Tag Archives: Reclaim

Reclaim: Milk Cartons

by Katie on June 14, 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.

This time, we are featuring milk cartons!

Image Credit

Use milk cartons as little planters.
Make some of the lovely milk carton projects in this cute book.
Create a milk carton sun wreath.
Make a milk carton bird house.
Use milk cartons as moulds to create little succulent pots.
Make milk carton candles.
For the little ones in your life, make this cute air powered carton car, this sweet bunny basket, some milk carton bats or this milk carton dump truck.
Or maybe you know a kidlet who would like these milk carton boats, these milk carton house lamps, or a whole milk carton village!
Make milk carton vases like this or this.
Use milk cartons for decorative blocks.
Make a milk carton organiser for storing bits and pieces.
Create your own recipe box.
Use milk cartons to make little houses for gift wrap!

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

Katie x

Comments { 20 }

Reclaim: Paper Bags

by Katie on April 23, 2012 in Craft, Reclaim

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 { 12 }

DIY Lace Jars

by Katie on April 5, 2012 in Craft, Daily Life, Handmade, Reclaim

Last weekend I prettied up some old glass jars with a little lace. This DIY is super quick and easy and you probably already have all of the things required! The finished jars look really lovely holding a bunch of flowers fresh out of the garden…

And they make cute candle holders too!

To make the lace wrapped jar, I simply cut a length of lace as long as the circumference of the jar. I then used Mod Podge and a paint brush to glue the lace to the bottom of the jar. Once it had dried I applied a second coat of Mod Podge.

To make the lace polka dot jar, I used the lid of an old juice bottle and a pencil to trace circles on the lace. I cut the lace circles out and used Mod Podge to glue them to the jar. Just like the lace wrapped jar, I applied a second coat of Mod Podge once the first coat had dried.

What do you think? Pretty cute, no?!

If this project takes your fancy, you might also like some of the other cute, crafty ways to recycle jars here.

I hope you are all having a happy, sunshiney, magical week. The Easter Bunny is nearly here!

Katie x

Comments { 30 }

Reclaim: Egg Cartons

by Katie on April 1, 2012 in Craft, Reclaim

This time, we’re playing with egg cartons!

Image Source

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 { 12 }

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!