In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd), we wanted to find a fun upcycling craft project. Upcycling is the process of taking a recyclable item and turning it into something new and fabulous. This soda can jewelry project from Polwig.com fit the bill perfectly!Upcycled Soda Can Jewelryfrom polwig.comWhat You Need:aluminum soda canpaper puncher in fun shapepush-pincutting matbeading wire or fishing linefastener1. Cut the top and bottom from a washed aluminum can.2. Use a paper puncher to cut out fun
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jewelrymaking
recycle
You've probably heard the story of how Dr. Ott created the first natural daylight illumination when he was trying to grow pumpkin plants indoors? (If not, check out the full story here.) Our lamps still have that natural daylight formula, and you can still grow plants indoors with an OttLite. To prove it, I did this totally unscientific--but fun--project.Egg Shell Seedling Cup You can grow just about any kind of seed in an egg shell cup. It's easy to do, and when you're ready to put your plant
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crafts
eco
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plants
Gayla Trail is a writer, photographer, and graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the creator of the popular gardening project, You Grow Girl and the author of “You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening” and “Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces”. Gayla is also a frequent speaker, and spokesperson on the topics of urban gardening, ecology, and community. Gayla’s third book, “Easy Growing: Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers
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I Knew You'd Be LovelyAlethea Black Broadway Books I Knew You'd Be Lovely is a brilliant collection of short stories. The true power of a short story is in its economy. You might give a novel a few chapters before you decide, I’m taking this back to the library, but short story has to grab you in the first few sentences. And it has to hold you the entire time. There is no room for chaff in a short story. Alethea Black has finely separated the chaff, spun the straw into gold, and then woven that
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books
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reading
At OttLite, we don't just make great crafting lamps. We are crafters and artists, too, and we love to share what we're working on with you!I'm currently working on this baby blanket. It's actually one of three baby blankets I have to finish before August. Seems like everyone I know right now is expecting this Fall!I used Lion Brand Yarn's "Pound of Love" yarn in crisp white. The pattern is a modified version of Lion Brand's "Recycled Cotton Earth Baby Afghan." The original pattern called for 5
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MJ Bailey is the creator of the super-popular amigurumi website, Nerdigurumi.com. She is also a administrative professional, mother to a "nerdy rock n' roll" teenager, and a crochet pattern designer.When did you start to crochet? Is it true you started crocheting because of a videogame?I started crocheting successfully in the fall of 2009. I had attempted to crochet on a few occasions prior to that, but struggled with various aspects of the basic concepts and techniques and usually gave up. As
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We at OttLite are honored that so many of you have shared your special craft projects with us. Christening and prayer shawls, baby blankets, DIY wedding decorations, special occasion handmade cards, and more.This particular project came to us through the mail. Not email--the old-fashioned post office kind of mail. We were so touched by the story that we wanted to share it with all of you.Joyce from Dade City wrote that this memory quilt is made of blood donor T-shirts her husband had accumulated
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Here's a pretty project from the people at Martha Stewart.com. Upcycle a solo pillowcase into a stylish shoulder bag!Sleeper of a Bagfrom MarthaStewart.comGive an orphaned pillowcase a new home -- over your shoulder.1. Trim 1/4 inch off the closed end, and cut the case in half on the diagonal. Turn the fabric of each of the four diagonal cut edges over by 1/4 inch, twice; pin, and hem.2. Place one pillowcase half inside the other, lining up bottom edges; pin, and sew at front where fabrics
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We fell in love this crafter's blog right from the home page. Carolyn's homework has a subtitle we just couldn't resist. Today's assignment: be inspired. How perfect is that?This upcycle project starts with a regular glass water bottle and turns it into a charming vase. The perfect addition to a side table near a breezy window, or, as Carolyn suggests, DIY wedding decorations.Upcycled Lace Water BottleWhat You Need:a glass water bottlelace (recycle old curtain lace or purchase at your local
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craft
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modge podge
recycle
National Craft Month has us hopping for joy! Here's an absolutely adorable Easter Bunny quilt project from our friends at Hancock Fabrics!Easter Bunny QuiltFinished Size:Approximately 24” squareWhat You'll Need:June Tailor® Ink Jet Printable Freezer PaperJune Tailor® Amazing Alphabet Freezer PaperJune Tailor® Perfect Half-Square and Quarter-Square Triangles RulerFusible WebLight pink fabric for applique bunny and bindingMedium pink fabric for applique bunnyDark pink fabric for applique bunny,
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