Folding t-shirts? Get the cardboards ready.

My mother-in-law has been through my closet, so she has seen how messy it can be each time my children rummaged through the drawers for their clothes. To avoid being embarrassed and branded a "messy person", I have resort to hanging all my children's clothes on hangers. I can do that because I have a walk-in wardrobe with large closet space.

If like me, you do not like the notion that your children will grow up deemed inefficient, then it is time to teach them some folding tricks.



Here is an upgraded packable version.

What about the cans?

I have written about how tabs from aluminum cans have been re-used by Dr Therdchai Jivacate in my earlier posting. So, what can you create with the cans?

I have discovered a website, Tesscar Aluminium Craft, that provides 5 easy steps to cut a can up to work on. If you find the instruction easy, then take a look at their free instruction for creating a shark. You can get the template for it at Fiddlersgreen.

If you think this is the craft for you, then explore creating just about anything by taking a peek at what are available on Tesscar Aluminium Craft.

Be careful. If it hurts, recycle them (or damn) cans instead.

Recycling Nursery Rhymes

It is always easier to recite verses that rhyme. I can still recall my "One, Two, Buckle my shoes" verses, which I picked up more than 40 years ago! So, if we want the next generation to remember to do all 3Rs, it is time that we recycle one of those Nursery Rhymes we have learned. How is this for a start?

One, Two
Think before I throw

Three, Four
What can I use it for?

Five, Six
A frame made of twigs?

Seven, Eight
The stuff I used to hate

Nine, Ten
Can be made treasured gem.

So, where did I get the idea from? I attended a workshop organised by the Sungai Long Buddhist Society for facilitators of the Sunday Dhamma School. The fun filled workshop was conducted by Professor Lim of University Malaya and he kindly shared with us that he picked this idea from Responsibility Exercise, a free handout posted on Character Counts Teaching Tools.

The next workshop will be held on 13 January from 2.00pm to 6.00pm. Care to join us?

Having fun? Not on this island.

Think "island" and what you see in your mind's eyes would be tropical sun, coconut trees; a place to have fun on. Sail towards the North Pacific Gyre and you will see a very different kind of island. It is named the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" because of the vast quantities of plastic and marine debris drawn towards the swirling vortex of ocean currents.

Plastic takes a long time to disintegrate in the environment and are more likely to end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals.



Find out from Algalita Marine Research Foundation how this can affect nature and what we can do about it.



What else can you do about it?

Read about California's Take-It-Back Program to make it easier for customers to recycle their plastic bags at their grocery stores.

Answer Helle's call from Australia for plastic bags so that she can create something beautiful out of them.

Be a Creative Recycler and get hooked on Abandoned Material Arty-fication projects.

A Keepsake? Found in my packaging.

My friend, Meredith, is migrating to Australia. See what I have created for her as a farewell gift.



Just so that she will remember me, I have attached my business card with the SwirlinWhirl necklace I made her. Business cards are usually misplaced and forgotten. Just so that this will not happen to mine, I have made it into a bookmaker. Meredith has lots of books written by Anthony Robbins and it will come in handy.



Meredith travels a lot, so I am not going to give it to her in a box as it will be too big and cumbersome to pack in her luggage. Also, the white paddings in custom made jewellery boxes turn yellow with time. This lovely pouch is a better option. If Meredith decided to keep my creation in her own jewellery box, she can keep this pouch as a potpourri holder.



I just have to drape the necklace over my card to keep it in place.



I like it that she can see what is in the see through pouch. No rummaging through boxes to find the piece she wants to wear. I am also happy that my choice in packaging this gift will not result in any unnecessary waste.



Have a safe trip Meredith. May all things best follow you and your family wherever you may be.

Tips for Recycling Boy at KAB

Recycling Boy of "Keep America Beautiful", one of the superheroes I posted about, has a problem getting people to recycle properly. If he can fly long haul, he would be able to study how people in other countries solved this problem.

In Taiwan, the people there would never missed the trucks for garbage and recycling because they play melodic music to warn of their arrivals.



On top of that:

1) Residents must place their recyclables only in city-approved trash bags that can be easily purchased from 7-Eleven.
2) The truck for collecting recyclables comes five nights a week and drives slowly down the streets or park at a designated spot.
3) The truck accepts only certain items on certain days, example, Styrofoam trays and cardboard dumpling boxes, are collected only on Mondays and Fridays.
4) Residents have to heave the bags onto the truck themselves.

I am sure that this concept can be modified to fit the lifestyle of any country facing the same problem. Imagine a truck with music playing driving around the neighbourhood streets. That should get the children interested enough to check out if the ice-cream man is around the corner and learn instead about recycling. Your 2-in-1 solution.

Do you want to know why the Taiwanese are willing to make these efforts? Julia Ross has the answer for you in her write up about "What I Picked Up About Trash in Taipei" during her stay in Taiwan.

Gift boxes? Start collecting tissue boxes.

I have touched on the fact that as a consumer, I may be paying more for a product based on the packaging it comes in. In order to change my buying habits I have decided to make my own packaging.

Here is one I created out of a tissue box.



I have taken the trouble to wrap it up nicely so that it can also double up as a gift box when I need one. As it would defeat the purpose of reducing waste if the recipient would not consider keeping the box, I have created it to fit a "Chest of Drawers" that the recipient can learn to create.

See it fits into the chest nicely.



If you are not into colouring the "Chest of Drawers", you can always make use of paper bags your purchases came in to decorate it.



The instruction on how to create it can be read off "Drawers cum gift boxes"