Make the Old New and Enter Our Upcycle Competition

Need a mood boost? Tap into your creativity and participate in The Greater Iowa City Area HBA Upcycle Competition. The contest runs June 15 – 26.

Upcycling is taking something old or unused – such as furniture, objects or material lying around your home you haven’t been able to donate to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity (IVHFH) ReStore – and constructing a new usable, higher-quality product. For example, turn a wood ladder into a bookshelf or an old armoire into a wine cabinet. The Internet is a treasure trove of more upcycling examples.

Directions for those who wish to enter are:
Step 1: Find that something needing repurposed.
Step 2: Create!
Step 3: Take photos of your masterpiece.
Step 4: Email photos by 5 p.m., Friday, June 26 to karyl@hbaofic.org. Include your first name and city. Images will be used on social media.

Judges are representatives from HBA-member IVHFH ReStore and the Iowa City Area HBA Vocational Training Council, which assists area schools. Winners will be announced the week of June 29. Prizes, courtesy of Locals Love Us – ICR and IVHFH ReStore, are:

1st Place: $50 Gift Certificate to IVHFH ReStore, $50 to Herteen & Stocker Jewelers and $25 to Every Bloomin’ Thing.
2nd Place: $25 Gift Certificate to IVHFH ReStore, $50 to Midtown Family Restaurant and $15 to Woofables Gourmet Dog Bakery.
3nd Place: $25 Gift Certificate to IVHFH ReStore, $20 to We Run and $15 to Woofables Gourmet Dog Bakery.

“Many people are still spending a lot of time at home and this an opportunity to take something old they may have unearthed during recent isolation cleaning and make it new again,” said Heath Brewer, IVHFH executive director. “Having IVHFH ReStore involved is perfect, since that’s what our business is all about. We can’t wait to see the submissions.”