MSU Surplus Store

Repurpose with MSU Surplus: Wine cork corkboard

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:55:00 +0000

What do an old picture frame and wine corks have in common? They can be combined to make a desk-friendly corkboard! After finding an old frame for $.75 at the MSU Surplus Store and taking a collection of donated wine corks, I made something creative and useful.

What you need: Tacky Glue (a hot glue gun would work as well)

About 40 corks

Back of an old picture frame

Paint - if you want it.

Step 1 (optional): Paint the frame backing. Mine was in good condition so I didn't need to, but the corks won't cover everything, so if you want a splash of color, go ahead and paint it!

Step 2: Lay out your corks in the design you want. This gives you a better idea how they will fit before you start gluing them

Step 3: Start gluing! I just used a line of glue on each cork.

Step 4: Let dry. I used a book to speed up the process. It was dry in about two hours.

Check out our Pinterest board for other wine cork craft ideas!

RePurpose with MSU Surplus: Beaker vases

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:01:00 +0000

The MSU Surplus Store has a large collection of laboratory glassware that can easily be repurposed into beautiful vases, vessels, or containers. There are endless techniques and color combinations to creatively turn the glassware into decorations great for your home.

What you need:

Chemistry beakers (the Surplus Store always has a ton in stock)
Oil-based paint markers

Level of difficulty: Easy

Time: Less than 30 minutes

Step 1: Wash your glasses. You want to make sure the paint sticks to a clean surface.

Step 2: Choose the design. These designs are very easy and only require lines or dots, so it is difficult to mess up. Just make sure before you add another color the first color is dry! These designs are simple but they really add a great effect to your vases.

I found holding the glasses upside down made it a lot easier to draw the design. The design possibilities are endless!

RePurpose with MSU Surplus: Twine candle holder

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:28:00 +0000

What you need:

Clear glass container (I purchased mine at the Surplus Store).
Tacky glue
Twine

Level of difficulty: Easy

Time: Less than 30 minutes

Step 1: Wash the clear glass and make sure it is completely dry before you start gluing.

Step 2: Find your starting point. I started at the bottom of the glass and worked my way up. Place glue on the starting point and hold the twine down for a minute or two to make sure it sticks. Add additional glue and repeat this process with the twine around the entire glass. I didn’t use much glue around the whole glass, just a few dots here and there. Make sure you hold the glued strand down for a few seconds each time so it stays in place.

Disclaimer - if you have a cat they might just play with the twine roll if you drop it.

Step 3: Let the glass dry for about an hour, or until the glue dries clear. Add a candle and show off your repurposing skills!

Twine isn't necessarily the only material that can be used for this project. Some other ideas include:

Ribbon

Twigs

Tissue paper

Lace

Book pages

RePurpose with MSU Surplus: DIY coffee mugs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:48:00 +0000

Coffee mugs are the perfect holiday gift for the coffee or tea lover in your life. But instead of buying one that is already decorated, why not personalize it for your loved one? There are always tons of plain white mugs at the Surplus Store waiting to be turned into a treasured gift.

What you need: Coffee mugs
Tape (I used duct tape, but masking tape would work fine)
Oil based markers
Level of difficulty: Easy
Time: Less than 30 minutes

Step 1: Wash your mugs. You want to get all the dust and grime off so the paint sticks well to the mug.

Step 2: Choose your design. I decided to use a holiday themed design. It is easier to buy scrapbook stickers shaped in letters for this design but I cut mine out of duct tape I had laying around. I cut out the word "joy". You want to place your word wherever you think is the best spot and make sure the stickers are secure.

Step 3: Pick your colors. I originally wanted to use just red and green but I figured gold accents would make the colors pop.

Step 4: Time to decorate! This is the easy part. Just fill the entire mug with small dots of your colors. Once you are content with the way the mug looks, let it dry for 24 hours. Take the tape off, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Check out some other mugs I have made with the same technique, just different designs!

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:45:00 +0000

Electric vehicles have been around for over one hundred years, starting as early as the mid 1800's.

The first use of electric motor power was a "small drifter" with a mini electric motor and was built by Thomas Davenport in 1835. In 1838, Robert Davidson built an electric locomotive that could travel at four miles an hour. Meanwhile, some time between 1832 and 1839, Robert Anderson invented the first electric carriage. These three men contributed greatly to the electric vehicles we have today.

Electric cars give a significance decrease in air pollution, greenhouse gas and less dependence on foreign oil. They don't have tailpipes and therefore don't emit pollutants.

Miles Electric Vehicles was founded in 2004 by Miles Rubin. These vehicles were all-electric and primarily low-speed vehicles. We have two 2007 Miles Electric vehicles for sale at the Surplus Store - one runs and one doesn't. One is a parts car because it can be difficult to find parts needed.

HEV refers to hybrid electric vehicles, which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. Hybrid vehicles can reduce air emissions of smog-forming pollutants by up to 90 percent and cut carbon dioxide emissions in half.

We have a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid for sale a the Surplus Store as well.

Driving these environmentally friendly vehicles will serve a constant reminder about contributing to the earth's sustainability.

Construction and Demolition Repurpose Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:13:00 +0000

Michigan State University is always updating and improving campus buildings and grounds. So what happens to the construction and demolition waste materials when these jobs are completed? Fortunately, MSU Sustainability strives to recapture value from waste materials through various recycling and reclamation efforts, even going as far as sorting out dumpster bins to divert materials from the landfill.

The Surplus Store and Recycling Center takes sole responsibility for sorting and processing these materials to ensure maximum landfill diversion rates. Materials are sorted in hopes that the Surplus Store will be able to find good homes for the items. If no repurpose possibility is found, we try recycling the items, or worst case scenario, we are able to at least condense the materials by 60% capacity, saving on transportation costs and landfill trip charges.

Some people may ask, "What are we supposed to do with the construction and demolition materials, like scrap wood, offered at the Surplus Store?" To which we would answer that there is an abundance of projects for which these types of materials can be used. For instance, scrap wood can be used to create pallet furniture, raised bed gardens, lawn art, and much more. Let your imagination run wild!

For more ideas on what to make using MSU Surplus Store’s construction and demolition materials, be sure to check out our Pinterest boards exhibiting a wide selection of crafts and DIY projects.

Make Your Halloween Green!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 19:36:00 +0000

Halloween is quickly approaching and here at the MSU Surplus Store, we encourage you to have a green and safe Halloween!

DIY costumes:

Costumes will be one of a kind; you could even incorporate your favorite shows characters as your kid’s Halloween costumes. Making your own costumes can help you reuse materials, save money, and make memories with your kids.

Use what you already own:

Those reusable shopping bags, pillow cases, or baskets you have laying around are perfect to collect Halloween candy in during Trick-or-Treating. The $3 pumpkin bucket at the store might seem like a good idea, but why not save money and use your resources when you can?

Arrange a costume swap in your community:

Costume swaps allow fewer resources used to make new costumes. It also means less packaging, less transportation of the product and less waste! This once again can save money and allow items to be reused.

Use those fall items in your composting pile:

Throw those leaves in your compost pile! You can also use your whole pumpkin this Halloween. Save the seeds for roasting as a great snack, use the pulp in pies, soup, or other recipes, and when the holiday is over, use them in your compost!

After the holiday is over, donate your costume to the Surplus Store! Instead of letting it go to waste, let other people reuse those fairy wings or pirate costume. If not, save them to be reused next year, just don’t throw them away.

Bonus Friday Find-its

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 May 2014 21:14:00 +0000

Good luck! --Joel

Friday Find-it for 5/30/14

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 May 2014 18:41:00 +0000

Thanks for participating in the final Friday Find-it! This one is a little different from the last, but it promises to be just as fun.

The goal: Find Jabber Jaw in the pictures to win a prize!

Find him in any one (1) picture to earn a special Michigan State University sticker, or find him in any three (3) pictures to get a free cup of Dairy Store ice cream and get a picture with JJ during Public Sale hours on Friday, June 6, before he is retired for good. Here are the full instructions, if you're new to the game or need a reminder.

Entries are due by 6pm on Thursday, June 5. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Image 1:

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Image 2:

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Image 3:

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Image 4:

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Image 5:

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Book and Clothing sales every month!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:27:00 +0000

UPDATED with summer sale days!

Clothing Sales

Tuesday, May 13, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, May 16, 7:30am-3:30pm

Tuesday, Jun. 10, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, Jun. 13, 7:30am-3:30pm

Tuesday, Jul. 8, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, Jul. 11, 7:30am-3:30pm

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, Aug. 8, 7:30am-3:30pm

A special selection of clothes will be prepared near the Customer Pick-Up area (through the bay door) for the prices below on Tuesday, and then reduced prices on Friday. After the Friday sale day, all remaining clothes will be donated to a nonprofit, and a new selection will be prepared for the next month's sale.

T-shirts $.25

Sweaters $.50

Hoodies $2

Skirts $1

Dresses $2

Pants $1

Shoes $1

Coats $3

Blankets $3

Book Sales

Tuesday, May 27, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, May 30, 7:30am-3:30pm

Tuesday, Jun. 24, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, Jun. 27, 7:30am-3:30pm

Tuesday, Jul 22., 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, Jul 25., 7:30am-3:30pm

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7:30am-5:30pm

Friday, Aug. 22, 7:30am-3:30pm

On Tuesdays, a special selection of books will be prepared near the Customer Pick-Up area (through the bay door) for $.50 per book. On Fridays, the same selection will be $.25 per book. After the Friday sale day, all remaining books will recycled, and a new selection will be prepared for the next month's sale.

Go Green this Move-In

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:10:00 +0000

As you or your student is preparing to head back to MSU for the upcoming school year, there are many ways to get ready and be green! Check out our helpful "Green Back to School" tips below, and be sure to follow Be Spartan Green on Facebook and Twitter for more green tips, events and news.

Before school supply shopping, check all of last year's supplies to see what you can reuse.
Make a shopping list early enough that you have time to think about what you'll really need or use. When you eventually do go shopping, stick to the list.
Think big and small. Buying in bulk can save on packaging and costs, while some lesser-used items (like certain foods and art supplies) can go bad before you use them all.
Reusable or refillable pencils, water bottles, lunch boxes, baggies, book covers, and binders will last week after week and year after year. Find ones made from recycled and recyclable material when possible.
Printer paper made from recycled materials is increasingly easy to find, and printing on both sides of the page helps reduce paper waste even further. You can use the backs of single-sided documents for scrap paper before recycling them.
Used goods or clothes can be just as good as new, and they're usually much cheaper. The Surplus Store has a full selection of furniture, housewares, electronics, clothes, and more.
Walk, bike, skate, or bus to and from class, and team up with your roommates or neighbors to take turns carpooling back home on weekends.

Friday Find-it for 8/2/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 17:39:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it! We're getting all the items ready for our Vintage Sale on August 13.

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a prize. This week, we're bringing back the Spartan football helmets, and you CAN win again if you got this prize last year!

Here are the full instructions, if you're new to the game or need a reminder.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Entries are due by 6pm on Tuesday, August 6. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Friday Find-it for 7/26/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 16:28:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a prize. This week is your last chance to earn a Be Spartan Green reusable shopping bag.

Here are the full instructions, if you're new to the game or need a reminder.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Entries are due by 6pm on Tuesday, July 30. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Free books for schools and libraries

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 08:29:00 +0000

The program we introduced last month is fully underway, as we're now offering books for donation to certified public teachers and librarians. Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 3:30pm, a portion of the books are removed from the Sales Floor and are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. There's no limit to the amount you can request, but we will not allow holds, nor will we provide transportation or delivery--all items must be claimed and taken by 3:30pm that day.

We always support reducing waste and reusing everything we can, so this is another opportunity to add extra lives to these books before they're recycled. Bring a valid school or library ID and a brief letter of confirmation on official letterhead to get registered during any of our open hours.

Spartans athletic gear, Ag Expo special hours

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 19:54:00 +0000

Today, July 12, we'll be featuring a wide selection of athletic equipment from Spartan teams! Come get decked out in green and white, we'll have baseball, softball, and football gear, apparel, shoes, cleats, and more to keep you warm, cool, safe, dry, or whatever you need for all your summer and fall sports. We've also discounted the game-worn gear already in the store, including the MSU Football jerseys, for Friday only!

Then next week, July 16-18, we'll be at the Michigan Ag Expo! Visit us at the expo grounds northwest of the Commuter Lot on the corner of Mt. Hope and Farm Lane, the expo is Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am-5pm and Thursday 9am-3pm. We'll be open special Public Sale hours that week, so the full schedule will be: Tuesday 7:30am-5:30pm, Wednesday and Thursday 12:00pm-3:30pm, and Friday 7:30am-3:30pm. See you soon!

Friday Find-it for 7/12/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 15:59:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Be Spartan Green reusable shopping bag.

Here are the full instructions, if you're new to the game or need a reminder.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, July 16. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Friday Find-it for 6/28/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 17:20:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Be Spartan Green reusable shopping bag. Pick up your prize by July 12, and you'll also get a special "Surplustomer" bumper sticker!

Here are the full instructions, if you're new to the game or need a reminder.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, July 2. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Friday Find-it for 6/21/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:28:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Be Spartan Green reusable shopping bag!

Here are the full (updated) instructions, if you're new to the game.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, June 25. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Friday Find-it instructions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 22:13:00 +0000

As you probably noticed, every picture from the Sales Floor (New In-Store Items, as well as Facebook and Twitter) features a skull with googly eyes named Jabber Jaw. We're not entirely sure where he came from, but he's there for size reference.

At 2pm every Friday from late Spring to early Fall, we have a little extra fun by hiding him in photos around the facility. If you find him, you win a prize! You can guess as many times as you want, and you can play every week, but you can only win each prize once. Prizes usually change every 4-6 weeks, so there are plenty of opportunities to win. Here are more detailed instructions for how enter:

Save a copy of the image onto your computer
Find Jabber Jaw
Draw a circle around him using Paint, PhotoShop, or an online image editor like Pixlr
Send the circled image back to us in a Facebook message before 6pm the following Tuesday
Come to the Surplus Store during Public Sale hours to claim your prize!

Friday Find-it for 6/14/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:47:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Be Spartan Green reusable shopping bag!

Here are the instructions, if you haven't played before.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, June 18. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Next Friday Find-it prize: Be Spartan Green reusable shopping bag

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:37:00 +0000

Congrats to everyone who won a Sparty medallion coaster, that was our most successful prize so far!

Up next, in celebration of our new alliance as MSU Sustainability, we'll be giving away these reusable Be Spartan Green shopping bags.

They're durable and lightweight, and they save you the trouble of stockpiling plastic bags after every grocery trip. Find Jabber Jaw in this week's Friday Find-it picture to win! (Here's how, if you're new or need a reminder)

Be Spartan Green!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:31:00 +0000

Our whole department (us, Recycling, Bikes, Storage, and Books) has joined the new Infrastructure Planning & Facilities unit of MSU, more specifically the Sustainability department. What does that mean? We're now part of Be Spartan Green! Part of President Simon's "Boldness by Design" plan in 2005, Be Spartan Green was created to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives by Spartans across campus and around the world. The commitment was to expand the basic "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" mantra to "Reduce, Reuse/Recycle, Research/Re-educate, Redesign, and Rethink," so it makes a lot of sense that we're now sharing space, both physically and mentally, with Be Spartan Green to combine our teams and efforts.

The change shouldn't affect your shopping experience much. Though, it will allow us to continue growing our presence on campus and in the community, like when we combined forces with the Bikes Service Center last year. We're pretty excited, and it'll bring bigger and better opportunities for you to Go Green!

Friday Find-it for 6/7/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:57:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Sparty medallion coaster! Last chance for this prize, next week will be a new one.

Here are the instructions, if you haven't played before.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, June 11. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Friday Find-it for 5/31/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 May 2013 13:35:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Sparty medallion coaster!

Here are the instructions, if you haven't played before.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, June 4. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!

Friday Find-it for 5/24/13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:27:00 +0000

It's time for this week's Friday Find-it!

Find Jabber Jaw in the picture to win a Sparty medallion coaster!

Here are the instructions, if you haven't played before.

Click here to view a full-size copy of the image, and click the image for a lower-resolution copy to download.

Submissions are due by 6pm on Tuesday, May 28. Send us a Facebook message with your submission (or questions). Good luck!