Earth Day is comming soon....

Share your 'Earth' Friendly crafts...... ones that you recycle items that would have found their way into the dump.

I have been using plastic bags to make little baskets and tote bags. Tee hee.... thinking that they may make really neat Christmas gifts, too!

Great idea Tawanda!

I have made purses and wallets out of juice pouches and snack bags. Turned old sports t-shirts into
pillows and pillowcases. Old t-shirts into a quilt (ongoing). Turned outgrown kids' jeans into little purses, pouches and car pockets to hold pads, pens, etc. Decorated used cereal boxes to hold the kids' papers and magazines. Baby food jars can be turned into mini piggy banks, holder of small items such as pins, tacks, nails or use them to make snow globes, paint jar (great to keep around the house for small paint touch ups). When my kids were little, I would turn oatmeal canisters into drums, shakers, etc ( plastic take out containers also work as instruments) . I still have the wipe containers when my kids were little, we use them to store, small toys like cars, doll clothes, small dolls, and crayons, scissors etc. for organization and easy access. We also use the wipe containers as giant blocks. I use altoid type containers to keep loose change (by the washer and dryer). I also use the altoid containers to keep a small purse size first aid kit. Use the altoid containers to also make a travel sewing kit.

When we bought our house the previous owner left behind more than 20 tires. We used them to make our garden boxes, bird feeders, and of course a tire swing! We use plastic soda bottles for bowling pins. We cut open cereal boxes and use the inside for "canvas" for art projects. We are always trying to look for new ways to reuse. What a fantastic thread!

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You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one

Tawanda, how do you make tote bags out of plastic bags. I would be interested to hear how you do that?

I have been making jeans purses to sell for a fundraiser for our museum. I let the shape of the jeans and the condition of them tell me how to make them. I sure hope they sell.

I am looking for re-uses for the big plastic Mcdonald and Wendys salad bowls and covers - any ideas?

i have seen lots of instructions on line for totes knitted or crocheted from plastic bags

like
MagKnits, your friendly online knitting magazine
Marlo's Crochet Corner
CRAFTS : Needle Arts : Recycled-Plastic Carryall : DIY Network
http://www.ccthita-swan.org/pdf/Crocheting_bags.pdf
Pie and Coffee How to knit a plastic bag
Tote Bag = recycled Plastic Bags

doormat
My Recycled Bags.com Plastic Bag Doormat Rug

I think craftster had a tuts on ironing bags together to make a tote also
Extreme Plastic Bag Makeover (Img Heavy!!!)
also duct tape:
This IS a plastic bag! Recycled and very resuable! (Pictures of making of bag)

hth

I love the little square baby food containers to hold all kinds of stuff they even hold about six crackers for a snack!

Wow! those are all good suggestions!

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mini terrariums???

I have used these for small painting projects, I pour some paint in there, and use it that way.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I saw instructions for making bird feeders out of the 2 litre soda bottles. You drill holes in the sides, and feed a wooden spoon thru for the perch, and some seed comes out. I haven't tried these yet, myself, tho.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

funny though, I just got some take out salads the other day from another restaurant with dressing on the side and washed out the small covered dressing containers to use for a paint project. I wanted lighter colors so I mixed what I had with white for custom shades. put the lids on and will save for touch ups if needed later - the McD or Wendys salad bowls would be much too large unless doing a very large project They are dinner plate size and too shallow / ugly for a terrarium I thnk. I do use the clear flat part of the plastic tops to cut windows for cards and bakery boxes, and have used the flat black bottom for other projects that needed something more study than cardboard. Was also just thinking these would be cute somehow for cookie gifts - just cover over the restaurant name somehow.

they would probably be good for seed starters for gardeners though - I get no sun on my patio so I have given up on gardening here.

Does anyone have an idea for kids to make? Last year my students made 'Recycled Angels.' Using water bottles and coffee filters. I'm looking for a different idea because it was me gluing angel wings on 20 water bottles with the hot glue gun. (They are first graders.)

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All we are and all we see is but a dream in a dream, All that you see or seem, is but a dream within a dream--Edgar Allan Poe

found this for my salad bowls

Learn To Make A Bird Feeder - Family News Story - KMGH Denver

some kids recycle projects here

Recycling Crafts for Kids: Art on a Shoestring: Making Art with Recycled Materials for K-12: KinderArt

I found this link for the soda bottle bird feeder:

Build a winter bird feeder

The one I had seen before uses wooden spoons. I'm betting each kid has an empty soda bottle or two they can bring in, or if you want to go smaller, use a water bottle.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.