Showing posts with label Recycled Crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recycled Crafts. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Recycled Crafts-Clock

Clock From Recycled Materials

Though I recycle so many materials and make many articles, I don't find time to share all of them with you. Here are my previous posts on Recycled Crafts:

http://summersofindia.blogspot.in/search/label/Recycled%20Crafts

This time, I share with you a clock made from recycled materials.
This clock was actually made by my brother and it was entirely his idea except for the face of the clock which is a recycled wedding card.

The clock kit is available in the market which includes the arms of the clock. This one is battery operated. The face of the clock is recycled Wedding Card with Ganesha. Entire card was used as it was sturdy enough. This was my idea. 

The numbers came from an old calender. The face of the clock was covered with acetate sheet. Apart from that, pieces of thermocol  were used as the frame on the back side for sticking the wedding card as well as for hiding the clock machine. 

So this is one way to use the wedding cards.


Monday, June 20, 2011

Recycled Crafts - Bookmarks


Book Marks With invitation Cards

One of the most difficult ones to dispose off  in India are the Invitation Cards. We receive so many invitations for marriages.  They have the pictures of Gods or auspicious symbols like OM etc. It is believed that throwing away such cards into dustbins or cutting or tearing them brings misfortune or bad luck. So we don't know what to do with them. They keep on piling up.


So I just thought of recycling them by making book marks. The outer envelope, outer card can be cut. But inside it is the invitation which should not be cut or torn. So here is how I have made some book marks. I will post one of them today:
This is the outer card which had a printed paisley border on the edge with Ganesha on the upper part.


I first cut the entire lower part of the outer cover length wise, since it had a gold paisley border and then cut into two halves. It already had a fold, so I took both the upper side and under side of the card.
This is only  one half of the piece. 


Then I folded (along the crease) and glued it. Then I punched a hole and inserted a piece of gold rope (scrap from one of my projects), twisted it and knotted. Here is the book mark. Simple and classy.......

Bookmark

Isn't this easy to make? I have to make more from the left over card pieces. Let us see how I can use them.....


So next time don't throw away the invitations....You can use them creatively.....


Keep a watch.......




Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Recycled Crafts



Bird Feed

Our grand mothers and mothers never threw out any thing unless it was totally useless. They first of all used less, then recycled and reused. Many a foll made fun of it or laughed branding them as misers. But my gran and my mom always followed the principles of waste not, Want not, a Penny saved is Penny earned ....They had huge families to look after with friends and relatives dropping in. The men were not bothered about the nitty-gritties of home management. It was the domain of the lady of the house. So how did they manage all those expenses yet ended up saving something for the rainy day? By spending only when required, recycling, reusing and helping others by giving away what they did not require. 

I admire the philosophy and follow it. These days it has become a fashion and also a need for such a policy.

I wanted to share with you some recycled crafts for long. But did not get time to do them. However since it is summer and kids are having holidays, this the best time to post them so that they can try it.

Here is a feeder with water for the birds. This is very simple and easy to make.

Required:
A plastic plate
Two containers
3 Twigs
Jute twine
Scissors

I had some much used Melamine plates. I wanted to recycle them so used one in this project. The containers I used for the feed and water were a discarded melamine cup and a snack container-both of which I would have thrown other wise. Jute twine we have plenty at home for various purposes like typing up plants amongst other things. The twigs are from the curry leaf tree. Once in six months we need to trim it heavily to get fresh leaves. This time we saved some twigs. These twigs (small ones) are also used as tooth brushes and are good for teeth. You cane use any thing even bamboo.

Actually this project was started to pacify my niece who was bored and started crying. She could not go out and play because of the hot Sun. So she made this under my supervision.

Step 1
I have selected twigs and cut them to all to required size. 

Step 2
Tie the ends of the twigs placed in triangular shape, with the twine and secure it tightly with knots. 
Alternately you can make a square one

Step 3
Cut 6/9 strands of twine equal in length sufficient enough to hang it from the branch. Take two strands and make a twisted rope or take three strands and make a braid. Make 3 ropes for each side.

Step 4
Tie these ropes to each of the edges of the triangle we made of the twigs. Secure them properly. Now hold all the 3 ropes together at the top, adjust and tie them with tow or three knots.

Step 5
Select a shady place on one of the trees in your garden and hang it. Now place the plate. Adjust it so that it sits properly. Place the containers in it and add bird feed and water. Change the water daily once or twice as required. We can also add slices of fruits and vegetables to the plate.
My niece placed some stones in the plate to balance it and save it from winds as well as give it some natural look.

Just try it out and see.