scraps – Page 11 – Halle's Hobbies

Art - Blog - Crafts

A second look: Upcycling Projects

April 2, 2016 - By halleday

Since it’s April and this month is Earth Month I thought I’d share a second look at a bit of upcycling from a few years ago.

Oct 6, 2013

Upcycling Projects

We all know how to recycle and I’m sure most do it daily. Newspapers, cardboard, glass and plastic are all readily recyclable in most cities, at least across the USA.

This is wonderful! But I’ve been really focused on upcycling lately. Finding a new use for something that would ordinarily be tossed out. Wine corks, bottle caps, worn out clothing, stained linens, broken plates…you get the idea.I showed a sneak peek of these a while ago. I made a wine cork tree last year but this time I decided to change things a bit. I used a Champagne cork cut in half for the trunk. I think they turned out really cute.

I’ve also been using some scraps from previous projects such as the denim remaining after completing a quilt or two. As well as the remainder of the dress shirts that I made wine bottle gift bags from.

In addition I’ve been making a bunch more cards. I’ll show more of these last two projects at a later date. The cards have much less upcycling in it’s truest sense but I am still attempting to include elements that might otherwise be considered unusable such as tiny scraps of fabric and yarn. As well as photo trimmings. I have a cigar box full of photo trimmings…they have such vibrant colors that it’s a shame to toss them out.

It doesn’t have to be Earth Day to be a little “green”. Do a little more every day to be kind to our planet. Last time I checked…it’s the only one we have. 🙂

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If you’d like to see more recycling and upcycling projects please use the tag cloud on my sidebar.

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Art - Blog

Hidden journalling

March 10, 2016 - By halleday

Hello! I’m back! In reality I never “left” but have been totally out of commission with influenza. Yep…first it was Mini-me, then Mr, G then me. Everybody quickly knock on wood with me that J has been spared. It was a MEAN bout of influenza. We are all still coughing but have been told that could last for weeks! Honestly I’m still not 100%. I thought I was doing well yesterday until I was 1/3 of that way through my weekly grocery shopping and broke out in a sweat and felt as if I could pass out at any moment. Needless to say…I cut my list short and headed home. Enough talk of things totally out of my control and on with the art.

As I’ve been continuing to paint the 3D printed Catan tiles, my extra paint has been spread randomly on this journal page.

This morning I was feeling a bit of creative energy….I didn’t give much thought…just worked with items around me.

At this point is when I realized that my head is still a bit foggy. I had heard a small splash while making the India ink drips but it took a good minute to realize what had happened.

I was holding the bottle of ink in one hand and the dropper in the other…evidently I tipped my hand a little too far over. DUH! What a mess!!! Luckily I did get it cleaned up and remarkably didn’t get any on my nice jeans or white sweater!! When inspiration strikes I don’t often think about what I’m wearing….I’ve ruined several nice things that way.

I decided on a glassine envelope to hold a bit of private journalling.

The tag I used was just a bit of scrap paper that I cut down to fit….that was the intent at least. I cut it a bit short (did I mention my head was a bit foggy) so I added a “handle” of sorts by simply stapling some black and white polka dot paper to the scrap.

That’s it for today…I need to rest a bit more before a necessary errand.

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Art - Blog - Crafts

Tree collection additions

November 28, 2015 - By halleday

Over the past few years I’ve started collecting Christmas trees. Mostly because I keep making a new kind each year but I’m not opposed to buying one at a thrift store or garage sale if it really speaks to me.

This year I was inspired by Mini-me. She had to film a tutorial for her technology class. Her group of three girls each picked a different Christmas craft and bought enough material for the three of them to each create their own. She was inspired by this tree.

Her version used smaller pieces of cardstock. It got very tedious for her towards the end of both punching all the scallops and hot gluing them to the paper cone. It was her punching all those pieces that had Mr. G prompting me to try my Silhouette machine again.

Speaking of paper cones…I made the cones from poster board after first seeing the price of a craft store foam version and then realizing that the foam would melt with hot glue. Glad I thought that one through before starting!!

This tree came together really quickly.

This vintage trim was in the bottom of my sewing box likely bought for some project my mom had intended to make in the 1970’s. At least it’s getting used now!

Isn’t it sweet. I had the tiny glass ornaments in my stash as well. All it needed was a topper. I auditioned several ideas but finally decided a star was in order.

I drew a star on a piece of paper so I’d have a guide to do my bending. I used a twisted piece of 22 gauge wire. I had to “tie” the star at the crossover points “barbwire style” for stability.

The second tree (well technically it was the first one) was yarn wrapped.

I used a leftover partial skein of acrylic yarn for this one. Again I had some tiny trims in my stash to give the tree a finished look.

Nothing I love more than to use stash items! No cost…no trip to the store…AWESOME!

My humble little collection in our game area of the family room. You may be able to see both my Suess tree and cork tree. Additionally you also may be able to see the recycled Christmas card balls I made last year and the 12 days of Christmas swap book from several years ago adorning the table.

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