Showing posts with label Reused and Recycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reused and Recycle. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Recycled Party Tassels

Here are some amazing ideas for an Earth Day Party from One charming Party and Paging Super Mom!

Keeping with our theme of recycling, I love these recycled Party Tassels!!!
I will start saving chip wrappers now!
Have you noticed the fun tassels that seem to be popping up everywhere lately? We’re loving them. Most are made from tissue paper or metallic mylar paper. In honor of Earth Day we re-purposed chip bags, old maps and used tissue paper into a festive party decoration. Here’s a tutorial from Paging Super Mom...

Begin by washing your empty chip bag with soapy water, which will remove any greasy residue. Take your clean, dry bag and trim off the bottom seam. Next cut the bag open along the back seam.
Lay the bag flat on a cutting mat then, using a straight-edge and craft knife, trim off the bags’ top seam. You now have a nice sheet of mylar, printed on one side but shiny silver on the back. Fold the bag in half with the printed side inwards. Beginning approximately one-inch down from the fold, cut your bag into vertical strips that will create the fringe of your tassel. Once cutting is complete, unfold and lay the cut bag horizontally so you have fringe on both sides. Carefully roll up (again with printed side inward).
Place one hand just above the slits on either side of the bag. Begin rotating your hands in opposite directions (the same way you’d wring out a towel) winding the mylar into a tight twist. Bring your fingers together and the twisted material will begin to twist onto itself. For the map and tissue paper tassels we made, this twisting action was enough to hold the tassel together; however, due to the slippery nature of the chip bags’ material we found it necessary to use a twist-tie to secure our tassels. Tape, hot glue or wire would also work well. Thread string through the open loop at the top of the tassel to hang!
See the rest of some Earth Day party ideas, including how to make a recycled map party hat, a globe, and a cute party printable invitation at OneCharmingParty.com.


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Reuse and Recycle Ideas(New Uses for Some Old Things!)

Continuing our Earth Week Theme...
Reuse and Recycle
Here are some ideas to reuse items from Real simple Magazine!
 NEW USES FOR SOME OLD THINGS!

A Twister Mat for a Tablecloth!
A Beer Six pack for a condiment container
a squirt bottle to make easy Pancakes!
an Easter Egg to hold snacks (save those plastic bags!)
a mouse pad becomes a trivet!
a giveaway shower cap keeps shoes wrapped for travel
At a party, stash ice in a colander set on top of a bucket or a bowl. Water will drain out, and guests will get only the solid stuff.
a used tissue box keeps plastic shopping bags stored for easy reuse!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Reuse and Recycle T-Shirt Tote Bags

Time to Celebrate Earth Day (You should celebrate Earth Day....everyday!)
This week is Reuse and Recycle Week....

Let's reuse and recycle our t-shirts....
Are you looking for a great, low-cost recycling project to do at home or with a group? This is IT! This is a great way to use last season's team t-shirts or a previous year's event t-shirts! Re-purpose an unwanted t-shirt today and easily turn the shirt into a re-usable tote bag. 

With just two quick seams and some fast cutting---you are finished! These t-shirt totes are strong and washable! Use for groceries, library books, tennis balls, gym clothes or pool supplies---use for anything you need to carry! 

 SUPPLIES:

-Heavy weight cotton T-shirt (heavy weight fabric & Youth size XL or Adult S or M work best)

~ 3- 5 straight pins

- Pencil or pen

- Dinner plate

-Scissors

- Sewing machine
-Choose an old t-shirt and smooth it flat on a table. Use scissors to cut and remove the sleeves---make sure you leave the seam in place---this keeps your tote strong!
-Position a plate about halfway over the neck opening of the shirt. Trace the plate with your pencil or pen. This will be your cutting line to create the opening for your tote bag. Cut along the traced line with the scissors.
 
Turn the T-shirt inside out and pin the bottom of the T-shirt-- along the hem--- closed. 

Turn the T-shirt inside out and pin the bottom of the T-shirt-- along the hem--- closed. 

Turn the shirt right- side- out. YOU just made your own recycled tote bag! 
Fill it with groceries, gym clothes, pool supplies, library books, etc! Keep one handy in your car! 
T-shirt Totes are Machine Washable, Reusable and Strong! Just say NO to "paper or plastic"! 

Did You Know.... Plastic shopping bags are typically used less than 30 minutes and only 1 % are recycled. The average American adult uses approximately 288 bags a year, or 22,000* in an average lifetime... make and use a Recycled T-Shirt Totebag today!