Showing posts with label reuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reuse. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Plastic Bottle Purses!! - Guest post on Craft Envy

Hello readers, this week I got something very exciting for you! I'm posting over as guest blogger for the first time on Craft Envy. Yay, I'm so excited! Such a lovely offer from Nicholette and Vanessa - they knew I was just a beginner here and still were generous to spotlight my crafts!

Well, I love today's creation of mine, it's a great recycling-cum-storage project! We all know that plastics are non-biodegradable and create a horrible mess and hazard to the earth. Ever since I read this I keep thinking of new ideas for crafts involving plastic bottles..and yesterday this idea hit me- Why not make purses or coin boxes out of plastic bottles!

So here they are: Plastic Bottle Purses, zippered up and all! If you wish to learn how to make these beauties, head over to Craft Envy HERE!
My, aren't they cute! Store what you like in these lovelies, and save the environment too..now that's what clever re-purposing is all about! Do let me know what you think!
Also while you're there, check out the awesome creations by Nicholette and Vanessa, if you haven't already!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Curled Paper Peonies

Hey there everybody, I'm back from my superb vacation...I had so much fun, except for the unwanted tan! Since my last post was so lengthy, this time I'm gonna keep it simple. 
So here goes, I made these beauties yesterday- Curled Paper Peonies..Don't they seem fun? 

These can used to pep up almost anything - a greeting card, a closet door, or as in my case, my workspace..my computer at work is going to be adorned by them tomorrow!

These are very simple and fun to make, as they require no extensive work, and are almost frugal, as all you will need to make these is paper and glue. Glitter of course is compulsory for me, too!
 To make Curled Paper Peonies, You will need:

Paper:  Several types of paper were used. I painted cardstock paper with shades of pink glittering acrylic paints, as evident in the flowers above. I also spread some plain paper and magazine pages under some bottles I wanted to spray paint in silver color. You can see that in the pic below:

This helps in recycling otherwise unused paper, and also saves on glimmer mist or sparkle paint! I know, clever :)

Glue, Skewer or toothpick (for curling), Scissors, and glitter are needed too..Lets get started now:

You will basically need to cut three or four 9-petal flowers for making one peony. Templates are available everywhere on the internet for these. You can choose the size of flowers and their number according to the desired fullness. I found three flower shapes satisfactory for one full peony.

I cut these 9-petal flower shapes from out of cardstock paper, mag pages, plain paint-splattered pages, and some gift papers as well. I know, you're thinking what next!

Next, place three alike flower shapes on a plain surface. Do not bother with the first flower. Cut one petal from the second flower, and two petals jointly from the third flower, as in the pictures below (I included two pictures so you're more clear about it).:

Now glue two petals together so that they overlap. Note that for the second and third flower, this overlap should be done for the petals across the gap where you had cut petals previously (you still there, after this line??). 

Now hold the skewer or toothpick in a hand and curl each petal of the flowers outwards as shown here. Just a gentle curl will do the trick, no pressures required.

The first flower with no cut petals forms the base, the second flower with one cut petal get glued over the first, and the third flower with two petals cut needs to be glued topmost. Now scrunch the flowers together ever so lightly, like this:
Now for the cut petals - Curl them with the help of skewer as well, and place on the top of the stack of curled flowers. Glue in place. And we're done, Voila!!!
There you go, your flower is ready! Now attach it to a vase, or a gift..People will always admire their simple beauty.
Linked to these fab parties..come, join me there!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring Flowers Mobile From Plastic Bottles

I finished my spring flowers mobile quite some time ago, but things have been so hectic nowadays that I didn’t get time to post it till now.
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Can you guess what these flowers are made of?? (Of course you can – that’s plain evident) These were made of plastic bottles!
Recycling is the new buzz around the Blogland, and I’m into it as well. So this time it was plastic bottles – did you know that only 20% of the overall plastic bottles are recycled ever?
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That seemed just so awful, and I decided my next project would be from plastic bottles- everyone has so many of them around! So here’s the final product: Spring Flowers Mobile!
I’ll be honest – the flower making takes some time and lots of patience. But I guess all of us ought to recycle things in our own style. If you decide to make this, then you will need:
Plastic bottles –lots and lots (I used about 20)
An old butter or normal knife 
Strong scissors with teeth or Exacto knife
Acrylic Paints
Fishing line thread
Embroidery or metal hoop
Satin Ribbon
Lets get started! In order to cut flower shapes we need to poke a hole at the bottom of the neck of bottle. Some choose to drill a hole, but I hate heavy machinery, so I found an old blunt buttering knife which I put onto the stove flame for around 30 seconds, and poked into the desired place on the bottle..it does melt a hole as if plastic is merely butter!
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Easy Peasy! Now draw some flower petals around the bottle’s mouth and cut them by inserting your strong teethed scissors through the hole you just poked. This does take some effort in the starting stage, but slowly you get the hang of it. Don’t these flowers look very cute?a3
I also used the flower shaped base of the bottles by cutting around the shape. The middle part of the bottle looked like it could be used as well so I drew some flower shape on the middle part of the bottle as well and cut it.a4
Now for the fun part. Paint the flowers in your favorite colors..I guess its not difficult to guess which is mine!             a5
Right, I love blue! Now pile the flowers over each other the way you want them to hang from the mobile:                     a6
Now take a strong needle and thread it with some fishing line. Poke a hole through the piled flowers like this:          a9
Decide the length of the flowers to hang from the mobile and knot the ends accordingly.  Repeat the same for all the flowers.
Now take one flower pile at a time and knot the upper end of the fishing line onto the embroidery or metal hoop.  After you finish knotting all the flower threads, take a longish piece of satin ribbon, glue an end to the hoop and begin rolling it around the hoop. for more precise instructions regarding the making of a mobile, go here.
Now cut four equal lengths of ribbon and insert them into four opposite corners of the hoop so that they hold the hoop securely. Tie a knot and hang your mobile from a hook.  a8
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There, isn’t it pretty! Some might not find it that pleasant, but I’m mighty proud of my recycling skills!

I'm going to join fab parties this time, but sorry that I can't include all the party buttons as it makes the posts look very cluttered. I'll just be including the link to the party now on..hope that's okay with the party organizers!!


DIY Day @ ASPTL
Whatever Goes Wednesday @Someday Crafts
Make it Yours Day @My Backyard Eden
Penny Pinching Party @The Thrifty Home
Craft Schooling Sunday @Creative Jewish Mom
Show off your Stuff Party @Fireflies and Jellybeans
Get your Craft On Thursday @Life As Lori
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @Somewhat Simple
Great Idea Day @Infarrantly Creative
Craft Concotions Friday @That's So Cuegly
Creative Cats @Poppies At Play
Weekend Wrap Up Party @Tattertots And Jello

Friday, March 5, 2010

Fabric Scraps to Switch Plate Covers – Say goodbye to lifeless switch plates

I give up. There’s no point hiding it. I love colors. I tried keeping to neutral colors, but I just can’t keep off coloring anything and everything!
And I just cannot bring myself to throw away the remnant fabric scraps from any project. They are stashed away in hope of a reuse. The other day I noticed some scraps of a lovely fabric with pink and red patterns like cherry blossoms. My bedroom walls are alternatively pink and red, too, so I knew what I’d do with these. The husband cringed yesterday as I said I wanted to color up the switch plates,  like this:
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But I did go on doing this, anyways, for I hated this drab white look of the switch plates:
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So I transformed them to colorful and cheery looking by gluing some fabric scraps onto them. Isn’t that a great idea? All you need to do to make these beauties is a few fabric scraps remaining from your previous project which also coordinate with your walls. Simple as that!
You will need:
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And of course, fabric glue or Mod Podge…Did you ever come across a project that needs only that many items?
Now proceed! Measure the dimensions of your switch plates, and size the fabric scraps into strips of suitable size. Note that you will need to leave some allowance if your switchboard is in an angular shape like mine. Those with straight switchboards can relax.
Now  glue or Mod Podge all over your switch plate carefully so that none of it goes into the cracks (If it does go into the cracks, then you can kiss the circuit goodbye!). 
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Cover with the fabric strips on all sides. It is okay to let the strips overlap sometimes, it wouldn’t be visible. Let dry.
We’re done! So fast and easy, and adds such dash of color to the room!
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Got some fabric scraps? Bring them on, Ladies!

Linked to these fab parties..come join the fun!
Tip me Tuesday @Tip Junkie
Great Idea Day @Infarrantly Creative


Its So Very Creative @ Its So Very Cherie
Market Yourself Monday @Sumo's Sweet Stuff
MakingDIY Day @ ASPTL

Whatever Goes Wednesday @Someday Crafts
Show and Tell @Blue Cricket Design
Make it Yours @ My Backyard Eden

Get your craft on Thurs.
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