Julie Lavender has learned the true meaning behind the expression "from trash to treasure."

She and several of her classmates in Engineering 407 (Technology-Based Entrepreneurship) were inspired by that motto to create their new company, Liquor D-Lights.

The company, founded this semester, recycles liquor bottles into household objects, like lamps and salt-and-pepper shakers, and sells them to students who are eager to decorate their dorms and apartments.

Lavender (junior-industrial engineering) said the idea stemmed from an assignment the group received in their engineering class.

"Our original assignment was to go out and glean -- more people may be familiar with the term 'dumpster diving' -- and then brainstorm what we could do with our findings," she said. "We put our heads together and decided this would be a really neat way to use things most people throw away."

Chad Leck (senior-information and technology systems) said that although originally selling products was part of the class, they had to stop after an e-mail message from the College of Engineering said it was against Penn State policy to sell things for class.

So the group decided to venture out on its own, and what started out as a class assignment has flourished into a profitable business for the seven members.

Leck said downtown bars donate many of the materials.

"The bars give us empty liquor bottles for materials, so we don't have to spend a lot," he said. "We recently broke even in costs, which is great because now we're actually profiting."

The company also makes other products out of its recycled liquor products, like bottle cap push pins for bulletin boards and DVD holders made from wine crates.

"We try not to throw anything away -- even the glass we cut out at the bottom for the lamp I hope to turn into magnets or something," Lavender said. "It's something made for students by students so they're unique and inexpensive."

The average cost for a liquor-bottle lamp ranges from $15 to $20, and customers receive a $5 deduction if they supply the bottle.

Jeremy Brown (junior-civil engineering) said customers can special order products with their own materials or purchase merchandise already made.

"We make everything by hand, so you can use whatever kind of bottle or bulb you want," he said. "Right now we're working in one of the rooms in Hammond, but after the class is over we'll probably have to find a new workspace."

Although the company has sold around 35 lamps, it's still having a hard time finding downtown vendors to sell the products.

"Businesses downtown don't really want to work with independent companies," Lavender said. "The hardest part of this is definitely trying to market our products."

Right now the group is working on a Web site to showcase its merchandise, but until then, word of mouth seems to be the best option.

"I've been sitting at the arts and crafts fair at the HUB displaying our wine crates," Lavender said. "Business is picking up, and hopefully next semester we'll continue to see an increase."

Lavender said the project helped open her eyes to different possibilities with old material.

"Before I used to just throw stuff out and not think about it," she said. "But now, even when I go to the bars, I think 'What can I use?' "