Jamie posted this at July 15th, 2008 | tips & tricks
If you’re looking to go greener in your life but aren’t sure where to start, you can start at GreenYour.com. Just type in what you want to green and it’ll give you fact, tips and products to help you on your way. My first search was “cat” because I’ve been wanting to find a better alternative to traditional cat food that has so much random filler that it can’t be good.
This fabulous site is a wonderfully comprehensive guide for how to do anything greener. You can get recommendations on how to green your vacation (choose a green hotel), how to green your hair care (use shampoo bars), even how to green your dating (buy organic flowers). My personal favorite is how to green your men’s underwear (go commando). The site not only gives you facts and tips on every green-able topic, but then follows up with a list of product recommendations. - Apartment Therapy (Sabrina)
It’s still in beta, so give it a go and let me know how you like it.
via Apartment Therapy.
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Jamie posted this at June 20th, 2008 | art, recycled
Artist Jens Praet took all of the paper he used in a day and re-purposed it into this little desk. It’s made completely of shredded paper and resin. How awesome is that?
I have a sack of shredded paper, of the diamond variety not the strips, in my closet. The only thing I’ve done with it so far is to stuff a pillow. This may be my answer. Now all I have to is figure out resin, figure out how to mix it all and I’ll be set.
Also, I wouldn’t say it’s 100% environmentally friendly (resin and all), but it’s still a pretty effing rad idea.
via Environmental Graffiti.
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Jamie posted this at June 17th, 2008 | how-to, recycled
Project: Flower Pin
Dimensions: 4″ across
Materials: Plastic bottle labels, bottle caps & safety pin
This was a spur-of-the-moment project. I was removing the labels from some water bottles and I had so many that I felt like I should do something with them.
- Flatten out one bottle cap with some pliers. Well, as flat as you can get it. Mine still had a bit of a curve to it.
- Cut out petal shapes from the plastic wrappers.
- Hot glue them to the flattened bottle cap. Be careful with the hot glue, not only is it hot but it’ll melt the plastic petals. I may try regular Elmer’s glue next time.
- Once you have as many petals on as you want, let it cool off. I didn’t and my finger tips hate me for it.
- Pick out which bottle cap (or button, or whatever you want) you want to use as the center and hot glue it onto the front.
- Glue the safety pin to the back. Enjoy!
The labels came from Primo water bottles which are made of Ingeo plastic (corn).
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Jamie posted this at June 16th, 2008 | recycled, sewing
I’ve always been a fan of Simple brand shoes. They’re simple, stylish and their products are made from 100% sustainable materials (bamboo, jute, cork, etc.). I only own one pair (currently) and I bought them on sale about 4 years ago for $10, and they still look brand new. I try to check their site pretty regularly to see what new goodies they have, while they always have awesome new stuff nothing has ever jumped out and said “buy me now or die!”.
Well, I was perusing their catalog today and came across this new (maybe) shoe that they have. You actually stitch it together yourself. That’s right, they send you the materials and you basically build your own shoe. It’s pretty rad, and I’m thinking about ordering a pair, the “nutty” pair is calling out to me. The only downside I see is that they’re $65…but I suppose if they’re going to last you pretty much forever it’s a great investment. Unfortunately I don’t need another pair of shoes at the moment. Maybe I can find them on sale locally…
Check them out over at simpleshoes.com. They also have a do-it-yourself bag (Overdue) made from wool felt, with coconut buttons, bike tire base side guards and a recycled PET (recycled plastic bottles) strap.
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Jamie posted this at June 13th, 2008 | how-to, recycled
This is a pretty rad Instructable by Daniel Treacy to make a collapsible reusable cup from plastic (more specifically Polypropylene).
I really like the idea and it reminds me of the cups we used to use when camping (you know, they were made up of rings that when expanded would fit tightly together). Anyway, I wanted to use mine all the time but my parents made me leave it with our camping stuff (or I lost it, can’t remember).
I would love to give this a try out, but I don’t have a soldering iron! I’ll have to concoct a different way of making the finishing seam. Maybe using an iron would be similar? I’d have to be super careful. Or taping it? That would probably not work too well. I guess I’ll have to go home and take apart all of my plastic folders and try this out.
Also, he uses a custom plastic stopper as the cap, I probably wont be doing this (wouldn’t even know where to go for that). Maybe I could figure out a way to reuse the screw cap from a carton of milk. Hmm…so many ideas.
Here the link to the Instructable. If you make one, I’d love to see it. Especially if you don’t solder the seam.
If you’re not into the kinda long process that one requires, here’s a super simple origami paper cup. We used to make these when I was in Camp Fire and they’re always handy when you just need something for a quick drink.
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Jamie posted this at May 29th, 2008 | recycled, tips & tricks
This is less of a craft and more of a suggestion for reusing drink bottles. I’ll occasionally get the packs of individual Sunny D to drink at breakfast or cases of bottled water and I hate throwing them away. They just seem so useful.
My first thought was to use them to organize small things, like beads, but I already have all of my craft supplies organized. My second thought was pretty simple, just reuse them as drink holders. I drink a lot of liquids (it’s pretty much all I keep in the fridge other than condiments) so it makes sense to reuse the containers.
So far the benefits are great.
I cut back on how much I’m spending on drinks at the grocery store because I just refill the containers I have with whatever beverage I want. One can of apple juice concentrate will refill six of the Sunny D Bottles, one pitcher of tea will refill about four of the water bottles, and one pod of punch powder will refill about eight of the Sunny D bottles.
I have multiple beverages ready to grab and go, which is convenient because I bring three drinks to work every day (one for breakfast and two for lunch and the rest of the day) and it’s nice not to have to waste time bottling them because it’s already done.
And finally, everything is pre-portioned for me, I like using portion control because I’d eat/drink too much if I didn’t. I try to portion out my snacks as well so that I can just grab a small container/baggy and just eat and not think about how much I’m actually eating.
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Jamie posted this at May 29th, 2008 | book binding, recycled
Project: Toppers Sketchbook
Dimensions (w x h): 6″ x 7″
Materials: Sketchbook paper and a Toppers Box
I think that I’ve gotten the hang of coptic stitch binding and can pretty much put one together in one evening, which is kinda nice. Although, I am still not much for writing or sketching, they are fun and relaxing to make. The only down side I’ve found so far is that it hurts my back to hunch over the book as I’m binding it, but as soon as I get a proper desk I’m sure that problem will resolve itself.
This sketchbook has nine signatures (supposed to be ten but I ripped one by pulling the thread a little too aggressively through one of the holes) of two sheets each. So that’s 36 pages (72 front and back). Used green embroidery thread which accents the red cover very nicely, not too Christmas-y in my opinion. Also, it matches the sprig of greenery on the cover, cause I’m matchy-matchy like that.
Perhaps if I make enough of these I can start selling them (like hotcakes!). Who wouldn’t want a sketchbook with a snack box cover?
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Jamie posted this at May 29th, 2008 | crochet, recycled
Project: Crochet Bag
Dimensions (w x h): err…tote bag size
Yardage: um…not sure
Hook: N (10mm)
I whipped this up over the weekend while I was staying at a beach house with some friends. It went by quite a bit quicker than some of the other ones I’ve done, but I guess when you’re in good company time flies.
Anyway, I started with a chain of 15-18 (don’t really remember) then double crocheted up both sides and joined. Then, just went up until it was the size I wanted. As for the handles, they didn’t turn out quite like I was intending, but they’re still nice. I braided strands of the plastic yarn then when I had three braids, I braided those together to give it extra strength.
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Jamie posted this at May 28th, 2008 | book binding, sewing
Starting a new hobby (such as crochet, book binding, or sewing) is an awesome experience. You’re super excited about it and can’t wait to get started on that first project. Maybe you’re following a tutorial, maybe you’re just winging it, but you’re stoked to let the creative juices flow. Well, the first few projects don’t turn out quite as you intended, but, hey, progress is happening and “practice makes perfect”, right? A few days or weeks go by and you look at all of these not so great crochet hats and scarves lying around unloved because they’re too big, too small, or just plain ugly. Then, one day, you finish that one project that the results are so perfect (in your eyes) that you feel like you’ve finally accomplished something worth shouting about. You just want to hold it and admire it from every angle and absorb it’s awesomeness, and you want everyone around you to see it and appreciate all of the work you put into it. The stars have aligned and Zeus himself is smiling down at you from his cloudy throne in the sky.
Well, this time it’s book binding and this is that project for me. When it was complete I felt like I had graduated from “beginner” to “intermediate” in book binding. I am in no way claiming to be well read in the subject, but I do feel like I understand what I’m doing and can now move on to more complicated techniques or blazing my own trails. Cut because this could go on for a bit.
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Kris posted this at May 28th, 2008 | recycled
Was reading up on rigging houses with wind/solar power today and came across an amazing website called Vela Creations. Built and maintained by a couple living in west Texas, it demonstrates the various ways they live a practically self sufficient lifestyle using cost effective/recycled building materials, renewable energy, recycled water, and growing their own crops/livestock. It’s profound how two people can make so much from so little and be so happy. It is a life to be envied fo sho.
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