Craft More, Waste Less!

With Earth Day coming up, here are some DIY ways to make things you might normally throw out into things you can use!

Plastic bottles into planters

 

 

Glass bottles into…

lamps

birdseed or hummingbird feeders

The bird seed feeder tutorial also has detailed instructions in how to cut a hole in the glass using a diamond bit drill, while the lamp project recommends using a dremel with a tungsten carbide head to make a hole for the cord.

Also, make sure you’re making safe hummingbird nectar without red dye or food coloring.

More glass bottle DIYs on Redbook.

 

Envelopes into journals

You don’t even need to use new envelopes for this – even the ones that arrive with junk mail inside work great!

 


Tins into…

craft supply storage

tiered trays

travel embroidery kit

Depending on what size tin(s) you have, you can store yarn or beads or fancy scissors. Also, check out the craft organization ideas I shared in a previous post.

 

Greeting cards into gift tags

Even though my example is holiday-themed, you can use any kind of card with art you like on it to make gift tags to use year round.

 

Plastic bags into a lunch bag

You can make “plastic yarn” or “plarn” from shopping bags and crochet it into all sorts of things, like a floor mat, tote, jump rope or shower shoes.

 

Coffee sleeve into a flower press

Of course, it’s great if you can opt for reusable coffee cups or sleeves, but, when you can’t, you can at least make the cardboard sleeve part of a craft project.

 

Rotisserie chicken container into a mini greenhouse

This will help hold the moisture in when you’re starting seeds.

 

Bicycle tubes into bracelets

The rubber from bicycle inner tubes can be used as a vegan alternative to black leather.

More bicycle inner tube crafts.

 

Melted chapstick into into lip gloss

If you live in a hot climate (***waves from Arizona***), you’ve probably ended up with melted chapstick or lipstick at some point. And noticed it does not go back to its original state after it cools off. This is a way to  salvage it instead of leaving it stuck inside the tube.

 

Vintage appliances into Little Libraries

How cute is this vintage bread warmer?!

You can find more ideas for setting up a Little Free Library on their site.

 

What are your favorite ways of reusing things instead of throwing them out?

Raspberry and Tangerine #ColorStory

Seven magic mountains

I had been thinking about spring colors, and shades of raspberry pink and tangerine-y orange kept popping up. Even while I was taking in the view of the Colorado River on our last trip to Yuma, a pair of kayaks – one pink and one orange – just happened to float by.

Raspberry peach lemonade

Yuma kayaks

It’s not a color combination I always think of putting together, but a deep orange can look fabulous next to full-on fuchsia.

Since then, I’ve spotted this variations of this delicious duo in art, design, destinations, and DIYs.

 

Vintage Swiss travel poster by Donald BrunRose centerpiece by A Beautiful Mess

Seven magic mountains art installation

 1. Raspberry peach lemonade / The Chunky Chef 2. Kayaks on the Colorado River, Yuma. 3. 1957 Swiss travel poster / Artist: Donald Brun 4. Rose and chocolate centerpiece / A Beautiful Mess 5. “Seven Magic Mountains,” Las Vegas / Artist: Ugo Rondinine

 

Abstract Art by Sarina Diakossalad

Ring made by artist jaime derringer

DIY journal cover

6. “Cool Life” fine art prints / Sarina Daikos 7. Apple and root vegetable salad / Lazy Cat Kitchen 8. Sculptural ring / Jaime Derringer 9. Sew-Along: Journal Cover / Caught on a Whim

 

Mexico Olympics 1968 Design Milk

Necklace

Mumbai

9. Mexico City Olympics branding (1968) / Lance Wyman 10. Wild Poppy desktop wallpaper / Source: Design Milk / Design: Lisa Congdon 11. Thread necklace / Artelia Accesorios, Buenos Aires 12. Mumbai guide (2010) / Design*Sponge / 2015 guide

 

Treat wrappers by Oh Joy

Burano, Venice by josh trefethen

Bougainvillea by Julia Engel

13. Printable treat wrappers  / Oh Joy! 14. Burano, Italy houses / Josh Trefethen Photography 15. Bougainvillea / Julia Engel


 

Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Poppy

Poppy

The poppy on our patio bloomed over the weekend, so I thought I’d send out this burst of color, in case you could use some extra warmth in your day.

You’ll just have to imagine the chorus of bird songs that go along with it. They’ve really decided to sing their little hearts out these last few days!

 


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

 

Presidential Portraits

President Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley

A new portrait of President Obama was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery last week. It was met with mixed reviews.

Obama portrait unveiled

Critics compared the unconventional painting by Kehinde Wiley to portraits from the White House collection, implying that the new work – and, by extension, Obama himself – was less dignified or presidential than those that came before.

Washington portrait by Stuart

But it’s a flawed comparison. This is not his White House portrait. (Also? Judge presidents by their actions, not by artwork created of them.)

Nixon by Rockwell

There are two collections of portraits that include all (except the most recent) former U.S. Presidents: the 43 paintings in the White House and the more varied collection in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG), which also includes sculptures and photographs.

Gerald Ford by Oliphant

The portraits in the White House are often more formal and official-looking than their NPG counterparts, especially in recent decades, when artwork has been veering away from tradition, widening the gap between the two collections.

Truman, Kennedy, Bush portraits from White House and NPG

Wiley’s painting has been installed in the National Portrait Gallery, where I’m sure it stands out as unique, but not out of place.

President Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley


PS Obama’s portrait has been re-created on a cookie.  

Photos via the White House and National Portrait Gallery.

 

Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Black + White Love #ColorStory

Black Cloud by Carlos Amorales

Red isn’t the only color of love.

The classic combination of black and white can also have a romantic feel.

You can see it in this month’s color story with elegant DIYs, destinations, art, interiors, and objects in black and white.

Mailboxes Venice

Branches

Stairs

1. Venice mailboxes 2. L’amour print 3. Printable geometric heart gift wrap 4. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 5. Black steps

 

Sandnes Norway Tote Bag

Black sesame cappuccino

inger sodergren ceramics

Bridge of Sighs Venice

Stay true

6. Sandnes, Norway manhole cover tote 7. Black sesame cappuccino 8. Ceramics by Inger Södergren 9. Bridge of Sighs, Venice 10. Stay True poster

 

Black Cloud by Carlos Amorales

DIY heart card

Barn

DIY wardrobe

Bee mine

11. Black Cloud (Nube Negra) detail by Carlos Amorales at Phoenix Art Museum 12. DIY eraser heart stamp 13. Windmill Winery, Florence, Arizona 14. Traditional bookbinding patterns 15. Minimal open wardrobe DIY 16. Bee Mine card

 

Peggy Guggenheim museum cafe in Venice Italy

Hand carved stamp

Nightstand

Thank you

17. Peggy Guggenheim Museum Café, Venice 18. Hand carved block printing stamp 19. Farmhouse in Woodend, Victoria (Australia) + rental cottage  20. Punkpost thank you card

 

Bear hugs to all of you! (Illustration by Daryl Hochi)

Amor bear hugs

 


Images via respective sites.