| 7/20/2008 5:59:30 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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bellinghamster
Bellingham, WA
age: 28
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I didnt look very far for a topic already started so if it is sorry 'bout another one. I make recycle art and functional stuff too. Always trying out new ideas. I pick alot of stuff up at the side of the street and out of free boxes. And Ive been collecting alot of discarded clean looking clothes. I dont have a sewing machine so everythings done by hand. I just taught myself how to knit and have been working with plastic bags a bit. What do you guys make?
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| 7/22/2008 1:22:32 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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mmaru
Erie, PA
age: 25
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I'm definitely one of those people who keeps everything and has a hard time throwing things away. I use a lot of scraps and such for my scrapbook... bits of ribbon make great accents, or I use wrapping paper from someone's birthday as a background... not only is it better than throwing the paper away and cheaper than buying background paper, but it also matches with the pictures.
I also dry and/or press flowers which I use either for my scrapbook or put into soap when I make soap. I generally enjoy the flowers for a few days till they begin to show signs of wilting, then they get strung up or smashed into the presser! Bwahaha!
I use old jars as containers for candles, and soup cans, once properly cleaned out and shaped with some pliers, are perfect for melting and pouring wax.
A friend sent me some chocolates in a couple of very uniquely shaped boxes, which I have saved so that I can decorate them and use them as treasure boxes.
Scrap cloth left over after a project gets stored in our fabric box, and usually ends up being used for doll clothes.
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| 8/21/2008 8:33:54 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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cyclethere
Ventnor City, NJ
age: 51 online now!
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Yes, I'm a sort of local master  at creating tools, utilities and functional things out of - whatever- and usually robbing the trash - or literally robbing a future golf course of a mound.
Sometimes things ain't so pretty - duct tape, wire and whatever.
One of my better utilities is a quarter holder made from the mini Cruzan Rum and Mini vodka bottles. The vodka bottles I have aplenty. (I don't like rum) My friend drinks the flavored ones and they are all the same size. The Curzan Rum bottles are slightly skinnier, therefore they fit tightly into a carefully carved vodka bottle.
Carve a slot in the bottom of the Cruzan rum bottle large enough that a quarter can fit easily.
hacksaw the top of the vodka bottle - you might have to go a little high and sand it down so that the rum bottle fits inside snuggly.
make a slot in the vodka bottle so that it aligns with the other slot well enough that a quarter passes between them easily - sand paper helps fine tune here too.
You can load up to $8 worth of quarters, twist the bottles and the quarters won't fall out.
twist the bottles and you can pay tolls, laundry, pool ...
You can work a string through the neck (or top - but glue the top then maybe) and hang the change holder around your neck, the rear view mirror, handlebars ...
Slice a slit or a v slit in a soda bottle or milk bottle and you have dead a battery disposal unit, or nail holder. For a nail holder a wide mouth bottle is nice, push the nails in through the slit and pop the cap to pour them out. The little vodka bottles are great for smalls crews and brads - better than the bubble pack they came in.
I made an I-slit in some square half gallon milk containers and keep tools compartmentalized in my "ready bag". I used to use cardboard boxes, but they'd die of pressure or moisture. Now they use the handled square bottles - not as good.
A plastic bottle is a funnel and a vessel.
Make one bottle into a funnel, and tape it to another bottle (same mouth or wider) and you have a change repository.
half gallon plastic vodka bottles can take nickels or smaller coins.
and pint half pint sized can take pennies and dimes, Milk and OJ jugs can accept quarters and smaller. cut off some of the neck and susan b's and kennedy's can fit.
Bicycle tire tubes, any kind of decent metal, wood, plastic ... useful beyond belief.
Yankee Ingenuity or RWB technology (Rubber bands With Beer cans)
I've made sand blaster helmets out of 12 pack cartons, clear 2 liter soda bottles and duct tape, I cut in filtered ear holes to breathe through (I've also made them out of old t shirts, and soda bottle plastic ). Both models beat anything on the market for safety and comfort.
Left over pieces of carpet are just too useful to tell on this page.
These are a few of my tricks. Good topic.
Remember the Indian who broke a tear for a piece of litter? (circa 1967)
Sure, he's stark raving (star craving, stork raven, store cravin'...hmmn) mad by now. I took that to heart and made a stand,
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Respect.
~steve~
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| 8/22/2008 7:26:44 AM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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alicekathleen
Sacramento, CA
age: 64
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Garden ornaments are my favorite with "found" objects. We have a day once a year, probably it is done in all
cities, where one can set out anything for trash pick up, even large objects. People clean out the house and
garage and put out tons of stuff. Broken flower pots are great for garden objects, as are any time of ironwork.
I also save jars and crochet around them to make really nice "holder" for the dresser or for gift containers.
I also like to cut up old skirts and make purses.
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| 8/31/2008 9:36:45 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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doc_dog
Colonial Heights, VA
age: 48
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Count me in. I'm a terrible packrat and make all kinds of things. I make lots of lamps and love to re-do furniture. I had a website for a couple of years for recycle crafters, but it started to die out at the time of my divorce. It needs some life because now even I'm too busy to post new stuff.
http://recycletheworld.proboards25.com/
if anyone is interested. There are still some cool posts and ideas, so visit if you'd like. I hope to get restarted soon and post new things. Been busy restoring/repairing a 1925 home I bought in January. A few pics of it are on the site.
Was really happy to see this post. Really happy!
Karen
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| 9/9/2008 11:03:42 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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elenarosa
Staten Island, NY
age: 58
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i like to re=do furniture that is discarded or cheap at garage sales. i'd love to learn how to re=upolster, but can't find any classes anywhere. i'm in ny. anyone out there know how to learn to re-upholster?
ellen
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| 9/12/2008 10:32:48 AM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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im_vika
Brooklyn, NY
age: 34
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Sometimes I go to thrift stores or Salvation Army stores and get the most hidious sweaters there. Then I re-use the yarn to make something else.
If you are not sure how to un-do the sweater, here is a great tutorial how to do it.
http://www.neauveau.com/recycledyarn.html
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| 9/25/2008 8:13:19 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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bellinghamster
Bellingham, WA
age: 28
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threadbanger.com has a video on taking apart sweaters. Ive found that I usually dont like the yarn in sweaters that I dont like, but have done it to two now. Im taking a class next week on found object art up at the college next week. at $75 all I can say is it better be good.
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| 10/11/2008 9:48:51 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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elvyra
Conroe, TX
age: 58
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i like to re=do furniture that is discarded or cheap at garage sales. i'd love to learn how to re=upolster, but can't find any classes anywhere. i'm in ny. anyone out there know how to learn to re-upholster?
ellen
Try looking for a dvd of upholstering.
I like to take wire from old wiring and strip it and use it in gemstone trees and stained glass sculpture. I also use sticks in my stained glass sculpture. Pretty rocks go in some of the sculptures. Mosaics can be made from broken plates and pottery.
[Edited 10/11/2008 9:50:26 PM PST]
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| 1/25/2009 11:46:20 AM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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ethalmay
Hurricane Mills, TN
age: 58
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I knew when I first read all your comments that I would have to add one of my own..I confess, I am a Pack Rat...I collect: plastic grocery bags for crocheted rugs and placemats, denim jeans I make into shaggy raggy rugs or save for denim quilts, I save cans for candles and you can make a really cute bunny easter basket out of gallon bleach bottles..I am a dumpster diver and love finding old clothes for my quilts and doll clothes and old magazines for my many scrapbooks that my grand kids love looking at..I am no looking for patent leather purses and just plain purses to make simple shoes for dolls and outfits..I also love all broken dishes..make the best mosaics...keep up you colliecting..everything cast away has another life just waiting to bloom.
I love the idea of taking the yarn from old sweaters and making new..but I use the old wool sweaters that no one wants and I make coats and capes for my dolls..or I skrink a little more and make into purses with a crocheted handle...so many uses...thank you...
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| 2/23/2009 8:10:15 PM |
anyone into recycle crafts |
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sunflower91
Vista, CA
age: 60
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re-found-objects i collect found objects; walking along city type places. always looking on the ground, street. whatever strikes my fancy. the more unusual, the better. when i drive along the freeway, i see debrie from car crashes. fenders, parts of cars etc. my imagination starts to go & i visualize a sculpture. never am i in a position to stop & pick-up these future found objects. so i keep on treckin and rely on ground found objects to go. so far i have a few shoeboxes full. still collecting. its too much fun.
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