5 Simple Sewing Projects to Replace Disposables
Tired of wasting paper and plastic? Check out these easy sewing projects to help you replace disposables in your life with reusable alternatives!
Craftivism
Sharing is Green: Let’s Share and Swap!
Did you know that Crafting a Green World has a classifieds section devoted to sharing and swapping craft supplies?
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Remembering Kathreen Ricketson
I was shocked to read this morning about the tragic deaths of Whip Up founder Kathreen Ricketson and her partner, Rob Shugg. The couple was on vacation in Australia with their two children. Their children are safe and staying with relatives right now.
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Fab Fabrics: Waterproof Lotus Flower Fabric
Finding sustainable, waterproof fabric can be tricky. Even recycled synthetics contain quite a bit of new plastic in addition to the recycled content. That’s why I was super excited to learn about a brand new waterproof fabric made from lotus flower stems. The fabric is a blend of lotus flower fibers and silk, and it’s sustainable and waterproof!
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5 Recycled Felt Projects
We love recycled felt around here! Ecofi felt is made from post-consumer plastic bottles, which means that every time you use it in your crafting, you’re helping to divert plastic waste from the landfills. Not too shabby, right?
How-to: Make Reusable Baby Wipes
It’s super simple to make reusable baby wipes to reduce waste and save yourself some cash!
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20 Earth Day Crafts: Get Your Reuse On!
This Monday is Earth Day, and there’s no better time to get your green craft on!
How-to: Make Monsanto Seed Bombs to Genetically Modify Your Entire Neighborhood!
With just a few minutes of work, you can make dozens of Monsanto seed-filled seed bombs that will allow you to surreptitiously seed your entire neighborhood, street medians, and city parks with the Monsanto seeds that will lead to fewer weeds, fewer bugs, and a greener, happier future for our children.
How-to: Make Monsanto Seed Bombs to Genetically Modify Your Entire Neighborhood! Read More 👉
How-to: Make a DIY Restaurant Review Log Using the Eco-Friendly Materials from Full Circle Crafts (and a Giveaway!)
I’ll show you how we made our restaurant book using the eco-friendly supplies given to us by Full Circle Crafts, and–best yet–tell you how you can enter a giveaway to win even more Full Circle Crafts supplies.
Cold & Flu Season is Here: Let’s Talk Hankies!
I spent basically all of last week battling a horrendous ick: fever chills, watery eyes, and (of course) an endlessly runny nose. From what I’ve been hearing, this has been one of the worst cold and flu seasons on record, and that means a lot of paper tissues headed straight to the landfill. I know, handkerchiefs aren’t a sexy topic, but when you’re blowing your nose approximately every 45 seconds, I think it’s an important one to talk about.
How-to: Upcycled Cloth Pads in 30 Minutes
Do you use cloth pads? If you’ve been wanting to give this a try – or need to bulk out your current stash of pads – this quickie tutorial will have you sewing your own cloth pads in 30 minutes or less.
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10 DIY Ways to Revamp Old Furniture
Got an old chair that could really use some love or a bench that would be perfect if only the cushion weren’t covered in a horrible, dated fabric? Don’t despair! We’ve got some DIY furniture projects to help you transform that damage or outdated piece into something you’ll love.
Reader Question: Crafting with E-Waste
Back in October we asked you guys what kinds of things you’d like more help reusing or upcycling, and you had some great questions, both via comment and email. We’ve addressed quite a few of them, from how to reuse old jeans to new ideas for old books, but there was one question that’s been stumping me for ages: how can crafters upcycle e-waste?
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Nepali Artists Turn Mt. Everest Trash into Art
When you picture Mount Everest, you probably imagine a pristine, snow-covered peak, a lonely climber making his way to the very top, and maybe a small campfire or campsite where weary hikers take a break from the trail for the night. What you probably don’t picture is tons – literal tons – of litter.
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Spotted: Beer Can “Ornaments” in Hawaii (+ 10 soda can ornament ideas!)
A friend of mine in Hawaii sent me a photo of these DIY beer can “ornaments,” and they were too hilarious not to share with you guys! Obviously, these are meant to be a joke decoration, but there are lots of fun ornaments that you actually can make from empty soda cans. Check out our 10 ideas.
Spotted: Beer Can “Ornaments” in Hawaii (+ 10 soda can ornament ideas!) Read More 👉
Is Fused Plastic a Green Fabric?
Fused plastic fabric diverts waste from the landfill, but is it green? Let’s weigh the pros and cons!
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10 Upcycled Plastic Grocery Bag Crafts
Got a stash of plastic bags that you can’t bear to toss? Try some of these plastic grocery bag crafts to give them a new life instead!
Reusing is Green: Finding Second Hand Craft Supplies
I am super passionate about reusing because I love taking one person’s “trash” and turning it into treasure! So many people take the easy way out and go to big box stores on items they could easily find at garage sales and thrift stores. Buying second hand reduces landfill waste and helps you skip the impact of buying new! To help inform and inspire you, I put together the top 5 items that I look for when I go to garage sales and thrift stores
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Project Show and Tell: How I Repaired My Broken Mannequin with Paper, Burlap, and Hot Glue
Check out how I repaired my old mannequin to give it a brand new life with just a few simple supplies!
What do You Need to Reuse or Upcycle?
What do you need to reuse?If you’re a regular visitor here, chances are you’ve checked out our resource page with ideas on how to reuse certain items that would otherwise be headed to the recycle bin or the landfill. We started that resources page to help you guys quickly find what you need, but I have to confess that I have done a terrible job maintaining it. I’m planning to go through and see what seems to be missing, but I’d also like to know what you would like to see on that page!
What do You Need to Reuse or Upcycle? Read More 👉
10 Upcycled Map Craft Projects
Don’t you just love crafting with old maps? They add a beautiful sense of place and nostalgia to paper craft projects! Got some old maps handy but not sure what to do with them? We’ve got you covered with a few fun map craft projects!
DIY: Make a Reclaimed Paper Heart Garland from an Old Map
Don’t you just love old maps? Whether they’re from a town where you used to live or a special road trip, maps remind us of where we’ve been. Next time you discover an old map, you can make a paper garland instead of tossing it in the recycle bin. What I love best about this project is that it’s super simple, and it’s scalable. I used 7 hearts to decorate a wall shelf, but you could cut out dozens and make one to hang all the way across a wall!
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Women’s Rights Week: 5 Crafty Organizations Helping Women Through Craft
What does crafting have to do with women’s rights? So much! Crafting is empowering, and there are women all over the world who are supporting themselves and their families with their crafts. There are also organizations out there where you can donate your crafty skills to support women in need, whether we’re talking about teaching job skills or donating crafted goods to comfort women in crisis, there are all kinds of ways that you can use your craft to support women’s rights. Here are five crafty organizations that are making a difference for women.
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Why do you craft green?
I got the chance to chat with the ladies over at Celbrate Green about green crafting, and it got me thinking about why choosing eco-friendly craft supplies is important to me. It also made me curious about you guys! What made you decide to ditch conventional craft supplies in favor of one that are better for the planet? What does green crafting mean to you? I’ll tell you mine, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Why do you craft green? Read More 👉
10 Awesome Upcycled Craft Room Organizers
No matter what your craft, chances are your space could use a little more organizational oomph, but organizers from the big box store come with a big impact. They’re often made with plastic and shipped all over the world. Boo on that! We craft green, and we want our spaces to be green too, right? Instead of heading to the store, check out these upcycled organizers for your craft room instead!
Could the Farm Bill Legalize Growing Hemp in the U.S.?
If you had told me that I’d be talking passionately about the 2012 Farm Bill on a crafting website, I would have never believed it, but a recent proposed amendment to the monster bill could have a big impact for green crafters by making it legal to grow hemp in the U.S. But will it pass?
Could the Farm Bill Legalize Growing Hemp in the U.S.? Read More 👉
Clean Cotton: 16 Organic Cotton Resources
I talked on Wednesday about more of the trouble with conventional cotton, but don’t fret, my fellow seamsters! There are plenty of organic cotton resources out there to help you sew cute without any green guilt.
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Dirty Cotton: Indian Cotton Farmers Devastated
We’ve talked about the dirty side of cotton here before. Conventional cotton is an issue that’s really close to my heart, so when I read the latest battle between big ag and Indian farmers, I thought I’d share it here.
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Eco-Friendly Craft Kits from Herban Crafts
Ever wanted to make your own beauty supplies but wasn’t sure how to start? A couple of my favorite crafters are launching a line of DIY beauty craft kits, but they need your help to get started!
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CAGW Writer Quoted in a New Book
Even for the greenest crafter, it’s hard to keep plastic out of our processes, isn’t it? You can do your best to cut back or choose recycled plastic materials, but at the end of the day it’s really tough to create craft projects without using plastic.
That struggle is why I’m super excited about Plastic Free, a new book from Beth Terry of My Plastic Free Life. The book is all about kicking the plastic habit in all aspects of your life, and crafting is no exception. We’re all about finding ways to get plastic out of our lives here at Crafting a Green World, so we’re super proud that one of our former writers–Karen Lee–is quoted in the book.
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How to Make a Notepad out of Junk Mail
If you can’t stop the flow of junk mail, at least you can craft with it! Collect yourself some security envelopes, and you can make a sweet, miniature notepad to jot down ideas, phone numbers, and anything else that strikes you while you’re on the go.
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Reader Question: What to Do with Needlecraft Supplies
A reader wrote in not long ago wondering about where she could donate some gently used needlecraft supplies she’d inherited, since she wasn’t a needlecrafter herself.
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Vegan Crafting Made Easy: A Vegan Beeswax Alternative
We have been all about the beeswax this week! Julie shared a recipe for natural beeswax furniture polish on Monday and then a whole roundup of beeswax crafts yesterday. I’ve got to say that as a vegan crafter, I want to get in on all this eco-friendly waxy action! But since beeswax comes from bees, that makes it off limits for vegan crafting purposes. So! I did a bit of digging and turned up a great vegan beeswax alternative!
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Green Crafter Profile: Upcycled Jewelry from JMP Designs
Jill Porter recycles soda cans from drinks consumed by her family and friends. Then, she designs, cuts, embosses and assembles them into upcycled jewelry!
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What does green crafting mean to you?
I’ve had a few conversations recently about eco-friendly crafts and supplies that have made it really clear to me that green crafting is not a black and white thing. Like so many other things, there’s definitely a continuum with green crafting, and lately I’ve started to wonder how “green” a project needs to be for it to be an eco craft.
What does green crafting mean to you? Read More 👉
How-to: Make Lovebird Wristwarmers from Sweater Sleeves
Brr! It’s getting chilly out there again. Wristwarmers can add an extra layer of cozy to your winter look, but the store-bought kind often aren’t the most eco-friendly. Chances are, they’re mass-produced in a factory using conventional cotton (with all of the issues that come along with it). You can skip the human rights and environmental issues, though, and make your very own set of wristwarmers out of a thrift store sweater instead! Here’s how.
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