Tag Archives: Reclaim

Reclaim: Paper Bags

by Katie on April 23, 2012 in Craft, Reclaim

The Reclaim series is all about turning discarded old things into beautiful new things. It’s about making treasure from trash, reducing our waste and saving a little money along the way. Each episode features an everyday object and a variety of inspiring ways that object can be reclaimed.

Today, we are talking about paper bags!

Image Credit

Use a paper bag and string or ribbon to cover a vase or jar holding a bunch of fresh flowers.
Write on a paper bag to create pretty menus for a dinner party or wedding programs.
Decorate a paper bag and use it as cute gift wrap like this or this or this.
Use paper bags to create cute puppets.
Make a paper bag wreath like this one, this one or this one.
Use a paper grocery bag to make a sweet little basket or a lovely big basket.
Create pretty paper bag lanterns like these or these.
Make some gorgeous paper bag ribbon.
Create some pretty paper bag flowers like these or these.
Turn paper bags into kites!
Use paper bags to package party favours like this or this.

Have you got any other clever ideas for recycling paper bags? If so, please share!

Katie x

PS You can find previous episodes of the reclaim series here.

PPS I can’t find the source for that first image so if anyone can help me out, I’d really appreciate it!

Comments { 11 }

Reclaim: Egg Cartons

by Katie on April 1, 2012 in Craft, Reclaim

This time, we’re playing with egg cartons!

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Decorate for Easter with egg carton flowers, egg carton table decor and egg carton fairy lights (so amazing!)
Use egg cartons to package mini cupcakes or muffins.
Make a cute egg carton sewing kit.
Use an egg carton to organise your craft supplies or desk drawer.
Create an egg carton caterpillar or some egg carton chicks.
Make some pretty egg carton bells.
Plant seeds in an egg carton or make an egg carton herb garden kit for a gift.
If there are special little people in your life, use egg cartons to paint autumn trees or make a nature sorting game.
Create a tiny, adorable egg carton succulent display!
Use egg cartons to make some of these sweet bunnies and chickens for Easter.
Make an egg carton bouquet or floral display.

Have you got any other clever ideas for recycling egg cartons? If so, please share!

Katie x

PS You can find previous episodes of the reclaim series here.

Comments { 11 }

Sowing Seeds for Winter

by Reuben on March 22, 2012 in Daily Life, Food, Gardening

Now that it is getting cooler it is time to start planting our winter veggies! Our little garden has been pretty much left to its own devices ever since I planted our first lot of vegetables in spring, but I’m determined to get more on top of things and grow more of our own food. Our garden isn’t ready for direct planting yet, so today Katie and I planted some seeds in little pots that we made out of toilet rolls.

Even though Katie and I see each other every day, sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of every day life that we forget to really see each other. Making these little pots and planting seeds was a lovely way to quietly spend half an hour together, without distraction. It was also a nice way for me to show Miss Black Thumb how just fun and easy gardening can be! If you would like to make some of these little pots yourself, there’s a really easy tutorial here. It’s such a simple way to reclaim something that would otherwise just get thrown away.

In a week or so, we should have little seedlings of climbing beans, snow peas, broccoli and cauliflower to admire. Broccoli was always my favourite vegetable while I was growing up, so I can’t wait to eat our own, homegrown version!

Reuben

Comments { 16 }

Reclaim: Plastic Bottles

by Katie on March 9, 2012 in Craft, Reclaim

This edition features plastic bottles!

Image Credit

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Image Credit

Use plastic bottles to make melted vases, painted vases or glitter vases.
Create some pretty plastic bottle cuffs.
If you’re feeling very ambitious, build a plastic bottle greenhouse! Or use the top of one plastic bottle over a seedling, to create a miniature version.
Make plastic bottle bowling pins.
Invite native wildlife into your backyard with a plastic bottle bird feeder like this one or this one.
Make your own lava lamp.
Use plastic bottles to make a desk organiser.
Create festive plastic bottle ornaments.
Decorate your space with plastic bottle flowers like these or these.
Make a plastic bottle pet food dispenser.
Cut a plastic bottle in half and use the top as a funnel.
Recycle plastic bottles for cupcake or cookie packaging.
Make pretty plastic bottle drinking glasses.
Use plastic bottles to create cute apple-shaped boxes!
Turn a plastic bottle into a plastic bag keeper.

Have you got any other clever ideas for recycling plastic bottles? If so, please share!

Katie x

PS You can find previous episodes of the reclaim series here.

Comments { 19 }

Reclaim: Vintage Hankies

by Katie on January 29, 2012 in Craft, Reclaim

Today, we are talking about vintage hankies!

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Make a pretty hanky table runner.
Display hankies in a big jar or use them to wrap a jar.
Create a lovely hanky garland/bunting.
Sew some cute hanky bloomers.
Use pretty hankies in place of plain cloth napkins.
Turn hankies into doll dresses.
Make a pretty hanky dress for yourself, or even a hanky top!
Use hankies to wrap small gifts.
Frame hankies for your wall or in place of a headboard.
Sew a hanky quilt.
Use hankies as coasters.
Make hanky cushions.
Print on hankies in place of cards or invitations.
Sew hankies together to make pretty curtains.
Use hankies to embellish bouquets, dress up chairs and decorate things for a party.

Have you got any other clever ideas for recycling hankies? If so, please share!

Katie x

Comments { 22 }

Reclaim: Doilies

by Katie on November 28, 2011 in Craft, Reclaim

Today, it’s all about doilies!

(All images were found on Pinterest. If one of these images belongs to you, please let us know so that we can give you credit.)

String doilies together to create a pretty garland/bunting.
Use doilies to embellish cushion covers, curtains, quilts and anything else you can think of!
Make a doily wreath like this one or this one.
Stiffen doilies (with hairspray, glue or fabric stiffener) and suspend them on strings, as festive snowflake decorations
Make a doily table runner.
Use doilies in gift wrapping and card making. They look especially beautiful decorating packages wrapped in plain brown paper.
Create a doily lamp or doily lanterns.
Add a chain and use a doily as the centrepiece for a vintage inspired necklace.
Turn doilies into dreamcatchers.
Sew a doily to plain top to make it a little bit special or restyle a comfy sweatshirt.
Use doilies as stencils for DIY home decor.
Frame doilies or sew them to embroidery hoops, to create simple and lovely wall hangings.
Bake doily cookies.

Have you got any other clever ideas for recycling doilies? If so, please share!

Katie x

Comments { 22 }

← Older posts

House of Humble

Reclaim: Paper Bags

Katie x

Reclaim: Egg Cartons

Katie x

Sowing Seeds for Winter

Reuben

Reclaim: Plastic Bottles

Katie x

Reclaim: Vintage Hankies

Katie x

Reclaim: Doilies

Katie x

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House of Humble

Reclaim: Paper Bags

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Reclaim: Egg Cartons

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Sowing Seeds for Winter

Reuben

Reclaim: Plastic Bottles

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Reclaim: Vintage Hankies

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Reclaim: Doilies

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