Tag : scraps

83 posts

201605/23

Refreshed flags

Several years ago I made a banner for the deck rail. It added a bit of whimsy to the deck box garden.

When we added a second garden I made flags for that as well. Over the years the elements have done a number on the flags. Up until last winter I always took them down at the end of each fall. Knowing that they really needed replacement I left them up to continue the whimsy throughout the cold months.

Today’s version of the flags are single sided. They still blow sweetly in the breeze adding a fun element to an otherwise boring fence and deck rail.

Next is the planting….

Around home | Blog | Crafts | Creativity | Outdoors

garden art, scraps, sewing

2 Comments

halleday

201604/02

A second look: Upcycling Projects

Since it’s April and this month is Earth Month I thought I’d share a second look at a bit of upcycling from a few years ago.

Oct 6, 2013

Upcycling Projects

We all know how to recycle and I’m sure most do it daily. Newspapers, cardboard, glass and plastic are all readily recyclable in most cities, at least across the USA.

This is wonderful! But I’ve been really focused on upcycling lately. Finding a new use for something that would ordinarily be tossed out. Wine corks, bottle caps, worn out clothing, stained linens, broken plates…you get the idea.I showed a sneak peek of these a while ago. I made a wine cork tree last year but this time I decided to change things a bit. I used a Champagne cork cut in half for the trunk. I think they turned out really cute.

I’ve also been using some scraps from previous projects such as the denim remaining after completing a quilt or two. As well as the remainder of the dress shirts that I made wine bottle gift bags from.

In addition I’ve been making a bunch more cards. I’ll show more of these last two projects at a later date. The cards have much less upcycling in it’s truest sense but I am still attempting to include elements that might otherwise be considered unusable such as tiny scraps of fabric and yarn. As well as photo trimmings. I have a cigar box full of photo trimmings…they have such vibrant colors that it’s a shame to toss them out.

It doesn’t have to be Earth Day to be a little “green”. Do a little more every day to be kind to our planet. Last time I checked…it’s the only one we have. :)

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If you’d like to see more recycling and upcycling projects please use the tag cloud on my sidebar.

Art | Blog | Crafts

Christmas, fabric, greeting card, scraps, Second on the 2nd, sewing, upcycling, wine corks

6 Comments

halleday

201603/10

Hidden journalling

Hello! I’m back! In reality I never “left” but have been totally out of commission with influenza. Yep…first it was Mini-me, then Mr, G then me. Everybody quickly knock on wood with me that J has been spared. It was a MEAN bout of influenza. We are all still coughing but have been told that could last for weeks! Honestly I’m still not 100%. I thought I was doing well yesterday until I was 1/3 of that way through my weekly grocery shopping and broke out in a sweat and felt as if I could pass out at any moment. Needless to say…I cut my list short and headed home. Enough talk of things totally out of my control and on with the art.

As I’ve been continuing to paint the 3D printed Catan tiles, my extra paint has been spread randomly on this journal page.

This morning I was feeling a bit of creative energy….I didn’t give much thought…just worked with items around me.

At this point is when I realized that my head is still a bit foggy. I had heard a small splash while making the India ink drips but it took a good minute to realize what had happened. hidden journalling | Halle's Hobbies

I was holding the bottle of ink in one hand and the dropper in the other…evidently I tipped my hand a little too far over. DUH! What a mess!!! Luckily I did get it cleaned up and remarkably didn’t get any on my nice jeans or white sweater!! When inspiration strikes I don’t often think about what I’m wearing….I’ve ruined several nice things that way.

I decided on a glassine envelope to hold a bit of private journalling.

The tag I used was just a bit of scrap paper that I cut down to fit….that was the intent at least. I cut it a bit short (did I mention my head was a bit foggy) so I added a “handle” of sorts by simply stapling some black and white polka dot paper to the scrap.

That’s it for today…I need to rest a bit more before a necessary errand.

Art | Blog

art journal, Gypsy journal, paint, scraps

3 Comments

halleday

201511/28

Tree collection additions

Over the past few years I’ve started collecting Christmas trees. Mostly because I keep making a new kind each year but I’m not opposed to buying one at a thrift store or garage sale if it really speaks to me.

This year I was inspired by Mini-me. She had to film a tutorial for her technology class. Her group of three girls each picked a different Christmas craft and bought enough material for the three of them to each create their own. She was inspired by this tree.

Her version used smaller pieces of cardstock. It got very tedious for her towards the end of both punching all the scallops and hot gluing them to the paper cone. It was her punching all those pieces that had Mr. G prompting me to try my Silhouette machine again.

Speaking of paper cones…I made the cones from poster board after first seeing the price of a craft store foam version and then realizing that the foam would melt with hot glue. Glad I thought that one through before starting!!

This tree came together really quickly.

This vintage trim was in the bottom of my sewing box likely bought for some project my mom had intended to make in the 1970’s. At least it’s getting used now!

Isn’t it sweet. I had the tiny glass ornaments in my stash as well. All it needed was a topper. I auditioned several ideas but finally decided a star was in order.

I drew a star on a piece of paper so I’d have a guide to do my bending. I used a twisted piece of 22 gauge wire. I had to “tie” the star at the crossover points “barbwire style” for stability.

The second tree (well technically it was the first one) was yarn wrapped.

I used a leftover partial skein of acrylic yarn for this one. Again I had some tiny trims in my stash to give the tree a finished look.

Nothing I love more than to use stash items! No cost…no trip to the store…AWESOME!

My humble little collection in our game area of the family room. You may be able to see both my Suess tree and cork tree. Additionally you also may be able to see the recycled Christmas card balls I made last year and the 12 days of Christmas swap book from several years ago adorning the table.

Art | Blog | Crafts

Christmas, crafts, Holidays, lace, scraps, stash busting, yarn

4 Comments

halleday

201511/24

T Tuesday: upcycled can project edition

For several years I’ve had a boring tin can on the counter for a pencil holder. You’d think that I’d have made it a bit more visually appealing before now…but no….I’ve mostly just hid it behind other things.

As I was working on a completely different project I noticed a scrap of burlap from my wreath project appeared long enough to wraparound the can. I had to trim it a bit but was very pleased with the look. I added a torn fabric strip around the middle then used hot glue to attach some paper flowers. It looks nice enough to have out in front now.

I have a mini office space on top of the recycling cabinet in our kitchen. Keeps the essentials close for list making, homework, wine sipping… :)

I also have to show you the art journal page I finished up yesterday.

The orange flowers and words were cut using my Silhouette Portrait. They were started out as sage green cardstock.

I used spray mists to alter them more to fit my page. The bunny was cut from an envelope. He looks like a happy bunny to find such yummy flowers.

The page used more of the green fabric used on the burlap wrapped can.

I’m off running errands this morning but look forward to dropping by and visiting my T stands for Tuesday friends later on.

Art | Blog | Crafts

art journal, fabric, recycling, scraps, silhouette, upcycling

14 Comments

halleday

201511/10

T Tuesday: waste not edition

Here I am, once again, at dark thirty writing my T stands for Tuesday post in between getting kids up and making lunches. Perhaps of these days…weeks…years…I’ll get the habit of preplanning these things. I think it’s my personality though to wait and see where life takes me.

Today I wanted to share a couple of things I did this week to repurpose items that would have been thrown away or in this first case, composted.

I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making apple cider vinegar. I’ve read numerous posts on this old fashion technique. Usually this time of year we have apples coming out of our ears from our neighbor’s trees. This year happened to be a poor production year with their trees.

I did have a couple organic store bought apples that we’re definitely past their prime. Not wanting to completely waste expensive apples, I decided to experiment. The recipes or tutorials I read used peels and cores but I’m certain that using the whole apple will work just fine. I sterilized my quart mason jar in the dishwasher then filled it with the chopped apples. I used spring water to completely cover the apples. A scrap of cloth was placed under the ring to allow it to breath. I placed it in our basement storage room while it does its magic. Hopefully by Christmas, I’ll have some homemade apple cider vinegar.

The second waste not piece of this post was using a paper scrap in an unexpected way.

The scrap started as a misprinted Christmas letter from last year. Then it protected my journal from paint and sprays, glues and inks.

t tuesday waste not edition | Halle's hobbies

Now it’s the base of a new art journal page. Who know where this page will take me.

Do you use any “throw away” items in unexpected ways? I’d love to hear about them…

Art | Blog | Kitchen

art journal, kitchen, scraps, T Tuesday

15 Comments

halleday

201509/27

Without haste

This journal page has been in various states of creation for, at the very least, a week. I just haven’t “felt it” every time I went to create. In addition, I was sick for a couple of days.

without haste art journal page| Halle's Hobbies I find it amazing how quickly we can get out of a good habit, especially since picking up a new “bad” or unhealthy one is so easy.