Portable Filing Pouches

Thought of a new craft project yesterday. I call it "portable filing pouches."

Milk Thistle Limbs & Tin Cans

Well, today, I hung curtains over my messy craft area to hide it. I nailed a tin can to the wall, then nailed flip-flop thongs, forming a circle, from a pair of discarded flip-flops to the ceiling. I found a milk thistle limb in the yard long enough to reach from the can to the flip-flop circle. I had to take the top hem out of the curtains to get the branch to fit. I wanted something light--which the milk thistle branch was--so that it wouldn't pull everything down from the weight.

Recycled Bottle Lids/Caps

Alter a Bra to Fit

Do you own a Sports Bra that is too tight?  Just cut vertically down the middle and insert fabric between the cut. Pin to each side and sew.

Voila! A bra that fits.  Alternately, you could add fabric with a zipper in the middle.

Recycle Coca Cola caps for cool art work

Recycle Coca Cola caps for cool art work

Plastic Bottle Cap Art

PEACE

One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)

by Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter, performed by The Original Caste (1970)
This song was performed by Jinx Dawson and Coven in the movie "Billy Jack" (1971)

 

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.

On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.

Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

Now the valley cried with anger,
"Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.

Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

From ArtPerspective.com

Sold at Etsy Fabric Flower Necklace

Make Jewelry/Jewelry Boxes--Recycle Egg Shell Cartons

Make Jewelry Out of Egg Cartons


I hate heavy jewelry. It just makes me feel "weighed down." So, I came up with the idea of making jewelry out of egg cartons! What lighter material could you find? And, if you lose an earring or a bracelet, it's easily replaceable!


Just cut the egg carton cups into whatever shapes you want--oval, round, square, triangle. Attach to ear wires (for pierced ears). You are done!


http://jewelry-making.com/dropearrings.htmlHere is a link that teaches how to make beaded jewelry. Just use the same materials listed here, but replace beads with egg shell cartons. 

Turn Egg Cartons into Jewelry Boxes

Get a large egg carton and paint the egg carton with some paint mixed in with a bit of white glue. This will help it stick to the waxy surface. Let dry. Trim some cloth with pinking shears (c) and glu earound the insideedge of a tin pan. Then place the egg carton inside the tin pan (f). Decorate the top of the egg carton lid with shells, imitation jewels, beads, string, macaroni noodles, or whatever you think will look nice. The egg carton works nice for separating your jewelry.

Olympia Dumpster Divers » Blog Archive » Decorative Recycling

Olympia Dumpster Divers » Blog Archive » Decorative Recycling

Crochet an Amigurumi Cupcake

Crochet an Amigurumi Cupcake

Sewing Straight Pins

Who knew different size straight pins worked best for different fabrics?

Cupcake Pin Cushion with self-storage from a sock

Here is a Frito Lay cheese dip tin can turned into a cute little cupcake pin-cushion. The best part about this pin-cushion is that you can store extra straight pins inside! I used a sock with red toes to cover this. Simply, cover the bottom by pulling the can inside the sock. Then, cut the sock allowing enough extra fabric to tuck under and glue on the bottom or sew, if so desired. Next, find some foam and cover the lid. Then, cover the foam and lid with the remaining sock and twist the top. Pin or sew the twist into place. Voila! a covered cupcake pincushion with self-storage.

Shirt with tabbed pockets

Satchel with Zippered flap, side and front pockets, and removeable handle

This one is a mess, but wanted you to see the idea. Take plastic water jugs and cut out letters, then wrap in yarn or fabric. This one isn't done.

Upcycling Plastic Water Jugs

If you, like me, have to buy water because your home water is undrinkable, here are some ways to recycle the empty jugs.

Cut the jug into sections and use for picture frames. Paint or cover with fabric.

Use the bottom container part for water bowls for your pets. Cats, especially, like shallow dishes to drink out of and clean their paws and whiskers.

Make Easter baskets by cutting the jug below the handle. Paint the bottom half or cover with fabric if you like.

Using stencils, trace around the stencils on the jug. Cut out, and decorate with fabric, paint, silk flowers or pretty paper. This works really well for letter stencils, and is easier and cheaper than chipboard stencils.

Or, make stencils with the plastic water jugs to use on fabric, paper, chipboard, even food

Use the bottom part, turned upside down, as a rain hat.

Webecoist upcycling wood pallets

For more ideas using wood pallets, check out this link--http://webecoist.com/2010/04/07/art-of-upcycling-20-diy-wood-pallet-reuse-project-ideas/

Wood pallets upcycled into lawn furniture

Wood pallets are used for the table top and bottom with posts in between for the legs.Wood pallets are also used for the seat and back of chairs.

Craft, Design, Sew, Crochet, Recycle/Upcycle

This blog is about designing and making things, whether that be through sewing, crocheting, knitting, or whatever. I am a firm believer in recycling/upcycling, so you will see items that you might normally pitch being used in innovative ways to create value from, well, trash. For instance, under the Sewing page, I describe how to use holey socks for making a purse or making crafts, such as an Easter bunny.

I hope you enjoy and please leave comments, links, and let me know if you find this useful. That is my goal, after all, to have a useful blog.

So, please check the links out on the right for everything contained in this blog.