Easy Recyclng Christmas Craft ...

 

This cute little Christmas Wreath is soooooooo easy to make - just had to share it with you!

Use an old curtain ring and glue around its edge.

Then tightly wrap some ribbon or fabric around it.

Cut out some holly shapes from some felt scraps and add these with

a red button or two for the berries.

Make a matching set or all different!

Try decoupaging the ring, or gluing buttons all around!

So many ways to use this simple idea!

Watch this space for more recyling christmas crafts!

Recycled Cozy Collar Tutorial

I brought all my Autumn/Winter clothes out of the loft this week and, because I have put lots of weight on, since gving up smoking, I now have a number of cotton fleece/ sweatshirt tops that no longer fit me. The good condition ones will go to the dress agency, to earn a few pennies to buy some bigger ones - but the others are going to be made into "Cozy Collars".

These are perfect to just slip over your head before heading out into the cold - really snuggly and warm.

 

I've put a tutorial together so you can make your own - however if you are not confident in sewing, I would be happy to make you one on commission in your favourite colours.

 

Cozy Collar Tutorial

 

First lay one of your sweat shirts out flat. cut a bib shape from shoulders to whatever size and shape you want your cozy collar to be.

 

 Trim the surplus fabric from the back as shown in the picture.

Now comes the labourious part! Cut approximately 100 circles from however many sweatshirts you wish to use. I used two brown sweatshirts - but you could use a selection of any amount/colour.

 

I used a tumbler to draw around, but you could use any size circular object. All of my circles are the same size but you can mix sizes as well as colours to give a more textured look.

 

Lay one circle on top of another and fold in half

 

Then fold in half again

(sorry not sure how those old ladies hands got in the picture!)

Then stitch each folded piece onto the collar at random intervals. Once you have stitched a few on they will "fall into" each other and give a great ruffled effect.

Continue adding the circles until the whole of the bib is covered

When finished you should have something like this...

Hoping for a chilly day tomorrow so I can wear mine!

I'm really pleased with how it came out.

Recycled, unique and cozy warm :-)

 

 

 

Obsessed with recycling...

I laughed at myself today, when I found myself hanging the fluff from my tumble dryer out in the garden for the Robins to recycle as nest warmers!!!!

Don't be a waster!

If ever I write a book, it will be about upcycling/recycling crafts and I'll probably dedicate it to the rag picker children of Mumbai. These children pick through rubbish to recycle... and get paid just £1 a day. The recycling slums. The REAL Slumdog Millionaire. Where families live on the street, 10 to a room or actually on the the rubbish tip, ankle deep in sewerage and rats. People recycling EVERYTHING to make a bit of money just to stay alive. I probably waste enough "stuff" each day, to feed a family in Mumbai - paper, bottles, packaging, etc... so, maybe I will write that book, perhaps some of the proceeds could go to help people in Mumbai. I'll store it in the "future projects" file for now!
With this ub mind if I make one new years resolution it will be "Not to be a waster". This is very bad news for Mr H. It means that more of the loft space will be taken up with boxes, bottles, fabric, beads, buttons, paper, card, paint.............etc! He is already convinced that I am the love child of a Womble...and now it's going to get worse!
I've started already! Making something wonderful from an empty soap powder box and the inner wadding from my old ironing cover...
First, I cut and stuck it into the shape I wanted it to be.

Then I glued the ironing board wadding to the lid of my box and covered the box in some pretty "Sewing" themed fabric I had.

Now I need to carry on with it so I can show you finished product!