REDUCE*REUSE*RECYCLE= Make a T-shirt Hula Hoop Rug

EARTH DAY is TODAY!

These hula hoop rugs are so cool. I've seen them all over the place on the internet. I just had to make one, you know, since I have a ton of shirts that I never wear but I couldn't throw them away (since I'm kind of a mini hoarder). Grandma D. and I set to work, it helps if you have another person. Thanks Grandma! I love this tutorial over at Craftster. 

Tip: If you make one, just remember not to pull tight.

Isn't it perfect for his room?

REDUCE*REUSE*RECYCLE

REPURPOSE!

*Reduce *Reuse *Recycle = sweater mittens!

EARTH MONTH =  REPURPOSE AND REUSE:

I'm not sure how many of us have an old sweater that we just can't get rid of, so repurpose it, cut it up, and let it go...

My daughter had this sweater that her auntie gave to her and it was too small and had holes (it was way over due for the garbage), but she would not let go (she's a mini-me hoarder)...

So, we REPURPOSED her sweater into cute mittens! 

You don't even need a tutorial for this baby, super easy:

Turn inside out. Use the bottom of sleeves, neckline, or bottom of sweater for mittens.

Pin both layers of sweater together. Trace your hands with a permanent marker. Cut. Sew (zig zag).

Her favorite sweater mittens with her favorite PJ's... Happy Girl!

REDUCE*REUSE*RECYCLE

REPURPOSE!

REDUCE*REUSE*RECYCLE -Repurposed Paint Sticks= Snowflakes or Flowers!

This is "Earth Month" and I have a few repurposed art projects that I would love to share!

Even though Spring is here, I know it will snow at least one more time before the sun really shows up for good. We still have snow on the mountains too. This repurposed art project is from my son's creative first grade teacher, Mrs. L. There were sparkly snowflakes hanging from the ceiling in blue, yellow and white during the Wintery season. They would make excellent flowers for Spring art too!

Ingredients:

paint stirring sticks

glue

paint

glitter

hanging string

Super cute, super easy, eh?

REDUCE*REUSE*RECYCLE

*Reduce *Reuse *Recycle - Repurpose Material- Zipper Mouth & Rabbit

The Zipper Mouths

 The Rabbit

I couldn't help but post these 2 projects for EARTH MONTH from repurposed  materials. The special story about them is that the wool material is from my grandmother (86 years old and still quilting!) that she has collected since she was a girl. She has been saving and quilting with her and her sister's skirts, coats, shirts, pants and other random material. For a while she was reluctant to give the "scraps" to me, but after she was sure she was finished with all of her projects (how many years was that again?) she handed the few bags of material to me. What a great example she is.

Just where did it all come from? I love stories behind story...

I created these for my kids & family members- by making up my own patterns (so what I'm saying is, I don't have a pattern to pass on to ya!).

The Zipper Mouths:
wool & polyester material- from my grandmother (86 years old, remember?)
pok a dot material- from my daughter's baby blanket (her grandmother)
silver buttons- from my mother
zippers- from my old pants


The Rabbit:
wool material (body)- again from my grandmother
hand made pink flower- button from an Asian shirt from my other grandmother
button eyes- from my mother's button stash
wood button nose- from my button stash
purple rick rack- from my friend's stash

Share your ideas always!

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.