Jewel Box from Empty Cassette Boxes

I had all these cassette tape boxes and saw a box like this on instructables Well I didnt have the original inserts, but I did have an abundance of pictures. I took the xtra pictures of my nephew and made this Jewel/ storage box for my sister. You can use it for all kinds of things, like candy on a coffee table, or a trinket/jewel box, someplace to put the keys in the entry hall....

This is my first attempt so it is kinda rough.

I am going to put a false bottom in to cover the spots from the glue

Next time I want to figure a way of HINGING the top. Right now it is removable. ( lays on top unsecured)

What do you Know?

Q: What does a Slinky, a PET bottle and ribbon have in common?


A: A YARD SPINNER

Click to enlarge

I had all those PET Beads...Not exactly charm bracelet material. I thought maybe the art teacher could use them for the younger kids at school for embellishing...I mean How many times Have you seen macaroni used as beads, right? But in the mean time I thought this would be a good use for a few for me.

My youngest grandson had a metal slinky that lasted all of 6 hours ( If that) My daughter asked me If I wanted it after it was all twisted and tangled and at first i said NO. But after about an hour I had this nagging feeling to go rescue it, ( Ah the packrat on my shoulder) so we ripped open the trash bag and fished out this tangled mess of wire. I took my heavy duty metal snips and snipped it down to a few coils at a time, discarding the stuff that could not be saved ( not a lot). I have tons of ribbon and ribbon remnants that my craft store was selling...A bag of remnants for a dollar...yup a whole buck $1.00 Cha-ching!

After drilling holes in the ends with my NEW hole punch for metal I took E-6000 ( the one with the small metal nose) and stuck the nose into the bead and gave it a small squirt to hold the bead in place. I did this around the coil. Then I took some ribbons ( about 6) and gave them a small tack with needle and thread to hold them together.

I wrapped some silver copper wire around the end and came up with a loop.

I attached Fishing spinners to each end.

Attached the ribbon.

Used 30 LB test fishing line to attach the other end to the tree limb and .....

VIOLA SPINNER!

Plastic Beads Tut

I did a Tut for my PET Posies ( here) I used the bottom of my bottle. The rest of my bottle I cut into strips ( cut around the bottle not lengthwise) I wrapped them around a pair of needle nose pliers and hit them with a heat gun. This has been done by others by dipping them in boiling water as well, although I never tried that method.

For color I used transparency paint, & nail polish ( left it dry before rolling it and heating it) I also used scrap book paper and photos that I ran thru my shredder and made into strips that I cut down to size and layed them in the middle before rolling.

More Recycled Box Ideas.

I made this scratch book.

I have seen people making these, and thought there was a great idea, but I didn't have a binding machine.

I finally seen one made with the rings. I had to try to figure out what rings they used, but eventually after a few keywords in a search I found out they were binder rings.

Well I eat cereal and buy things in a box and I am always looking for ways to re-use or effectively recycle them.

One thing I am always looking for is scratch pads. I tend to write ideas, shopping lists, and stuff all the time and am always looking for something to write on. I used my printer paper cut down, ( the scraps are the perfect size to make to do and shopping lists on.)

I pinked the edges to distract form the uneven cut.( Even with a rotary cutter I can't cut straight!

Not to bad. I quite Like it.

Checking in

I haven't checked in in about a month. I am still here... trying different things. Still taking pics, and upcycling my stuff, although some days it seems I am inundated with clutter and it is getting to me. I started cutting my fabric remnants into strips for crocheting. I have purchased more cuttlebug dies and am working on using them with my cans and also plastic water gallons ( I buy water for my coffee machine..( Yes I know how unfrugal is that) but my water is sooo hard and full of limestone that it eats thru appliances quickly).
I cut up the plastic and run it thru the dies and embellish them with decoupage and ultra fine glitter and now have Christmas tree ornaments..


I was working on musical instruments ( morracas) with the soda can tops and bottoms, but that turned into a nightmare. I found myself using the craft glue and other things that i thought "if the kids put these in their mouths that aint good"....trashed the ones I made and am starting over. Something more kid friendly......

Grow your Own.

I'm Growing PET Bottles!

Actually We had freeze and frost warnings again, Yesterday for early this morning, (Someone please tell Mother Nature it is May 18, OK?) I was saving the bottles in hopes to maybe make a hothouse/lean-to for the garden, or maybe a chair. But I am also using some of them to make beads. Anyway they came in handy as an emergency cold frame for the plants. Covering each plant was a big pain in the ass, especially since I had to do this last week too. I had just put the bottles/frames away when I had to haul them back out.

Doncha love the debris? They flew off the Elder Tree. We used to call them Helicopters, or propellers. They fly off the tree like propellers. They all landed in the garden.

Anyway I promised a post on my trash can.

This was one of those paper/cardboard barrels, usually seen in the garment district and such. I inherited it when I took the excessive fabric remnants our school/church had left after a harvest fest one year. I have two of these. I decided to cut one down and make a waste can. This is the beginning. I coiled paper from the news and inserts as well as the magazines we get at xmas.
My attempt at being decorative...My square insert.

Finished with the coils. Now it is sitting there waiting for a topper. A band or something around the top. I tried folding the aluminum cans but it didn't work for me. I was thinking a copper band would look nice but I don't wanna pay an arm and a leg, it defeats the purpose of upcycle/ repurpose/ frugal. Try and try again I guess.

Is it May Already?

Wow . Summer is almost here. So what have you been up to you may be asking?

WELLLLLLL.......Besides the gallbladder problems and the subsequent surgery I had back in march ( yeah, happy birthday to me, you had a gallbladder!) to remove the nasty organ, and the depression that followed.....( same thing last time I had surgery too...Hmmmmm...I see a pattern here....no more cutting...or drugs)..I have been trying to create things from my waste products.....NO not that waste, the waste from the packaging this family uses.

Like soda Cans, plastic bottles, ( shut up! I have to buy my water, the water here sucks and the cheap-o filter systems are just as bad....you gotta buy the cartridges talk about waste, I dont even know how to repurpose those things. I would love a burkey ( sp.) wanna buy me one? costs around 200.00 last time I looked.), video tape and plastic supermarket bags.

Now I know I posted about crocheting those pesky bags into bag,bags... but sometimes I forget to bring them and worse still my oldest and her husband still bring them home...they never use the re-useables...grrrrrrrrr.....I feel like the garbage gremlin, going around cleaning up their waste all the time.

So I am always trying to find creative and dare I say it lukrative outlets to upcycle.

My first attempt at a mobile.....

CAN ya see it better here?

Soda cans cut into tear drop shapes. I punched a hole in the top and bottom, used eyelets and strung them with 30 lb test line. The small glass beads are clear crystal chips that i PURCHASED at the craft store in the jewelry dept.I alternated long and short lines and then added the chip lines in between, in addition are 2 lines of faux bali beads.

I liked it but it looked too industrious. It was too heavy as well, didnt swing too well with a light breeze. Also it was not very frugal. Crimp beads and eyelets are expensive.

My next attempt............

My daughters fingers...LOL she is holding a dark background to help me get the shot...

Ok so I can't get a good shot. These are cut into hearts and hung on 8lb filament with blue dangles for added weight. The 8lb test however, is too light. So this keeps tangling...My next attempt is a heavier weight line which is in progress.

The 30 lbs test line I could not tie I had to use crimp beads b/c the line was too thick and heavy. The 8lb test I could tie and it stayed and I did not need to use eyelets either ( more money saved).

Next.....my trash can.

Flowers Anyone?

Empty Soda Cans

Green Crafting

I think I posted this over the summer. I have finally finished it. They are Friggie magnets. I do believe I am the only one doing this and will be putting them up for sale soon, after I tweak a few things.


This is an Empty Soda Can I turned into a Suncatcher. I just cut off the top flipped it over and hung scrolled craft wire thru it and then made beaded Dangles.

Recycle! Post consumer Wreath

Recognize those bags? Yup Target bags, and maybe one or 2 burlington coat factory bags too.
A metal hanger ( drycleaner) and the bags are post consumer. I purchased the Floral Picks and ribbon.

HO HO HO.... Its time for Christmas crafting

I have been soooo busy. Jewelry making and Upcycling.

I made this from Recycled grocery bags. I cut them into strips like I was making plarn and then cut them in 1/2 and tied each one to a wire hanger shapped into a circle. ( we used to do this with sandwich bage 30 yrs ago.) Then I sprayed it green. I am now embellishing and will post finished pic.

Turquoise Dangle earrings.

Ruby chandelier chain drop earrings ( my own design)

Spiral Bracelet

Multi strand with peyote cuff.














Wrapped Sea Glass Pendants

















Bookmark.
This is the coil.












I made dangles from shrink plastic. embellished with beads and findings on ribbon.
























Black Lace choker ( beaded of course) Original Pattern is here

Bows I made from recycled magazines...

Tutorial Here

Christmas is coming.

So... it is that time of year again. ( I promise this year, NO mandolin without the guard..:P)

I have to explain, I have been very much concentrating on Upcycling. This is a passion for me, always was. I was shunned however as a child and my parents called me a garbage Picker, and a few other names.

Today I thumb my nose at anyone who criticizes me.

I am NOT however an al gore environmentalist. I dont believe that our SUVs cause global warming, in fact what they call global warming is nothing more then sun activity, the electro-magnetism that comes with it and ( maybe even a lil GODLY Wrath).

I do however think we produce way to much garbage, and our plastic-industrialized living is killing us quickly.

That being said, I approach green living from a selfish and non selfish stand point.

Selfish being ( not self centered) but HATING Corporatism. The conglomerates that are bleeding us dry with electric bills and heating bills! HATE THEM!

Non selfish being I think we need to help ppl to help themselves and see that all the crap they are eating chock full of preservatives are killing them and others thru the use of manufacturing and the crap being belched into MY Air.

Did you know we don't break down as fast as we used to when we die? We ingest ( thru mouth and skin) so much formaldehyde and other preservatives it is taking us longer to decompose today!

Now that I have explained my approach, I prefer the term organic living over green since green has come to being identified with the chicken little al gore worshippers.

Organic is what us old hippies were called.

Now with that outta the way......Here is what I have been doing.....

For Christmas.....




I will be uploading my pics of my re(up)cycles soon. I switched PCs and have files everywhere now.