Category Archives: recycling

Changing Crows

Changing Crows

I hope to change this primitive looking plaque and cover the ominous “counting crows” saying with something else. I am thinking a small wool appliqué project.

I got this beauty for $6 at Michaels as part of their Halloween clearance. I plan to make it less morbid and more colonial.

Covered Box

Covered Box

It’s finished (when it dries!)

It took days, but I didn’t have to buy a thing.

I had the paper, the glue and the spray paint. Amazon supplied the box. I was pleased to see that the box came from Carolina Container in High Point, NC! I was still shipping (shopping) local!

The ribbon trim still had it’s 75 cent Hancock Fabrics Clearance sticker. I am not a hoarder. I am an investor!”

Recycling an Amazon Box

Recycling an Amazon Box

I am not entirely sure it’s worth it.

I have all the supplies, including a pack of what I thought was a variety of scrapbook paper. 25 sheets of the same thing. I usually buy scrapbook papers in 2’s. I have plenty of this.

I already had the gold spray paint I used on the inside of the box, and of course, I have lots of glue. I’m trying different kinds, including basting spray. Elmer’s Extra Strength Craft Bond Glue Stick is the current leader, but I’m about to run out (second stick.)

Overall, it’s not costing me anything new, but it is time consuming.

My plantar fasciitis is back with a vengeance, so while I’m staying off my feet, I may as well watch glue dry!

Painted Cushions

Painted Cushions
Painted Cushions
I paid a lot for these terribly faded cushions, so I couldn’t bring myself to toss them. I had bought a couple of bandanas to sew together for a cover, but wasn’t crazy about that idea.
Then I thought, “fabric paint!” and wished somebody made spray fabric paint. I found this at Walmart (I love that Rice Freeman-Zachery calls it the Dreaded Walmart!)  It came in a pack of three colors (black and gold, too) and was $14.97. Not cheap, but I have a use for the black, and maybe the gold, too.
I sprayed and used a foam brush to even it out.
Not a bad “before and after,” huh?
I got on the company’s website to see if they sold bottles of single colors and they DO! Check them out at http://www.simplyspray.com/
AND!!!, the paint is made in America!!!!

Tutorial: Saving an Applique

Tutorial: Saving an Applique
Tutorial: Saving an Applique

I’ve been, “shopping my closet,” as they say, and I really like this t-shirt. It’s very soft and I have lots of red and navy to wear with it. It’s also very thin and see-through. I have to wear a camisole under it, and that defeats the purpose of light and soft. I decided to see if I could cut out the applique and attach it to another shirt.

I decided to add some iron-on stabilizer to the back before cutting it out.

I chose Sulky Tender Touch, not because I wanted it soft, but because I wanted it flexible.

Tender Touch is very hard to tell which side is the fusible one, so I used my new see-through, Teflon sheet as a pressing cloth, just in case I goofed.

I used a polyester setting with no steam on my iron and gave it a press. (about 20 seconds)

It worked!


I cut it out and turned it over!


Voila!

I also saved the neckband for the piping. I may use that to “frame” the applique when I attach it to another tee:


And the t-shirt leftovers made me a nice new pile of polishing cloths for my soap!

An Idea!

An Idea!
An Idea!

I’ve been playing with an idea lately and found exactly what I need to execute it with these Craft Felts. I found them at Walmart and they are made entirely of recycled plastic bottles! As far as I can tell, they’re also manufactured in America. Hopefully, I will have something very useful made from them soon to share!