Remember last year how I was all about the Llama well this year I am all about the Gnomes. I have gnomes coming out of my ears, literally!! I have gnome earrings
. So this tutorial for making DIY gnomes out of printed socks 
with minimal effort or crafting skills was like a red flag to this bull!. I knew I had to share the tutorial on how to make these Christmas Swedish Gnomes.
You can see the full tutorial here.
Looking for more Christmas Gnomes? Check these free DIY tutorials out :
DIY Pinecone Gnomes — CraftBits.com
DIY Christmas Gnome Wreath — CraftBits.com
Recycling, reusing, re-purposing or whatever you want to call it is much more than a craft project or doing a good deed. The items that are being recycled don?t have to be of a significant size at all, it can be as small as, say; socks. The more people that become involved by recycling their own stash of mismatching socks the more the environment will benefit.
Simple Ways to Reuse
One of the simplest ways that socks can be reused is just by donating your unwanted socks. Keep a bin of mismatched socks and send them off to be recycled when the bin gets filled. A great place to send them to is USAgain. Just by visiting their website one can become more aware of the impact of reusing socks or any other type clothing.
Keep alert to any type of community project involving socks. Just by searching the Internet you may find that a particular group or an individual is collecting socks for good causes. Individuals may also post a reason to collect socks that could be for a family in need or for crafting purposes.
Old socks can be used in helpful ways to make everyday life simpler. Socks make a great rag for dusting, cleaning brass and silver, washing the car, and even as a dry board eraser. Putting a large pair of socks over your shoes while doing yard work will help lengthen the life of your shoes!
Some other Creative Ways to Reuse Socks
Sock puppets were brought alive in the Puritan times through puppet shows. It seems like sock puppets are here to stay as there are many television programs that regularly use puppets as a means of imagination play and teaching methods. Although these types of puppets date way back when, you can make your own puppets today that will provide hours of entertainment for the young and old.
Here are four different ways to create a puppet or doll by reusing socks.
1. Learn how to make your own basic sock puppets with easy to follow instructions.
2. Sock monsters are fun to make and fun for kids to play with.
3. Create sock dolls for gifts or even to sell for a little extra pocket money.
4. Socks can be made into Halloween decorations by making sock skeletons.
Besides creating puppets with unwanted socks there are many other unique projects that can be made. These bunny slippers made from old socks are perfect for someone who adores bunnies. For the home that has a central vacuum system, socks can be made into a hose coverto save walls from getting marks on them. Instructions to make dog and cat toys can be easily found on-line or in craft books as well as reusing socks to make doll clothes.
Reusing socks can make a big difference in more lives than one. Getting together as a group or a family to create sock creations makes good memories while spending quality time together. The feeling of knowing that others are benefiting from your efforts is contagious, making you yearn to continue helping others and the environment.