You’ve probably seen all kinds of kids’ egg carton crafts, but this take on the convenient cubbyhole containers is suitable for any age. Etsy store Swirlyarts is selling, among other items, mini sewing kits made from used cardboard egg cartons. … Read More...
Dadcando
In honor of Father’s Day, I must mention Dadcando, a site dedicated to fathers and kids making things together. A detailed tutorial for this pretty butterfly, created with old wrapping paper, is available for download. Also in the recycled … Read More...
Recycled Coffee Sleeve
The next time you crave a take-out coffee, come prepared with your own stylish coffee sleeve — recycled from a sweater, of course. Head on over to East Coast Kitsch for a sampling of colorful ideas from Jane Murphy, or … Read More...
Playful Assemblage
Cat Bishop a.k.a. Artsy personifies (or puppifies, in this case) everyday objects with funky assemblage works, including Scottie (shown) made from a vintage xylophone toy, a 50s alarm clock and French tart tins. Check out her Etsy shop for more … Read More...
GreenCraft magazine
Coming in 2009, from the creative folks behind Somerset Studio magazine, is GreenCraft magazine. According to the editor, the magazine will “feature articles and delicious photography of all kinds of art made from recycled materials.” Click on the GreenCraft image … Read More...
Vintage Suitcase Cat Bed Upcycle Idea
There is something wonderfully satisfying about turning an old suitcase into something useful again—especially when the finished project is immediately claimed by a cat who behaves as though the whole thing was made entirely for their convenience.
This vintage suitcase … Read More...
From Junk Mail Catalog to Paper Dolls
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Vintage Utensil Cuff Bracelet
You are what you eat (with). I love LTCreatesJewelry‘s vintage flatware, such as this butter knife, that are bent into fashionable rings, jewelry cuffs, earrings, napkin rings and more. The hand-stamped lettering on this timeless cuff adds a personal … Read More...

