recyled crafts Archives

Things to do with an old crib

Y’all know I love a good up-cycle… you know, turn something into something else! (garden planters, pallet projects, paint chip projects, DIY light fixtures) And cribs are perfect for this because what else are going to do with an old crib once your kiddos are big or heck, what if the crib gets re-called! You could always give it to a pregnant friend or family friend! Just please don’t throw that sucker in a land fill. Here are 19 clever ideas to turn an old crib into something really awesome!

1. Kid’s table

2. Wall hanging

3. Bench

4. Trellis

5. Chair

6. Outdoor love seat

7. Magazine rack

8. Plate rack

9. Book rack

10. Craft organizer

11. Wagon

12. Herb garden

13. Easel

14. Jewelry Organizer

15. Chalkboards

16. Playhouse

17. Picture hanger

18. Fabric organizer

19. Plate rack

What do you do with old cribs? Have you ever turned it into something new? I’d love to hear…

6 Comments
Filed Under: home craft ideas, recyled crafts

facebook // twitter // pinterest // instagram // google +

Up-cycled iPad Cover {sweater}

May 15 posted by Jamie Dorobek

Sweater season is so over! Does that make anyone else reallllly happy? Let’s cut up our sweaters and make an iPad cover! Sound fun? Or do you think I’m nuts? I’m ok with either answer! So, typically I’m inspired by need. I don’t just decide to learn how to paint a lamp or sew a pillow. It happens because I change up the room, and the lamp and pillows look ridiculous. So, I HAVE to figure out how to paint my wonky lamp and get new pillows on the cheap. After need, I investigate what I have on hand, and then I do a little pinterest/ google image search to get the creative juices flowing. Here’s the scenario: Mom needed an iPad cover + I had a crusty sweater in the Good Will pile = project time.

Here’s what you need for the iPad cover:

sweater
scissors
sewing machine
accessories (felt, flowers, ribbon)
felt to line the cover
Velcro (If you want your cover to securely close)

I literally laid the iPad on the sweater and cut around it. I wanted the bottom of the sweater to be the opening of the iPad.

Here’s what I was working with:

Now, it’s time to embellish the front of your cover. I cut triangles out of felt and used the sewing machine to attach them to my sweater. Voila!

Next, you need to sew a piece of felt to the front of the cover and a piece of felt to the back of the cover. I sewed all 4 sides of the felt directly to the sweater. The felt makes the cover sturdy… don’t skip this step! I’m sure there is a fancier way to do this, but I’m a beginner seamstress, so that’s what I did!

You’re almost done! Put the right sides of the sweater together and sew around the 3 sides of the cover. If you don’t want/ need a clasp you’re done-skies!

If you’d like a little clasp action, I used a piece of brown felt (the same felt as the liner) and sewed one piece of the velcro to the clasp and one side to the liner. Then, I hand stitched the the clasp to the cover. This is a great project for a beginner seamstress! The whole thing can be done in afternoon depending on how particular you are and how speedier of a sewer you are. Have you ever made an iPad cover? I’d love to hear…

2 Comments
Filed Under: easy sewing projects, recyled crafts

facebook // twitter // pinterest // instagram // google +

Make an envelope out of a magazine page {5 minute paper craft}

May 14 posted by Jamie Dorobek

I heart snail mail. Doesn’t everyone? I send random letters as often as I can, I even host package pals a couple times a year on C.R.A.F.T. This is seriously one of my all time favorite crafts. It’s über speedy, cute, and I always have everything on hand. My. kind. of. craft. Magazine envelopes were actually one of my very first posts on C.R.A.F.T. But, that post kind of stinks, and it’s been on my re-do list for a long time now. Without further ado, how to turn a magazine into an envelope!

All you need is:

magazine
greeting card
tape
washi tape
pen

Ready for the easiest craft ever? Pick a pretty magazine page. Rip it out. Lay card on magazine page and fold over the edges. Check the front of card to make sure the part of the picture you like is going to end up where you want it to. Tape it up.

Then use washi tape to close the envelope and add it to the front as an address label. Easy as pie. And look how freakin’ cute it looks in the midst of borring bills and junk mail…

Here are lots more snail mail letter and gift ideas for ya:

A special thanks to Angie and Carolina for the kick in the butt to get this 15 minute paper craft re-done! Be sure to check out their blogs for a ton of 15 minute craft ideas!