This project is perfect as a “back to school” project. It is very simple and fun, as well as a great way to store your packed lunch. This is also a great way to recycle / upcycle plastic soda bottles. Laura from  Dacian Moon Handmade  got inspiration for this craft from Creative Jewish Mom. Laura will show you, step by step, how to make this new lunch box.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

– two 2.5l plastic bottles (the sort where the bottom looks a bit like a flower with five petals)
– scissors
– instant glue
– green felt
– pen

Step 1.

Clear the bottles – remove the labels.

Step 2.

Use the scissors to cut off the end of one bottle.

Like this.

Cut also the end of the other bottle .

Take care to cut one a centimeter taller than the other…

… so you could overlap them and they stick together.

Like this.

Step 3.

Draw two leaves on the felt…

… then cut them out.

Step 4.

Add a bit of glue on the middle of one “flower”…

… and place one leaf on it.

Add the second leaf.

Let it dry and you have an apple lunch box 😉

Technorati Tags: soda bottle crafts, plastic bottle crafts, apple crafts, back to school crafts, back to school, lunch box crafts, bottle crafts

Laura · Back to School Crafts, Bags & Purses Crafts, Felt, Green Environmental Crafts, Plastic Bottles, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 0 Comments

Each of us have at home a lot of magazines that we do not need anymore, how about you recycle them by making something useful out of them. This is called upcycling. Here’s a useful way to use them…this would make a great gift for Mom or Dad on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. It would also be good for your desk when you are doing your homework

Tutorial offered by Laura from  Dacian Moon Handmade  .

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

– Magazines
– Transparent tape

Step 1

Open the magazine on the middle and take one (double) page.

Start folding it at 1.5 cm …

… until you have this band.

Repeat until you have about 11 – 12 bands.

Step 2.

Place some of them on the table, like this. Initially I started with 6 but I took one out because my support would be too wide. So you can start directly with 5.

Bring another band and place it perpendicular to the others, putting it over a band, then under the next … and so on… like in the picture.

Add another two, in negative. Where the first band is over, the second band will be under.

It will look like this.

Step 3.

Bend up the remaining part of the bands…

… and put another band through them…

… form the corners…

… and where the band is ending, place a little piece of tape to keep it in place.

Continue adding bands until you reach the top.

Step 4.

Add tape on the upper edge to keep it in place…

… and you have a new pen holder 😀

Technorati Tags: weaving, woven, paper weaving, paper, paper crafts, weaving crafts, woven paper, pen holder, fathers day gifts, mothers day gifts, gift making, gifts, magazines, magazine crafts, weaving magazines

Laura · Back to School Crafts, Fathers Day Crafts, Green Environmental Crafts, Magazines, Mother's Day Crafts, Paper, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts, Weaving · 2 Comments

I have a fun girly craft for you today.  In this post I’m going to show you how to make a festive Halloween bracelet that any girl would love to wear this Halloween season.  Made from a recycled soda bottle and some paint this bracelet craft is an easy and fun one.  Plus, you will get a good feeling from recycling an old soda bottle instead of throwing it away.  Isn’t that wonderful?!  So, grab that cleaned out used soda bottle and let’s get this fun craft started.

Check out our other Halloween Crafts.

Laura from  Dacian Moon Handmade  will show you, step by step, how to make this.

Materials Needed

– recycled plastic bottle
– black multi-surface paint
– scissors
– nail file

Step 1

Cut the middle part of the recycled plastic bottle (the one without writing or patterns)…

… like this. Now you have the base of the bracelet.

Step 2

Round the edges using nail file.

Step 3

Take the lower part of the bottle…

And put the bracelet around it.   This will help you to paint it.

Step 4

Make a line on the lower part with the black paint.

Then, choose a point somewhere and make some rays around it, like this.

Connect them with curves, like this.

Continue until you have a full spider web.

I added two more smaller cobwebs on one side and the other.

Step 5

Let it dry overnight.

Take it off the bottle…

… and you have the coolest bracelet for this Halloween!

How cool is this bracelet?!  Any girl will love wearing this bracelet for Halloween.  And, I can promise you no one will have one exactly like it.  Enjoy!!

Technorati Tags: halloween crafts, halloween crafts for kids, bracelet crafts, jewelry crafts, halloween jewelry crafts, girl crafts, recycled soda bottle crafts, crafts for girls, crafts made from recycled soda bottles

Laura · crafts for girls, Green Environmental Crafts, Halloween Crafts for Kids, Jewelry Crafts for Kids, Plastic Bottles, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 0 Comments

Yesterday I showed you how to make a Glue Stick Man out of your recycled glue sticks.  Today I’m going to continue showing you how to make toy figures out of recycled materials.  In this post I’m going to show you how to make Cardboard Little People Figures.  Just simply use pieces of used cardboard boxes.  This craft is a great way to recycle those cardboard boxes that you would normally throw away.  These Cardboard Little People Figures are fun to make…. almost as much fun as they will be to play with.  So, let’s get started.

Check out our other Green Environmental Crafts.

Materials Needed

Thin Cardboard

Small Circles to Trace…. One Smaller than the Other (like buttons)

Pencil

Scissors

Glue

A Couple Different Colors of Paint

Button

Step 1

Trace a bunch of circles onto thin cardboard.

Step 2

The thinner the cardboard, the more circles you will need to cut.

Step 3

Cut them out.

Step 4

Glue together all pieces.

Step 5

Press down until dry.

Step 6

Get a smaller circle to trace and trace a bunch of these circles.

Step 7

Glue together.

Step 8

Glue smaller circles on top of large circles.

Step 9

Paint it.

Step 10

Paint other details…

Step 11

Add button or other item for hat or hair.

Step 12

Make them all different sizes.

Aren’t these adorable little people?  Make a whole family of little people figures to play with your friends.  They will surely love it.

Technorati Tags: recycled crafts, crafts made from recycled materials, green environmental crafts, green crafts, environmental crafts, toy crafts, recycled toy crafts, cardboard crafts, cardboard box crafts, crafts made from cardboard, crafts made from cardboard boxes, recycled cardboard box crafts

Shana · Buttons, Cardboard Boxes, Earth Day Crafts, Green Environmental Crafts, Make Your Own Toys, Making People Figures and Dolls, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts, Stand Up Figures · 0 Comments

With all the crafts that I do  I go through a lot of glue sticks.  I always hate the idea of throwing them away…. I always try to find crafts that I can make out of recycled items.  And, glue sticks are no exception.  Here is a great craft you can make with your used glue sticks.  Today I’m going to show you how to make a Glue Stick Man out of your recycled glue sticks.  You will see what a great feeling you get from making something out of recycled materials.  Plus, you get a very cool toy man.

Check out our other Green Environmental Crafts.

Materials Needed

Empty Glue Stick

Glue

Paint, Paper, Foam or Felt

Black & White Paint

Step 1

Take an empty Glue Stick and peel the label off of it.

Step 2

Glue the cap in place like this.

Step 3

Paint on clothes or glue on clothes with paper, foam or felt.

Step 4

If painted clothes, then use black paint to outline.

Step 5

Paint a sleeve on each side.  Also, draw a dot for each eye.

Step 6

Draw a circle for each hand.

Step 7

Paint each hand white.  Also, paint white buttons on the shirt.

How adorable is this little guy?  So adorable!!  Make a few of these Glue Stick people and you can have a small family.  What a great way to recycle those used glue sticks.

Technorati Tags: recycled crafts, crafts made from recycled materials, glue sticks, glue stick crafts, crafts made from glue sticks, green environmental crafts, green crafts, environmental crafts, toy crafts, recycled toy crafts

Shana · Crafts Foam, Earth Day Crafts, Felt, Green Environmental Crafts, Make Your Own Toys, Making People Figures and Dolls, Paper, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts, Stand Up Figures · 0 Comments

I had no idea how many super cool crafts are out there for Halloween using Milk Jugs.  There are just so many…. and they all are just so cool.   I was searching the internet for some awesomely creepy Halloween crafts and I found some doozies for you.  In this post I have listed 15 spooky Halloween crafts using Milk Jugs.  What’s so wonderful about these Halloween crafts is that they all use milk jugs…. an item that most of us use every day.  So, you are sure to at least have the most important material for these crafts.  Scroll through all 15 of these Halloween milk jug crafts to find some to do with your kids at home.  They will love it.

15 Spooky Halloween Crafts using Milk Jugs

(1)  Spooky Spider

Check out this spider.  It’s super awesome and super big…. I love it!!  It will be a wonderful Halloween Decoration this Season.  It is sure to creep out all who see it.  Check out Family Fun to get all the details on this great Halloween Milk Jug Craft.

(2)  Halloween Table Centerpiece

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for a unique way to show off my Halloween spirit with a great centerpiece.  Well, folks I think I found it.  Check out this awesome Halloween Table Centerpiece.  I found it over at The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman and I absolutely dig it!!

(3)  Spirit Jugs

I have a great Halloween Craft for you to use up those extra Milk Jugs you have along with some old Christmas Lights.  Eighteen25 shows us in great detail how to make this amazing looking outside decoration.  By simply decorating a bunch of milk jugs into ghosts you can have a cheap and fun way to decorate the house this Halloween Season.

(4)  Trick-or-Treat Basket

Every Halloween I look for original ways for the kids to carry their candy.  How about making a unique Trick-or-Treat Basket using a Milk Jug.  I found this great Milk Jug Halloween Craft over at TLC Family.  What is great about using a Milk Jug for this craft is that the Trick-or-Treat Basket will not only be sturdy, but it will be rain proof too.

(5)  Recycled Halloween Windsock

Here is another fantastic way to use a Milk Jug to make an outside Halloween Decoration.  Here Thrifty Fun shows you how to take a milk jug along with some plastic garbage bags and make a terrific windsock.  The ghost will actually look like he is flying through the night.

(6)  Milk Jug Storm Trooper Helmet

This has got to be one of the most creative ways to use a milk jug for Halloween.  Filth Wizardry shows us step-by-step how to take an everyday milk jug and make it into a storm trooper helmet perfect for dressing up this Halloween.  Any child will not only love making the craft, but using it to dress up too.

(7)  Halloween Monster Yard Lights

Here is a wonderfully colorful way to decorate the outside for Halloween.  Take milk jugs and transform them into Monster Yard Lights.  This is a fun way to decorate your yard or walkway and the kids will absolutely love it.  Do you know what they will love even more?  Making them with you.  Check out Crafts by Amanda for all the craft details.

(8)  Milk Jug Pumpkin

If you are tired of decorating your usual pumpkins…. why not try something a little bit different this year.  Kiwi shows us how to take a milk jug and decorate it into a pumpkin.  Let the kids decorate whatever way they want to come up with unusual and unique pumpkins.  They will become great Halloween decorations and you will create loving memories of the time you made these together.

(9)  Milk Jug Pinata

If you are having a Halloween Party this year this is an excellent Halloween craft for you.  You can make this creepy looking Halloween Pinata with the help of Cathie Filian.  Here she describes in great detail how you too can make this one of a kind scary pinata for your next Halloween party.

(10)  Halloween Masks

Why not take those extra milk jugs you have and make them into Halloween Masks.  Your kids can be as creative as they would like to.   These Halloween masks are as much fun to make as they are to wear.  Check out TLC Family for all the how-to’s to make this craft.

(11)  Milk Jug Ghost

Here is a great Halloween Decoration….. perfect for inside your house.  Because this craft is made with Christmas lights the ghost actually lights up.  Turn off the lights and check out how your Ghost will actually glow.  Spooky, right?  Sure is.  Get all the craft details at She Knows.

(12)  Monster Light Jug

This friendly little monster is not only cute during the day, but also lights up the night!  Not everything about Halloween has to be scary or spooky.  Some little ones just can’t handle too much scary.  For these little ones this Halloween Milk Jug craft is perfect.  Check out Kaboose for all the details on this craft.

(13)  Milk Jug Skeleton

This Halloween Milk Jug Craft is so creative!!  And, it looks like an incredibly fun craft for the kids as well as the adults.  I found this craft over at The Party Animal and I just love it!!  You will need plenty of Milk Jugs for this craft…. 7 to be exact.  But, if your kids drink a lot of milk like my kids… you will have the 7 milk jugs in no time.

(14)  Halloween Milk Jug Lanterns

I found this creative Halloween craft over at Ladies Home Journal.    In this post they show you how to take Milk Jugs and make them into Skeletons, Frankensteins and Cats.  Line a bunch of these down your driveway or a path to make a spooky lit area for the trick-or-treaters to walk.

(15)  Milk Jug Vampire Candy Holder

We just put up our very own Halloween Milk Jug Craft.  We made a Milk Jug Vampire Candy Holder and it’s perfect for Trick-or-Treat night.  You can actually put tons of candy in the mouth and let the Trick-or-Treaters reach in the Vampire’s mouth and take the candy.  They are sure to get a big kick out of this.

Technorati Tags: Halloween crafts, Halloween Milk Jug crafts, milk jug crafts, crafts using milk jugs, trick-or-treat crafts, scary crafts, spooky crafts, milk container crafts, Halloween milk container crafts, trick-or-treat crafts using milk jugs, milk jug trick-or-treat crafts

Shana · Cool Finds and Tips, Decorating and Design, Green Environmental Crafts, Halloween Crafts for Kids, Hat and Mask Crafts, Milk Cartons and Containers, Parenting Articles, Plastic Containers · 2 Comments

Since school is back in session I decided to show you how to make an Elegant Pen Holder.  This elegant pen holder will look wonderful on any desk and it is so useful.  No longer will you have pens and pencils floating around your desk…. you will now have a spot for all your pens and pencils.  This craft is so easy and a lot of fun.  It is made from recycled boxes so it is a great green craft too.  Add style to your desk with this elegant pen holder.  Let’s get started.

Check out our other Back to School Crafts.

Laura from Dacian Moon Handmade  will show you, step by step, how to make this craft.

Materials Needed

– recycled box
– cardboard
– pen
– craft glue
– scissors
– paint
– paintbrush
– aluminum foil

Step 1

From the recycled box we will make two holders.  Trace your shape on the box…  I made a wave shape.

Cut on the line…

… and you have the two pieces. You can adjust the edge until you are happy with the result.

Step 2

We will use aluminum foil to cover them. This way we will add a nice texture.

Cut a piece of foil (wide enough to cover the holder piece) and place one holder in the middle.

Cover it with foil.

Press well to preserve the shape of the holder.

Step 3

Apply a layer of glue on the base…

… and place it on the cardboard piece (also covered in foil).

Do the same with the other holder piece.  Flatten the foil well and let the glue dry.

Step 4

Use a wide paintbrush to cover it with paint. Apply as many layers that you need until it looks as you want.

I applied 3 layers of paint on mine and I think it looks good.

And, there you have it….. you now have an Elegant Pen Holder.  This pen holder will look great on any desk.

Technorati Tags: crafts for kids, organizers, organizer crafts, organizer crafts for kids, desk organizer, get organized, pencil holder, pencil holder crafts, pen holder, pen holder crafts, cardboard crafts, cardboard organizers, crafts with cardboard, back to school crafts, declutter crafts

Laura · Back to School Crafts, Box and Container Crafts, Cardboard Boxes, Green Environmental Crafts, Organization and De-Clutter Crafts, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 0 Comments

Today I have a super creative and fun craft for you.  I’m going to show you how to make a pencil box using a tie.  Ask your Dad for one…. I’m sure he has some that he doesn’t even wear anymore.  And, what a great way to recycle those ties that aren’t worn anymore.   After you make this craft you will have a functioning pencil box… and one that no one else has.  How cool is that?!  So, grab the materials needed and let’s get started.

Check out some other Necktie Crafts.

Laura from Dacian Moon Handmade   will show you how to make this craft, step by step.

Materials Needed

– tie
– needle and thread
– scissors
– satin ribbon
– auto-adhesive velcro

Step 1

Measure the size of the pencil box. Should be slightly larger than a pen.

Bend the rest of the tie over it and mark this size.

Cut on the marking.

It will look like this.

Make a curve cut in the front, like in the picture.

Step 2

Take the satin ribbon…

… and sew it around the front part…

… to create a border, like this.

Sew the front to the rear to stay in place.

It will look like this.

Step 3

Take the auto-adhesive velcro…

… and place one part on the closing part and the other in the corresponding point on the front part. Like this.

Now you can put pencils in it…

… close it, and it’s ready to use.

And, that’s it.  You just created a pencil box using a tie.  Doesn’t it feel great to recycle something that is no longer being used?  It sure does.

Technorati Tags: neckties, necktie crafts, necktie crafts for kids, tie crafts, tie crafts for kids, neck tie crafts, neck tie crafts for kids, recycle neckties, recycle neck ties, recycle necktie crafts, upcycle neckties, upcycle necktie crafts, necktie activities, necktie activities for kids, pencil box, pencil box crafts, how to make a pencil box

Laura · Back to School Crafts, Fabrics & Materials, Green Environmental Crafts, Neckties, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts, Velcro · 0 Comments

I have a super fun craft for you that is perfect for the back to school season.  Today I am going to show you how to make Recycled Crayons.  If you are unsure what to do with all those tiny crayons left over this is the perfect craft for you.  Take those tiny crayons and shred them into little pieces…. as many colors as you would like…. we will melt them down into colorful recycled crayon cupcakes.  You will need help from an adult for this craft.  So, let’s get started.

Check out our other Back to School Crafts.

Laura from  Dacian Moon Handmade  will show you, step by step, how to make this craft.

Materials Needed

– recycled crayons (I have pink, black, orange, brown)
– cupcake liners
– grater
– oven

Step 1

Remove the paper cover from the pink crayon.

Step 2

Shred the crayon into little pieces using the grater.

… put them in a cupcake liner.

Add black little pieces from the black crayon.

Do the same for the orange and brown crayons.

Step 3

Ask an adult to help you preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

When the oven is ready, have the adult place the crayon cupcakes in the oven for 10 minutes (or until they look melted ).

When they are finished, take them out and let them cool for about 15-20 min.

After they have cooled they pop out very easily and are ready to be used.

So, what are you going to color first?  Share them with your friends at school…. they are sure to love them.

Here is our video on How to Make Recycled Crayons

Technorati Tags: back to school, back to school crafts, back to school crafts for kids, crayons, crayon crafts, recycled crayons, how to make recycled crayons, rainbow crayons

Laura · Back to School Crafts, Green Environmental Crafts, Make Your Own Toys · 1 Comment

Earth Day will be here in just a couple of weeks.  In honor of Earth Day I thought I would scour the internet looking for cool ideas for Earth Day crafts.  All of the crafts that I found and have listed here are made from recycled materials.  Earth Day is a special day to celebrate the Earth and to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment.  And, I think making crafts from recycled materials such as the ones found here is a great way to teach children about recycling and the importance of doing that to help save our Earth.  So, without further ado….

Coolest Earth Day Craft Ideas

(1)  Newspaper Roses

Look how beautiful these Roses are?  They really are lovely & they are completely made from recycled newspapers.  Check out the craft and all its details over at Zakka Life.

(2)  Serving Tray

I love, love, love this idea!!  Crafty Nest went to a Salvage Yard and noticed that there were old cupboards there.  She picked up a white one and with a little creativity and a lot of fun she was able to make this beautiful serving tray.  Check out her website so you too can make this.

(3)  Can-Do Robots

Made from tin cans these robots are so freakin cute.  What is really cool is that their features are made of magnets, so they can be removed.  Which makes these robots like a Mr. Potato Head…. How fun is that?!  Check out the craft details over at Family Fun.

(4)  Cardboard Ottoman or Side Table

What a clever and creative idea!!  Made from recycled cardboard tubes you can choose to make either a side table or an ottoman…. or even make both.  When you look at them from above they are actually daisies.   Check out Esprit Cabane for all the crafting details.

(5)  Smashed Soda Can Animals

Ok, this cow is really cute, isn’t he?!  But, wait till you check out Fave Crafts….. they have not only a cow, but they will show you how to make a pig and a bear too.  Make all three recycled can crafts and you will have a beginning to your very own recycled animal farm.

(6)  Milk Jug Shade

Now, this recycled craft turns out beautiful, doesn’t it?  Honestly, if I saw this I would have no idea it was actually made from recycled milk jugs.  But, it is.  I found this craft over at Mother Earth News.  Check out their site for all the wonderful craft details.

(7)  Recycled Picnic Basket

I found this recycled picnic basket over at bron marshall and for the main basket it is actually made from a recycled beer six-pack.  Isn’t that a clever idea?  They other container is actually made from a recycled half dozen egg carton…. they simply added a handle.  Make sure to check out their site for the full craft details.

(8)  Newspaper Basket

This is an amazing basket!!  And, it is completely made from Newspaper.  Look how sturdy it looks too…. I love it.   How About Orange shows you step-by-step how to make this basket yourself.

(9)  Recycled Glass Chandelier

Oh I just love this recycled craft idea…. it might just be my favorite.  I found this recycled craft over at Casa Sugar.    With a few recycled materials and some tea lights  you too can have this stunning glass chandelier.  I love the way they show this chandelier being outside…. it would be perfect for a fun outside party.

(10)  Creative Notepads

Here is a creative way to recycle those leftover notebook pages and even those left over paper scraps.  Esprit Cabane shows us how to take those leftover paper products and make them into cute little pocket size notepads.  Check out her site for the full details.

(11)  Toilet Paper Tube Albums

These Toilet Paper Tube Albums are just precious.  They are a beautiful way to store special keepsakes and pictures of events that you don’t want to lose.  Those Northern Skies shows you step-by-step how you too can make these albums from recycled toilet paper tubes.

(12)  Magazine Boxes

Here is a creative and imaginative way to recycle those stacks of magazines you keep at home.  When made like the tutorial on Abstract Octopus you can actually store things in these boxes.  Check out the site for the full craft details.

(13)  Plastic Cup Earrings

Aren’t these earrings adorable?  You would never realize they were made from a plastic cup unless I told you.  I found this idea over at Punk Projects and I think it is a great way to recycle plastic cups… plus the craft is fun to do.  Make sure to check out her website for the details.

Technorati Tags: Earth Day, Earth Day crafts, Earth Day crafts for kids, Earth Day activities, Earth Day activities for kids, crafts made from recycled materials, recycled crafts, recycled crafts for kids, environmental crafts, environmental crafts for kids

Shana · Cans, Caps and Lids, Cardboard Boxes, Cardboard Tubes Rolls, Cool Finds and Tips, Earth Day Crafts, Egg Cartons, Green Environmental Crafts, Jars, Magazines, Milk Cartons and Containers, Parenting Articles, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 2 Comments

Today I have a super easy craft that is very useful.  I’m going to show you how to make an Organizer out of Old Plastic Bottles or Jars.  This craft is a great way to recycle those old plastic bottles and jars.  And, the outcome is a beautiful organizer.  You will need a little bit of adult help as you will need to use a cutter to cut the plastic bottles all different sizes.  So, grab the materials needed and let’s get this craft started.

Check out our other Plastic Bottle Crafts.

Materials Needed

Old plastic bottles and jars

Fabric

Glue

Scissors, cutters (Adult Help)

Ribbon

Step 1

Collect a few jars and cut them in different heights as shown.

Step 2

Cover the jars with fabric and glue it in place as shown. Place the jars together and glue them on a piece of cardboard.

Step 3

Draw around the jars and cut it out so that the base looks like it is shown

Step 4

Add a ribbon and your Organizer is finished.

And, that is it…. you have a beautiful organizer made simply out of old Plastic Bottles and Jars.  Now, the question is….. what are you going to organize?  What are you waiting for… get started.

Technorati Tags: plastic bottle crafts, recycle plastic bottles, crafts with plastic bottles, crafts for kids, water bottles, water bottle crafts, recycled water bottles, recycled water bottle crafts, organizers, organizer crafts, organizer crafts for kids, water bottle crafts for kids

Sharon David · Cardboard Boxes, Fabrics & Materials, Green Environmental Crafts, Jars, Organization and De-Clutter Crafts, Plastic Bottles, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts, Ribbons · 0 Comments

Welcome birds into your neighborhood this spring…. Make your own bird feeder with recycled materials and place it on your windowsill, porch or garden. The birds can perch on the pencils and pull out seeds from the holes on the sides of the water bottle. Plus, it is super easy to refill your Bird Feeder by the cap of the top of the water bottle.  Imagine watching the birds feed off of the Bird Feeder you made yourself…. wouldn’t that be so wonderful?!  So, grab the materials needed and let’s get started with the craft.

Check out our other Plastic Bottle Crafts.

Materials Needed

plastic bottle

pencils

bird seed

knife/ blade (use with an adult’s help)

twine

Step 1

Make 2 holes (adult help) opposite to each other near the bottom of the bottle to allow the pencil to go through it as shown.

Step 2

Pierce another two holes (adult help) to put another pencil through it at 90 degree angles.

Step 3

Pierce holes (adult help) above the perches a little larger than the size of the seeds.

Step 4

Tie some twine on top of the bottle to hang it.

Step 5

Fill the bottle with bird seed.

Step 6

Hang your bird feeder on a branch, or outside your window and enjoy the chirping of the birds.

And, there you have it….. your very own Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder.  Now go hang it up outside and enjoy watching the birds feed off of the bird feeder you made yourself.  Enjoy!!

Technorati Tags: plastic bottle crafts, recycle plastic bottles, crafts with plastic bottles, crafts for kids, water bottles, water bottle crafts, bird feeders, bird feeder crafts, bird feeder crafts for kids, recycled water bottles, recycled water bottle crafts

Sharon David · Green Environmental Crafts, Plastic Bottles, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 0 Comments

I have a fun and creative craft for you today.  I’m going to show you how to make paper from rags.  The craft is a lot of fun…. a lot of work, but tons of fun.  At different steps in this craft you will need parental help.  There are quite a few parts where you will be using adult tools and they will need to help you through this…. each of these steps are marked in red.  So, grab some white cotton or linen rags and the rest of the craft materials and let’s get started.

Materials Needed

White Cotton or Linen Rags

Scissors

Non-Aluminum Pot

Oven (Parental Help)

Baking Soda

Sink

Strainer

Blender (Parental Help)

2 Art Frames of the Same Size

Staple Gun (Parental Help)

Window Screen

Fabric or Felt

Sponge

Step 1 & 2

Use clean white cotton or linen rags.

Cut rags into small strips.

Step 3

Cut strips of rags into smaller bits and pieces.  (Parental Help) Place rag pieces in Non-Aluminum Pot with a lot of water.  Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda.  Let boil for at least an hour.

Step 4

Place fabric in a strainer.  Wash all of the baking soda off of the fabric.

Step 5

(Parental Help Needed) Add soggy chunks of rags into blender with combo of 50% water and 50% rags.  Grind these rag chunks into like a smooth paste.

Step 6

To make paper, we need a mold and deckle.  To do this…. find 2 art frames that are exactly the same size.

(Parental Help Needed) Staple gun a window screen down on one of the frames.

Here you have your mold and deckle.

Dip up pulp unto the screen.  Slush screen back and forth until water runs out.

Step 7

Firstly, place fabric or felt down.  Then place mold face down on fabric with pulp between fabric and mold.

Use a sponge to press into the fabric to soak up the excess water.  Then slowly lift up mold to leave the pulp that is left.  To make more paper just re-do step 6d thru 7b with fresh, dry fabric or felt.

Step 8

Paper is done when it is completely dry.

And, there you have it….. you have just made paper from rags.  Don’t you feel awesome?!  That was a lot of work, but so worth it.  Now, go enjoy your paper.

Technorati Tags: how to make paper, making paper, paper from rags, how to make paper from rags, rag crafts, rag crafts for kids, paper crafts for kids, make your own paper, green crafts, green crafts for kids, kids crafts, crafts for kids

Shana · Fabrics & Materials, Felt, Green Environmental Crafts, Paper · 0 Comments

While roaming the internet the other day I came across quite a few cool crafts made from old, worn out books….. 10 of them to be exact.  They were so cool I had to show them to you.  All of them have instructions so that you too can make these creative items.  From Wreaths to a Kindle Case you are going to be surprised in the things you can do with books to upcycle them…. I know I was.

10 Cool Crafts Made from Old, Worn Out Books

(1) Rose Wreath

Look how beautiful this wreath is!!  It is just incredible.  And, the cool thing is that if you check out ByStephanieLynn you will see that the instructions on how to make this book wreath isn’t that complicated at all.  And, it sounds like so much fun.

(2) Kindle Case

Look how creative this craft is…. so creative.  Here is a great way to hold and protect your Kindle…. and it is inexpensive.  I found this craft over at SuddenlyFound and she will show you how you can have this Kindle case made from a book too.

(3) Book Page Fabric

This book craft is pretty interesting.  Turn book pages into pieces of fabric.  DesignSponge turned book pages into a writing pad, a tiny notebook and a cleanable writing pad for under the computer.  Make sure to check out her site so you can see all the pictures of all she made.

(4) Secret Storage Areas

This craft always reminds me of something from a Spy Movie.  This is so cool…. what child wouldn’t love a secret hiding space?  And, what better way to do this than in a book.  Education.com shows you how to do this.

(5) Book Purse

Isn’t this book purse an original idea?  It really is.  And, I can totally assume that you would be the only one carrying around a purse like this.  If you are wondering how to make this purse go check out Curbly for all the details.

(6) Book Vase

Check out these beautiful vases made from books.  Aren’t they so cool?!  And, they aren’t that difficult to make either.  You can find out the step-by-step “how-to” over at CountryLiving.  Just skip over to slide 8 to see this particular craft.

(7) Book Table

Here is a table constructed out of books.  Looking at this I would wonder how stable this desk could possibly be.  But, if you check out the original post over at Instructables they explain how if constructed correctly this table is quite stable.  Check it out for the full how-to.

(8) Book Page Wreath

Here is another Book Wreath that I loved so much I had to include in this post.  This particular book page wreath was done by LivingWithLindsay and she explains beautifully how to make this wreath for yourself.

(9) Book Clock

This clock is absolutely adorable and would work out perfectly in any child’s room.  I found this book craft over at DesignDazzle and it’s a fun craft.  She has the complete tutorial over there, so make sure to check out her site.

(10) Book Picture Frame

Here is a cool way to present those photographs for all to see.  How about use an old book with an interesting cover and recycle it this way.  WikiHow shows you how to do this beautifully with a step-by-step tutorial.

Technorati Tags: books, recycled books, how to recycle books, book crafts, recycled book crafts, crafts made from recycled books, upcycle, upcycle books, upcycled books

Shana · book making crafts, Cool Finds and Tips, Green Environmental Crafts, Parenting Articles, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 0 Comments

Christmas has come and gone.  And, with Christmas comes the mountains of used wrapping paper from all those gifts you received.  Most of the time we land up throwing it away…. we don’t even think twice about throwing it away.  Or, how about all those Holiday Greeting Cards you received this year….. what do you land up doing with them once the Holiday is over?  Throw them away, right?  Well today I’m going to show you crafty ways to reuse these items.    From Christmas decorations for next year to decorative gift boxes there are plenty ideas for reusing your wrapping paper & greeting cards.  You are sure to find an idea for yours.  So, without further ado….

Crafty Ways to Reuse Wrapping Paper & Greeting Cards

(1) Wrapping Paper Wreath

Here is a great way to reuse your wrapping paper.  Take your wrapping paper and make it into a festive Holiday wreath.  Check out Instructables for the How-to.

(2)  Iron the Wrapping Paper

If the receiver of the gift was careful and the wrapping paper isn’t torn too bad you could actually reuse it.  But, you may be wondering what to do about all those wrinkles…. no worries.  Martha Stewart tells you to iron it on low heat and reuse it.

(3) Gift Card Ornaments

Here is a fantastic idea to transform all those Holiday Greeting Cards into some beautiful Christmas Ornaments for next year.  Look how beautiful they turn out.  Junk Mail Gems shows you step-by-step how to make these beautiful Christmas Ornaments for yourself.

(4) Decorative Bowls

Here’s a great craft for the kids.  Take the old wrapping paper…. shred it up…. and make it into decorative bowls.  Instructables shows you step-by-step how to do this.  The kids will love showing off the bowl they made themselves.

(5) Holiday Tins

Here is another great way to reuse that Holiday Wrapping Paper…..decorate tins with the wrapping paper and make them into beautiful Holiday Tins.  CraftStylish shows you step-by-step how to achieve this.

(6) Gift Boxes

You know what I never have enough of???…   Gift Boxes.  I’m always buying gift boxes for my gifts every Holiday Season.  Well, no more.  There is no longer a need because CraftyPod shows us how to make our very own gift boxes from Greeting Cards.  They come out looking perfectly festive.

(7) Wrapping Paper Collage

Here is a great craft for the kids…. and it uses Wrapping Paper scraps.  It is a perfect way to use up those little pieces of wrapping paper that you would normally throw away.  KinderArt shows you how to do this with your kids…. they will have so much fun.

(8) Serving Tray Liner

Here is a beautiful way to reuse your Holiday wrapping paper.  Simply iron it on low heat and then place it in one of your serving trays.  You will have a wonderfully festive Holiday serving tray for your New Years Party.  Martha Stewart shows you how to achieve this.

(9) Christmas Card Basket

Here is a creative way to use up all those Holiday greeting cards you have from this year.  Instead of throwing them away why not make this adorable Christmas Card Basket that you can use next Holiday Season.  Made from Christmas Cards and yarn you and your children will have so much fun making it.  Check out AllFreeCrafts for the tutorial.

And, there you have it…. 9 crafty ways to reuse your Holiday wrapping paper & greeting cards this Holiday Season.  Do you have some other ways to reuse wrapping paper and greeting cards?  Let me know in the comments below.  I would love to hear them.

Top image by tillwe

Technorati Tags: gift wrap, reuse gift wrap, reuse greeting cards, reuse wrapping paper, green, Holiday gift wrap, Hanukkah gift wrap, green christmas, green holiday, green Hanukkah, recycle wrapping paper, recycle greeting cards

Shana · Christmas Crafts, Cool Finds and Tips, Decorating and Design, Green Environmental Crafts, Holiday Crafts for Kids, Parenting Articles, Recycle Greeting Cards, Recycling and Upcycling Crafts · 0 Comments

Today I have a fun and creative craft for you.  I’m going to teach you how to make beautiful pictures out of pencil shavings. Its a great way to recycle waste. These pictures are amazing enough to frame and hang up on your wall. The simple steps to make it are given below, but be careful while you do this activity… pencil shavings are delicate and need to be handled gently.  So, let’s get started.

Craft materials required:

Pencils – Different Colors

Pencil Sharpener

Scissors

Glue

Card Stock

Step 1

Collect pencil shavings after sharpening your pencils.

Step 2

You can arrange 4 small bits like this and glue them in place to make one type of flower.

Step 3

You can glue two larger pieces together to make a butterfly.

Step 4

Decorate the butterfly as shown.

Step 5

Glue all the pencil shavings and decorate the rest of the picture with color pencils.

That’s it.  The craft is an easy one, but the results are big.  Every Pencil Shavings Artwork is an original, so don’t stop after one…. keep making them.  They make great gifts for the Holiday season.

Technorati Tags: pencil shavings, pencil shavings art, pencil shavings picture, pencil shavings craft, pencil shavings artwork, pencil scraps picture, pencil scraps art, pencil scraps craft

Sharon David · Card Stock, Colored Pencils, Green Environmental Crafts · 1 Comment