Finally my Monday's are no longer Clogged up with going to Court with my Son.....Long Story
but all is good now.
Seems I was on a Purse-Tote Kick this week.
First up is my New Addition to thePurse-Tote Line.
Ex-BoyFriend Purse to go with the Ex-Boyfriend Scarf!
Made from a Men's button up shirt.
I'm Totally in Love with this new Purse!
Well I challenged myself to RePurpose a Mouse Pad this week.
You can see the Bracelets & a brief how to on my post yesterday.
I got a reposnse from that post from Shirley Maki giving me the idea to make a cell phone holder.
Here's what I came up with . Pretty simple but does the job to keep my phone
safe in the bottomless pit I call a purse!
I have been saving Can's (just the middle part) for some time now.
I make Butterfly magnets with them but I had wanted to make some flowers.
I finally sat down to actually do it when I realized I must have thrown out the handle to my Sizzix!!!
So I went to the hardware store & the gentleman there helped me find just want
I needed to make a handle!
Not sure what more I will do with them other than make magnets.
Any suggestions???
More Totes!
These one's aren't lined & Smaller.
Great for Lunches, crayons & coloring books, Shower caddy &
recently brought to my attention Bingo supplies!
These Totes (This is the size of my purse!) are lined with Eco-Felt (felt made from water bottles).
I am loving the Protein one!!
oxox,
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
My Best Friend sent me a package the other day full of Goodies
& these two less than desirable Mouse Pads.
I couldn't figure out why she sent me them as they were, well ugly,
& I did not have a use for a Mouse Pad!
They sat on my Kitchen table for a few days when it dawned on me that I needed to make something with them. I should have known she wouldn't send me Ugly Mouse pads for no reason.
Well this is just the thing I needed to get my wheels spinning~
I was getting worried my wheels were stuck in the mud!
I only took less than a day to dream up a new use but a day to actually
get my butt in gear to make my vision come to life!
Tadda!!!!
This one I cut a "base" piece of the Mouse Pad then added snaps to the ends.
I cut 3 smaller strips of the Mouse Pad & with a needle and Embroidery floss I secured the floss to one end & wrapped it around the pad then secured it to the other end. I did this with each small strip. Then I sewed each end to the base pad & also put a stitch in the middle. Then I took some more floss and wrapped it around the end to give it a more finished look.
Mouse Pad Bangles.
The length of the mouse pad wasn't long enough to fit over my hand so
I added another strip of pad with an eyelet.
I wrapped a fabric strip around one & secured it with thread & add a few beads.
The other 2 I added beads all around.
This one I cut about a 2 inch base piece of the Mouse Pad adding snaps to the ends. I then added eyelet to the middle part leaving the ends free of eyelets until after I add the smaller strip. I cut a smaller strip of pad added eyelets then secured each end to the base with eyelets. I then added a few more eyelets to the base at the ends.
Here's the Mouse Pad in all it's Ugliness but it really transformed into some cute Bracelets!
Ideas are really endless. Just make your "base" bracelet then trick it out as you see fit!
This leads to my other idea.
I seem to get stuck in the mud every now & again.
I thought it would be cool if you had something that you don't want or can't imagine could be used for anything that you could send me so I can try to transform it.
This would help me get my wheels out of the Mud & your prize would we one of the things I create with what you sent me!
If your interested in this challenge email me RadicalRecycks@gmail.com
oxox,
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
Happy Earth Day!
I hope everyone took a moment today to think about what we can do a little better to try and take care of this
beautiful planet! Because we only get one planet!
I found this Great Article in Whole Living and wanted to share a few of the things
I found the most interesting!
The Symbol Meaning is something I had no idea about!
What in the heck do you do with those CD cases after you have downloaded your old CD's into iTunes?
Here's the answer!
What to do with those juice boxes? I Still put them in the recycling bin but
I wasn't sure they could be recycled.
Mystery solved!
I have repurposed my old shower curtains into sit upons for Girl Scout camp. I have even washed them in the washing machine to save a few more months of use. I have also melted them and used them in some of my totes! Thank goodness there is an way to Recycle them!!
Be Good to our Planet!
xoxo
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
So this week my daughter when on her 8th Grade trip to D.C. ~ She's having a blasty Blast!
I hope someday to make that trip as well.
Here's what I've Whipped up this Week!
I saw this cute cute kids lamb hat in the last Molly Made issue however it was the hat that was for sale & not the pattern~ which is all good but I wanted the hat for myself! The hat seemed familiar & I thought I had seen a pattern for a similar hat & I found it but it too was for kids here's the link to the pattern.
So I had to make adjustments! It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be
but it all worked out in the end!
When I was in Port Townsend I found a moment to go to the beach (it's right there at Fort Worden) Now being from Michigan I often think the Great Lakes are Oceans as I can't see to the other side but when I was actually by the ocean I now see the difference lol! Boy all the treasures that are washed up are amazing! I picked up some super cute small flat rocks (have always had a love for rocks) I decided to paint little hearts on them & will give them to friends & family at Christmas. They probably won't find it such a wonderful gift but to bad!!
I also have been making some Trashy Meets Classy Rings for a Wholesale order.
Bottle Cap Heart & Sterling Sliver Band.
I'm getting ready to head to the Library to teach a class on how to make T-Shirt Bracelets.
I am also in the progress of turning this into an online class with some different techniques so stay tuned!
Happy Earth Day!
oxox
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
We normally unwrap takeout chopsticks, eat with them and dispose of them without much thought. Recently, though, there has been a small wave of transnational activism aimed at reducing the use of disposable chopsticks stateside and in Asia; chopsticks, activists say, are contributing to heavy deforestation in China.
I use them to make these Pom Pom's
which you could use as a sporting event or make as a center piece!
Uses for Disposable Chopsticks in the Kitchen
- Use them to stir while cooking.
- Use them as drink stirrers. (I found this idea on DIY Life.)
- Reuse as sticks for homemade Popsicles. (This one also came from DIY Life.)
- I use one to stir the slurry when making coffee in a French Press.
- Dry plastic bags on them. Stick them in a jar and hang the bags off of them. I did this when I lived on an off-the-grid property where we were very careful about trash, and also when I lived in a cooperative house. The coop actually had a piece of wood mounted to the kitchen wall with chopsticks sticking out of it for bags to dry on. There's green street cred right there.
- Use them to stack plates on when you run out of space in the dish drain. As in, you want to raise the dish you are drying off of the countertop.
- Level-off measured dry ingredients like flour when baking with a chopstick. My mom has done this forever. She also saves Popsicle sticks for this purpose.
- Toast marshmallows. (Idea found on This Old House.)
- Use them to clean hard-to-reach spaces. (Idea found on This Old House.)
- Pit cherries with one. (Thank you to Apartment Therapy for this one.)
- I whisk eggs with them.
- Freeze individual portions in freezer bags with the help of a chopstick. (This idea is from Lunch In a Box.)
- Use chopsticks to turn meat or tofu when grilling.
Uses for Disposable Chopsticks around the House
- Prop open a window with a couple chopsticks.
- Push viscous material out of a funnel with a chopstick.
- Place chopsticks in a jar and air dry wet mittens or socks on them.Thanks to my mother for this great idea.
- Use them to stir paint.
- Kindle your fireplace with them.
- Use them to loft frames or boards when doing painting projects. (I found this idea on Project Polermo.)
- Unclog bottle tips. (Thanks again to This Old House.)
- Clean dirt out of the crevices of shoes. (Ditto.)
- Clean up mastic when grouting tiles. (Ditto.)
- Mark potted plants with care instructions. (Only the ever-fabulous Martha Stewart could create instructions for this one.)
- Use them to clean electronic devices. (This idea came from Apartment Therapy.)
- Use chopsticks as shims for wobbly tables.
- Make a doorstop in 30 seconds. (Thanks to Curbly for this idea.)
- Make attractive stakes for potted orchids. (Martha. Who else?)
- Fill a stripped screw hole. (Idea found on This Old House.) This can also be done with toothpicks.
Crafts You Can Make with Disposable Chopsticks
- Stick them in your hair to hold up a bun.
- Build an iPad stand. (Get instructions on ReadyMade.)
- Make a place mat. (Learn how on Right at Home.)
- Make coasters. (Found on Curbly.)
- Make a retro-style clock. (MakeZine shows you how.)
- Make an Ikea-hack pendant lamp. (Full instructions on ReadyMade.)
- Play pick-up sticks. (Thanks to Planet Green for this archaic but cute idea.)
- Use them as knitting needles. (Tutorial found in the Craftster forum.)
- Make an eco-bird feeder.
- Create 4th of July "sparklers" or magic wands. (Thanks to Merriment Designs for this idea.)
- Build furniture with your used chopsticks.
- Make a DIY scented oil diffuser. (Idea found on Remodelaholic.)
- DIY a hanging sachet for your closet. (I'll give you one guess who published this idea. It starts with an "M".)
- If you live in San Francisco, you can donate them to the Waribashi Project to be upcycled into art.
- Make a rubber band gun. (I found this idea on Instructables.)
- Build a crossbow. (Instructions can be found on Storm the Castle.)
- Chopsticks are part of the process of making custom clay gift tags.
- Win an egg drop contest.
- Greenpeace created a forest of trees made from chopsticks. I suppose you could also sculpt with them.
- Build a stool made from a bamboo steamer and used chopsticks.
- Make a lampshade. (Thanks to How Joyful for instructions for this project.)
- Replace dowel rods in projects like mobiles with a bunch of chopsticks tied together in the middle.
Original Post found Here.
The weeks are flying by!
I guess it is partly because Tuesday's I work for free at my old job
& Wednesday's I have my Grandbaby all Day.
Here's my Apple Pie
Fused Plastic Clutches for a wholesale order.
I haven't fused plastic in awhile forgot how much fun it is!
Girl Scout Encampment is coming up & last year the theme was games so we decided to be the Red vs. Blue Gnomes (the movie had just came out) So i made everyone a Red or Blue Gnome hat.
They were a big hit not only did they keep us warm at night but we got so many compliments!
This year's theme is Birthday Party since it's Girl Scouts 100th anniversary.
I decided I would make Cake Hats then we could decorate them.
When I finally found a pattern I could make work and got the felt I was overwhelmed with have to make 24 hats~ what was I thinking? I did recruit some help but it actually when very
fast so i didn't need any back up.
Here they are before decorating ~I'll be sure to show you what the girls do with them!
This one is a repost from this week.
I have had this old Net Bath Sponges stuff laying around for awhile then 2 more broke so I thought it was time to get on my idea! I turned them into Scrubbies! Check a few posts down for the full tutorial!
oxox,
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I found this through Tumblr it's so clever.
I will give it a try just as soon as I can get to the hardware store.
I have a vision with a little different set up~ we'll see if my vision will come to fruit.
In the meantime check it out!
(Click the picture to go to the website with the full tutorial!)
xoxo,
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
I use a Net Bath Sponge to get myself all clean
& since they are all over the place I am assuming a lot of folks use them as well!
Well did you know they work wonders on cleaning soap scum?
Don't ask me how I found this out ~ ok I can't keep things to myself~ I clean the shower while I shower. Sounds weird & unhealthy but I don't use cleaner usually just an old net sponge or a Magic eraser to get the soap scum off while the conditioner seeps into my over processed hair.
Now the thing with the old net sponge is I don't want anyone to use it by accident to clean themselves so I have Repurposed the old ones that have fallen apart into "Scrubbies" !
They can be used to clean Soap Scum, Scrub your dishes or even Scrub yourself!
First and Foremost throw your Net Sponge in the laundry with a load of towels you
will want to get all the leftover soap & Dna out!
The Net Sponges I had were 240 inches long.
They had a good long life then the tie that kept them together broken!
Now you could retie it or you can Repurpose it as instructed below but
let's do what we can to keep them out of the landfill!
Get your Crochet Hook out!
I used a size P but a Q would have been a little better (less fighting with the netting)
Chain 8
In second stitch from hook single Crochet to end (7 stitches)
chain 1 and SC across
I think I only got 4 rows so go until you can't go anymore (as long as you make it to the end of a row)
Now I also didn't cut anything off. (I will get to this a few photos down)
All done with the Netting.
But it just doesn't look pretty now does it?
We want to make sure we don't throw any of the netting away to fill up the landfill right?
So now get some cotton yarn.
I used Lion Brand organic cotton for the Pink one & some other cotton out of my stash that had no label.
I used the hook that the one with the label said to use (J) but
went to a K for the Blue/Gray one (it was a bit thicker yarn).
I attached the new yarn with a slip stitch then single crocheted 3 times in each opening of the scrubbie.
When I got to the corner I sc 3 chain 1 then sc 3.
slip stitch to the first stitch once I got all the way around.
Chained 1 then sc in each stitch around just to make it a bit more polished.
Tada!
oxox,
Tracie
"Queen of Trash"
Gosh this week flew by & I feel like I didn't get much done!
Monday was getting the house back in order after being gone a week.
I did have to work on Tuesday which I call "Free Tuesdays'" because I don't get paid.
Wednesday I watched Apple Pie~ her first trip to Joann's was a success.
Thursday started Spring Break & Princess had to get her hair done then we had Girl Scouts
Friday well that one didn't start out good... Had to take my son to court to get arranged, then finger printed but after that we had a lovely day~ salvation army, target, lunch, secetary of state, bank then home only to run princess all over!
Now the kids are gone for the night & Hubby is finally home from work!
So on with the good stuff!
Weekly Whip Up's
I Crocheted Apple Pie this Basket which I deemed her Easter Basket.
We get her for Easter this year!
Here is the link to the pattern that inspired me I didn't follow it at all but it got me going on the right track.
I made a few Ex-Boyfriend scarves.
Also picked up more shirts at Salvation Army today to make more.
See how I get on things for awhile!
I whipped up this Hat & the Huge Flower Rocks!
Everyone is getting one of these for Christmas!
Here is the link to get the pattern if you want to whip up some cute hats!
Pop Tab Bracelet with Repurposed Shirts woven in!
I wear mine everyday & get so many compliments & people don't even realize they are pop tabs!
I can make custom ones too if you have a loved one's shirt or even a favorite shirt of yours that you just can't wear anymore!
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Home composting isn’t just for farmers anymore! The practice is becoming increasingly popular among urban environmentalists who are eager to cut their landfill contributions: from apartment dwellers growing gardens on top of NYC roofing, to folks who participate in their local municipal compost program, to homeowners looking to turn their backyards into a teeny tiny sustainable city farms. Composting is a key component of the eco-friendly puzzle, because it takes waste that’s destined for landfills and turns it into usable, nutrient-rich soil, which is perfect forgardening. Most people focus on kitchen scraps, but that’s just the very tip of the composting iceberg. Did you know you could also include the following?
- Dryer lint
- “Dust bunnies”
- The insides of a vacuum bag (just empty the bag into the compost bin)
- The contents of your dustpan (just use discretion)
- Coffee grounds
- Coffee filters
- Tea bags/loose leaf tea
- Soy/rice/almond/etc milk
- Nut shells (but not walnut, which may be toxic to plants)
10. Pumpkin/sunflower/sesame seeds (chop them to ensure they won’t grow)
11. Avocado pits (chop them up so they won’t sprout)
12. Pickles
13. Stale tortilla chips/potato chips
14. Stale crackers
15. Crumbs (bread or other baked goods)
16. Old breakfast cereal
17. Bran (wheat or oat, etc)
18. Seaweed/nori/kelp
19. Tofu/tempeh
20. Frozen fruits and vegetables
21. Expired jam or jelly
22. Egg shells
23. Old, moldy "soy dairy" and other dairy substitutes
24. Stale Halloween candy and old nutrition/protein bars
25. Popcorn kernels (post-popping, the ones that didn’t make it)
26. Old herbs and spices
27. Cooked rice
28. Cooked Pasta
29. Oatmeal
30. Peanut shells
31. Booze (beer and wine)
32. Wine corks
33. Egg cartons (not Styrofoam)
34. Toothpicks
35. Q-tips (not the plastic ones)
36. Bamboo Skewers
37. Matches
38. Sawdust
39. Pencil shavings
40. Fireplace ash (fully extinguished and cooled)
41. Burlap sacks
42. Cotton or wool clothes, cut into strips
43. Paper towels
44. Paper napkins
45. Paper table cloths
46. Paper plates (non wax- or plastic-coated)
47. Crepe paper streamers
48. Holiday wreaths
49. Balloons (latex only)
50. Raffia fibers (wrapping or decoration)
51. Excelsior (wood wool)
52. Old potpourri
53. Dried flowers
54. Fresh flowers
55. Dead houseplants (or their dropped leaves)
56. Human hair (from a home haircut or saved from the barber shop)
57. Toenail clippings
58. Trimmings from an electric razor
59. Pet hair
60. Domestic bird and bunny droppings
61. Feathers
62. Fish food
63. Aquatic plants (from aquariums)
64. Dog food
65. Rawhide dog chews
66. Ratty old rope
67. The dead flies on the windowsill
68. Pizza boxes and cereal boxes (shredded first)
69. Toilet paper and paper towel rolls (shredded first)
70. Paper muffin/cupcake cups
71. Cellophane bags (real cellophane, not regular clear plastic)
72. Kleenex (including used)
73. Condoms (latex only)
74. Old loofas (real, not synthetic)
75. Cotton balls
76. Tampon applicators (cardboard, not plastic) and tampons (including used)
77. Newspaper
78. Junk mail
79. Old business cards (not the glossy ones)
80. Old masking tape
81. White glue/plain paste.
Original Article can be found here COMPOST
