Recycled Crafts

December 14, 2019

Scrap Happy

 

Kate has a fun Scrap Happy Day that I am participating in this month.  Most people I know, are aware that I love to use up my scraps and recycle as much as possible.  Well…

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T-shirts galore!

I have lots and lots of t-shirts that my kids (all 5!) have grown out of.  The t-shirts that were suitable to donating we donated; however, many of them had stains or rips or were just too worn out to donate to anyone.  I knew I wanted to use them so I started making t-shirt yarn with them.

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1″ strips

I use the rotary cutter to cut one inch strips.

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Lots of shirts!

I usually cut many over the course of a day or two and then…

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t-shirt yarn!

Turn them into t-shirt yarn.  It does make a bit of a mess!!  But these are ready to use.  Sometimes I crochet hats, bags, bowls etc with them.  This time I am making some more rag rugs.

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Rag Rug

I’ve been trying out a bit of clasped weft for this one.  In the winter we use lots of rugs what with the dog, students and my own kids traipsing in from the rain.  I love these because they have a nice feel to them, are very sturdy, hold up to tons of washing and drying AND it’s a repurposed craft!  Now, back to weaving!  I’ve got some t-shirt yarn to use up.

March 6, 2019

Rag Rug #2

The second rag rug is off the loom.

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Rag Rug #2

I am still having lots of tension issues so instead of continuing with the warp and the next rug, I rolled the warp all forward and re-rolled it back onto the back beam.  This time with paper between the warp strings instead of the card board strips.  We’ll see how that goes.

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Twill for this rug.

I wove twill this time and really like the pattern, but it’s not as tight as the first one that was woven in even weave.

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Hem.

This one also has a hem instead of fringe which I like much better.  The third rug will have a hem and be woven in even weave.  I’m learning as I go!

February 5, 2019

T-shirt Rag Rug Weaving

I finally got my table loom up and warped!!  Boy did that take a LONG time!

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312 ends warped!

I have been wanting to weave some rag rugs out of t-shirt yarn.

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T-shirt yarn from the kid’s old t-shirts.

I have saved the kids t-shirts and they are stored in boxes.  The plan all along was to make yarn from them and weave rag rugs.  Finally, I am getting around to doing it!

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The first little bit.

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Closeup of t-shirt weaving.

It seems to be going ok.  My warp is not as even as I would like it.  I will need to figure out what I did before I warp again so I can get a more even one next time.

January 16, 2019

Plastic Crochet Tote

I’m at it again!!  I had more plastic bags from bread, TP, and other things that I have been saving.  img_5186

Here it is!  This one is different from the others that I have done as this one has a rectangular base.  I like this much more as it is easier to pack.img_5188

It looks on the smaller side, but it actually holds quite a bit.img_5187

I liked it so much I started a new one!!

Linking up with Hookin on Hump Day over at Petals to Picots!

September 13, 2018

Recycling…

I love to make things out of stuff that would otherwise go in the trash! In that vein…img_4268

I made a little tote bag out of the bag our wild bird food came in.  It’s actually quite sturdy.

I put in a box pleat on the bottom to give it a little depth and I cut off part of the bag to make the handles.img_4269

I think this is going to be the perfect size bag to bring to the grocery store!

December 16, 2017

Ta Da!

The second crochet plastic bag is finished!IMG_1721

This rectangle shape is much better and I think it will be more useful that the first one.  It’s still a little big so the next one will be about half this size.IMG_1720

What a sport she is!  This bag went together much more quickly than the other one.

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In use!

It was quickly put to use on my next shopping trip and worked really well.  I did get a few strange looks when I pulled it out of the cart, but no one actually said anything to me.  I wouldn’t put anything super heavy in here – no cans, but I used it for boxes of crackers, small baking supplied and of course my son’s favorite chips!

November 13, 2017

Plastic Bag of Plastic Bags

Well…the first plastic bag is completed…

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Kind of big and bulky.

It turned out a little wonky.

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A little big.

I think it’s too big and I’m not sure I really like the round bit.

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Close up.

It did go together pretty quickly.

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What’s with those wiiide straps??

I don’t quite know what I was thinking when I was making the straps…

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Apples.

This is not a very good picture, but I did use it at the grocery store and put my apples in it.  It does work pretty well, but it’s way too big.  I think next time I will make a rectangle bag more like a regular grocery bag.

February 9, 2015

Recycled Craft

You all know how much I love to recycle normal everyday trash objects into something that can be used again.

Pencil and Turning Tool Holder.

Pencil and Turning Tool Holder.

I made this handy holder for my teaching sewing studio at Let’s Go Crafting.  The kids use pencils and these turning tools (chopsticks) all the time and then set them down everywhere.  Hopefully, now with a specific home, these pencils and tools will find their way back.

Painted and Decoupaged.

Painted and Decoupaged.

I took an everyday object that no longer had a use (can you guess what it is?) and I painted it.  Then I cut out these cute little pictures from some leftover scraps of wrapping paper and used Modge Podge to attach them.  I then applied another coat of the Modge Podge to seal everything and make it shine.

Wrapping Paper Accents.

Wrapping Paper Accents.

I really had fun with the small dots around the upper edge.  Did you guess what container I used?

Empty Salt Container.

Empty Salt Container.

It was an empty salt container!!!  Back when we were making salt dough ornaments, we used lots of salt.  We emptied this entire container.  I cut off the top, ripped off the paper and then proceeded with the painting and decoupaging.  I love these recycled crafts!