Recycled Craft Ideas

Contests, Crafts, Green Crafting, Trends No Comments

Congratulations to Sheri B. from Platteville, WI who was randomly chosen as the winner of our Recycled Craft Ideas Drawing! They will receive a $100 CreateForLess shopping spree. Her recycled craft tip was… 

“My grandmother never wasted anything. If it had an original life it could also have a second, or even a third revival before it ‘bit the dust’ … as grandma would say. Grandma Jo taught me how make curtains, pillowcases, dishtowels, etc. out of feedsacks … which were pretty and all-cotton. She also made rugs out of cotton dresses, old sheets, old curtains … you name it and it could be reused. I purchase sheets from thrift shops and turn them into pretty “green” rugs. I never have to “sell” them … they seem to sell themselves and I feel good making something individually unique, beautiful, and very sturdy from unwanted material. Thanks Grandma for giving me truly “green” skills even before green was popular”.

Here’s some more of our favorite recycled craft idea submitted by customers.  Thanks to everyone who entered! 

“This is one of many beautiful cards I make using vintage papers from cards from the past. My customers also frame these too. This one would be so cute framed for a child’s nursery. I used modern blank cardstock to that I glued on beautiful new flowery paper of today and on top of that I glued down the vintage paper and I used stickers of flowers as well. I finished off with a pretty pink ribbon with flowers on it. It comes with a blank white envelope for gifting”.

Glenna N.
Manchester, NH

“Using an old cigar box or shoe box you can create a keep sake box through the art of decoupage. I always have tons of magazines or catalogs. So, I cut out images to paste onto the box. I also use everyday items around the house. I started a collection of recycled items to use on upcoming art projects like keep sake boxes: bottle caps, old film strips, playing cards, buttons, shells, etc. After gluing all the items onto the box you can follow up with a coat or two of Mod Podge or for an even sleeker look try a lacquer. I found that decoupage doesn’t stop at boxes, but you can also decoupage notebooks, old serving trays and even used furniture for a new look”.

J. N.
Columbus, OH

“I made a mobile for my 3-year old son’s room using an old CD, photo paper, toilet paper tube, felt, newspaper, glow in the dark stickers, paper clip, streamers, and string that we had lying around the house. I used Photoshop to create an image of the earth, moon, the Laurie Berkner band playing their instruments with space helmets on, and my son playing a Rock Band guitar and space helmet on the old photo paper. I fashioned a rocket ship, modeled after the one on the Rocket ship Run CD, out of felt scraps leftover from Christmas stocking project and stuffed it with the toilet paper tube and newspaper. I added flames made out of streamers I got from a local recycling group’s “mystery box”. Then I drilled holes into the CD, covered it an image of the earth, and hung all of the pieces from it using cotton string that my mother was planning to throw out when she moved. I hung it under his ceiling fan using on old paper clip. The “band” dances around when the fan is on and it glows in the dark. The best part is that even though I didn’t buy anything to make this, it doesn’t look like it was made from recycled parts”.

Christine P.
Webster, NY

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Earth Hour 2009: Light A Candle, Turn Off The Lights

Crafts, Green Crafting, Holidays, Trends No Comments

Check out EarthHour.Org!

We are asked to turn off all our lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. According to the website, 538 cities in 75 countries have committed to participate in 2009.  Imagine that!

The news caught my eye because my husband Ken told me his goal for 2009 is for us to use less electricity.  Although I try to be as green as possible, my first response to him was to ask if our electric bill had gotten too high.  He said no, but it was important not to waste energy.  Well shame on me! 

We are going to participate and turn off our lights during Earth Hour 2009 and I hope many of you will also participate.

Don’t forget that today, April 22nd, is Earth Day!

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Seeing Green, Thinking Green, Being Green!

Green Crafting, Projects, Trends No Comments

I’ve noticed over the last few years that I am seeing the word GREEN more than I usually do in an average day.  Green is my favorite color so I notice any shade of it, even words.  Most people think I like green because it symbolizes money, but I picked out the color green way back in kindergarten so I don’t think money is my inspiration.  No, I like green because it always reminds me of fresh mown grass, mossy hills filled with wildflowers, and walks through gardens and woods.  Green is nature and in nature is my favorite place to be!

But back to my original thought, seeing the word GREEN being tossed about!  This type of green means being kind to our earth.  It means recycle, reuse, reduce, and refuse!  At first I thought it might just be another celebrity cause that would last about as long as a popcycle on a summer day, but I think I’m going to have to put my slightly jaded assumption in the trash!  Living green is becoming part of our daily lifestyle and it’s a wonderful thing.  Especially since green crafting is coming into its own!

Check out these Green Crafting Articles, Blogs, and Websites!

Green Crafting, Can It Make A Difference?

Crafting A Green World

Needlepointers Going Green

Green Options

Going Green With Crafting

Green Crafting Ideas to Do with Your Grandchildren

RecycleCindy On Green Planet Crafting

Green Craft Projects

My green pledge is to be wise in my purchases, recycle materials instead of just tossing them, reuse what I have on hand, refuse to use harmful products, and make a point of complimenting others who are doing their part in keeping our planet safe and beautiful.

Please share your green craft sites with us!  And let us know what you are doing to stay green in your creativity!

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