Bedroom Blizzard: Paper Snowflake Decor
Posted Feb 21, 10 -Filed Under children's crafts (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), home décor (recycle and upcycle), imaginative play, party décor (recycle and upcycle), reuse fishing wire, reuse paper, seasonal: winter | 1 Comment
Add a little fun to your life by making a winter wonderland in the comfort of your own home.
This snowflake was made from an invoice I received. I’ve been collecting these invoices and instead of sending them to be recycled (which is good too) I saved them to make a blizzard. Invoices work because the little bit of writing on the back isn’t overly noticeable. Also, I try to work with the whitest parts.
Put a few of the snowflakes directly on the wall. Also, you can hang one snowflake under another.
Hang snowflakes at different levels for a more natural snowing affect. I used salvaged fishing wire to hang some of the snowflakes. I have some fishing wire found during beach clean-ups. Parts that aren’t too tangled can be washed and reused.
It’s so lovely to go in that room and look up (or if you are lying on the bed and looking up); it makes you feel like the snow is really falling down all around. I couldn’t capture it in a picture so you’ll have to make it to see for yourself.
How to tips:
Paper snowflakes can be made with scrap paper, invoices, and used printer paper that still has a lot of white left. Have you ever printed stuff from the internet and the last page that prints only has the web address on it?
I save my favorite snowflakes to use again. Store them where they can stay flat such as in an unwanted (salvaged) book. The added benefit is that pressing them in a book flattens them out nicely.
Note: I tried ironing my snowflakes. (That’s not a sentence you see too often.) What I discovered is that some invoices such as from Amazon are printed with a heat printer of some kind; thus, rendering one side of the snowflake black when ironed. Best to test your paper first if ironing.
Don’t Have A Sled: Make Your Own!
Posted Feb 9, 10 -Filed Under children's activities (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), reuse skis, reuse wood/ lumber, seasonal: winter | Leave a Comment
Isn’t this sled fantastic? Patrick King of Southern Maryland made it himself from a pair of skis he said were slated for the dump. It worked really well too! They looked like they were having a blast.
Why not make your own?
Use a pair of old skis, scrap 2 x 4’s, a scrap piece of plywood and a bit of rope. Plus, padding for the seat would be a good idea.
He said he just screwed the skis to the wood from the bottom. The rest looks pretty straight forward.
I love this kind of clever thinking.
Make Learning Letter Sounds Fun By Using Home-made Letter Jars
Posted Jan 31, 10 -Filed Under children's activities (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), home school, reuse containers, ice cream, reuse bottles, plastic, reuse glass bottles/ jars, reuse toys, small junk | 1 Comment
Using letter jars will help children with early reading skills. It’s easy to make and fun to play. Perfect for home-school-ers / or preschoolers.
Ideas for objects beginning with the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F.
Ideas for objects beginning with the letters G, H, I, J, and K.
Ideas for objects beginning with the letters L, M, N, and O.
Ideas for objects beginning with the letters P, Q, R, and S.
Add a picture of your child. They love to be included.
Ideas for objects beginning with the letters T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.
Introduce one jar at a time: naming the objects and pointing out the beginning sound. Explain that all the objects that start with that sounds should go together in a jar. Some of the sounds will be easy for them to learn, others more difficult. Some of the letters conveniently say their sound: like D. Some letters are harder like G because they don’t say their sound.
When he or she seems to be able to name the objects, let children test themselves by getting out two jars at a time and mixing the objects. Then they have to sort them back out. If two jars is too easy, use three.
More advanced activities:
Some letters can make more than one sound so you can use separate jars for these if you like. Also, it can be very helpful to have a F jar and a Ph jar. It’s also helpful to have a jar for wh, sh, ch, th and other common combination sounds. Some children learn better using this kind of hands-on game.
My Children loved these jars. They would ask to use them. The little nick-knacks are so interesting.
Hot to:
Find baby food jars or plastic containers from your recycle bin. Label each container with a letter or letter combination.
Fill the containers with whatever you can find. Hunt for little things such as might be in a Piñata, given in a party favor bag, or found at the bottom of a toy box. If you have kids, chances are, you have junk toys.
*Please be aware that I’m not suggesting that you should use these with children that still put things in their mouth.
Convert a Quad Chair Carrying Sack Into A Fun Doll Sleeping Bag
Posted Jan 26, 10 -Filed Under crafts (recycled materials), reuse blankets: old or damaged, sewing, use for fabric scraps | Leave a Comment
I had a quad chair bag that I wanted to get rid of but I don’t like to just throw things away. As I was looking it over I thought of the sleeping bag idea. It turned out to be the perfect size for my daughter’s 18inch dolls.
Here is a quad chair carrying sack before being transformed into a cozy doll sleeping bag.
How to:
To Make the sleeping bag shell
1. You will notice that the chair carrying sack has a shoulder strap. Keep this strap attached at the top but cut it off near the bottom. I left the strap attached to the sleeping bag and used it as a feature of the finished sleeping bag.
2. Next measure 22.5 inches from the top. Cut a straight line across the bag. You are cutting the bottom of the sack off; save it for making the sleeping bag stuff sack.
3. Turn inside out and stitch along the bottom edge. Use a half inch seam allowance.
4. Turn right side out.
To make the sleeping bag lining and the padding layer
5. Cut a soft piece of fabric (for the lining) and a piece of on old blanket (for the padding). The pieces should measure 23 x 22 inches.
6. Put the lining on top of the blanket piece and fold in half. Folded size= 23 x 11 inches. Also, make sure the lining’s pretty side is facing inside. In other words, if you were to open the sleeping bag and look in, you should see the good side of the lining.
My daughter did all the sewing and I did the design work.
7. Sew along two sides; the long side and the bottom. Use a 5/8 inch seam allowance.
8. Slip the lining into the shell. Make sure the seam edge is on the seam side of the shell. You will need to un-sew the bit where the slit is in the shell. See picture.
9. Fold under raw edge and pin in place.
10. Hand or machine sew the lining to the shell all along the edge. Hand sewing a whip stitch is easier then machine sewing if you used a thick blanket for padding.
To make the stuff sack for the doll sleeping bag:
1. Use the bottom piece of your chair carrying sack. Only the bottom 10 inches are needed so cut off the extra.
2. Fold over the top edge about two inches and sew creating a channel about 3/8th of a inch wide. Leave a one inch gap in your stitch line as seen in picture B.
3. Find an old shoelace or cord. Using an awl or even a sharp pencil, poke two holes for the drawstring (shoelace or cord) to come out. It works best if you poke the hole from the back. The arrow in picture A indicates putting the awl up under there.
4. Attach a large safety pin onto one end of your shoe lace. Go under the flap in picture A and like a caterpillar, inch the safety pin all the way around and back out. Remove the safety pin.
5. Stick the ends of the shoe lace through the holes you made. One should come out each hole. Tie the ends of the shoe lace together. Pull the ends of the string to cinch the bag closed.
This sleeping bag fits American Girl dolls. I have no affiliation with American Girl.
Like Two Peas In A Pot Valentine Craft: A Plant Your Own Peas Kit
Posted Dec 28, 09 -Filed Under crafts (recycled materials), garden (gardening info and eco-friendly project ideas), gifts from recycled materials, holiday crafts: Valentine's Day (recycled stuff), reuse straws, plastic drinking, reuse milk carton, reuse paper printed material, reuse straws: drinking straws | 2 Comments
Make one for mom/ Dad/ Grandparents … My daughter gave out one for each of her classmates one year.
[This is a craft project that I developed a few years ago and I’m just now getting around to sharing –Best, Hester Jane]
Here is a child’s Valentine gift that does not include candy.
How To:
Collect empty milk or juice cartons; the kind kids get at school with their lunches. Then wash them out.
Cut out pictures of pea plants from old seed catalogs and paste them onto the outside of the milk carton/pot.
Add dry potting soil and drop in two pea seeds. Alternatively you can place the pea seeds in a mini envelope/ Valentine card.
Staple the top closed.
Save straws (optional) if doing this project for home. Don’t waste a new straw; reuse a straw that would otherwise be on its way to a landfill. The straw becomes a support as the pea plant grows taller.
Print Valentines or design your own.
Valentines for milk cartons or seed envelopes
Make Your Own Christmas Dove Ornaments
Posted Dec 21, 09 -Filed Under crafts (recycled materials), gifts from recycled materials, holiday crafts: Christmas (recycled stuff), reuse beads salvaged/ vintage, reuse stuffing, from pillows etc., reuse sweaters, wool, sewing, use for dryer lint, use for yarn scraps | Leave a Comment
Have a pleasant afternoon making lovely dove ornaments with your family. When provided with the supplies, even kids have fabulous results. I have a shoe box full of salvaged beads from unwanted necklaces etc. and this is a perfect time to make use of those little treasures.
This dove ornament was designed and made by my nine year old daughter. All I did was supply her with a pattern, scrap felt, and a box or salvaged beads. The gold beads came off a retired Christmas sweater and some of the others came from unwanted necklaces.
How To:
Print out and use the dove stencil provided in the make your own dove card post (see link below).
Trace and cut out two doves (one for the front and one for the back). It doesn’t take much fabric/felt to make so check your supply for scraps. Use felt or fabric that doesn’t fray very easily.
Sew on any embellishments (beads) before sewing the dove halves together. (This is a good idea but not absolutly necessary.)
Start sewing around the dove near the edge. When you are nearly done sewing all the way around, add a bit of stuffing. Then sew the hole closed.
Optional, add a string of beads to dangle below.
You will also need a bit of ribbon or a metal hook for hanging up.
If you like doves, you may also like this post on MYO dove cards.
Make Your Own Simple Yet Adorable Tea Cup Mouse
Posted Nov 20, 09 -Filed Under children's crafts (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), gifts from recycled materials, holiday crafts: Christmas (recycled stuff), reuse cups, tea, reuse handkerchiefs, reuse sweaters, reuse sweaters, wool, reuse thread spools, sewing, use for dryer lint, use for fabric scraps, vintage | 3 Comments
Making your own charming Tea Cup Mouse is easier than you think. I designed this project to be suitable for even beginner sewers. And you can adjust the project according to skill level.
This is a sweet way to use a lovely tea cup that has no matches. A cup with a chip or crack would be undesirable for drinking tea but these signs of wear would only add character to these little beds.
Sewing workshop: if you live locally (Southern Maryland) you might be interested in my Tea Cup mouse workshops for children (and adults too). Click on the Classes link above.
This is Leo. He was made from a retired linen shirt. His bedside table was made from a slice of a tree branch and an old wooden spool of thread. The rug was made by cutting a rectangle from an old sweater. The tea cup was from a second-hand store.
Leo loves his super soft handkerchief blanket. The handkerchief is vintage and the tea cup was a thrift store find.
This adorable mouse loves to play!
Three ways to give.
1. Make and give the finished mouse for a special gift.
2. Give a kit with pre-cut pieces and all the rest of the supplies, tea cup and all for a child to make for his or her self. Precutting the pieces might be necessary for younger children. Work together with him or her.
3. Give a kit with the pattern and all the rest of the supplies and let them have the fun of making a mouse friend just the way they want it. You might supply a few different pieces of scrap fabric for them to choose from. Give support as needed.
How to:
The first thing you will need to do is gather supplies.
You will need:
Salvaged fabric for the head and body of the mouse. No need to go out and buy any fabric; you only need a little from a past project or salvaged from an old pair of pants or shirt…
A washable marker for tracing your stencil on fabric.
Scissors for cutting the fabric.
Scrap pieces of felt for the mouse’s hands, feet and ears.
Embroidery floss of some type to embroider on the whiskers, nose and eyes and an embroidery needle. Or a black permanent marker to draw on the face. Tiny black pompoms could also be used for the nose and eyes.
This is Leo’s friend Lola. She can’t wait until Christmas! Her mouth, whiskers, and nose were drawn on and the eyes are pins that have the tip cut off. The pins make cute eyes but are not appropriate to use as a toy. Ears, hands and feet can be glued on for easier construction but I like to sew on pieces for a more secure attachment. Her scarf was made from a sweater that I felted. Just snip the ends to make the ends fringed. I included a felted wool blanket as well. She snuggles in a second-hand cup.
Some piece of thin rope or leather cord to use as a tail.
Some kind of stuffing. I used dryer lint and a little dry rice.
Needle and thread for hand sewing.
A sewing machine for sewing the main body and head pieces.
Cutting out the pieces.
You will need a Tea Cup Mouse pattern.*
*Because it takes a tremendous amount of time for me to develop projects like this, design and draw a pattern, test ideas, make, take pictures, edit pictures, write the how to, etc… I’m asking for a mere 2 dollars (see side donation button for quick payment with paypal). Send me an e-mail and I’ll send a pdf file with the pattern right out to you.
Use stencil to make your own card board stencil. A cereal box works well. Trace the body and head on your fabric. Cut two at a time if possible.
Sew the head. Sew the two head pieces (right sides together) using a sewing machine. Use the edge of your foot (sewing machine foot) as a guide. Keep the edges of the fabric running along the edge of the foot. You only want a narrow seam.
Sew the body. Again with right sides together, sew around the body leaving a hole for the head. You will want a narrow seam allowance here too (not to exceed 1/4 inch).
Trim the corners (A’s in the picture). Be careful not to cut your stitching. Also, clip the inner curve a few times (at B in picture).
Turn the pieces right side out.
Add the tail. Use a mechanical pencil or other sharp object to make a hole on the backside of the mouse. Tie a knot in the cord. Put the tail through the hole you just made. The knot should be on the inside of the mouse and the tail should extend out the back of the mouse.
Stuff the body. Next add some rice into the body of the mouse until it is about 1/4th full. The rice isn’t necessary but I like the way it gives the mouse weight and help it stand. Loosely fill the rest of the mouse and the head with dryer lint.
Connect head to body. Tuck in the raw edges of the body and stick in the head. Pin in place. Hand sew together sewing around the head.
Sew on the hands, feet, and ears.
Embroider facial features. Use an embroidery needle and some black embroidery floss to make the mouth, nose and eyes. Use a French knot for each eye. Alternatively use a permanent marker to draw on the mouth, nose, eyes and whiskers.
Have a blast making the mouse a quilt, pillow, clothes, scarf, hat, whatever.
Halloween Party Favor Gift Boxes
Posted Oct 28, 09 -Filed Under crafts (recycled materials), gift wrapping, eco-friendly, holiday crafts: Halloween (recycled stuff), reuse books, reuse paper | Leave a Comment
Make your own unique gift boxes for your Halloween party. You’re sure to get complements on these clever boxes made from vintage text books and encyclopedias.
How to:
Search for old school text books. Look for interesting vintage books that only use a few colors like the one used in the photo above. Books that are entirely done in black and white would also be great. You should be able to find some really cheap.
Find the sections on the skeletal system, the nervous system, the human heart and anything else that has to do with bones, blood and innards or any kind.
To fold the boxes, see my post: How To Fold Origami Gift Boxes: Easy To Follow Photo Instructions
Up-cycle A Plastic Paint Bucket Into A Fun Halloween Trick or Treat Pail
Posted Oct 16, 09 -Filed Under crafts (recycled materials), holiday crafts: Halloween (recycled stuff), party décor (recycle and upcycle), reuse can, paint (plastic) | Leave a Comment
Here is a chance to make use of the paint buckets from your last home-improvement project. Transform them into playful Trick or Treat pails!
How to:
All you need is some black plastic paint buckets, some scrap paper, scissors, glue and some clever kids.
Try making a ghost, Jack O Lantern, scary or scared face, and even a Frank N Stein head.
Cut out the face(s) from scrap paper if you can. Use full sheets of paper only when you need them. We keep a box of colored paper scrapes leftover from other projects. Glue the pieces on with white glue or use Mod Podge. Next, paint on a layer of Mod Podge or equivalent product to help protect your creation so it can be used year after year.
My daughter liked making these Halloween themed pails with me.
If you’d like, add some text like I did. I provided the file here: just print it out and incorporate it as desired.
Robot Monster Pitcher: Coffee Pot With A Scary Halloween Makeover
Posted Sep 28, 09 -Filed Under children's activities (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), holiday crafts: Halloween (recycled stuff), party: robot, reuse "trash", reuse flatware, reuse pot, coffee | Leave a Comment
Allow the guests at your children’s Halloween party to serve themselves a drink with this scary monster bot.
All the pieces for this menacing yet useful guy were recycled.
Don’t turn your back on this grabby little monster: he may steal your candy.
What to put in your Robot Monster Pitcher? Robot Oil (i.e. Apple Juice) of course!
I used this at my daughter’s robot party too.
How to:
Get your hands on a second-hand coffee pot. Then gut out the innards. Clean it really well. The exterior bottom of my coffee pot was damaged by its previous owner from overheating but I think it adds character to our monster. The inside of the pot wasn’t damaged. Check the inside before bringing one home.
Eyes are burned out red Christmas light bulbs. Arms are thrift-store forks. Mouth was made from a metal shower curtain ring that I bent up using a pair of pliers.
Gluing the pieces on:
Gorilla glue worked for the arms. When the glue was dry, I used a razor blade to clean off the glue that squeezed out. A clear epoxy worked for the eyes and mouth.
Be creative and design your own scary Robot Monster Pitcher.
P.S. These posts take me a long time to develop. Don’t forget to send me a dollar once in a while so I can continue to do posts. Is it worth that to you?