting on a wooden tree slab.
Although not technically a thrift store find (I purchased the storage jar at Walmart), similar glass canisters and containers can easily be found at thrifts and yard sales.
This pressed flower project was so easy to make and looks so cute sitting on my coffee table!
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Repurposed Vintage Snack Set Owl

Using a vintage snack set to create an owl.
Raiding the local thrift store for vintage snack sets and mismatched silverware will finally pay off!
This owl is a cute and easy way to repurpose those old snack sets that no one seems to use anymore.
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Spring Teacup Table Decoration

Plant pansies in thrift store teacups for DIY Easter and spring table decor. Would make creative favors or table number holders for weddings too!
Plant pansies in thrift store teacups for fun spring table decor.
And they don't have to be just for spring. These would make adorable table favors for weddings and bridal showers too!
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Pressed Glassware Makeover

How to upcycle thrift store glass to make unique and stylish home decor - a blue glass candy dish setting on a bronze serving tray.
A common pressed glass lidded dish gets a makeover to become a vibrant piece of home decor.
A unique paint job and placing fairy lights inside the dish take it up a notch!
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DIY Coffee Pot Terrarium

Coffee pot turned into a terrarium.
So many times at the thrift store you'll find incomplete coffee maker systems. For example, a coffee maker with no coffee pot or a pot with no coffee maker in sight. This is a cute way to upcycle those one-off coffee pots you run across.
Although I used real live plants in my terrarium, if you are not gardening-inclined you can also purchase faux succulents to "plant" in the terrarium. It's a cute project either way!
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Vintage Snack Set Bird Feeder

Vintage snack set repurposed into a bird feeder.
Those vintage snack sets people used to use in the 1960s instead of paper plates are all over the thrift stores. Seriously, I'm not sure if I've ever stepped into a thrift store without at least a few snack sets to choose from.
They make cute bird feeders though!
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Milk Glass Planter For Succulents

Using a milk glass bowl as a succulent planter.
Milk glass pieces are sort of having a thing right now. But they are still something you can start a collection of inexpensively. Most pieces are $2-$5 dollars at thrift stores.
I used this thrifted piece of milk glass to make a succulent planter with a twist. The twist? The succulents aren't real so you don't have to worry about forgetting to water them!
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So whether your local thrift store is overrun with vintage snack sets or full to the brim with glass florist vases, there's always something fun and new you can create with those pieces!

What's your favorite way to repurpose glassware?

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10 Quick and easy creative glassware repurposes for the home and garden.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary W

    Love these ideas, I have the pressed flowers from a project I did with granddaughters, and I collect milk glass!

    Reply

    • Pam Kessler

      Thank you! I keep meaning to do a post about my collection/addiction to milk glass. I just love that you can still buy it for a few dollars.

      Reply

  2. Colleen R

    Thanks so much for all these terrific ideas!

    Reply

    • Pam Kessler

      You are welcome! So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply

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