Thursday, December 3, 2009

How to Make a Frosty the Snowman Classroom Treat Container



Frosty the Snowman Treat Containers

These cute classroom treat containers are made from recycled or scrap materials.  Fill them with small wrapped candy, top them with the Snowman Head Ornament.  You will need to visit the link to print off the directions on how to make the hat.

OPTION 1

Items Needed: 

-items per hat pattern (see link below)
-ping pong balls
-cardboard toilet paper tubes
-clear tape
-white construction paper
-tacky glue
-scissors
-ruler
-black paint, and pencil top eraser for buttons
-optional:  sytrofoam meat/fruit tray for a paint pallet
-orange and black permanent markers to draw snowman face

 


Step 1:  Make these practical hat ornaments with scrap yarn.  You could also use school colors.  You need a 1 inch cut piece of paper towel tube, yarn, scissors, ruler, and scrap flat cardboard to make these. 

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Snowflake Ornament ~ Recycled Foam Food Trays

Snowflake Ornament

Recycle your white Styrofoam food trays into these whimsical and beautiful snowflakes. This craft is for adults only.

Items Needed:
1 - Exacto Knife and cutting board
1 - White foam food tray per ornament
1 - pattern from the the Internet (see below) You will need Computer, Internet Access and paper
1 - piece of scotch or clear tape
1 - white glue
1 - piece of scrap paper
1 - blue glitter
1 - needle and white thread
1 - scissors


Pattern: Snowflake (Copy image to a Word document and reduce to 3 1/2 inches in diameter, print on white paper, and cut a circle around the snowflake pattern) Do not cut the exact pattern out yet.

Step 1: Wash and dry your foam trays. You can sterilize them by placing them on the top shelf of your dishwasher.

Step 2: Print and cut out your pattern (just cut a round edge around the snowflake pattern.

Step 3: Place a small piece of scotch tape on the back of the pattern and tape to the inside of the foam tray.

Step 4: With your exacto knife, carefully and gently cut on the pattern. When you are done. Remove the paper pattern, and gently go over the cuts to gently remove the snowflake from the tray.

Step 5: Place your cut snowflake onto a piece of scrap paper. Take your white glue and make lines in any pattern onto the top of the snowflake.

Step 6: Sprinkle with blue glitter (or other color of your choice). Gently knock the excess glitter off onto the paper. Fold your paper in half and carefully pour your glitter back into the container it came from.

Step 7: Allow the ornament to dry and make a hanger by threading you needle and gently pushing it through one edge of the snowflake. Tie string ends into a knot.

ENJOY! Make Your Holidays Special!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Green Girl Giveaway ~ Ends November 9, 2009

Go to the Web site RemedyLife.com/gogreen and enter your best recycling tip for a chance to win a reversible tote bag.

I found this contest in a free Healthy Living Medizine at the local grocery store.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

How to Make Christmas Ornaments Using Recycled Plastic Lids (Flexible) or Bottles

Items Needed:
1 plastic, flexible colored lid (Peanut can, Hot Cocoa Can, Coffee Can etc)
1/8 inch metal hole punch
Aluminum Crochet hook, size D/3-3.25MM
100% cotton white yarn (the type you use for dishcloths)
Bell (or other) Cookie cutter
Pencil
Sharp scissors



Step 1: Place a cookie cutter onto the inside of the plastic lid. Trace around it with a pencil or pen (this is somewhat difficult to do, but indentations will be left also). With sharp scissors, cut your shape out.


Step 2: Punch holes evenly around your cut out shape, with a 1/8 inch hole punch.



Step 3: Single crochet around your plastic, inserting your crochet hook into each hole as you go. This size hook barely fits into this size hole, so be patient. Most lids are big enough for a 2 to 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter shape.

Do not tie off yet. Crochet about 16 stitches for your loop, then attach it to the beginning stitch with a slip stitch. Tie off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: You can also cut shapes from the sides of plastic bottles. Be sure to wash and dry your bottle before cutting your shape. You may also need a sharp craft knife to separate your (solid colored) bottle in half first.

TIPS: These are fun to make and decorate with. You could cut a photo of a friend, child or pet and glue to the center. You could also decorate this with glue and shimmering glitter.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Another way to recycle plastic drink bottles

If you are getting ready to freeze green onion from your herb garden, consider this:

Speed tip: Freeze Green Onion in Plastic Drink Bottles

This is a great idea! I love it when others help the environment. This is a great way to stock up for winter meals too.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

How to Recycle Oxygen Tubing

A person, who is required to be on oxygen, will probably go through a lot of clear rubber tubing. If you know someone who is on oxygen, ask them for their old tubing. If you are on oxygen, don't through your tubing out. Donate it to a SCRAP store, recycle it, or give to an organization that makes crafts. There are many uses for it.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Crocheted Rag Rug With Old T-Shirts

This bathroom rag rug was crocheted with old t-shirts cut into strips. I did not have any pattern per say, but did a row of single crochet, crocheted into the back single loops on the way back, ending with 3 single crochets to start to form the oval shape, and continued around. I did square knots to tie strips of new t-shirt together as I crocheted.

I have to say this was difficult due to the elasticity of the material, and that using old sheets would be much easier. So if you are up to crocheting a rag rug, start saving your old sheets.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Crocheted Wagon Wheel Cup Coaster ~ Ideas for Scrap Yarn



Use up your scrap yarn and make these niffy and useful cup coasters.   Finished cup coaster measures approximately 3 1/2 inches in diameter.


Items needed:
Cotton yarn (weight category #4)
Crochet hook size G
Scissors
Yarn needle for sewing in ends

Step 1:



Ch 5, Sl into first Ch to form a ring.


Step 2:

Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 15 dc into center of ring, Sl into top of Ch 3


Step 3: 

Ch 4 (counts as first dc, ch 1), *dc in next,  ch 1,* repeat around, Sl into 3rd Ch of first Ch 4


Step 4:

Sl into first  Ch 1 sp, Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same space, 3 dc in each Ch 1 space around, Sl into top of first Ch 3, fasten off, sew in ends.

100% cotton will shrink if washed in warm/hot water.  Wash in cold and dry flat.  Cotton yarn will not melt with hot mugs, while acrylic yarn will.




These make nice additions to someone's cottage, cabin, den, sun room or other rooms. Also consider them for teacher gifts, for your child's hope chest, or party favors, host/hostess gifts.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

How to Reuse Plastic Syrup Bottles

Once again, these plastic bottles may be manufactured with plastic that can be recycled. However, they can be reused for household and other uses if needed. Here are a few tips to help you reduce waste and reuse you plastic syrup bottles (wash and dry them first):

1. Fill them with water and let the kids have a "squirt gun" fight without buying squirt guns.
2. Use them to water plants.
3. Use them for cooking oil. When you buy a 2-3 liter bottle, fill an empty syrup bottle for easy use.

MORE IDEAS COMING!

Friday, June 5, 2009

What can do with the styrofoam packaging that comes in sugar ice cream cone boxes?


Summer time usually influences who many ice cream cones we eat. If you are buying your sugar cones at the store and making them at home, your box may come with a styrofoam package like the one in the photo. Don't throw it out. If your recycling center does not accept this type of packaging, save it and reuse it in and around your home. It typically comes with a hinge at one end and opens at the other.

Ways to Reuse Sugar Ice Cream Cone Packaging:

1. Use it to store fragile or messy (glittered) Christmas ornaments.
2. Use is for packaging delicate or fragile items sent through the mail.
3. Use it for kids crafts. For example it would make a great crocodile or alligator mouth.
4. Use it to build a castle out of recycled items for kids.
5. Use the indented areas, when opened and cut at the hinge, to hold paints for painting projects.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Reusing Metal Jar Lids with Candles

Instead of buying votive candle holders (which are know are not very expensive), save metal jar lids. Wash and dry them and use them for your smaller candles. Be sure to always use caution when burning candles.

Monday, June 1, 2009

How to Reuse 5 Quart Plastic Ice Cream and Sherbet Buckets

The next time you buy ice cream or sherbet in a plastic 5 quart bucket, consider reusing it if you cannot recycle the plastic. There are many ways to reuse it. Wash and dry your container and save it for:

1. Storing children's crayons.
2. Storing used coffee grounds and egg shells to transfer to your garden or compost pile.
3. Storing small craft items, ribbons, yarn scraps or button collections.
4. Take them to a u-pick farm to pick berries or other fruits and vegetables.
5. Use them to carry food from the garden.
6. Keep one in a family vehicle for emergencies (fill it with a small amount of cat litter).
7. Keep one on hand for someone who is sick.
8. Use them for cleaning projects.
9. Use them to carry food to feed farm animals.
10. Use them to store small children's toys.
11. Use them for camping trips.
12. Start plants in them.
13. Use one for kids to wash hands and face with for outside activities, such as Pioneer Day.
14. Keep them for snow castle and igloo making during winter (where snow is abundant).
15. Take one to the beach or lake for fun in the sand.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

School Project: Creative game made from recycled materials

Here you see printed instructions on how to play my daughter's "Marley and Me" board game. She made game cards from recycled cardboard (you could recycle old game cards also), and she recycled dice and game pieces from games that were heading to the trash can. Instead the game pieces found a new "home".

Here is a brief introduction of her newly created game. It is pasted to the back of the game board (folded).



My daughter recycled a game board from an old game, and pasted her own onto it.

So don't throw out your old games even if they pieces are missing. Keep an area in a closet or garage for recycled items. You never know when you will need them or use them for another use.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

More Decoupaged Recycled Glass Jars

Here is another recycled glass jar, decoupaged with Tootsie Roll Wrappers. See other Glass Jar Crafts for details on decoupaging.

Give this as a flower vase, a jar to hold pencils, markers, or paint brushes, or keep the lid and use as a gift jar for someone. Fill it with Tootsie rolls for a candy jar or an inexpensive gift.

Note: Hand wash with a damp cloth only. Do not submerge when cleaning it.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Make your Own Note Cards with Board Game Cards

Make your own note cards with board game cards. Board games don't last forever, and the pieces are often lost or broken, preventing the game from being played correctly. Don't throw the cards out. Use them to make cute note cards for any occasion.

ITEMS NEEDED:
-card stock (various colors)
-decoupage medium
-foam brush
-board game cards
-scissors or paper cutter
-bone folder tool, optional
-envelopes 4 1/2 by 6 inch envelopes (you can purchase these in most retail and office supply stores)


STEP 1: Cut your card stock in half, width-wise.

STEP 2: Fold each cut piece in half, creating your note cards.

STEP 3: Using a bone folder took, press along the crease of the card to smooth it.

STEP 4: Apply a thin, even coat of decoupage onto the back of the board game card, and place in the center of the card front. Press it down and smooth out wrinkles if necessary. Let dry. To help the board game card seal flat as it's drying, insert it under a few books over night.

TIPS: You can use white glue or other similar adhesive to apply your game card. Use them for thank you notes, get well cards, bereavement cards or send them just to say hello to someone. Use them for invitations. Make a set of note cards, tie a leftover ribbon scrap around the cards and give as a gift.

ENJOY!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Ways to Recycle and Reuse Shower Curtain Liners and Shower Curtains

If, for some reason you are replacing or taking down a shower curtain liner, don't throw it in the garbage.

1. Use it to cover a flat surface for finger painting projects.
2. Use it as a drop cloth for painting rooms.
3. Use it to line the ground under a small tent.
4. Use it to line a table for messy craft projects.
5. Place one under a sleeping bag on the floor or sofa when a child is sick.
6. Place one under a bed sheet when a child is sick to protect the mattress.
7. Take one along to cover picnic benches for camping and park visits.
8. Use one to make a "shower" Halloween Costume.
9. Cut one into small pieces to line under plant pots.
10. Use one to place under a small outdoor pool.

For Shower Curtains:
1. Use in place of a closet door.  Many older farm houses, don't have closet doors on the upstairs closets.  Simply use a curtain rod (tension rod), curtain hooks and a reused shower curtain.
2. MORE IDEAS COMING!


Decoupaged Glass Jar with Dum Dum Sucker Wrappers

It's easy! Apply the sucker wrappers with a layer of decoupage and let dry!


Tips:

1.Give as an inexpensive candy treat and fill it with Dum Dum suckers.
2.Use to store your suckers.
3.Use as a gift "box" to give a small gift in (keep the lid), and the recipient can reuse it for a jar or flower vase.
4.Use as a flower vase.
5.Give someone flowers in it and they can reuse it.

ENJOY!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Make Your Own Dry Seasoning Mixes ~ Recycled Glass Jar

Save money and make your own dry seasonings. Simply double or triple or recipes and store in a recycled (washed and dried) glass food jar. The jar above was a jelly jar. Simple add a handmade label with instructions. You can simply cut a circle of card stock or white label and create a label for the lid also. These make wonderful, useful, and inexpensive gifts. There are several types of dry seasoning mixes you can make. Visit your library for cookbook recipes or search the Internet.

Cookbook Suggestion:

"Make-a-mix : over 300 easy recipes for every meal of the day / Karine Eliason, Nevada Harward & Madeline Westover."

Piano Made From Recycled Materials ~ School Project

It's wonderful to see school's suggesting that student projects be constructed from recycled materials. Parents and students save so much money by doing this, and help save the landfills from filling up.

This piano was constructed by a 12 year-old Middle school student. She used a cardboard food box, recycled paper folded for the keyboard base, unused manicure stickers and ink for the piano keys, and recycled wine corks for the legs. She simply painted it black, and attached the stickers to the keyboard.

It's amazing what kids can do with a little encouragement from schools and parents. This finished school project can be saved or recycled to younger children for doll house furniture.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

How to Recycle Glass Food Jars: Decoupaged Flower Vase



This is a moderately easy project. This vase is made from a recycled glass salsa jar, and Ricola wrappers. During the winter, our family suffered a lot of sore throats. Instead of throwing these wrappers out, I cut the ends and decoupaged them onto the glass jar.


ITEMS NEEDED:
1- Glass jar, washed and dried
1 - Bottle of Decoupage or Mod Podge
1 - foam brush or flat edged paint brush
1- pair of scissors
*Ricola (Herb Throat Drops) wrappers



STEP 1: Cut the Ricola wrapper as shown in the photo below. You will not be using the middle portion. Save it for a later craft or use for kindling or packaging material. With your fingers, flatten the wrapper as best as you can.

STEP 2: Brush an even coat of decoupage onto the jar, starting at the top. Place one wrapper onto the jar with the flowers up, and the white portion at the bottom. Brush a second layer of decoupage onto the jar, and continue around, layering the wrappers. Continue to the bottom of the jar. Let dry completely.

JAR CARE: Never immerse directly into water. Wipe the outside with a damp rag.

TIPS: Second layer of decoupage may be brushed on. Fill with flowers, or use as a pencil jar. Give fresh flowers in these creative, recycled vases for gifts, get well gifts, or just to say you care.

ENJOY!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

How to Recycle Old Sweatshirts into Crafts ~ Mittens

Recycle your old sweatshirts into warm and cozy mittens. These are great for kids who ride a bus to school. They keep them warm and toasty.


ITEMS NEEDED:
1 - old sweatshirt
*paper
*pencil
*sewing pins
*scissors
*sewing machine
*coordinating colored thread


STEP 1: Trace your hand onto a piece of paper. Allow about 3/4 inch more around the hand. Cut out pattern.

STEP 2: Pin the paper pattern to the sweatshirt, pinning both layers of the sweatshirt, and the cuff at the waist of the sweatshirt. Cut both pieces out together.

STEP 3: Remove pattern, pin it again to the sweatshirt at in Step 2 for the second mitten.




STEP 3: Turn your pieces inside out for each mitten and pin together.


STEP 4: Starting at the cuff, sew a seam all the way around, leaving about 1/4 inch seam. You may have to lift your sewing machine foot often to create an even, rounded seam. Be careful not to stretch or let it bunch under your sewing machine foot.

STEP 5: Turn them inside out, and you have a new pair of mittens.

TIPS: These are nice stocking stuffer presents. Just trace the persons hand and write their name on the pattern for reference. Don't tell them what it's for and they will be very surprised.

ENJOY!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

How to Make a Photo Frame: Recycled Pasta Food Box and Soup Can Lid With Pull Tab

You can create these cute and inexpensive photo frames with items you typically throw away. Well, now you can recycle them and keep kids busy too. They make great gifts and Christmas tree ornaments.

ITEMS NEEDED:
1- pasta box with cellophane window
1- soup can lid with pull back tab attached, washed and dried
1-acyrlic paint color of your choice
1-paint brush
1-glue such as E6000 or other industrial strength glue
1-pair of scissors
1-scotch or other clear tape
1-printed photo or processed photo
optional: markers, stickers




STEP 1: Cut along one seam of the pasta box to open flat. Turn open so you can see where the cellophane is glued to the cardboard box. Cut just outside the glued area (or you will have to re-glue your cellophane). Lay your cut piece onto the inside of the back of the box and trace your first cut piece. Cut out.


STEP 2: Paint the outsides of the cut pasta box pieces. You may have to paint 2-3 coats to cover completely. Let each coat dry before painting the next coat. Paint on a protected surface.


STEP 3: Turn your carboard piece, with the window, upside down and tape your photo to it. Center your photo prior to taping it down. You may have to trim edges of your photo depending on the size you printed.




STEP 4: Glue your soup can lid to the inside, or unpainted side of the second prepared piece of cardboard. You will have to bend your lid tab as shown in the photo below.




Here is a view of the backside, after gluing your can lid onto the unpainted side.




STEP 5: Glue your cardboard pieces together, gluing unpainted sides. Trim edges if needed. Let dry completely.



STEP 6: Write or draw on your new photo frame. Add stickers, plastic gem craft pieces or adorn with other craft items.


Before you throw out your next pasta box and any soup can lids with pull tabs, be sure to consider this craft. It's kid friendly and you can hang your photo frame anywhere, and then when Christmas arrives, hang it on the Christmas tree. Here's what you need to make this recycled craft.
MORE ARTICLES ON RECYCLING CARDBOARD FOOD BOXES:
ENJOY!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Plastic Spoon Handicrafts ~ How to Make a Spoonful of Sugar Christmas Ornaments




Recycle your leftover abundance of plastic spoons into these cute, vibrant colored Christmas Tree Ornaments.



ITEMS NEEDED:

-white and white sculpey polymer clay
-clay cutting tools
-flat, protected working surface
-glass pan to bake sculpey on
-plastic spoons, white
-red ribbon, 1/8th inch thick
-scissors
-industrial strength glue
-acrylic spray sealer, glossy
-oven and hot pads


STEP 1: Roll a piece of white sculpey as shown in the picture below. It should be about 3/4 inch in diameter. This is the start of your peppermint candy pieces.





STEP 2: Roll red sculpey into very thin strips, about the diameter of 1-2 toothpicks.





STEP 3: Press the red strips into the sides of the white sculpey, adding them evenly around the white. Press gently, flatening the red, making peppermint stripes.





STEP 4: With a sharp sculpey cutting knife, cut 1/4 sections of the roll for each peppermint you are making. Press the edges inward on the top of each peppermint, creating the finishing touch to your mint and rounding the edges. Add tiny pieces of red to each section if needed.


STEP 5: Bake your scupley pieces in your oven according to sculpey package directions. Cool completely.

STEP 6: Roll red sculpey into small balls, to make your sour cherries. Bake separately from your mints due to the difference in thickness. Cool completely.

STEP 7: Spray your peppermints and sour cherries with a light coat of gloss acrylic sealer (follow directions on the product you use). Let dry completely. To keep the sour cherries from rolling around as you spray with sealer, add a tiny piece of poster putty to the side it baked on, and adhere to the inside of a recycled shoe box lid.


STEP 8: With a versa-tool heating tool, melt a small hole into the top handle of each plastic spoon, from the backside. Be careful not to leave your tool in the handle too long or it will leave a burn mark. Let cool completely. Use caution when using your heating tool and cool completely on a protected surface.



STEP 9: Cut pieces of red ribbon, approximately, 9-10 inches in length. Run one end of ribbon through the hole and tie in a knot for the hanger. Trim. Cut a second piece of ribbon approximately 1-12 inches in length. Tie this piece around the top of the spoon, near the hole in the handle. Tie in a knot and then into a bow. Trim.




STEP 10: Add a dab of glue to the back of your candy piece, one peppermint to a spoon and three sour cherries to a spoon. Let dry completely. If needed, prop the handles up on a plate edge to hold candy in place while the glue is drying.

NOTE: The Photos are not uploading correctly for this craft. Please be patient as I fix this problem with blogger.com.




MORE CRAFTS WITH PLASTIC SPOONS:

Handicrafts using plastic spoons


MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

How to host an ornament exchange party

As always - ENJOY!