Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts

Upcycle an Old Book into a Purse (+Instruction)

On: Friday, April 29, 2016

One of my readers emailed me asking for some instructions on how to turn a book into a purse. I did some research and picked some of the nicest looking DIY projects to answer the question.

I have already listed cool book purses but there are no instructions. This time I made sure each project had a detailed instruction.

Here you go: How to upcycle an old book into a cute purse:

1. How to make a purse/clutch from a Book

 

I LOVE what it looks like!

Full instruction: How to make a purse/clutch from a Book

2. Turn an Old Book into a New Purse by A Beautiful Mess 



Depending on the book color you'll need to pick a matching material. I wish it had a holder but it looks neat nonetheless! You look like smart fashionista!

Full instruction: Turn an Old Book into a New Purse

3. Homemade Book Clutch 



This one comes with a very details instruction and it looks like a real book from outside. But the inside looks very practical!

Full instruction: Homemade Book Clutch

Bonus: Book iPad cover!


This one has no instruction but what an idea! If you get excited by one of the above purses, there's nothing stopping you from implementing the same techniques to create a cool iPad cover!



(Source)

More upcycled purses for your inspiration:

3 Upcycled DIY Ideas for Cute Photo Frames

On: Wednesday, April 27, 2016

It's spring-summer time! The season of traveling and family time: LOTS of memories to keep, share and decorate your home with.

Here are three fresh ideas to create upcycled photo frames to store and display your cherished memories:

Old tart pans (old flan tins) into picture frames


Very neat and touching idea: Collect your memories! These could be good for family pictures, food photos, your fitness tips or your memories captured through Instagram.

(Couldn't find the source!)

Metal trays into magnet boards


Turn those old trays into your family message board! Exchange notes with kids and clip your to-do list here. This looks cuter than a fridge!
Source

Clothespin DIY Frame

The beauty of this clothespin DIY frame is that you can change the pictures as often as you want! Plus it looks really neat:


Happy decorating!

More photo frames:

Old Socks into Stylish Gloves

On: Sunday, May 17, 2015

Great idea for fashionistas! And for moms looking to educate their little girls on sustainability and upcycling (as well as have fun time with them).

Turn your old sucks into neat fingerless gloves. Let your imagination fly: Come up with different-colored decor elements to match your manicure!



Instructions are here; Discovered on Pinterest. Thank you, Dr Elaine Nicholls, for sharing this great resource!

For more upcycling fashion ideas, subscribe to the awesome Pinterest board: Refashion

More upcycling fashion ideas from this blog:

Crafts from Trash: Scrapbooking with Found Objects by Christy Strickler

On: Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Welcome to our next edition of "Featured Readers' Crafts"

Today we are featuring a great series by Christy Strickler over at MyScrapbookEvolution.com

Christy uses all possible items she can find (including shopping bags, plastic lids, and metal pop tab lids) to add texture to your papercraft projects and create awesome-looking crafts!

Please check out Christy's series here: Scrapbooking with found objects

Here are some great scrapbooking supplies:

From Shopping Bag to Layout:

From Scraps to Woven Layers:


DIY Stencils from Lids:



Thanks for sharing these with us, Christy!

5 Winter Upcycled Hacks

On: Sunday, December 1, 2013

Winter is a season of many things, the holidays coming in first and foremost among them for most of us, presenting us with nearly unlimited opportunities for useful and beautiful crafts and hacks for our homes, both inside and out.

Whether you're looking to create a festive atmosphere, or you simply want to get the very most out of some unused items when you've got the time to transform them during the chilliest months of year, check out these five winter upcycled hacks, for yourself and to gift:

1. Arm Warmers

Arm Warmers

5 Cute Upcycled Hacks for Christmas

On: Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Christmas is coming, and no that wasn't the beginning of a carol. We are gearing up for one of the most popular holidays around, putting up our trees and hanging up stockings. It also means that DIY junkies like me are looking for projects for house decor and handmade gifts. Especially those that upcycle old items and save on materials.

Pinterest has once again come to the rescue. Anyone who has been on their DIY board knows that it is filled with cool ideas in both the simple and impossibly advanced categories. Whatever level you are at yourself, you can find something fun to do any time of the year.
But with it being winter, you can bet there are even more Christmas themed upcycle projects than ever. Here are five super cute upcycled hacks for the holidays.

1. Sock Wreath

Sock Wreath

10 Ways to Upcycle a Suitcase

On: Monday, April 15, 2013

Everyone should have a good piece of luggage, even if they only travel occasionally. But what happens when you no longer need a particular set? Maybe you got something new, or you went a little suitcase crazy and picked up too many at a second hand shop. Or you might just have worn it through and need to do something with the old luggage.

Don't be so quick to throw it out. Instead, check out these awesome and creative upcycling ideas for old suitcases.

1. Storage Ottoman

Storage Ottoman

5 Awesome Book Purses

On: Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Reading is a treasured pass time and one of the greatest things you can do. There is nothing quite as satisfying as sinking into a story and losing yourself to the plot, characters and excitement.

Which is something that fewer and fewer people are enjoying these days, the lack of appreciation of books depressing. Even with the creation of ereaders, which give us greater access than ever.
Why not do your part to show books some love? Check out these awesome purses that upcycle your favorites.

1. Harry Potter

Harry Potter Purse
While the series is now over and done with, Harry Potter will go down in history as one of the most popular fictional worlds of all time. Order of the Phoenix is a favorite of many, and this Etsy seller is offering purse with custom fittings, buckles, straps and decorations using the cover. I have seen many other Harry Potter books used, with every title available.

Turn an Old Crib into a Craft Shelf, Art Table, Wall Decor + 7 More DIY Ideas

On: Friday, January 4, 2013

There are a lot of cribs out there these days that act as a full sleep system. They go from a crib to a toddler bed, and sometimes even to a base for a full twin later on. But not all of them do this, or live long enough to make it into all three incarnations.

I know both of my kids brother their cribs long before they could become even a toddler bed. Which should tell you something about my children.

For those leftover pieces, you might not know what to do with them. If the crib is intact you can always try and sell it, or maybe offer it in freecycle. But most are leery about taking a used crib, especially with all the recalls to hit the baby industry in recent years. You may not have as much success as you hope for.

Instead, why not get creative? Pinterest, home of all things DIY, has a ton of awesome ideas for upcycling cribs. Stylish, interesting and functional additions to your home are just a project away.

1. Wall Decor

Wall Decor
You could do a lot with this idea, because it is entirely based around your personal tastes for decor and art. I like the concept of converting the grip springs into a canvas board, because it is light weight and yet would easily hold different items. You could probably come up with some other ways based on this principle.

Plastic Basket into the Ribbons Organizer

On: Friday, August 31, 2012

Some little hacks require no work at all. It's just the brilliant idea.

Here's one most of DIY craft lovers will appreciate: yet another absolutely awesome idea to organize your DIY stuff at home.

Brilliant!


Via Sustainablog

Use Forgotten Talents To Recover Your Lost Treasure

On: Thursday, July 26, 2012


Image credit
There are lots of things you can make yourself (or grow yourself) instead of buying and spending excessive amounts of money on them. Often, the things we can make ourselves end up working better than the mass produced version anyway! So here is a great list of how you start making your own things and saving those pennies too.

Herbs

Phone Book Seedbed

Do you buy fresh herbs every time you head off to the supermarket? If so, you could be wasting lots of money! It costs barely anything to purchase some little seeds and start growing your own – and you’ll save ever so much from buying them at a premium in the supermarket. There’s something really satisfying about eating something you’ve grown too!

Our previous projects to help:

Greeting Cards

Floppy Disk Greeting Card

Every birthday and Christmas we receive lots of cards from loved ones and friends – but they only end up getting thrown away once the celebration or holiday is over. Instead of throwing them away though, we can easily recycle them into new "home-made" greeting cards for others.

There are plenty of online tutorials on how to do this, and you’ll save such a lot of money in the long run. All you need to do is purchase some glue, a few nice pens (which you probably already have!) and perhaps a roll of pretty ribbon.

Our previous projects to help:

Mittens

Mittens

In the winter we always get pretty cold hands – and most us forget to take our gloves out with us! But did you know you can easily recycle an old jumper or sweater into some cute mittens? Here’s a great little tutorial about this, so you can do the same! And each old, forgotten jumper can make around three pairs of mittens!

Household Cleaners

Often, our household cupboards are full of cleaning brands and bottles of things – that we rarely use. With the average cleaning liquid costing around £2.99, this can really quickly add up and bust anyone budget! But, did you know that you can easily make your own using simple ingredients found around the house?

This article provides a great list of recipes for creating your own cleaning solutions.

If you take a look at this list you will notice that they barely take any time or effort to create, and can save you lots of money in the long-run! There are many other things you can consider too, such as growing your own fruit and vegetables (although you’ll need a garden for this). Think about recycling clothes in other ways too, there are some great ideas for this online – all it takes is some quick research to learn some new, interesting ideas.

If you have children, you could even look into making their toys yourself. My Mum made me ragdolls when I was young our of old school dresses and clothes. Each doll was new surprise and I loved them even more because she’d made them for me especially. If you have a dab-hand at sewing, then this is a great idea!

This do-it-yourself post comes from the creators of forex trading platforms, IronFX.com.

Yes, Sometimes Crafting is Tough

On: Sunday, February 12, 2012

This is not to discourage you from crafting. This is just for you to know that crafting is tough. Sometimes it will take you quite some time and effort to create something awesome, but it will always be fun!

DIY fun

Three of the Strangest Things Inspired By... Printer Ink Cartridges

On: Saturday, December 17, 2011

Note from editor: we have had one fun idea on reusing cartridges into a lamp. Now here a few more of creative examples of getting inspired with cartridges!

Almost everyone uses printer ink cartridges all the time, whether you’re at the office, at home, or constructing an elaborate set-up of dominos for your Rube Goldberg machine and ran out halfway through. In fact, they’re so omnipresent they almost seem invisible. I know I barely register them, even as I’m tossing out the old ones and slotting the new ones home.

Some people see differently though. Very differently. These three strange and wonderful things, in no particular order, are a tribute to that creative impulse that drives those strange and wonderful people to make things like...

Cartridge Lamps And Lightboxes

Used Ink Cartridge Lamps

Since some bright spark noticed that ink cartridges are translucent, images of these fun and creative decorations have suffused the internet. The wide range of bright colours that adorn the fronts of ink cartridges makes them pretty handy for home decorating, but what really sells them is how eco-friendly they are. Not only does the maker recycle old printer ink cartridges to make the lamps and lightboxes, but they also use very energy-efficient bulbs to generate the light.

Etsy is well-known for the, ahem, quirky charm of many of its products, so it’s not much of a surprise that the website that inspired the comedic parody site Regretsy.com is responsible for these crafty little designs. What is surprising is how genuinely appealing the things look, although some might baulk at the price and decide they’d rather make some themselves.

What happened next?

The people behind boxlightbox on Etsy have since moved their online store to Lowell and Louise, but are staying on Etsy for now. Although their store is empty at the time of writing, it looks as though we might see more from them in the near future.

A Metalcore Band

Ink Cartridge Funeral

Yep, you heard right. Metalcore. The heavy metal sub-genre of metalcore has been deeply fashionable with a certain type of metal fan (the younger ones) for a few years now, and is distinguished from other metal genres by its melding of metal, hardcore punk, and post-hardcore influences.

The band certainly ticked all the right metalcore boxes, with quirkily aggressive song titles such as If Your Laugh Was Your Life, I’d Hate To Have Your Life, depressing and self-conscious song lyrics, and a promising deal with a record label. However, with a name like Ink Cartridge Funeral, you have to wonder if these guys were ever bound for success.

Their album is now out of print, but you can still listen to their tunes on last.fm and on their MySpace page.

Ink Cartridge Funeral didn’t use ink cartridges as inspiration for any of their songs – at least, not explicitly or directly – but their name will last forever as a footnote in the twinned histories of weird metalcore band names, and ink cartridges.

What happened next?

If your interest in Ink Cartridge Funeral and their music was piqued by any of those links, don’t worry – three of their members continue to play in internationally-touring post-hardcore band Silent Drive.

Sci-Fi Art

Sci-Fi Art
Sci-Fi Art

Printer ink cartridges already have a certain amount of geek credibility. When boxlightbox first posted their lamps on Etsy, it was the geeky tech blogs that were first to leap on the news. Artist Faith Pearson seized on this geek cred and took it up to eleven; she re-created a series of iconic sci-fi and pop cultural figures and landmarks using printer ink cartridges as her material.

Faith recreated scenes and props from such classics as Star Trek, Godzilla and King Kong. She also recreated a night out at the theatre, but don't worry; geeky superhero movie Kick Ass (more like ass kick) is playing on the screen, and the audience is made up of such comic book luminaries as the Incredible Hulk, the Joker, Penguin and oft-derided superhero Aquaman.

What happened next?

Faith Pearson lives in Birmingham, England, where among other things she helps kids to make toy theatres and giant dinosaurs. Whether this is a wise course of action is unknown – it depends, of course, on the type of dinosaur being created – but it is certainly a very cool course of action.

Patrick Robson is a freelance journalist and regular blogger. Patrick blogs for Cartridge Shop, an online provider of a wide range of printer cartridges from respected brands, such as Canon ink.

Paper Towel Cardboard Tube into a Lamp

On: Monday, March 29, 2010

Cardboard Tube Lamp

In the hands of a creative woman, anything can be turned into the piece of art, even a paper towel tube.

Here's a detailed tutorial on how to create a fun table lamp using a cardboard tube and some imagination!

Cool iPhone Coat

On: Saturday, March 20, 2010

iPhone Coat

This one is invaluable: not only does it look really cool, it seems cozy and warm!

The coat is styled as iPhone: it has those fun icons all over its front and back. It also has an awesome light effect that should come in handy when you get caught in storm.

iPhone Coat

This post is dedicated to Apple arts and crafts week.

Source: iphones.ru

Chick iPhone Outfit

On: Thursday, March 18, 2010

iPhone Outfit

What a better way to let the whole world know that you love your iPhone, than creating a chick iPhone outfit.

The following project includes:
  • iPhone hat;
  • iPhone bag.
I find both the idea and implementation just awesome! What are your thoughts?

iPhone Hat

This post is dedicated to Apple crafts.

Source: iphones.ru

iSoap - iPhone-Styled Soap!

On: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Isoap

This one is just unbelievable: every single element in this DIY gadget is made of soap:

  • Soap body;
  • Soap icons;
  • Soap silver frame;
  • Soap cover featuring an apple!

I'd call it iPhone art!

Isoap

This post is dedicated to Apple crafts.

Source: iphones.ru

Golden iPhone Pillow!

On: Monday, March 15, 2010

iPhone apple

Like the one we have published yesterday, this pillow is a great example of how technology meets crafts: a pillow featuring a huge golden iPhone-styled apple!

This post is dedicated to Apple crafts.

Source: iphones.ru

iPillow - for Real Apple Geeks

On: Friday, March 12, 2010

ipilllow

This pillow will be an awesome gift to your geeky hubby or boyfriend! It is designed to look like Apple iPhone in form and color:

ipillow

This and a few upcoming post will be dedicated to Apple crafts: not really recycling but some awesome ideas and inspirations!

Source: iphones.ru

Pop Tabs Wristlet Bag

On: Friday, January 22, 2010

I've long under impression that pop tabs are the most useless things under the sun.

Well, I was wrong. We've seen a couple of cool ideas on how to recycle them (like pop tabs belt and pop tabs lamp) and here's one more: a cool pop tabs wrist bag.

Look like some hard work - but it's well worth it!

Pop Tabs Wristlet Bag
Pop Tabs Wristlet Bag