FreshRetroGallery by Elizabeth Knaus Shops

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Good ideas to repurpose

Want to learn how to organize accessories?

 

Where are your scarves, caps, mittens and boots?

 

How fast can you find what you’re looking for?

A variety of outerwear can be easily accessible. Here’s a fun way to stop wasting time searching through a plethora of pieces ideal for every temperature and type of precipitation.

Artist trading card ATC front.


Artist trading card front, microwave oven rack, ATC size 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Artist trading card front, microwave oven rack, ATC size 2.5 x 3.5 inches
 

What’s the rack in new microwaves for?

In olden days, metal wasn’t permitted in microwaves, so I didn’t feel up to experimentation with the rack in my new microwave and I tucked it away. Have you ever thrown something out, then shortly after, thought of a great way you could have used it? I often challenge myself to innovate salvaged items; eventually, I repurposed it!

Artist trading card ATC back.

Title of the piece: Repurposed Rack • Media used: pencil, watercolor, Sharpies on natural parchment style paper • Date created: 2.8.2025 • Artist name and signature: Elizabeth Knaus • Group or swap information: good ideas • Artist contact info (website, email, etc.): freshretrogallery

I’m thankful for God-given gifts, creativity and good ideas.

Though undeserved, the Holy Spirit gives important inspiration provided for all sinful people to have mercy in Christ who died to save us. When the faith is received in baptism, comfort is taken by living in daily remembrance of this Power which inspires digging into God’s Word as well as being absolved and strengthened by participating in the Church as often as possible. Pray with me,

Grant us a faith that perseveres until the end, O Lord. Move us by Your Spirit, that our good works continually glorify You and benefit our neighbors. Amen. The Lutheran Study Bible (Matthew 25)

Surprisingly fun inspiration pops into my head, too, like how to repurpose a piece of junk. Communication is a healthy part of relating, so when I feel gratefully nudged, I’ll share what runs through my mind, whether it be important for eternal life, or simple organization ideas. Thankful for opportunities to do so, I pray my words and illustrations are helpful, considerate and generous.

Scarf organization on the inside of coat closet door.

I tied a bandana for a little cushion on a wreath hook shown on the opened door of coat closet. A vintage wooden pant hanger on that holds a repurposed microwave oven rack, hung to hold a variety of winter scarves and a neoprene face mask designed for cold weather.
A bandana creates cushion tied on a wreath hook, shown on the opened door of coat closet. Upon that, a vintage wooden pant hanger holds a repurposed microwave oven rack. All is hung to organize a variety of winter scarves, plus a neoprene face mask designed for cold weather.

The microwave rack makes a way to easily organize scarves.

The coat closet door microwave rack organizer works great for quick scarf picks which easily pull through the rail slots. On the floor, wire racks found at a thrift shop work well to stack boots.

Masking tape labled, “shelf for microwave” just in case I need to remember what it was originally designed for.
Marked with a masking tape label “shelf for microwave” so no one needs to wonder what the rack was originally designed for.

Clear bags make caps and mittens easy to find.

caps and mittens in clear bags tied to hanger in closet
Caps and mittens in clear bags tied to hanger in closet.

This homemade closet organizer’s helpful features: 
  • clear
  • compact
  • moveable
  • hangs at convenient height to dig into
  • inexpensive

The repurposed strong plastic bags shown originally contained mailing tube end caps for FreshRetroGallery Family Tree charts for descendants as well as ancestry of children and ancestry of couples available at Etsy and Amazon. You’re always welcome to browse my shops! I hope the things I offer serve a purpose for you or bring you meaningful inspiration. 

 

Learn more and shop prompts and ATC papers

Monday, January 20, 2025

Good ideas to upcycle

What’s too good to toss?

 

What do you do with leftovers?

 

Which new ways are best?

Upcycling is a word for making something new out of an item that might otherwise be thrown away. 

Artist trading card ATC: What is too good to toss?
Artist trading card ATC: What is too good to toss?

For example, you don’t need to waste the tiny chunks leftover in the powdery mixture at the bottom of a jar of honey-roasted peanuts if you save it to season popcorn. First, add melted butter for its rich, creamy, savory flavor with a hint of sweetness, then, sprinkle the honey roasted peanut leftovers and shake to mix. Sweet-salty snack seasonings are worth keeping! Finally, any kernels that refused to pop are tossed in the trash.  

Back side of artist trading card

Title of the piece: upcycle • Media used: marker and gel pen on natural parchment style paper • Date created: 1.10.2025 • Artist name and signature: Elizabeth Knaus • Group or swap information: good ideas • Artist contact info (website, email, etc.): freshretrogallery
Title of the piece: upcycle • Media used: marker and gel pen on natural parchment style paper • Date created: 1.10.2025 • Artist name and signature: Elizabeth Knaus • Group or swap information: good ideas • Artist contact info (website, email, etc.): freshretrogallery

Discern what to receive, keep, and toss away.

If you’re creative, you might keep tools, save materials, design and create things that benefit others. You enjoy the process as well as the result of sharing. 

The Creator of the universe renews His creatures and upcycles the whole creation.

Opportunities and unique abilities are designed for us by our Creator. God carries us in the faith—a gift in Holy Baptism which identifies people as His beloved children. Guided by the Holy Spirit, equipped to walk in the newness of life, the one who receives the faith in Christ is provided brilliant wisdom that comes by hearing God’s Word.

This powerful spiritual gift supplies a grace-filled gratitude that generates production of gentle, loving, good and beneficial work. Sinners are saved from their deserved destiny hell when, by the faith, they grasp the authority of Christ, His innocent arms spread at the cross for us to remove sin. Certain hope comforts all who rest in the knowledge that one day, Jesus will return to gather his brothers and sisters into an upcycled perfect new creation absent of sin and sorrow!

The Word endures forever to cover this temporary earthly disaster. 

Since the Heavenly Father hates sin and cares about us, He traded, lowered, His Only Son to redeem us. Jesus willingly humbled Himself, died for us and rose from the grave to cover us as the Only Way everyone desperately needs in order to please God. Everyone rejecting Truth will die eternally; yet people who do receive Christ’s power for the blessing of repentance can’t be condemned and will also be raised from the grave.

The Spirit reveals and guides in Truth, reminding us to flee evil—get rid of selfishness, pride, arrogance, rudeness and idols. Because everyone fails in many ways, Jesus cleared the path. Thankfully, God doesn’t require that we rely on government, science, knowledge, what we own, feel, decide, do or create to accomplish anything according to His purpose which is to move and keep us depending on the work of Christ. 

The Counselor carries people through thick and thin.

Spoken Word and Sacraments give and refill the faith. In these, we eagerly grasp opportunities to confess alongside other people within the Church, consume the Word (His body and blood in-with-under bread and wine) and hear the comfort of absolute forgiveness. Being recharged regularly with Scripture’s promise of salvation by grace in Christ, depending on His mercy, releases frustrations—both personal, plus that which results from sins inflicted upon us. The faith is fed and strengthened to fight against the devil’s temptations. By grace, we are released from the weakness of fallen human nature that would rather waste, ignore, twist, abuse, reject and toss God’s gifts away. The Light redirects focus away from self accomplishment and greed, to humbly trust the work of Jesus for forgiveness and peace.

We don’t realize all the ways.

Childbirth, good days, times of wandering, difficult seasons, death—God compassionately works in and through His baptized children for good, benefit of others, and protection. The Lord’s gentleness, kindness, patience, peace, love, goodness, faithfulness, joy and self-control are gifts of life to hold firmly. Gratitude of the Good News in Christ who finished the saving work for us is ours to generously share.

Do you have questions or are you looking for such a place of spiritual growth? Locate a congregation near you.

Artist trading card ATC examples.

Are you wondering what to create, how to trade, what to put on the back of artist trading cards or what size to make them? Learn more about ATCs at FreshRetroGallery.

Front and back of artist trading card, size 2.5 by 3.5 inch, What is too good to toss? upcycle; good ideas

What size are artist trading cards? 2.5x3.5"
What size are artist trading cards? 2.5x3.5"
 

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