Showing posts with label Recycled Projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recycled Projects. Show all posts

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Bamboo Trivet Jewelry DIY

Have you seen the bamboo bead placemats and trivets at the dollar store?  I've been buying them for a while in hopes of designing the perfect project for them......and I finally did!  This spring, global style is the big trend and these beads were the perfect canvas for a painted, tribal jewelry DIY.  I love the simple black and white design, but you could also paint colorful polka dots, stripes or small flowers.....It's up to you. Just make sure to use Americana Acrylic paints.  This is a terrific project for kids, too.  
Stack up a few and you'll be right in step with spring fashion!
Try different color combinations, too.
My niece, Ani, rocking her new jewelry!
Some of what we're seeing in fashion this spring.
See the video tutorial here.
You'll Need
Americana Acrylics
Bamboo beaded trivets or placemats
Plastic beads
Nylon cord
Elastic thread
Paintbrush
Superglue
Toothpicks
1. Take your trivet apart and separate the beads
2. Paint designs on each side of each bead in black.  Keep it simple. 
3.  Using white paint and a toothpick, dab tiny dots on the areas you painted black
4.  Add superglue to the end of your nylon cord.  This will make it stiff and you can use it like a needle to thread the beads. 
5. Alternate your painted beads and plastic beads to create your necklace
6.  Tie a knot when you're done and secure the knot with a tiny dab of super glue
7.  Pick out enough beads to wrap comfortably around your wrist
8.  String them together with elastic thread
9.  Tie knots and hide the knots inside one of the beads and you're done!



Monday, February 11, 2013

Recycled "I HEART YOU" Garlands

It's true, I have a hard time tossing out old magazines.  Stacks of magazines make me sad because I know that they could become everything from bowls of paper beads, a super cool collage or even a Valentine's Day"I HEART YOU" Garland.  For my Valentine's Day party this year, I'm decorating with tons of garlands made from magazine pages and a few pieces of red paper.  Instead of buying tons of glitter hearts and pink streamers I'm going to use what I have to make the party magical.  Even if you're having a small dinner for two, these paper garlands will make the night a little more special.  Just don't get them too close to your candles.  Happy Valentine's Day!
Garlands on my patio (Sounds like a country song)
Here's the video
Here's the quick how-to
A little up close shot
YOU'LL NEED
Scissors
Red paper
Magazine pages
Sewing machine
Red thread (if you have it)
Rip out a stack of 5 pages 
Cut them in half 

Fold the stack of 5 pages in half 
Cut out stacks of stars 
Cut out small stars from the red paper 
Alternate stitching red hearts and stacks of hearts  
Finish with 3 red hearts for your tail

Fold open the stacks of hearts to give them dimension and then hang.
If you really want some fun recycled paper crafts, grab a copy of  my book