Old photo frames? Not for pictures only.

If you do not know what you should do with the photo frames that you no longer want, do what the Urban Curators are doing in their efforts to highlight common, overlooked objects and spaces within their city of Providence in Rhode Island.

They are placing picture frames over spots that have been overlooked or abandoned before taking pictures and posting them on Urban Curator Map. Interested to do something along that line in your own country? You don't have to crack your head figuring how to, as they have all the tips you need to get the project going with or without frames.

With so much changes going on in progressive countries, especially in South East Asia, I think this is a very good way to remember our childhood by. It may well turn out to be a good record of the greener environment and standard of living that we now have that are being deemed deemed common and overlooked.

Old sweater? Bag it!

I have knitted wears shrunk to a size fit for a child because my ex-maid kept forgetting that you cannot dry woollies in the dryer. Writing about it, I am missing my Edmund Ser's polo neck. I bet you have sweaters stretched out of shape to complain about too.

Other than unraveling to salvage the wool to recreate, what else can you do about it if unraveling is too daunting a task and you are not good at crocheting or knitting anyway?

Learn to sew your polo neck into a bag. Let Totally Stitchin show you the way.

Life after Cyndi Lavin = Don't throw it!

Today, I discovered Cyndi Lavin, a mixed media artist.

It seems that she can create anything out of things that you would discard without a second glance; from optical lenses to computer bits and pieces. Don't take my word for it take a peek at Why Not Art and see what she has been up to.

On my promise on what you can do with the fabric from your button-less abandoned clothes, let Cyndi inspires you with the pictures and ideas she has posted on Layer Upon Layer.

She could be the start to your "Don't throw it!" lifestyle.

Buttons? Not for clothes only.

I have lost buttons off my clothes before and could not find matching ones to sew them back on. One of the options in such a scenario is to remove remaining buttons on the piece and sew new ones on.

So, what do you do with the buttons you have removed? This is a question someone asked me recently. She is a Malay and if you look at her traditional wear, she has many lovely buttons sewn on her "Baju Kurung", that a Creative Recycler like me, would salivate for.

Do you remember the days when big buttons with four holes in the centre for sewing were so popular? If you can lay your hands on buttons like that, check out the bracelets Cindy at Sweet Pea Creationz has created with the help of some jump rings.



Just look at how intricate her chain maille creations are. Creative, talented and patient. That's Cindy.



So, what about your clothes once you have all the buttons removed and it is a little too worn out to bother sewing new buttons on? Look out for answers in my next posting.

Dreadful chores? Add cheers!

If ironing is one of the chores you dread doing then you need to do something to add some cheers to the task. How is this for a start?



Not cheerful enough? Then make it bigger.



Yes, I have more designs of flowers that you can create from plastic bags to decorate your electrical cord. Take a look at some I have created for my Creative Recyclers workshop.

Not the arty type? Then try listening as you iron. No, not with the iron to your ears! Here's to happy ironing moments.

I’m A Plastic Bag. Eco friendly? Make me!

Recognised me? Play with me and see what you can make me do.



Try tying me up.



I love the way you are holding me.



Hold me closer.



Let me hold you too.



Crafter's challenge has made me cheeky... oops, I mean very creative. I pulled out 2 huge plastic bags that held some electrical ware I bought and cut them into strips. I braided 3 strips together to make them studier. My theme for this challenge is "I’m A Plastic Bag. Eco friendly? Make me!" The objective is to find ways to make use of plastic bags so that they will not end up in the landfill.

I do not know if Crafter will accept my design as I do not have enough of the plastic strips to create a bigger bag but I am going to give it a go because I did displace 2 huge plastic bags that would have landed in the landfill if not put to use.

Here is another version that I have created and to decorate it,...



...I have added flowers made out of plastic bags. So there, I have displaced 2 more plastic bags on earth.



Don't think it will hold? That is a 1.5 litre bottle of water all filled up.



Here is a whacky design.



Big enough to hold a ball.



Here is a poser for you. What would God, ever compassionate and forgiving, do to mankind who created things that destroyed his creations?

"I am naughty. Want me to be good? Help me!"
(What would you do to your wayward kids?)

I’m A Plastic Bag. Eco friendly? Make me!
(You made me this way! What are you going to do about it?)

Missed buying "I'm Not A Plastic Bag"?

Are you depressed because you failed to get hold of Anya Hindmarch’s "I’m Not A Plastic Bag" creation at just RM55? Here is a doctor's prescription. Take 2 actions today and get yourself out of depression:

1) Create your very own bag.
2) Spread this message around.

For action 1), I have Puteri to inspire you with her creations. Look around her blog and you will find lots of pictures and links to free tutorials on hobbies she enjoys working on. And that is how I discovered that Crafter has issued a "Reusable Shopping Bag Challenge". The idea is to create a reusable grocery bag and stencil it with an eco-friendly statement or decorate it some how with an environmentally-friendly theme.

I love it that Crafter has provided some links to free tutorials on how to create bags:

Morsbags gives step by step instructions.

You will be spoiled for choice checking out the list provided by jMi, the handbags moderator for Crafter.

Need a template to work with? Let queenofdiy, who is a Friend of Craftster, show you how with your plastic bag.

Post pictures of your creation by Aug 1 to Aug 5 2007 and you will have a chance to win "Simply Spray" aerosol cans of paint (only if you live in USA) and have your work featured on Crafter's blog.

If you are not into sewing, you are allowed to decorate ready made bags with environmentally-friendly theme. So, there, you do not have to worry about running out of time to sew.

Crafter heard about this project called Morsbags where people get together and make cloth reusable shopping bags for themselves and to hand out to others. The objective is to tally up the number of bags made by Crafter's members and add it to Morsbag's tally, which has a calculation telling you how many disposable plastic bags your cloth bag will have displaced and in which part of the region.

So, just do it for a greener environment if not to get yourself out of depression. What depression? Remember Anya Hindmarch’s "I’m Not A Plastic Bag" at just RM55 you missed buying? Hmmm, this could be a start of a healing therapy cum bag business. Take action 2) and it may help you find a business partner.