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5 Upcycled DIY Jewelry Projects share

Does your stash of accessories need a little kick? Try out some of these DIY upcycled jewelry projects!

Doesn't the right necklace or pair of earrings just make any outfit feel extra special? The trouble with store-bought jewelry is that it's often produced in a sweatshop and shipped all over the world. That means a big dose of cruelty and a side of greenhouse gas emissions. No, thank you!

The good news is that it's simple and fun to make your own DIY jewelry from all kinds of materials, from magazine pages to beans. Yes, beans! Here are a few DIY jewelry ideas to get you started.

1. DIY Statement Necklace

The beautiful, bold statement necklace pictured above is made using beans instead of beads! Pretty awesome, right?

2. Gift Card Necklace

Who needs shells when you have used gift cards? You can turn that single-use plastic into a super adorable necklace!

3. Nail Polish Key Necklace

Do you have a key with no lock to open? Instead of tossing it out, grab a bottle of nail polish and transform it into a hip necklace.

4. Magazine Page Bling

Grab an old magazine or some junk mail and use it to make a 1980s-inspired jewelry set.

5. Wine Cork Earrings

Is there any end to useful ways to repurpose wine corks? Slice them up, paint them, and create super sweet stud earrings.

Have you guys made any fun, upcycled jewelry lately? We'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: DIY, DIY jewelry, how to make jewelry, reuse, upcycled jewelry, upcycling

Jun

25 DIY Father’s Day Gifts share

There's just one weekend left for crafting between now and Father's Day, so if you're planning a handmade gift it's time to get going.

Sure, you can pick up a store-bought Father's Day gift, but doesn't something handmade have a lot more heart? Plus, when you make a Father's Day gift yourself, you're able to choose eco-friendly materials! Here are some awesome DIY Father's Day gift ideas that you can make this weekend:

Mini Photo Album - Fill a handmade mini album with sentimental photos for dad.
Upcycled Pinhole Camera - Is your dad a shutterbug? Get him back to photography's roots!
Mini Herb Garden - If your pops loves to cook, use some reclaimed plastic bottles to make him a self-watering kitchen herb garden.
Chalkboard Paint Door Calendar - Does dad need a little help in the organization department? This chalkboard calendar could be just the thing!
Chalkboard Glass Jars - Dad can use these to store everything from tools to knick knacks to cutlery.
Infused Booze - Does he love a good cocktail? Make it extra special with homemade infused vodka.
Wine Cork Micro-Planters - Give him a little green to remind him of you while he's at the office!
Infused Vinegar - Booze not his thing? How about some infused vinegars for the dad who cooks?
Soda Can Lanterns - If he loves hanging out in the back yard or on the porch, give him these to add a little color and light!
Wine Box Planters - Another take on the kitchen herb garden. This one requires a little more space but is just beautiful!
Mason Jar Planters - Give the gift of green. You can plant anything from small plants and flowers to herbs in this hanging planter.
Chalkboard Shelf with Hanging Hooks - This gift guarantees that dad will have a place for everything.
Hanging Necktie Tool or Scissor Holder - Is he always looking for that pair of scissors or a screwdriver? Make him a vintage necktie hanger so he'll never lose his favorite tool again!
Repurposed Magazine Box - You can use this box to hold whatever gift you make, and dad can use it for storage!
Coffee Sleeve - Turn an old bike inner tube into a cute coffee sleeve for the java-loving dad.
Homemade Cologne - Store-bought cologne is full of nasty chemicals. Make a custom scent for dad instead!
Homemade Soda - Whip up a few yummy flavors, and package them up in a reclaimed six pack covered in pretty paper or contact paper.
Individual Cobblers - If your dad has a sweet tooth, he'll love a little batch of mini cobblers!
Upcycled Wine Bottle Gas Lamp - The perfect gift for a dad who loves to garden, this lamp is a great garden accessory!
Cardboard Camera Stand - This recycled cardboard project turns dad's camera into a scanner or photocopier, no electronics required.
Energy-Saving Phone Charging Dock - Help your pop cut the vampire power and stay organized with a permanent charging station for his phone.
Cardboard Laptop Stand - Perfect if your dad has any kind of home office situation.
Homemade Sugar Scrub - Even dads need a little pampering. Whip him up a DIY sugar scrub with some earthy essential oils.
DIY Planner - Make this planner special for dad by writing in important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries.
Recycled Magazine Plant Stand - Give him this stand and a sweet potted plant to add a little green to your dad's day.

Have you made any cool, DIY Father's Day gifts? Let's share more ideas in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: DIY, DIY Father's Day gifts, Father's Day, Father's Day gifts, gift ideas, holiday, Living

Jun

Spotted: DIY Bling from Old Magazines! share

Can you believe that this beautiful costume jewelry is made from upcycled magazine pages?

Crafty superstar Mark Montano shared a super awesome video tutorial on how to make your very own 80s-inspired upcycled jewelry from old magazine or catalog pages. You need a few simple jewelry supplies to make your own, so check the materials list below before you get started!

This tutorial makes a whole set of DIY jewelery. To make the complete set, you'll need:

an old magazine or catalog and scissors to cut it up
needle nose pliers
spray paint - spray paint can be nasty stuff, but you can choose Krylon H2o, which is a little bit better. I couldn't find the H2O in gold, but I think that white would look really nice, and still keep that 80s feel.
flat-backed beads - Dont' want to buy new? Salvage these from thrift store jewelry!
E-6000 - this glue is far from green, but it is durable, which means your finished product will last.
earring backings, ring findings, and a blank metal cuff - you can salvage these from thrifted jewelry, too!
white glue

Ready to get crafting? Here's the video tutorial!

Posted: | Categories: Clothes+Accessories, Craft Recycled, DIY, DIY jewelry, Living, magazine page crafts, paper crafts, reuse, upcycled jewelry, upcycling

May

Choose Handmade: Eco-Friendly Baby Clothes share

On the hunt for baby clothes that are as cute as they are eco-friendly? We've got you covered!

There is something so fun about dressing up your baby in cute clothes, isn't there? I love getting my son, Darrol Henry, dressed for the day. Dressing him up in the cutest onesie or a sweet pair of shorts can just make my day, especially after a tough night with lots of wake-ups!

The trouble with baby clothes is the same problem that you run into with clothing for grown-ups, though. So much of it is made in sweatshops using less-than-sustainable materials. With baby clothes, though, the problem gets amplified, because those little ones grow out of things so fast! Of course, choosing second hand clothes for your kiddo is the greenest option, but if you're going to splurge on something new for your babe, why not choose organic, handmade clothing, right?

Here are a few of my favorite organic pieces in my babe's wardrobe right now!

Organic Hemp Baby Shorts

Erin at IOGoods sent me a pair of her hemp shorts for babies to try out, and I love them! They're well made, durable, and the elastic waist means that they fit him now, but they'll also most likely still fit in six or maybe even nine months. Hurrah for handmade baby clothes that grow with your wee one!

Lettuce Turnip the Beet Onesie

I actually first saw this design on a t-shirt at Moog Fest last year, and when I discovered that the Coup design comes on an organic onesie, I knew that our little babe needed it! I love that it reminds me of the great time my husband and I had at Moog Fest, and of course I love that it is absolutely pun-tastic!

Hand Stenciled Onesie

Gerber makes plain white Onesies in organic cotton, and I got a few of those to decorate for Darrol. When my friends over at Handmade Charlotte sent me their new stencils to try out, I knew I had to stencil some onesies for my little man! You can check out some stenciling tips right here.

Do you have any favorite DIY or handmade baby clothes? I'd love to hear how you're dressing up your little one sustainably!

Posted: | Categories: baby clothes, buy handmade, Clothes+Accessories, DIY, DIY baby clothes, eco baby clothes, eco friendly baby clothes, Etsy, handmade baby clothes, Living

May

5 Recycled Gift Card Craft Projects share

Got a gift card that's all used up? Don't throw it away! Check out some of these ways to repurpose old gift cards instead.

It's so fun to receive a gift card, but once they're empty they're just another throw-away piece of plastic. Boo on that! Instead of adding waste to our landfills or contributing to the growing plastic pollution problem in our oceans, you can keep those cards out of the waste stream instead. Here are a few projects to give those gift cards a new life when the shopping spree is over.

1. DIY Guitar Picks

Grab yourself a Pick Punch, and make your own guitar picks from old gift cards. Don't want to spring for a Pick Punch? You can also make gift card guitar picks without a punch.

2. Paper Clips

Over at Instructables, learn how you can turn those used gift cards into totally cute upcycled paper clips.

3. Gift Card Necklace

Got a few gift cards in your stash? Turn them into a beautiful faux shell necklace!

4. Upcycled Earrings

With just a few simple supplies, you can transform an old gift card into a very cute pair of earrings.

5. Reclaimed Bracelet

Finish off this gift card jewelry set we are apparently working on with a recycled gift card bracelet!

Have you guys made anything fun with old gift cards? Tell us about it in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: Craft Recycled, DIY, how to reuse gift cards, upcyled gift cards

May

5 Recycled Gift Card Craft Projects share

Got a gift card that's all used up? Don't throw it away! Check out some of these ways to repurpose old gift cards instead.

1. DIY Guitar Picks

Grab yourself a Pick Punch, and make your own guitar picks from old gift cards. Don't want to spring for a Pick Punch? You can also make gift card guitar picks without a punch.

2. Paper Clips

Over at Instructables, learn how you can turn those used gift cards into totally cute upcycled paper clips.

3. Gift Card Necklace

Got a few gift cards in your stash? Turn them into a beautiful faux shell necklace!

4. Upcycled Earrings

With just a few simple supplies, you can transform an old gift card into a very cute pair of earrings.

5. Reclaimed Bracelet

Finish off this gift card jewelry set we are apparently working on with a recycled gift card bracelet!

Have you guys made anything fun with old gift cards? Tell us about it in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: Craft Recycled, DIY, gift card crafts, repurposed gift cards

May

Spotted: Repurposed Giftcard Necklace share

You don't have to toss those giftcards in the bin! Upcycle them into a super cute necklace instead.

Don't you just love getting a gift card? You get to shop and choose exactly the thing you want. The only trouble with gift cards is that once that balance hits zero, their usefulness is pretty much done. Some stores let you reload gift cards - now there's some regifting we can get behind! - but if you're stuck with one that you can't refill, reusing it is the next best thing.

Crafter Vicki O'Dell - aka The Creative Goddess - shares a tutorial for turning an old giftcard into a cute necklace. What I love about this tutorial is that you'd probably never know that she used a giftcard to make the sparkly shell-like beads on this necklace. All you need to make your own are:

a good pair of scissors
alcohol inks - don't want to spring for them? You can make your own alcohol inks from reclaimed markers!
a heat gun - though I wonder if you could melt these on low heat in the oven instead
tweezers or a wooden clothespin
3 yards of jewelry cording
hole punch
jump rings

Ready to get making? Click here for the tutorial!

Posted: | Categories: DIY, giftcard necklace, giftcard necklace tutorial, how to reuse giftcards, upcycled giftcards

May

5 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas share

Mother's Day is just 3 little days away! If you haven't made anything yet for mom, we've got some DIY last-minute Mother's Day gift ideas to help save the day.

When time's running short, it's tempting to head out to the store to buy a Mother's Day gift, but a handmade gift for mom doesn't have to take much longer to make than a trip to the mall. Handmade gifts have more heart than something mass-produced, and when you make a gift yourself, you're opting out of the cycle of big box store waste, to boot!

1. Mother's Day Plant Flag

Does your mom like to garden? Instead of cut flowers, you can gift her with something that she can nurture, and make it extra special with a customized flag made from reclaimed paper.

2. Fabric Flowers

If she's not into gardening, you can still skip the cut flowers and the massive carbon footprint that goes with them. Check out these simple-to-make fabric flowers that you can create in a flash!

3. Wine Cork Pendant

Does your mom dig jewelry and a nice glass of wine? Make her a personalized necklace from an old wine cork!

4. Blue Ribbon Brooch

Show your mom that she's #1 today with an upcycled brooch made from book pages.

5. Upcycled Photo Album

Get nostalgic, and gift mom with a handmade photo album full of photos of the family.

Do you have a handmade Mother's Day gift in the works? We'd love to hear what you're making!

Posted: | Categories: DIY, DIY Mother's Day gifts, last-minute Mother's Day gift ideas, last-minute Mother's Day gifts, Mother's Day

May

Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Blue Ribbon Brooch share

Mother's Day is on May 12 this year, so if you want to get crafty for mom, you've only got a few days left!

This Sunday is all about making mom feel special, and what says special better than a sweet blue ribbon that you made yourself? Bonnie over at Crafting a Green World used a page from a reclaimed book to create a super cute blue ribbon brooch for her momma, and she shared a tutorial so that you can make one for your mom, too!

What I love about this project is that not only is it totally adorable, it won't take you too long to make. Perfect for us procrastinating children, right?

It only takes a few materials to make an upcycled Mother's Day brooch of your own:

an old book
scissors
white glue
hot glue
crayons and markers
brooch pin - the sort with a flat back

Ready to whip up a blue ribbon brooch for Mother's Day? Click here for the tutorial!

Image Credits: Creative Commons photos by Bonnie Getchell

Posted: | Categories: book page craft, Craft Recycled, DIY, DIY blue ribbon, Mother's Day, Mother's Day gift, Mother's Day gift idea, reuse, upcycling

May

5 Wine Cork Crafts share

Do you hoard wine corks like I do? Let's bust that stash with some upcycled wine cork crafts!

Unless you're buying box or screw-top wine (no judgement here - lots of good bottles come in boxes or with screw tops these days!), chances are every time you pop a bottle of vino, you're left with a cork in your hand. Don't toss those suckers into the trash! Save them in a bowl for some rainy day crafting instead!

Wine corks aren't always made from actual cork, which for most of these projects is a-ok! The plastic corks are just as fun for crafting as the natural cork ones, and those plastic ones are actually a lot easier to cut up than natural cork. For either sort, a sharp, serrated knife gets the job done nicely if you need to slice and dice your corks.

Ready to get crafty? Check out some of these wine cork crafts!

1. Wino Cork board - If you have a nice stash of corks going, you can turn them into a mini cork board to keep your a little bit more organized.

2. Micro-Planters - Make your self the teeniest garden ever by transforming your old corks into micro-planters for succulents.

3. Plant Markers - This project works best with natural cork, but if you use a permanent marker that contrasts with the color of your synthetic cork, you can even use the plastic sort to make these cork plant markers!

4. Decorative Heart - Another project that's best with natural cork, though you could modify it with some artfully-placed synthetic ones. Gather your corks and make a sweet cork heart to hang on the wall!

5. Pendants - Use paint to add a pop of color and stamps to embellish your very own handmade wine cork pendants.

Have you made anything cool out of old wine corks? Tell us all about your favorite cork crafts in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: cork crafts, corks, crafty reuse, creative reuse, DIY, how to reuse wine corks, reuse, wine cork crafts, wine corks