recycled gifts and crafts

lovetopaint

Hello, I am glad to have found and read this thread. I have only dabbled with the idea of recycling things into something useful or decorative, but feel inspired to do more now. I have been mostly interested in fairly quick ideas for gift wrapping, to save money (of course) as well as recycling. So have picked up easy and more obvious tips here and there, such as using the lovely large sheets of map paper from old AA road maps as wrapping. Also cutting and glueing pages from magazines into sheets of home made wrap, especially all black and white pages, or mainly red pages etc. Have just bought a sewing machine so am keen to make more fabric based wraps as I have been inspired to do here, thanks. Hope more people join and post ideas, it really is old style and the way to go I think.

she_grinch

This is a really easy and quick pin cushion ring. So simple to make it would make a great gift for a crafty friend and a useful gift for yourself, I am going to make one for myself if I can rescue a lid.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55286192.tip.html

qwiksave

Thats very creative shegrinch, good idea for a present for sewing friends and relatives.

I made a button heart yesterday using my stash of old buttons and some wire:



Details are on my b**g

mary-op

shegrinch - thanks for the link........know just the person for that sort of pressie :T

qwiksave - you're as mad about buttons as me...............lol:rotfl: Love the heart you've done and the button display. :TThink I'll have to have a go at both them............will florists wire be ok for the buttons do you think ? I've got some of that and still got a fair few (well loads) of mums old buttons. Down to the more boring ones but think I can do something with them that makes them look more interesting. Use a few on cards and noteboos so glad of some fresh ideas.

Just finished some fabric hearts and trees -very mse they were. Fabric was freebie samples, did a loop at the top using ribbon from the inside of cardigans and jumpers, button in the middle courtesy of mum and managed to arranged them in a corrugated card box I'd had some floating candles in so that the red, ribbon and button showed through the circles cut out where the candles sat. Need to add something for the decorations to be hung on to and not sure what so any ideas I'm grateful for. I was so pleased the whole thing so far cost nothing :j

qwiksave

Found this great site with an index of lots of recycled crafts to make today:

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/index.shtml

mary-op

qwiksave - thanks for that link..........haven't checked that out for ages. Like the patchwork covered tube.........got some fabric samples and an empty twix tub -I could do something like that.
Had a go at a button heart like yours the other day........afraid to say I used bought buttons..........red ones, piece of cord and red gingham tied at the top and it looks a treat. Thinking I'll do a few more of those.

Oooh ! Just come across some little hair grips -decorated with daisy flowers.........wonder if I tied ribbon at the top I could turn them into book marks ?

qwiksave

That sounds good, the button heart in red Mary. Hopefully your buttons didn't cost too much. You can sometimes get them in charity shops (I did) but they are getting wise to us crafters and are putting their prices up. You can still get bargains though (I have two on my b**g today )

mary-op

qwiksave - i have to confess to buying the buttons 'new' (hangs head in shame..........lol:rotfl:) Just hadn't got enough to do one with what I'd got left of mums.

Just 'concocted' book mark from the hairclip -its a blue one and managed to find some silver/grey ribbon (very thin) to thread through the top of it -now need to hang something on the end of the ribbon. All my beads are too small to thread through and OH is freaking out at the idea of yet another 'button' proect.............lol:rotfl:

Just off to have a look at your blog.............got to add this as its beyond belief...............lol I organised all my pens and stuff the other day in nearly exactly the same way as yours.........I thought I was looking at my own for a minute...........same trays and everything............lol
Printed off some of those labels from the link on your blog. Might help me keep organised. I've got some plastic boxes the sort ferrero rocher come in and they're just right for a lot of things.
Love your blog !

lovetopaint

Well, I haven't made anything since I posted my interest in this thread, but have been busy collecting fabrics, buttons, papers etc. to re-use. Whilst looking for ideas I found this site

http://tipnut.com/scrap-happy-fabric-scrap-ideas-free-patterns/

I patiicularly liked the rabbit (scroll down and click on 'more cuties'). Hope my link works, not done before!

qwiksave

lovetopaint wrote: »

Well, I haven't made anything since I posted my interest in this thread, but have been busy collecting fabrics, buttons, papers etc. to re-use. Whilst looking for ideas I found this site

http://tipnut.com/scrap-happy-fabric-scrap-ideas-free-patterns/

I patiicularly liked the rabbit (scroll down and click on 'more cuties'). Hope my link works, not done before!

Yeah, your link worked. :T I found the rabbit and his link is here:
http://mylittlemochi.typepad.com/my_little_mochi/2006/07/chibi_kitty_and.html

He's lovely. If only I could sew (sigh!)