A really great episode of Craftypod is back for a limited time, check it out:
Michele Pacey is a genius at turning recycling-bin stuff into beautiful, useful items. In this interview, she shares her creative and construction secrets, and offers up a ton of inspiration. You can check out the original show notes right over here.
More: Another Chance to Listen for Free! Creative Reuse and Crafting, with Michele Pacey « CraftyPod
From Michele Pacey (mentioned previously several times here), of the michele made me blog: Here’s a fun DIY mask project using egg cartons.
For how-to details and additional photos of this mask and two others, see Michele’s post here.
![My ongoing search for new uses for cereal boxes led me to Michele Pacey’s Michele Made Me blog [mentioned previously (several times) here], where Michele provides tutorials for making these three neat, decorative pieces from paperboard boxes.
To make your own pieces, see Michele’s tutorials here, here (garland), and here.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8kuaxkSuG1qzv12bo1_400.jpg)
My ongoing search for new uses for cereal boxes led me to Michele Pacey’s Michele Made Me blog [mentioned previously (several times) here], where Michele provides tutorials for making these three neat, decorative pieces from paperboard boxes.
To make your own pieces, see Michele’s tutorials here, here (garland), and here.
The mighty CraftyPod has another great episode, available for free listening through about May 20. I say don’t miss this one. Craftypod host Sister Diane (a friend of Unconsumption, natch) writes:
Michele Pacey and I are talking about creative reuse. Michele does most of her crafting with materials from her recycle bin, and she comes up with all kinds of beautiful and useful projects. Her blog, Michele Made Me, is full of inspiration.
Creative reuse involves a lot of experimentation, trial and error, and flat-out play. Michele has some interesting things to say about how she approaches crafting with recycled materials. And, I made her tell me what’s in her stash right now – um, wow! There’s a lot of creative potential there.
I hope this show will inspire you to dig into your recycle bin and make some cool things
Give the show a listen here: Free Podcast! Creative Reuse and Crafting, with Michele Pacey « CraftyPod
5 biodegradable seed-starting planter-pots to DIY
Like many of us, the gardening plans of Michele Pacey (mentioned previously here and here) include growing plants from seed.
In a recent blog post, Michele describes her seed-starting setup: seeds planted in biodegradable newspaper “pots,” which are placed indoors on foam meat trays while the seeds germinate.
After seedlings have sprouted, the plants — pots and all — can be planted in soil.
To make your own biodegradable seed-starters:
- Roll newspaper pieces around a jar and close the ends, as Michele shows in this short video, or roll pieces of newspaper around something like this.
- Fold newspaper pages, origami-like, into pots. For folding tutorial, see the For Greenies blog.
- Cut pieces of paper towel or toilet paper tubes, adding four slits on one end, then fold end pieces together to form a closed bottom. (Photo via girlgearstudio.) Ends also could be left open, as pictured in this earlier Unconsumption post.
- Use eggshells, as mentioned here (with description for blowing out eggs).
- Use citrus peels. (Found here.)
Another idea: Create mini-greenhouses from cut plastic bottles. Simply place bottle tops over plants. (Found on Poppytalk.)
What household waste do you use for starting seeds?
Really digging this DIY project from michele made me:
Make a mosaic vase by attaching eggshell pieces onto a plastic container (in this case, an empty maple syrup jug).
Note: This project dovetails with my earlier egg-related post here.
My kids and I love to go letterboxing, and one of the best parts is coming up with our own stamps to use. If you’re wanting to make a simple stamp, but don’t want to mess with carving, Michele of Michele Made Me shows how you can use craft foam and old wine corks to create custom stamps.
Usually Molly presides over “Wine O’Clock” finds, but maybe this one jumped out at me because it makes me wish for a Mr. Cart cork stamp in the Uncollection.
