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!

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!

Source: Instructables.com

Bunny Fold Napkins

another easy idea for your Easter Brunch or Dinner!

Bunny Fold Napkins...hop to it...

Step 1

Fold starched napkin into thirds to form a rectangle. (If you're using a square napkin, you'll need to fold in half, and then fold in half again to get a long rectangular shape.)

Step 2

Crease in half to create a center line for reference; fold top corners down along this line.

Step 3

Fold up from bottom corners along dotted lines.

Step 4

Bring left and right edges together on center line.

Step 5

Flip upside down and over. Turn up bottom point.

Step 6

To fasten: Fold left and right corners back; tuck one corner into the pocket of the other. Pull out bunny ears first; open up base.

Thank you Queen Martha, idea from: Marthastewart.com: Bunny Fold for Napkins - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Kool Aid Dyed Easter Eggs!

Kool Eggs

How Klever!

Hey! Jen Renee.com gives us this tutorial...

This is really all you need, because Kool-Aid has citric acid in it. No need for vinegar! Add one packet of Kool-Aid to 2/3 cup of water and stir. That's it. I used both lukewarm and cold water and it didn't really make a difference with how our eggs turned out. Keep in mind that Kool-Aid powder is pretty messy, so you should do all of the mixing over your sink to prevent your counter tops from turning different colors the next time you wipe them off.

You don't have to leave the eggs in the dye cups very long before you'll see them become quite brightly colored. The eggs will smell fruity at first but after they dry, they smell and taste like normal hard-boiled eggs.

 Warning: you about a couple of colors/flavors that had less than desirable results. Lemonade on its own comes out too light (as does the Pink Lemonade) and Grape will quickly turn dark gray-ish. I remedied this by mixing things up a bit. To get a nice yellow, use one packet of Lemonade mixed with a quarter to half packet of Orange. To get light pink, use one packet of Pink Lemonade and add a little bit of Cherry or Strawberry. To turn the gray/brown Grape egg into an indigo color, add some Berry Blue to the mix.

A great idea....

A large muffin baking pan works really well for egg dyeing!

Easter Table Centerpiece

I love this idea from Mix, Mingle and Glow

It looks fresh, and adds great colors for your Easter Table!

Supplies needed:

Vase (long enough for carrots)

 long carrots

Daisy's

Ribbon

place long carrots in vase,

put Daisy's with stems in the middle of the carrots,

add festive ribbon!

Cute and Easy!

Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt!

I saw this cute idea from Mommy Savers...

Roll up the bracelet glow-sticks, put then in an Easter egg, and hide them around the yard.  You could also do this in your house with the lights off. 

This is a great idea for Tweens, Teens and EVEN ADULTS!!!!...a new twist on Easter Egg hunts. Who doesn't like glow in the dark stuff???

  Use the nighttime mode on your camera and you can get some fun pictures, too.  Instead of putting candy in the eggs,  put coins inside (and put $1.00 bill in one golden egg!).  

Because of the glowing effect, your eggs will stand out.  You'll have to get creative when it comes to hiding them.   Hide them under rocks, under leaves, etc.  make sure they were well-hidden.

Easter Chicks Yellow Cupcakes

These Cute Yellow Chicks Easter Cupcakes are from

Bird on a Cake.blogspot.com.

They are extra cute and look fun to make!

What You Need:

A batch of cupcakes

Frosting: yellow, orange and white

Yellow sanding sugar

Decorating bags

Decorating tips: Wilton #102 (petal) and #2 (small round)

Mini chocolate chips 

Put some sanding sugar in a small bowl or plate.

Spread a layer of thick frosting on your cupcake and smooth the top.

Turn the cupcake upside down and press into the sugar until it is covered.

Press two chocolate chips into the cupcake for eyes.

Using tip #102, pipe some ruffly wings on each side.

Spoon some sugar over the wings, then shake off the excess.

Using orange frosting and tip #2, pipe a triangle beak and little feet at the bottom.

Using white frosting, pipe a tiny dot on each eye.

Thank you Bird on a Cake for a cute cupcake idea!

xoxo