How I turned a cherished throw away into a useful item again

The morning before Mother's Day I filled my mug with hot water to make some hot chocolate. After stirring the hot liquid I noticed that some was leaking out the side of the mug. Upon closer inspection I found a hairline crack that ran from the top of the mug to the bottom.

The mug was a special mug, it was my "mom" mug that was presented to me at my baby shower over 15 years ago.


It was with a heavy heart that I placed the mug in the trash that morning. A few hours later my husband was putting something in the kitchen trash when he asked me why I was throwing out the mug. I told him it was cracked and added that the mug held a lot of memories besides hot liquids. He then asked me why I didn't think of making it into something like a holder for fake flowers or something like that. I then remembered that a good friend had made pincushions out of small dishes and knick knack items. I removed the mug from the trash, washed it and so began the "mom" mug's life as a large pincushion.

Follow me as I show you what I did to my mug:

First I filled it with packing "peanuts".


Notice the other side of the mug reads " If I start to rant and rave and babble, don't be alarmed..."
Next I added some cotton batting.


I then cut a piece of coordinating fabric and put it over the top. I hot glued the fabric in place on the inside of the mug. Here is the finished pincushion:


I am so thankful for my husband for reminding me to think more artistically before I throw something so special out.