Sunday, April 10, 2011

Seeking flip flop refashion innovations...

A message from Refashion Co-op follower Jill:

What I have been wondering for some time, and thought that your contributors might have ideas on, is what to do with rubber and plastic flip-flops that are no longer useful. You know, when they aren't so worn out that they have holes in the soles, but are so worn out that you can feel every pebble in the road and the stoppers for the plastic thong are giving you blisters through the rubber sole.

Where I live there aren't recycling facilities, but I hate throwing things out if something better can be made from them.

Anyone got any genius ideas?
If so, let us know - add a comment below.

Bryony
Refashion Co-op Editor On Duty

6 comments:

poet said...

If you have two such pairs in the same size, you could try hot-glueing the soles from one to the other for extra support. Or you could re-cover them completely in fabric and use them indoors only.

Jenni said...

What about coasters? You could cut large circles out of them, and glue felt to them or sew fabric cases around the rubber if it is ugly.

Or glue a stack of rubber together, and hollow out the center for a pencil holder?

I'm trying to come up with a use for small chopped up pieces of rubber. Some kind of filling? Maybe instead of rocks for drainage at the bottom of flower pots? :)

Tis a puzzle!

Anonymous said...

Can you cut the soles into shapes and use them for printing?

dameglendamade said...

hmm that is interesting. maybe you can make a mobile with that, but i dont know if it's safe for nursery, but you can decor other room with that. i have mobile from wine cork and now thinking about making rubber mobile because of your post! :) you cut the rubber sole into your desired shapes, paint it with your favourite colors, make a hole then thread suitable threads (to bear the weight of the rubber), and tie each shapes on a (lightweight) cross/ring and finally mount it on the ceiling. ideas : you can make it seasonal, like leaves for autumn, snowflakes for winter, or tree/gingerbreadman/candystick/snowman for xmas, flowery for spring summer etc.

Becky said...

I've seen doormats made from them--cut into little rectangles and attached together somehow.

Nethwen said...

Thanks for the ideas. I'll add them to the pot and see what comes out.