Up-cycled carpet pet bed by Helder Santos

I’m a hands-on kind of girl and I know my way around some power tools, so I’m a much greater fan of exploring the ways that creativity can transform an already existing object into a completely different one, than I am of staring at a blank sketchbook, waiting for an idea to hit me upside the head.  (See Design Within Reach’s Champagne Chair Contest for teeny, tiny inspiration.) When the new creation helps transmute landfill-destined trash into beautiful and functional stools, handbags, slippers or pet beds - well then I’m a giddy little garbage geek.  (And I know what my next project will be.  Er…projects will be.)

Ample Sample is a design contest aimed at repurposing the myriad carpet samples from showrooms, architects, decorators and the like, and takes it one step further by actually including links to the blueprints or directions for making the items yourself. No really, they want you to snag the design and head to your own workbench! A wonderful marriage of DIY ethos and super-style, if you ask me.

You can view all of the entries or just the winners, but I’m kind of partial to the rug mug (simple and quick but oh! the utility), the green screen, and the carpetmat. Hey, all you bike nuts should make yourselves some of the messenger bags!

This year’s deadline is April 6th, so go get inspired already!