DIY Glass Etching: Thrift, Tape Go!
Etching cream is one of the simplest ways to get started with DIY glass etching, and you can even make custom stencils to fancy things up!
DIY Glass Etching: Thrift, Tape Go! Read More 👉
How To Make a Mini Christmas Tree
Over the past few weeks I’ve seen several really cute mini Christmas trees. You know, the little ones that are just for decoration, cost an arm and a leg, and are far from eco-friendly? Yeah, those. Enter: a bottle I saved from the trash.
How To Make a Mini Christmas Tree Read More 👉
Buy Handmade: Journals from Recycled Materials
At the most random moments you can find me writing in a journal. I carry one with me wherever I go (most of the time it stays tucked in my purse). Why? Well, I never know when I’m going to be inspired. As a writer, and as a crafter, ideas pop in my head constantly. There are too many times where I’ve thought, “Oh, I need to remember that idea!” but then I quickly forget it. The solution– an awesome journal!
Buy Handmade: Journals from Recycled Materials Read More 👉
Creative Reuse Center: A Recycled Art Supply Resource
One of the recycled crafty resources that came up a lot during this year’s and last year’s Summit of Awesome was the Creative Reuse Center. But what’s a Creative Reuse Center, and how can you find one near you?
Creative Reuse Center: A Recycled Art Supply Resource Read More 👉
How-to: DIY Mosaics–No Kits, Just Concrete!
You know those adorable concrete mosaic kits that they sell in all the big-box craft stores, the ones with all the stuff that you need to make one concrete mosaic, handprint optional, to put in your garden path in the spring? The ones that look really fun to make, and you’re pretty sure that the grandparents would just adore one made by your kids?
Yeah, you can make dozens and dozens of your own concrete mosaics for the same price as one of those mosaic kits, and even more cheaply, if you use found and natural objects for the mosaic tiles, and recycle plastic packaging for the concrete molds.
How-to: DIY Mosaics–No Kits, Just Concrete! Read More 👉
How To Sew Cloth Napkins for a Waste-Free Lunchbox
Check out how to sew cloth napkins that fit nicely into my children’s packed lunches. And, as a bonus, I sew my napkins with a double thickness, so that they have extra absorbency for mopping up spills…not that your kids are messy, of course.
How To Sew Cloth Napkins for a Waste-Free Lunchbox Read More 👉
5 Fall Projects to Recycle Old Sweaters
It has been positively blustery out there lately, and that chilly weather gets me in the mood to craft with sweaters. Luckily, when the weather gets colder, thrift stores are busting with sweaters, so even if you don’t have any in your stash, you can still find sweaters to upcycle for all sorts of fun, fall-themed projects.
5 Fall Projects to Recycle Old Sweaters Read More 👉
How-to: Newspaper Art
I have a habit of hoarding things like shoe boxes, newspapers, scrap paper, etc., because I know they can be recycled into a project. An incredible blog called Spunky Junk shared this project on how to use shoe box lids as wall art. Shoe box lids are less expensive than canvas and it’s a great way to recycle! So, I took my shoe box lid, newspaper, and scrap paper and combined it into my own personal wall art!
How-to: Newspaper Art Read More 👉
How-to: Transform Classic Christmas “Candles”
I always thought these faux Christmas “candles” were somewhat creepy—especially the ones with red bulbs. Even so, they are definitely a symbol of Christmas! I wanted to make a cover for the candles to make them pretty, but still keep them festive. Something you all should know about me is that I am slightly addicted to using toilet paper rolls in my craft projects. Naturally, I used them in this project as well!
How-to: Transform Classic Christmas “Candles” Read More 👉
How-to: Infinity Scarf from a Shrunken Sweater
D’oh! It seems that I sent one of my sweaters through the dryer, and it shrunk beyond the point where I can salvage it. Technically, what’s happened here is that I accidentally felted my sweater. Yep! Felting a wool sweater is so easy that you can do it without even meaning to. My closet’s loss is my accessory stash’s gain, though, because I turned that shrunken sweater into a super cozy infinity scarf.
Do you have a shrunken sweater that needs a little love? Here’s how you can make your very own infinity scarf.
How-to: Infinity Scarf from a Shrunken Sweater Read More 👉
Five Apple Crafts to Make with Your Surplus Apple Harvest
From clove apples to apple votive candles, there are some really cool things that you can do with your surplus apples, and the beauty of these projects is that when you tire of them, the apples that you used can generally go right into your compost. So check out these five projects for inspiration to use with your own surplus apples.
Five Apple Crafts to Make with Your Surplus Apple Harvest Read More 👉
How-to: Make a Dried Apple Wreath
Yes, a dried apple wreath is amply countrified, but only if you hang it in the kitchen. If you embrace the ancient folklore that imbues the apple with meanings such as life, sexuality, or wisdom, then you can find the other rooms in your home in which a dried apple wreath holds valuable symbolism.
How-to: Make a Dried Apple Wreath Read More 👉
Meet Our Newest Writer: Bonnie Getchell
We had an overwhelmingly awesome response to our call for writers. A huge thank you to everyone who applied. It was so hard to choose between the amazing submissions, and I wish we had more room on the writing team right now. I am thrilled to introduce you to our newest writer: Bonnie Getchell!
Meet Our Newest Writer: Bonnie Getchell Read More 👉
MOO Cards Winners!
Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the MOO card giveaway! It was great to read all of your comments. We used a random number generator to choose our three winners and they are….
MOO Cards Winners! Read More 👉
How To: Make an Upcycled Faux Headboard
Headboards make such a lovely focal point for the bedroom, but they’re often pretty pricey. Even mass-produced headboards from the big box store can get expensive, and those don’t have the best environmental footprint, either. Luckily, with some fabric from your scrap bin, some recycled felt, and our handy templates, you can whip up your very own upcycled faux headboard!
How To: Make an Upcycled Faux Headboard Read More 👉
How-to: Vat Dye Multi-Colored Play Silks and Silk Scarves
To vat-dye multi-colored silks with clean colors and smooth transitions, there are a few different methods that work. This particular method is one of the easiest, since it blocks off all of the fabric that you’re not currently dyeing, allowing you to vat dye and machine wash as usual.
How-to: Vat Dye Multi-Colored Play Silks and Silk Scarves Read More 👉
Star Gazing: Nuno Magazine’s Fall Issue
Nuno Magazine is published seasonally, with all its projects tied together under one theme, yet with a broad variety of crafts to choose from. The fall Star Gazing issue includes cool weather projects, such as the hat and a crocheted cowl, autumn crafts, such as sweater pumpkins and a bat mask, and crafts that use everything from felted wool to newspaper to tin cans to mimic the stars in the night sky.
Star Gazing: Nuno Magazine’s Fall Issue Read More 👉
Reminder: A Few Days Left to Win a Pack of 100 New “Green” Cards from MOO
Not only are they launching an eco-friendly line of cards, but they want to give away three sets of 100 MOO cards each to some lucky Crafting a Green World readers! Since I know lots of you guys own crafty businesses, I thought you might dig a chance to try out some eco-friendly promo materials from a small company. There are a few days left to enter!
Reminder: A Few Days Left to Win a Pack of 100 New “Green” Cards from MOO Read More 👉
We Are Hiring!
Do you love Crafting a Green World? Are you a great writer with a passion for creative re-use? We’re interested in recruiting crafters, makers, and re-users!
Giveaway: Win a Pack of 100 New “Green” Cards from MOO
Not only are they launching an eco-friendly line of cards, but they want to give away three sets to some lucky Crafting a Green World readers! Since I know lots of you guys own crafty businesses, I thought you might dig a chance to try out some eco-friendly promo materials from a small company. There are a few ways that you can enter to win your set of 100 MOO cards…
Giveaway: Win a Pack of 100 New “Green” Cards from MOO Read More 👉
Green Crafty Resources: An Infographic!
My good friend and fellow green crafter Shannon Mulkey and I did a panel at this year’s Summit of Awesome, and it was….awesome! We felt like it was a bit silly to print or photocopy disposable paper handouts for a green crafting panel, so instead I whipped up this infographic sharing a lot of the resources we talked about on the panel.
For you folks that couldn’t make it out to the Summit this year, I wanted to share the graphic here with you! Here it is.
Green Crafty Resources: An Infographic! Read More 👉
Five Upcycled Autumn Buntings and Garlands
If you’d like to make decorations that you can leave up from now through Thanksgiving, check out these five tutorials for fall garlands and autumn buntings that make use of upcycled materials.
Five Upcycled Autumn Buntings and Garlands Read More 👉
Make an Upcycled Cardboard Leaf Garland for Autumn
As long as recycled cardstock or cardboard fits my color scheme (and painting counts!), I like to upcycle it into temporary holiday garlands to decorate those last bits of uncluttered surface in my house. Read on to see that my red Valentine heart garlands (made from Target photo processing envelopes) and my yellow and green autumn leaf garlands (made from Crayola boxes) are easy to make, and would look pretty great in your house, too.
Make an Upcycled Cardboard Leaf Garland for Autumn Read More 👉
DIY: Upcycled Wine Bottle Ideas
Here are five crafty ways to upcycle wine glass bottles. Start collecting wine bottles so you can make a few of these crafts for the holidays and as gifts.
DIY Halloween is Greener, Kinder
Here in the U.S., we’re predicted to spend over $7 billion on Halloween this year. That’s billion. And most of what we’re buying is not so great for the planet. This year, use your crafty prowess to have a greener, kinder Halloween.
DIY Halloween is Greener, Kinder Read More 👉
How-to: Make Upcycled Tin Lanterns for Halloween
Halloween decorations can be incredibly wasteful, but they don’t have to be! You could buy plastic decorations that you’ll probably only use once, but with a little crafty know-how, you can whip up your own custom decorations that are less wasteful and have a whole lot of heart. Karen showed you how to mummify glass candle holders and make paper luminary covers, and you can use reclaimed tin cans to make some light-up Halloween decorations, too!
How-to: Make Upcycled Tin Lanterns for Halloween Read More 👉
Kids Don’t Need Flame-Retardant Pajamas: Five Handmade Pajamas to Sew Yourself
My children don’t need flame-retardant pajamas, and neither do yours. I sew their pajamas myself, using some of these five simple hand-sewn pajama projects.
Kids Don’t Need Flame-Retardant Pajamas: Five Handmade Pajamas to Sew Yourself Read More 👉
How-to: Autumn Leaf Mobile
A light and airy mobile, whether it’s hung over the dining room table or the kitchen sink, is a wonderful way to show off the colorful autumn leaves that you’ve preserved, and it’s a fall decoration that easily works all the way through Thanksgiving.
How-to: Autumn Leaf Mobile Read More 👉
10 Crafty Ideas for Old Books
If you’re an avid thrifter, it’s easy as pie to find well-loved books to craft with. Have you amassed a collection of books that need a crafty makeover? Here are 10 projects to get you started!
10 Crafty Ideas for Old Books Read More 👉
How-to: Make Glue-Free Book Page Bunting
Confession time: I am obsessed with bunting. Anything strung up in a row just seems strikes me as so sweet and eye-catching. When one of my very favorite people had a birthday coming up, I decided to whip up a bit of bunting for his party. He’s an amazing writer, so book pages felt like the perfect medium for his birthday streamer. Here’s how you can make your own!
How-to: Make Glue-Free Book Page Bunting Read More 👉
Five Must-Try Acorn Crafts for the Autumn
Crafting with acorns is also special because you’ll always know that you collected them yourself–who would pay money for acorns!?!–and I bet that if you’re anything like me, whenever you look at the projects that you created with them, you’ll think back to your happiest autumn memories from that year.
Five Must-Try Acorn Crafts for the Autumn Read More 👉
How to Make Beeswax-Coated Paper
Hand-dipping paper in beeswax gives it the patina of an antique and is a chemical-free way to preserve it. Here’s how to make your own beeswax paper.
How to Make Beeswax-Coated Paper Read More 👉
DIY: Drunken Farmer Halloween Decoration
Scarecrow is a great porch prop for the Fall and for Halloween. This easy tutorial for a drunken scare crow uses everything you might have or can get from Goodwill.