Update Your Knowledge About What Is Recyclable Here In St. Mary’s Co. MD

Posted Feb 16, 11 -Filed Under Uncategorized, local environmentalism (doing our part) | Leave a Comment

If you live in St. Mary’s County MD, there is a good chance that Waste Management is the company that carries away your trash. All the public schools in St. Mary’s County use this same company. They have a single stream recycling program. Single stream means that you don’t have to sort your recyclables anymore. They all go in one bin. (Let me be clear here: motor oil, clothing and a few other items are still collected separately but the bulk of your recycling will go in one bin. It’s so easy. No more excuses!

You probably knew that soda cans, plastic drink bottles, plastic shopping bags, aluminum foil, and paper are recyclable. But did you know that juice bags, juice boxes, milk and juice boxes from school lunch programs, zip closure bags, plastic utensils, plastic chip bags, and candy wrappers are also collected for recycling?

Local students spread the word about what is recyclable at their schools.

Several students from Leonardtown Middle School in St. Mary’s County MD took pictures of recyclable items and these pictures were used to make posters for several local schools. As a result, recycling at these schools has increased tremendously.

To learn more about this poster project done in support of 350.org:

For more details about recycling in this area: http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/recycleprogramslist.asp

Recent Fun In The Making Sewing/ Crafting Valentine Class

Posted Feb 13, 11 -Filed Under holiday crafts: Valentine's Day (recycled stuff), workshops and classes | 4 Comments

During a recent Fun In The Making Valentine Workshop, elementary school students designed and sewed their own love bugs using all recycled materials. -Sara, Madison, Molly, Katie and Jade (not in photo).

Students also made carved bark Valentines and used red branches from a dogwood bush to make hug and kisses ornaments (more on this in another post).

This is some of the awesome student work done at this workshop.

Kissing Love Bugs. How sweet.

Super Job Girls!!

Sweet Valentines Carved In Tree Bark

Posted Feb 2, 11 -Filed Under children's crafts (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), holiday crafts: Valentine's Day (recycled stuff), use for natural stuff: vines, sticks... | 7 Comments

A few years ago, my daughter brought home a piece of bark she had carved a design in. I liked the idea so much that I thought wouldn’t it be cool to carve a valentine out of a piece of bark. I like the way it makes you think of the sweet affections of youth carved in trees. However, I don’t really like the idea of scarring a tree.  They can be used in a variety of ways from napkin rings to Valentine ornaments.

You could also carve things like: T.B. + N.R., U R Sweet, Hot stuff, or Kiss me. I used a metal barbecue skewer to scratch out the letters. Bark pieces can be found on the ground around some pine trees or possibly around a log pile.

Napkin rings are made from a slice of a toilet paper roll with the bark Valentine glued on.

Hand carved tree bark Valentine ornament.

Leave a secret love note for someone special to find.

These love notes are carved into tree bark but not into living trees. 

Assortment of hand carved tree bark love notes.

This I heart you message was made to decorate a gift box top.

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    Are you having any trouble understanding some of the instructions? Feel free to send me a quick e-mail at HesterJane@FunInTheMaking.net. I’ll do my best to answer your questions. Do you have any suggestions regarding a specific post? Maybe you have a better way and would like to share it with the other creative people visiting this site? -Hester Jane