Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Carbon Fast for Lent: Re-Usable Uses

Wednesday in Holy Week
“Re-use an item you would have thrown away — whether that’s jam jars, envelopes or ice-cream containers.”

Hello from Gotham! And what a good idea from our friends at the Carbon Fast. To learn how to make the pretty glass jar lanterns at right, check out this post on Gardeners’ World (and thanks to them for the photo). I also found a neat blog post featuring refrigerator magnets made from various food containers. I couldn’t reach that blogger in time to get photo permission, but you really should check out Making Crafty Fridge Magnets at the “Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories” blog to experience the plethora of possibilities (Good-n-Plenty boxes, Laughing Cow Cheese containers, Altoids tins, raisin boxes, Yoo-Hoo milk pouches — the options amaze).

Today’s mitzvah: Get in touch with your Inner Arts & Crafts Self. What can you re-use in a cool way today?


4 comments:

Michael said...

I'm with you I make coasters from old gift cards, but so much trash can be reused. We call it Upcycling. There is so much opportunity last week I was dumpster diving for vinyl banners when my wife is not looking I'm going to sew them into bags, she does not want me near her sewing machine....

jen x said...

"Upcycling"! I knew there was a word for this. Cool!

Do you want to post a link to your Etsy page for the upcycled gift card coasters, in a new comment? I have no problem with people promoting their handmade wares here -- and I know some of our regular readers are Etsy shoppers :-)

Michael said...

I’d love to I make and sell coasters from recycled gift cards. My wife makes sock critters, mostly monkeys. To clarify the monkeys are made form new socks, as old socks are yucky.

This is the store link.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8337229

Michael said...

I’d also like to note Upcycling is not my term. It was first coined in the book Cradle to Cradle / Remaking the Way We Make Things By William McDonough & Michael Braungart.

"Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value."

I feel I can comfortably say that you would love the book. Check it out.