I love this tip from Cloth Paper Scissors reader Deb:
 “Today, in the mail, I received my bizillionth ladies catalog! … Now, I am going green with paper dolls! I cut out all of the outfits from the fashion … Read More...
Record Paintings
No costly framing or matting needed! Dave from the Gnarled Branch uses ruined vinyl records as blank canvases for his funky paintings. And installation couldn’t be any easier: Simply hang the works of art by inserting a pushpin through the … Read More...
MahkaCrafts Plastic Bag Creations
Many thanks to reader Annika for sending her recycled plastic bag ideas my way. For some time she has been repurposing plastic bags into knitting and crocheting projects and just recently has begun to fuse bags together to create new … Read More...
Retro Cocktail Apron at craftstylish
Click on the Restyle category at craftstylish.com and a handful of helpful, thorough DIY recycled/repurposed/upcycled crafts articles appear, such as a tutorial on creating a pretty retro apron from a vintage tea towel. This relatively new website was created by … Read More...
The Pillowcase Challenge Book
The day after IÂ wrote about Lark Books’ upcoming book on recycled plastics I received a message about another chance for recycled crafters to showcase their work (or a chance for collectors to flaunt their stuff). Read on:
The common … Read More...
Recycled Bag Daisy Accessories
Add these adorable daisies to the list of items that can be made from plastic bags. The Strewth! shop at Etsy, which features “the essence of the outdoors, the sea and surf of Australia,” makes these colorful cuties into magnets, … Read More...
Here Comes the TP Bride
File this under repurposed, not recycled (ew!), crafts. In New Zealand, Vicky Heir won a toilet paper wedding dress competition sponsored by Cottonsofts toilet paper. Dress entries could be composed of no more than eight double-sized rolls of the cottony, … Read More...
Baby Doll Coat Rack
Your household conversation pieces might as well be functional, too. This cute-and-creepy coat rack made of baby doll appendages was a submission in the 2008 design*sponge diy contest. Get the complete instructions here.
Get a Free Maker Faire Ticket
Subscribe to either Make or Craft magazine (both are fantastic) and get an adult day pass, a $25 value, to this weekend’s Maker Faire in San Mateo County (Bay area), California. If you’re new to the Maker Faire concept, take … Read More...
Upcycled Baby Bibs
Babyware can fall under the category of eco-chic, too, as mandolyn on Etsy demonstrates with her baby bibs made from fused plastic bags. She describes the product as sturdy, waterproof, reversible, easy to clean and eco-friendly. A cotton bias tape … Read More...
Cereal Box Business Card Holder
Tired of the Franklin Covey-esque look at the office? There’s no reason you can’t combine your artsy-craftsy taste with office accessories. RePlayGround offers a fantastic tutorial on recycling c0lorful cereal and food boxes into funky business card holders or mini-wallets.… Read More...
Nature Craft – Twig Art
In honor of Earth Day, I think it’s appropriate to highlight an artist who creates organic works that literally stem from the Earth. Shown is the work of Paul Schick, who pieces together twigs and pods to form both … Read More...
Recycled Rolodex
Teen1 at Etsy offers a great idea to transform your Rolodex into a modern, eco-friendly desk accessory: Die-cut those pesky magazine subscription cards to fit your file and add contemporary, colorful tab dividers and patterned cardstock. If you don’t … Read More...
Recycled Skateboard Jewelry
Calling all skater-crafters (if any exist) … The 2ReVert shop at Etsy shows us how to transform the already-cool designs of skateboards into something fashionable and less space-consuming: jewelry. Well-crafted rings, necklaces, belt buckles, earrings and bangles all highlight the … Read More...
Semiprecious Salvage
Stephanie Lee’s Semiprecious Salvage: Creative Found-Art Jewelry is a notable new title for both jewelry and mixed-media artists. Focusing on vintage and vintage-inspired style, the artist provides practical and timeless techniques and projects that readers can put into practice with … Read More...
Vintage Linens
WITHERINE garments are made from fine vintage napkins, pillowcases, flour sacks, table cloths, hankies and doilies. In the company’s Etsy shop you’ll find adorable little girls modeling handmade bonnets, sundresses and halter tops — all of which are fit … Read More...
Junk Mail Bookmark
Good grief, this is simple — but genius. Junk Mail Gems shows readers how to create a corner bookmark from junk mail. Be sure to check out Junk Mail Gems’ other goodies, including wallets, buttons and magnets all created from … Read More...
Make It Mine Magazine
Apparently I’ve been living under a rock for the past few months … because it was just today that I discovered Make It Mine magazine, the publication dedicated to transforming ordinary objects into extraordinary things. The magazine (which debuted in … Read More...
Book Review -Junk Beautiful
The just-released book Junk Beautiful: Room by Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style, by Sue Whitney and Ki Nassauer, is perfect for the flea market shopper. The authors present practical projects for every room of the house that will you … Read More...
Ample Sample Contest
Do your creative juices start a-flowin’ when you eye a pile of colorful carpet samples? If so, you may be the perfect candidate for the Ample Sample contest, which challenges you to repurpose those samples into something fabulous. Ample Sample… Read More...