Stuff to Do With Paper Scraps

Really enjoyed this DesignSponge post on re-using paper scraps for simple crafts. This could be a good idea for leftover wrapping paper!

More DIY Wreaths + Tutorials

Speaking of wreaths (see my recent post)....



Brenda at Alpha+Mom shared these great ideas for creative (and sometimes recycled) wreath designs that can be done with kids or just with kids-at-heart. Love them! (via Craftzine)

DIY Gift Bows

Awhile back, I shared a DIY trick for making gift toppers out of plastic bags.


As the holiday season approaches again, I thought I'd pass along this tutorial from How About Orange on making gift bows out of recycled items you have on hand, like maps or magazine pages.

Cereal Box to Drawer Organizer

Gotta love this simple recycling idea from A Little Hut. While there's no written out tutorial, her pictures provide a pretty good idea of the steps.



And given the normal price of such things, it's absolutely wonderful to find a free, environmentally friendly way to accomplish the same thing. I think these would look amazing covered in some fun fabric.

DIY Recycled Can Flower Magnets

This is a great tutorial from 10th muse studios on using old soda cans to make adorable flower magnets. Just be careful not to cut yourself on the aluminum!

DIY Cereal Box Notebooks

The long thread provides a great tutorial on using a cereal box to make your very own moleskin-inspired journal. A great re-use idea!

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day, Crafty Chica is posting tutorials for 24 creative re-use projects....one every hour. The spectacular ideas she's posted so far include these great ribbon picture frames and mixed media wind chimes.

Plastic Soda Bottle Vase Tutorial

Here's a fun (and free!) project available on wikiHow: a tutorial on turning a plastic soda bottle into an attractive vase.

Plastic Bags into Baskets

Craftzine recently featured a pretty straightforward tutorial from The lucky ladybird craft blog on making baskets out of old plastic bags. Very cool. If you like this stuff, check out my older posts on using plastic bags as gift bows and art.

Business Card Artwork

Whether you've been laid off in this horrible recession or you just have a lot of used office supplies hanging around, here's one idea for an alternative use for business cards:  stick 'em together and make a quick and easy art project.  (If you're interested, I previously posted about using business cards to make a nice origami-style box).

All I did was put masking tape on the back, so that they formed a single sheet.  Masking tape or painter's tape works well because it comes off later.  They don't need to be perfectly aligned.

Then I made my drawing.  I used only office supplies on hand (permanent markers and highlighters).

Last step was to remove the tape.  You could keep it together for a textured look.  Or you could mount them on some other paper with space in between.  Another option would be to hang each piece on the wall separately.  Or how about using it as a simple puzzle?  Anyone have other ideas?  I haven't decided what to do with my little masterpiece yet.

Envelope to Gift Bag Tutorial

I've posted before with tutorials for how to use envelopes to create beads and to make new envelopes.

This time, How About Orange provides a great tutorial so you can learn how to turn old envelopes into nice gift bags in just a few steps.

P.S. This is not an April Fool's Day joke! =)

Return from Radio Silence

To quote my friend at Kniterations: "When life gets complicated (as it so often does), blogging drops off the radar..."

The past 2 months have been a little crazy for me too: mysterious health issues that finally disappeared, apartment hunting, and--most recently--breaking my elbow. Yes, I said "elbow." Anyhow, now that I'm getting ready to move (again, *sigh*) in 2 weeks, I'm back thinking about design and decorating.

To re-start this whole blogging thing, I wanted to share with you some great finds from the National Portrait Gallery gift shop, courtesy of my friend Queena:



Top: Bags made out of Coke bottle labels and bags made from candy bar wrappers/soda labels/food packages (all from Ecoist).

Middle: The non-paper paper cup.

Bottom: Bags made from aluminum can pull tabs (from Escama Studio).

Paper Bag Wrapping Paper

I thought I'd share with you this simple idea for re-use friendly gift wrap.  I did this little wrapping project over the holidays, but it could be used for any time of the year.  I wrapped presents using old paper bags.  I simply cut them up, folded them flat, and used scotch tape for wrapping.  It did take a little more tape than usual because the bag paper is thick.

Since all the gifts were for one person--they were small items--I cut out numbers instead of labels.  I used red scrap paper, punched a hole, and put them through the ribbons for color.  You could also do letters for initials, or shapes, or who knows what else.  I cut them freehand, but you could also buy large stencils at any craft store. 

Bridesmaid Dress Table Decor

 

Singer and Craft are sponsoring an Upcyclist Party contest, in which they ask people to come up with creative party decor from unwanted materials.  I like this idea for party decorations made from old bridesmaid dresses, posted by Flickr user Chica_and_Jo.  (via Craftzine)  I really encourage you to check out some of the other contest entries or submit your own (due November 14).

DIY Album Cover Wall Organizers

 

Paper and Stitch has come up with this brilliant reuse idea for old vinyl covers.  Make your own wall organizers using their ingeniously simple tutorial.   (via Ready Made blog)

DIY Drink Pouch to Pencil Case

I thought this tutorial on turning a drink pouch into a pencil case was a cute idea. (via Craftzine)

Gift Wrap Re-Use

 Hi guys, sorry for no posts in a while.  I've been sick.  Hopefully, I'll do better this week, but I am going out of town late in the week, so I'm not making any promises.

I often find myself saving supplies (cardboard comes to mind) with no actual plan for how I can reuse these useful items for some kind of craft.   For those of you who have wrapping paper lying around for no apparent reason, I thought I'd post some ideas.

I found a few ideas via Tickled Pink:

::  Use pieces of old wrapping paper as cummerbunds around the gifts.
::  Use pieces of old wrapping paper to make a collage for new wrapping or create works of art.
::  Cut into squares and make origami.
::  Put it through a paper shredder for stuffing other gift bags and gifts going in the mail.
::  Decoupage it onto cardboard or wooden shapes to make decorations.
::  Use it as a mat for picture frames.

A few more thoughts:

::  Instead of using it as just a mat for picture frames, you could actually just use especially pretty wrapping paper as a picture itself.
::  Use it to make kirigami flowers
::  Add it to some blank card stock and make pretty greeting cards


Good luck!

I'm Loving...Barbara Fleck's Plastic Bag Art

Okay, guys, you are welcome in advance for sharing with you these amazing mandalas from artist Barbara Fleck, which I found via craftzine.  You will love me for this.  And I love these so much I'm ready to make one myself.

It's just so cool how she uses familiar logos to remind us of the prevalence of consumerism while she reuses everyday objects to make art. 

  

Rubbish: Reuse Your Refuse

Here's a book I'm dying to check out:

It's called Rubbish: Reuse Your Refuse, by  Kate Shoup. The book describes over 30 projects for materials you might otherwise have thrown away.  A few intriguing ones include a clock made out of an old board game and a lampshade that incorporates photo-negatives (remember those?).  There's even a tutorial on turning the plastic from lawn chairs into a cute clutch purse.  One suggestion, the credit card bracelet, is reminiscent of my post on Starbucks card jewelry.

Anyhow, I can't recommend it, since I haven't had a chance to try out the ideas myself, but once I do, I'll be sure to report back.  Anyone who has read it, please let me know!

Happy Friday!

'Picture Perfect' Picture Frame Tray

Design* Sponge recently featured a tutorial from photographer Ashley Ann on how to make this picture frame tray:

It reminded me of a project that I'm doing (currently in-progress). I turned a picture frame into a coffee table top with the simple addition of some fabric remnants I had lying around.

Currently, it sits atop a less-than-lovely cardboard box. My next step will be to pick up some contact paper and liven up the cardboard, for a slightly less low-end look. Anyhow, here is the tabletop today: