RECYCLING AT IT'S BEST

Always on the look out for creative recycling I love to surf the net and see what people have come up with. I found this really great company at the Viva Terra site that creates all kind of things from recycled objects. This item below was made from discarded flip flops!! What a neat idea.

Look around their site and you'll see all kinds of terrific things they have created. This picture below shows how they used truck tires to make an ottoman/table and stools. I just love it. Considering all the talk of what to do with old tires this idea is a great one!

Definately a site worth checking out!

RECYCLING AT ITS BEST

I must confess I cannot toss out an item or pass a pile of junk without thinking what it could be recycled into. I am always thrilled when I come across websites that show really unique ideas for recycling everyday items many toss away. You have to check out this site where aluminum cans are resused as siding on a house! Really...check it out. Pop over to ECO-ARTWARE blog.

You also might want to check out these neat Rag Chairs made by DROOG.

CRAFTING WITH RECYCLABLES

Recycling has become a way of life for me as is art. To combine the two is a bonus. My friends and family know what a 'pack rat' I am and before they toss anything they laughingly ask me if I want to take it home and do something with it. Of course, 9 times out of 10 I do.

The way I see it, recycling serves three purposes. One, we are helping the environment by reusing and recyling it. Two, we are saving ourselves money and being frugal by recylcing it into something useful. And three, we can often turn it into a functional piece of art.

I have raised three children and they grew up creating art on a regular basis and the majority of their supplies came from recyclable trash. You wouldn't believe the money it saved me, the way it decreased my trash and how they got to use their wonderful imaginations coming up with some very creative things. Father and Mother's Day we always received special hand made items created with their own hands. How much more special can that be to receive a gift your child has made especially for you?

So before you toss out that empty egg carton, the yogurt container, those stray buttons and pieces of lace, make your child a 'craft box' with the items. All you need to add are basics such as scissors, gluesticks and markers and it will give them hours of entertainment and a chance to use their imaginations.

If you are interested I can post a list of things I have put in my children's craft boxes and even some crafty ideas for their use. Let me know if you are interested! Happy recycling/crafting

DIY GAL

Okay by now you may have come to the conclusion that I love to recycle. Not only is it great for the environment but it gives us a chance to experiment and test our talents and abilities. If you gave it a try you would be amazed at the endless possibilities. One of the truest things I have ever heard is "One man's junk is another man's treasure". Although in this case it's this gal's treasure!

My children and my friends know what a 'packrat' I am. I recently asked my daughter's boyfriend to give me all his empty soda cans rather than send them to recycling (I have an art project in mind). My daughter told him not to!!!!!! Okay, so the two bedroom apartment we share has slowly been taken over by mom's castaways. So what if the diningroom is full of my 'junk'. We are seldom home at the same time to sit down and dine anyway!

In this blog I plan to post tips and ideas on converting those unwanted items into functional, decorative artwork for your home. Please check back shortly.

http://www.simplyart.tk