A Dress From Binder Clips

A new use for binder clips. Just imagine the tinking noise it would make as you move around... Definately a way to draw attention! I wouldn't want to try sitting down in it though.

Picture borrowed from yourpsychogirlfriend.com

This comes from a site I just found on the web - yourpsychogirlfriend.com. Lots of interesting clothing made from items that no one but the designers could envision as cloth. Unfortunately there's not much in the way of description for the clothing on the site - they just list what it is made of. I'll be going back to write about more of their creations.
And while I can't see myself ever wearing anything like this, it sure would be fun to use to dress up a manequin in. Lots more fun than dressing up a cement duck.

ARBEE CARDS

I love the idea of recycling greeting cards once they have been taken down from the mantlepiece. These cards from Arbee Cards are actually plantable.

The plantable paper is handmade from cotton (tree-free!) and is UK-made (no travel - low carbon) and contains a mix of wildflower seeds which look like small black specks in the paper: Catchfly, English Daisy, Sweet Alyssum, Snapdragon, Corn Poppy and Black Eyed Susan. 

The entire card is planted in soil or compost (patio pot, windowbox or garden bed) and must be kept moist and preferable in a sunny spot and should germinate in a few weeks. The paper itself breaks down in the soil and is bleach-free and completely eco-friendly. The card has a textured side from the process of handmade paper-making, with the upside of the paper feeling like a heavyweight artists' paper. 

As Rachel Law of ArbeeCards said "I use it for making cards & wedding stationery. Mother's Day plantable cards were so popular with people just loving the idea of posting their mum some flowers for her to grow. They are becoming increasingly popular for weddings, with plantable place cards doubling as favours - people get some lovely flower seeds for the garden to take home instead of wasteful expensive favours, keeping everything environmentally-friendly. Really, who needs more sugared almonds in a chiffon bag! I try to encourage couples to make their white wedding green - and much of my cards & stationery is recycled card, upcycled vintage papers, buttons, lace and re-used cards & papers'.

To see Arbee Cards website click HERE.      To shop online click HERE. 

April 2011

Reuse A Shoe

Nike has found a way to keep millions of old worn out athletic shoes from littering the earth by recycling them into new basketball courts, tracks, tennis courts and such. And did you know Nike has a goal of waste elimination? That's elimination, not just reduction! Here's a quote from their site:

Aspiring toward our long-term goals of waste elimination and increasing physical activity in youth around the world led us to focus on one of the achievable ways to close the loop on a product's lifecycle. That is, rather than throwing away old products, we want to use them to make new products — in this case, sports and play surfaces to help kids get active.

Nike takes the shoes apart and grinds up the parts which are then used to create new sports surfaces, like soccer and football fields, basketball and tennis courts, tracks and playground surfacing. They use all brands of shoes to do this, not just their own.

To donate your old shoes you just need to find a drop off location. There are locations all over the USA, the UK, Australia and Japan! If there's not one near you there is also the option of mailing in your old shoes. Check their website by clicking the title of this post. On the left you'll find links to the different countries and interactive maps to drop off locations.

Recycling Books

I've been really surprised by the quality and quantity of books that have been left at the recycling centre over the last yearor so. Some are obviously unwanted presents, unblemished and unread! Others have perhaps been read once and then discarded. When I ran out of storage space, I decided to sell the best ones at the gate. The sign says it all!

Ornaments From Roll On Deodorant

Stumbled across this one today. It's an ornament made by beading around the ball from a roll on deodorant bottle! It would work on a ping pong ball too.

Picture borrowed from kiloalphatango.com