Crafting a Green World

Kimi Chronis is the owner and designer of Fish Lips Paper Designs, a classy and eco-friendly wrapping paper company based in Florida.

Fish Lips is a one woman show that is a great example of what someone can do with a little creativity and the desire to offer earth friendly products.

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I worry about the art and craft supplies my kids use much more than what I use, even though I try to keep my own supplies as safe as possible. But when it comes to my kids I want to know their stuff isn’t full of toxins.

Clementine Art feels the same way that’s why they have created a line of safe art and craft products with kids in mind.

Clementine Art has safe markers, natural glue, natural soy crayon rocks, soy crayons (that are shaped for little hands to hold), really safe finger paints, and natural modeling dough. Read the rest of this entry »

Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist is the one book all green crafters and artists should have. It lists craft and art supplies that are green (and at a minimum less toxic) as well as gives recipes to make your own green supplies like natural paints and glues.

I had no idea that Gorilla Glue is “green”. My husband uses it all the time and I figured it was just another glue from the hardware store but it is actually non-toxic and VOC free. Though when I have performed searches for green supplies it never comes up.

That’s just one reason why this book is so great. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ready To Go Blank Canvas Book is a great craft project that can be used to create memories, gifts and more.

My problem is that I have a blank canvas in front of me and I can’t decide what to do with it.

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Celebrate Green by mother daughter team Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson is the green book to have because it covers aspects of greening pretty much every holiday and celebration and it has some great ideas for the holidays that are currently coming our way.

Halloween is right around the corner and Celebrate Green has a lot to say about greening Halloween including some crafty things you can do yourself like make your own face paints, create fun costumes and decorations, even turn everyday ordinary objects into candy buckets and containers.

It’s also full of yummy recipes and fun ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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That just about does it for this round of Yoga for Crafters. I really enjoying putting this series together. I’ve learned some new poses, and it’s kept me focused on my own practice, too! It’s also reminding me that for years and years I thought I’d be a yoga instructor when I grew up. Maybe this was me playing that out?

Thanks so much to all of the fine folks who helped out with tips and suggestions! Below the fold, you’ll find links to all of the posts from this series. If you feel like there’s a sort of craft that was left out, definitely hit me up!
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Craft show season is getting close, and that means all of you green crafty biz owners are probably working overtime to get merch ready for the upcoming fall shows! Any sort of repetitive action is tough on your body, and crafting is no different. Rather than pop an over the counter pain medication, why not take some time to relax and stretch the soreness away with yoga poses targeted at the places that take the most abuse?

As with any new exercise, please be cautious and consult your doctor before trying anything too terribly strenuous.

This week, we’re taking a look at the aches and pains that come with metal- and wood-work. All of that sawing, filing, hammering, and drilling is rough on your arms and shoulders, and you’re probably feeling pretty groggy after focusing for so long. Here are some yoga poses to help you bounce back!
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After all the Halloween craftiness I created from tossed trash last year I am trying to figure out new things to create this year.

I grabbed an ice pail and painted it orange and black for Halloween. I want to find some crafty Halloween paper designs to cut out to decoupage to the pail to dress it up a little more.

I was thinking about wrapping it in scrap book paper but I had no Halloween colors or styles. But I think it turned out pretty good considering it started out as a plain white pail headed for the recycling bin. I would love to make a Halloween bucket with paper like I did when I turned an ice cream pail into a flower girl basket for a wedding. Read the rest of this entry »

Who knew such a thing existed, but this weekend is National Alpaca Farm Days!

Sponsored by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA), Saturday and Sunday you can visit a local Alpaca farm and learn more about these animals. Why would one want to learn more about them?

Well, if you haven’t been paying attention, Alpacas produce a super soft fiber that is perfect for spinning up into so, much, amazing yarn. And the AOBA wants you to know just how green these animals are.

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The other day I was cleaning out my recycling bins and gathering everything up to take in. I had a lot of tin food cans. I decided to keep a few different size cans out and craft with them.

The results of this round of crafting include a soup can turned vase and a few can creations that could be wedding worthy with a few accessories added.

To create these can crafts I just used black spray paint, glue and satin ribbon. Read the rest of this entry »