The Crafter’s Way 229–Recycled Business Cards

During a recent major clean out at home where no drawer was left unsorted I found way too many out of date business cards. There were cards from previous jobs, old addresses and positions. They were all still in mint condition, some in unopened boxes so it seemed a shame to simply ditch them in the bin.

I gathered up some essential supplies such as glue and scissors and the hunted for some bits and pieces to embellish each card. The beauty of this project is your ‘canvas’ is small so it doesn’t require a lot of materials or time. For all the ideas I first gave the cards a coat of white gesso. This was necessary for my gift cards as all the cards had been printed on both sides. If your old cards have only been printed on one side you can skip this step.

Idea 1: Using an old teabag I stained the book pages. Once they were dry I gave them a quick press with a cool iron. I cut the pages into strips and glued them onto the card. Play around with the placement. It looks better if each strip is a little ‘off’. I waited for the paper to dry completely before attaching the piece of flat braid. Punch a hole in the corner to attach to your gift.

Idea 2: For this card idea I used some hand dyed paper towel. I stamped the flower pattern randomly over the paper towel before cutting to size and glueing to card. You may find it a little easier to cut the paper slightly larger than the card, glueing then trimming to size once the glue has dried. I added an upcycled clothing badge to the centre of the flower but you could add sequins, beads and/or glitter.

Idea 3: This idea took a little longer than the others but was still quite simple. I cut a piece of felt to the same size as the card. I ironed scraps of fusible webbing to some small pieces of fabric. After peeling away the backing paper I placed the fabric onto the felt and fused in place. Be careful it easy to burn your fingers when using small pieces. I sewed some buttons in a contrasting colour on to the fabric before glueing the felt/fabric sandwich onto the card. For some added colour you may choose to machine sew a row of stitching around the edge of the card.

These ideas are just a few of the many ways you could decorate and embellish old business cards into unique gift tags; try red/green/gold for Christmas, pastels shades for a newborn, stamp ‘50’, ‘60’ slightly off centre for a significant birthday or even paint a watercolor wash over the card before stamping and embossing an image.

If you want to have a go but don’t have any cards let me know… I’m still drowning in them.

Vintage Knits

In amongst some goodies I picked up at a Garage Sale I found this.

My initial reaction was oooooh! After a closer look it was more like ohhhhhhh!

I made myself this cardie in the 80’s. I must have owned the book at one stage cause I can also remember making one of the other patterns.

So for the record it is not a ‘Vintage Pattern’ it is preloved.

PS I also had the big hair.

The Crafter’s Way 222– Recycled Coffee Pod Planters

I think this would be a fun activity to do with children either at home or in a classroom setting.

For this project I used: Pods, the Coffee Grinds, Newspaper, Water, Buckets, 2 x different Herb Seeds and Muslin.
Before beginning you will need to remove the foil lid from the pods. Empty the used coffee grinds into another container. You need to save these, we will use them later. Wash the pods thoroughly.
Step1: Tear newspaper into strips. If you have a shredder go ahead and use the paper from that.

Step 2: Put the paper strips into a bucket and slowly cover with water. You don’t need the paper floating, just enough water so the paper will go mushy. I left mine for a few days but a couple of hours is usually enough time.

Step 3: Drain off excess water. Tip the paper into a square of muslin and squeeze the excess water out. Save this water, you may need it.

Step 4: Put the paper back into a bucket. Add the coffee grinds. Do this slowly. You need the mixture to be as pliable as biscuit dough. If the mixture gets too dry add a little bit more water. If you can squeeze water out it is too wet.

Step 5: Add both types of seeds. Feel free to add more than two types of seeds just try to make them compatible. Mix these through mixture.
Step 6: This is the fun part. Gently flatten out the bottom of the pods. Start stuffing the mixture into the pods. You are all done.

My seed packets stated it would take 7-14 days before you saw anything green but within 4 days I had little green heads starting to poke through. I sprinkled the pods with water on day 7. If the ‘soil’ starts to feel dry give them a light water. This last image was taken on Day 9 after planting. All of the pods had sprouted. When ready to plant out gently loosen the soil, tap out and plant in the garden or large pot. Don’t bother removing the paper it will break down in the soil.

Crochet Bangles

These cute crochet bangles started life like this.

I found a heap of these metal bangles at a garage sale recently.

Simple and fun to make and wear.

The Crafter’s Way 220–Repurposed Coffee Pods

This is the first DIY to reuse coffee pods. They are surprisingly pliable and make a great blank canvas.

I used: Pods, Hammer, Felt, Heat Cutting Tool, Bamboo Skewer, Super Glue and Assorted Findings and Mixed Media
Before starting prepare the pods as per last week’s column. The preparation instructions are also on my blog. http://trishalandesigns.blogspot.com

Step 1: You need to flatten the pod. I chose to gently tap with a hammer. They don’t need brute force so take care and tap away.
Step 2: Turn to wrong side and tap flat.
Step 3: Glue a circle of felt to the wrong side. This will make the wearing more comfortable but feel free to omit if you prefer.
Step 4: For one of my chosen designs I needed to insert a hole to suspend a cord. I used my hot cutting tool. Please take care here; DO NOT hold the pod with your fingers or metal. The heat will transfer. In March 2003 I published a tutorial on how to do this; you can find it here, http://trishalandesigns.blogspot.com.au/2009/03/crafters-way-87-tie-earrings.html

Step 5: Play around with possibilities. I tried a couple of different design options before settling on my final design.
Note: I incorporated a number of different items; buttons, charms, buckles, jump rings and a kumihimo cord. In the final design I attached all the pieces using super glue.
The pods come in lots of different colours so don’t hesitate to mix and match them to create an individual design.

The Crafter’s Way–George Clooney Crafts

I’m sure George Clooney has inspired people to do all sorts of things but I may well be the first person he has inspired to create new craft ideas. Okay maybe it wasn’t Gorgeous George himself; it was more like that little coffee machine he promotes.

By now you are starting to think I’ve really lost it but have you seen the delicious colours the coffee pods come in? The colours alone are enough to inspire me to create something from them however after I read that they are not good for the environment I was on a mission. (Note: since I originally wrote this article I have leant that Nespresso is able to recycle the pods in 15 of their markets)

First job was to source a supply of the used coffee pods. My initial thought was doing some dumpster diving at George’s. The thought of explaining to a judge, “no really your honour it was only for my art”, brought me to an abrupt halt. As most crafters know when you need hard-to-find supplies you put out an all points bulletin to family and friends. Turns out my friends have been holding out on me, 3 of them have coffee machines that uses pods.

Used pods started arriving, the aroma of brewed, used coffee filled my studio and my creative juices started flowing. Where to start? Well, the first thing was to remove the let over coffee. This was much easier than expected. I peeled back the foil lid, tapped out the coffee dregs then gave a quick rinse. I air dried the pods in the sun. Result: aroma free, clean pods.

Now, I was no longer on a caffeine high. Clarity returned. Dumpster Diving at George Clooney’s? What was I thinking? What exactly could these little treasures reveal? Quite lot actually. I have discovered k-pods are versatile. 
You can:
Collapse
Embellish
Collage
Stitch
Burn
Engrave them,
and that is just for starters.
I have quite a few recycled & repurposed pod tutorials to share with you in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, a quickie inspired by George.

Lake Como Candles:
Step 1: prepare pods as described above.
Step 2: remove filter, this may take a little fiddling as it is adhered very firmly.
Step 3: Gently flatten bottom of pod.
Step 4: Light an inexpensive candle and carefully drip some melted wax into bottom. Place taper candle onto bottom. Hold until melted wax sets
Note: this works best with the half tapers, the full length candle are too top heavy.

Craft Day

Last night when the was rain bucketing down I made the decision to not go into the shop today. I had planned to do some dyeing but knew the fabric wouldn’t dry. A day at home creating would do me good.

I started making some fabric coasters. Probably should have kept going until I finished them but today wasn’t about shoulds. Besides I didn’t feel like doing detail work. I was in a scrappy mood.

 Grabbed some fabric and did a bit more on the fabric collage I have been working on. Then I ran out of glue….. 
Delved into my bag of thread scraps, found some fabric strips  and started twisting.

Still need to add brooch backs to these. Will make a few more before I start that step, I haven’t even made a dent in that thread bag.
PS The sun came out.

Recycling Plastic Water Bottles

Following my  “The Crafter’s Way” series on recycling plastic water bottles I have found some really great ideas, tutorials and images from other craft artists.

 

Recyclart

ScrapHacker

Chandelier

 

See how I made Plastic Pendants, Rings of Plastic and Pincushions. What can you create from plastic water bottles?

The Crafter’s Way 215 - Environmentally Inspired Exhibitions

artisan has kicked off another year of exciting exhibitions starting with “Animated Steel: Heavier Metal” by Christopher Trotter, “Bespunk” by Alexander Lotersztain and “Holloway Eyewear”. Queensland sculptor Chrsitopher Trotter recycles industrial scrap metal into animals, fossils, zany vehicles or alien creatures. He carefully selects components, and his intimate understanding of structure and movement, both natural and mechanical, imbues his works with life and vigour.

Trotter has deconstructed aeronautical or agricultural machines and recycled them into huge public artworks for government, councils, universities and urban developers. Public art remains the focus of Trotter’s practice however he continues to produce sculptures between public commissions. This exhibition features a selection of works drawn from his collection.
The second artisan exhibition is Bespunk by Alexender Lotersztain. Lotersztain is a dynamic and talented designer with dual design degrees from Argentina and Griffith University. Alexander Lotersztain was recently awarded the Queensland Premier's 2010 Smart State Design Fellowship. Lotersztain also works directly with village communities in rural Africa to develop commercially viable design products that can be made by local artisans. Bespunk offers an alternative recycling concept which transforms trash to flash and gives new life to old items by applying a polyurea elastomer to the surface of almost any existing object to create a finish with attitude. You can see the work www.bespunk.com

Holloway Eyewear is based at West End, Queensland. They merge scavenged materials and sketched designs into sustainable eyewear. The local artisans are inspired by their home habitats, the oceans and rainforest. If you can’t make the display visit the website www.hollowayeyewear.com.au
Let’s head bayside to the Redcliffe City Art Gallery for 3 exhibitions on display until the 25^th February 2012. With a shared theme of the environment each of the artists has created works of art inspired by their own experiences.
“Edge: Installations by Susan Mullen” reflects Susan’s childhood of growing up in the Moreton Region. Susan has captured moments spent by the waters of Bribie Island. “Swamp Cartography” by Rebecca Ward & Shannon Garson is a collaborative project exploring the wallum swamplands of South East Queensland. In dual mediums of textiles and wood “Beachcomber” by Fran Robinson explores the natural surroundings of Moreton Bay.
With so many exhibitions on offer there is sure to be one that takes your fancy.

The Crafter’s Way 214–Felt Pincushions

This week’s column is the last in the series ‘Reusing Plastic Water Bottles’. We will be using the lids for this project.

You will also need: felt, scissors, thread, needle and a small amount of stuffing.

Step 1: Using the plastic lid trace 2 circles onto felt.

Step 2: Thread needle and decorate 1 circle with stitching. Cut both circles out.

Step 3: Mark one edge of the bottle cap. Line the mark up against the vertical edge of the felt. Roll the bottle cap along the horizontal edge of the felt until you have completed one rotation. Mark felt at this point.

Step 4: Measure along vertical edge no more than 3 times the height of the bottle cap. Mark.

Step 5: Cut out rectangle of felt. Thread needle and stitch a decorative pattern.

Step 6: Place unstitched circle of felt onto the flat surface of the lid. Begin stitching decorated rectangle to circle. This can be a little fiddly at first but it becomes easier after a couple of stitches. When you reach the starting point continue stitching the seam of the rectangle.

Step 7: You should now have a cylinder. Pushing stuffing into cylinder ensuring it is packed firmly into lid. Attach decorated circle to enclose cylinder.

You can also use plastic jar lids to make larger pincushions.

The Crafter’s Way 213–Exhibitions & Classes

We interrupt our series on Recycling Plastic Bottles to share some exciting Exhibitions and Classes. The Pine Rivers Art Gallery on Gympie Road, Strathpine is exhibiting its third ‘Beyond Diamonds’ exhibition with a collection of jewellery made from everything from paper to glass to living grass.

Mt Glorious artist Ann O’Connor’s jewellery has been featured in theatre productions in Melbourne and Townsville and gives the visitor a rare opportunity to inspect the pieces at close range. Emerging Brisbane artist Clare Poppi’s has perfected a technique to grow grass in her sterling silver range of jewellery. Clare will be presenting an artist talk and demonstration on Saturday Feb 25 at 2.15pm.

Award winning textile artist, Wendy Sonnenberg has made her jewellery out of paper and ‘memories’. Wendy will be holding a workshop Saturday February 11 at 1:15pm. Participants will get to make their own personalised piece of jewellery using memorabilia such as old story books, poetry and love letters. Workshop fee $20.

Also at the Gallery is the Twice Worn, Twice Made Exhibition. Artists, Cynthia Nicklin & Gabrelle Myjer explore textiles through reuse and recreation. Workshops are also being held in conjunction with this exhibition. Contact the Gallery on 3480 6941 for more details. Places are limited for all workshops so be sure to book early.

Paper Artist Lesa Hepburn is holding “Wasted” Workshops on the last Sunday of each month at Village Life Market @ Northey Street City Farm. Contact Lesa on info@redhotfibre.com.au Lesa also runs Workshops for schools & events.

Art Tutor, Carol Bisset is running a series of 3 workshops which will guide you through a set of exercises to enable you to develop your own ideas and images. “I have a lot of people talk about not knowing how to create individual works and they find they rely heavily on copying,” says Carol. This set of 3 workshops introduces starting points and ways forward. Contact Carol on imbisset@bigpond.com.au or 0437012477 for more information and bookings.

The Crafter’s Way 212–Rings of Plastic

In the second part of the series, Re-using Plastic Bottles, we are going to use the plastic rings left once you break the seal. To make this necklace you will need the Plastic Rings, Decorative Thread, Kunin Felt, Needle and some Jump Rings.

Step 1: If your ring has little teeth on the inside edge snip them off with scissors.

Step 2: Use the Plastic Ring to trace two circles of felt.

Step 3: Thread the needle with decorative thread and using some of the embroidery stitches from last year’s columns stitch a design onto one of the felt circles. If you need to refresh your memory you can find the tutorials at http://trishalandesigns.blogspot.com

Step 4: Cut out both circles of felt. Layer them and stitch together using blanket stitch. Repeat Steps 2-4 until you have enough felt circles.

Step 5: Cut a long length of decorative thread. Thread the needle.

Step 6: Using the same technique you used to create a blanket stitch cover the ring. Create a loop to the front of the plastic ring. Bring the needle over the back of the ring and up through the loop. Gently pull the loop taut. Continue until all your plastic rings are covered.

Step 7: With the needle create a small hole in the felt circles. Open the jump ring and thread through the felt. Thread a plastic ring through the jump ring, close the jump ring. Continue this process until your necklace is the required length.

Options: Vary the sizes of the felt and plastic rings. Alternatively, join a couple of felt rings together before adding a plastic ring. The design choices are endless.

This necklace is fun to wear and is the cause of endless wonder when people realise what it is made from.

The Crafter’s Way 211–Plastic Pendants

Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to show you 3 ways to recycle, repurpose and re-use all those plastic water bottles we collect.

For this week’s project you will need; Plastic Water Bottles, Scissors, Acrylic Paint, Glitter, PVA Glue, Hole Punch, Jump Ring, Paint Brush, Emery Board, *Kunin Felt(optional).

Step 1: Cut open the bottles. I used the bottoms of the bottles in the illustration but you can just as easily use the sides. Cut out the bottom rounding off any sharp edges. The emery board is useful for this. Use the hole punch to create a hole for the jump ring.

Step 2: Decide which side is your right side. You will be working from the wrong side. Squeeze out a small amount of glue, add some glitter and mix well. Paint the glitter onto the wrong side. I used the pattern in the plastic as a guide. Wait for the glue to dry clear before proceeding.

Step 3: Squeeze out a small amount of paint. Paint it onto the plastic. Be careful that you don’t cover the entire piece of plastic. If you do you won’t be able to add another colour. Turn over the plastic to the right side to check how your design is developing. Continue adding different colours until you are happy with the design. Remember to wait for the paint to dry before adding another colour.

Step 4: You may choose to add felt to the back. Felt will cover the back of the plastic which may be messy while adding to the comfort of the wearer. Cut a piece of felt slightly larger than the plastic. Run a small bead of glue around the edge of the plastic before placing wrong side down onto felt. When the glue has dried trim felt to size.

Step 5: Add the jump ring before threading through cord.

*Kunin Felt is made from recycled plastic bottles

A New Queen

Remember the tablecloth my Mum’s neighbour gave me?

Mum had tried everything she knew to remove the stain. Now Mum has a bit of a reputation as a gun stain remover. I’m prepared to cut her a little slack here, she’s old and hasn’t been well but she’s lost her clean mojo. I put a call out on my blog, twitter, facebook etc. I even had a conversation  with a total stranger in the supermarket checkout line. The general consensus was to try salt, lemon juice and the sun.

This didn’t even result in the stain fading a little. Oh, and a little tip from me. If you try this do not scrape the salt on to your grass, it will kill it dead.  Yep, I’m in big trouble for that one. Next most popular suggestion was Nappysan, or other similar soaks.

The first soak didn’t budge it a bit. Then I remembered I had some Dylon Stain Remover.

As I didn’t know what exactly the stain was I made a guess and used the bottle for biological stains. First rinse out and it had faded significantly. Yippee! Wasn’t ready to claim Mum’s crown just yet though. The next time I repeated the stain remover instructions then popped the cloth in for an overnight soak in the Nappysan.

Stain be gone! I’m off to show Mum and her neighbour before a few running repairs. With some gentler care the cloth should last another 70 odd years.

More From My Crafty Holiday

Over the holidays I took the opportunity to sort through my fabric shelf. I’m proud to say that I really didn’t have that much to begin with but I have even less now.

This fabric came from a garage sale, somebody had cut out a skirt then lost interest, it’s now a bag. I made half a dozen bags from fabric that originally was planned for other projects.

Alan got a job one night. He attached a heap of Suffolk Puffs to hair clips. Maybe one day I will be able to con, ooops! encourage him to make the puffs as well. Too far?