GreenCraft Magazine...And a Giveaway!

Have you seen the newest issue of GreenCraft magazine?

It is fantastic.

So many fantastic projects.

I love green crafts...

Reusing, up-cycling and recycling are so important to all of us.

I am tickled to have a couple projects in this issue.

Here are my Stubby Pencil necklaces.

 I love how a little clay and some paint can change something that would get thrown away into something so cute to wear.

I

My dear friend Melinda Barnett used some stubby pencils too.

Check out her adorable earrings.

My tiny shampoo bottle reliquary is in this issue.

One of my favorite projects is the cuffs made from shampoo bottles.

Ella Wilson uses candy tubes to make some really cute ways to store change for laundry.

One of the new articles is a round up of projects all made from the same material.

This issue has a round up of things made from sweaters.

See that bag with the red heart?

That was mine.

I so loved those cupcake pincushions and that sweet little dachshund (also from Melinda Barnett).

Melinda Barnett's amazing plant markers made from old spoons are on the cover.

I am so excited to tell you that I am giving away this issue of GreenCraft.

To win, leave a comment with your favorite recycling project you have done.  be sure to leave your email so I can get in touch with you to let you know you have won...

Contest is open to U.S. residents only

I will choose a winner from the comments on September 4th and announce the winner on the 5th.

Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by....

Discarded book Cover Jewelry Displays

A few years ago I learned a dirty secret about some book sales.

Sometimes, after the sale is over, they recycle what does not sell.

This sometimes involves removing all the covers and then recycling the pages inside the book.

All those wonderful book jackets end up getting discarded.

The HORROR!

I was appalled.

But a friend saved several boxes of book covers for me for my art after one such sale.  

This is one of the ways I used the covers.

I used a band saw to put 2 short cuts in the top for the necklace to slide in.

For shows, I slide each one into a cellophane bag to keep them from getting tangled.

I am pleased with saving a few boxes of book covers from the landfill and my jewelry gets a great new display.

I will show you some of the other great projects that came from those book covers later.

What unusual items do you use for display/packaging?

Thanks for stopping by....

Workbench Wednesday... T-Shirt Yarn

One of my favorite materials is t-shirt yarn.

I did a post on it earlier here.

 I also did a post on Hometalk.

Some of the yarn was made from t-shirts that were already destined for the rag bin.

Some t-shirts were purchased at the local thrift store for about 50 cents each on half off day.

My daughter and I stocked up on different colors. 

 Our cart was full and the lady behind is kept sighing.

We were chatting with the thrift store staff while we were checking out.

When my daughter went to put the cart away, the woman who had been behind us approached her and asked what we were doing again....

My daughter told her and the lady said it sounded cool.  

It made us chuckle.

This week on the workbench, I was cutting the t-shirts on my back porch workbench and making yarn for some yarn projects.

I really liked the colors in this group.

The t-shirts were super soft so this yarn is extra soft and stretchy.

I love that this time of year my workbench may be inside, outside or a combination of both....

I hope you have something on your workbench right now too...

Thanks for stopping by...

Gourd Bangle Bracelets- Workbench Wednesday

 Have you seen the current issue of GreenCraft magazine?

If you are not familiar with it, it contains dozens of fun, green crafts and projects.

It has everything from organization to jewelry to home decor.

It is right up my alley.

I am thrilled to have a few projects in this issue.

Probably my favorite are these bangles made from gourds.

You can take a look at the magazine for the complete how to instructions.

I thought maybe I would share some of the behind the scene photos not shown in the magazine this week for workbench Wednesday.

Start with a dried goose neck gourd.

I got this one from my friend Linda.

Cut rings.

You can tell I took these pictures last summer.

No green grass here yet.

Every so often, I have to cut a watermelon slice on the curves to maximize the number of usable rings.

I will find something to do with these later.

Same with the bottom part of the gourd.

I have a plan for it.

The tiny top part is also saved.

The pithy center pulls right out.

Once sanded...

Let the fun begin.....

 These first bangles were a fun way to play around with the process.

This one reminds me of a giraffe.

A friend told me I should save this one...

I probably will...

These are so lightweight.

I love that.

They make a very interesting sound when I wear them...

Sort of like bamboo wind chimes...on my arm.

I like my slices sort of wonky so I did not measure them or mark  them when cutting.

If you like things precise, you can mark them with pencil or tape.

I tried to most different patterns on the Brave bangle.

If you want to learn how to make these, pick up a copy of GreenCraft.

You can find it on news stands in craft stores or large book retailers.

Or you can order it directly from Stampington here.

It is always a pleasure...

Thanks for stopping by....

            Linking up with these great blogs.

Whimsical Garden Decor: Re Purposed Bird Feeders

This summer I got together with great friends a time or two to make some fun things.

Some of our projects took longer than we expected so when I saw these light covers at the thrift shop, I scooped them up for a fast and easy project.

I bought this little set of 6 cups and saucers with a similar project in mind.

 

I bought  a sheet of rubber at the hardware store along with rings and nut caps

I also got some copper pipe and a great new ratcheting pipe cutter.

It was one afternoon we actually finished 3 pieces each and it was easy.

Here is my bird feeder.

Supposedly, since these are tempered glass to withstand the heat temperatures from the light bulbs, they are fairly durable for weather fluctuations.

I did not get a chance to take a picture of the little green cup and saucer feeder.

And these pictures were taken about a month ago and the flowers have died back quite a bit.

It has been dry here.

We have not mowed the grass since the middle of August.

I love how this little project turned out.  

The best part was time with friends.

I also loved that these already had holes.

All we had to do was cut a little piece of rubber to cushion the hardware and screw them together.

I had the chain already too.

What fun things did you add to your garden this summer?

 Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.

Mummy Treat Cans- 15 Minute Halloween Craft Lightning

It's time for Craft Lightning again!

This time, 15  Minute or Less Halloween Crafts.

So here are some fun Mummy Treat containers.

Start with a can or bottle from the recycling bin.

Wash them thoroughly and let them dry.

Now gather your other supplies:

wiggle eyes

old white sheets (or muslin or fabric) and scissors.

And your glue gun and glue sticks.

Yup!

That's all. 

 Are you ready?

Great!

Snip cuts in your fabric about every inch.

Rip into strips.

Since I used a full sheet from the thrift store, one strip completely wrapped one can or jar.

Next glue your eyes onto the can.

Then glue one end of the strip at the top of the can and start wrapping.

I used a bit more glue to secure the fabric around the eyes. and at the bottom of the can.

I kept wrapping until I used the whole strip and then I glued the end.

How cute and easy was that?

You can make an army of these in an hour.

Here is the jar finished.

You could paint the lid and add goodies inside.

You can get a whole different look with smaller eyes.

You can also change the whole look by coffee staining your strips.

Follow my easy coffee staining recipe here.

The stained strips give your mummy a whole new personality.

Sort of menacing.

For other variations, drill holes in the can to add a wire handle.

Add candies instead of Spanish moss.

Want to learn how to make the cute canning lid pumpkin too?

It takes a lot longer than 15 minutes but it is so cute.

The post is here.

The pumpkin gets dressed up with some vintage book page strips added for interest.

Here is my little mummy family.

That pumpkin is a renegade from last year. 

 Where I threw the pumpkins after Halloween a vine sprouted in the weeds.

 When I was mowing past the area, I spied this little guy in the over growth.

What a great fall surprise!

And just in time for the mummy cans.

Thanks for stopping by....

Check out the other great 15 Minute crafts this week at

100 Directions

The Country Chic Cottage

and 

30 Minute Crafts.

 Linking up with these great blogs.