Recycled castle gift or goodie bag

Here is a fun little gift bag I created. My son loves it so much that he took it off my craft table and ran off with it. He occasionally reappears swinging it by the top string. I think it is perfect for a small gift or make multiple for a goodie bag.

Materials:

4 empty toilet paper tubes

1 paper lunch sack

pen

scissors

hole punch

about 2 ft of ribbon

Directions:

cut top notches of paper tubes, be sure to have an even number of cuts
fold down every other tab

cut a vertical line 3/4 way up each tube
turn 1/4 turn and make parallel cut
draw castle walls, windows and drawbridge on bag

keep in mind about an inch out from the corner will be covered with the

cut 1 inch in from each corner where there is a natural horizontal fold in the bag

thread the paper tubes through the holes

fill bag

fold upper corners of bag down so the overlap

fold top corner down

punch 1 or 2 holes through overlap

1 hole - feed the middle of the ribbon through the hole then bring the ends through that loop creating a closure for the bag

2 holes - string each end of the ribbon through a hole and tie closed

paper beads

My son wanted to make a necklace for his stuffed animal. He wanted to use my glass beads. I compromised and we made these lovely paper beads and strung them together for his stuffie.

Materials:
paper - magazines or newspaper ads work well
round chopstick
glue stick or white glue
paintbrush is using white glue
wax paper
scissors

Directions:
cut paper width way in about 3" lengths
use a length of wax paper as a place mat to keep from gluing paper to table
start rolling 1 corner or edge onto chopstick
spread glue on rest of paper. I used watered down white glue. that was too hard for my son so he used a glue stick.
continue rolling, be sure edges are well glued
slide paper tube off chopstick
repeat
let dry
when all tubes are dry, cut in 1/2" - 1" lengths
string together for necklace or garland

This would be a fun activity to do during winter break. Also could string together a garland to decorate the tree.

organic u-cut tree

Braved the freezing cold to cut our tree this year. I was grateful that the ground was frozen instead of ankle deep mud. But my new daughter was confused and grumpy. I think this is her first experience with freezing weather. She would hold out her hands or a foot scream like she was being stung. So we picked the 3rd tree cut it down, strapped it to the top of the car and were on our way. Oh yeah we paid for it too. Last year we got a funky tree for a very good price. This year we got a normal noble.

We went back to the organic u-cut tree place we got our tree from last year

orange display

One of my favorite things about winter are Satsuma Oranges. The fragrance sprayed when peeling reminds me of the wonder and joy I felt as a five year old pulling a satsuma from my stocking.

I fill my vase and by the end of the week it is empty and ready to be filled again.

See vintage post for how to...

recycled castle

When I finished up this castle my son grabbed it and ran off to decorate it himself. He had been begging me for a week to make him a castle. So when I finally gathered all the supplies together today, he was bummed that the cardboard was too hard for him to cut. Once it was assembled he was thrilled.
(Sorry, my son and his friend won't let me have the castle to take a decent picture!)

Materials:

smallish cardboard box - I used 11"x14"

4 cardboard tubes - we don't use many paper towels in our house, so I used some wax paper and such. I had to cut them all to the same length.

scissors

exacto blade

pen or pencil

glue

tape

Directions:

With box closed, draw the top notches, windows and drawbridge door.

Using the exacto blade cut out the windows and the top of the drawbridge door. (Do not cut bottom of door - so the door will open out.)

Cut off the upper flaps of the box.

Remove all the tape on the body of the box. Leave the tape on the bottom. Glued boxes work the best.

With scissors, cut lengthwise along notches.

With exacto, score bottom edge of notch.

Fold notches in.

Take one of the removed lengthwise upper flap and cut two corners off along the same length.

Glue it along folded notches with notch underneath and cut corners at corners of the box. You can tape it in place to secure while glue dries.

Cut off remaining exposed folded notches.

Starting at the bottom of the cardboard tube, cut a lengthwise slit the height of the castle.

Cut a parallel line 1/4 turn away.

Cut notches on top, folding over or removing.

Repeat with other 3 tubes.

Slide the cut edges of the tubes over each corner of the castle.

Decorate as desired.

Sweater Boots - Upcycled

I made these for my models to wear. They got more attention than the clothes. I got several offers to sell them is some wonderful boutiques. I considered becoming a cobbler but just don't have the time to source materials.

I hope you enjoy this simple easy way to upcycle your favorite scuffed shoes to become one of the hottest items this fall.

Material:

scuffed up old shoes (helps to have a clear division between top and bottom)

old sweater

hot glue gun with glue

ribbons or other trim (optional)

buttons or other accessory (optional)

Directions:

cut the sleeves off the sweater at the shoulder seam.

Embellish the cuff or body of sleeve as desired. I like to use buttons.

slide sleeve over shoe with armhole at heal and cap at toe to check angle of boot top. Should be about 40-45 degrees from floor.

pull toe forward or heal down until get desired angle.
Trim excess.

heat glue gun

glue toe between shoe and sleeve about 1" along bottom edge. Carefully press down. be sure to avoid hot glue on your fingers.

Glue 1" at heal. press down.

glue slowly 1-2" at a time until whole shoe is connected.

run a bead of glue around raw edge a couple of inches at a time. press ribbon over glue to hide raw edge.

If sweater was felted this step is optional.

Sometimes the ridge of the shoe is large enough to tuck the raw edge away, also making this step optional.

repeat with other shoe.

clothes swap

I attended a clothes swap organized by my sister. She has them a couple of times a year. It was a great way to swap out the clothes you don't wear with different ones. This was the first one I managed to attend. It was fabulous. It was like a trunk sale, without having to pay for anything! I even got some really great shoes and a pair of boots. I have never been able to find boots that fit me. So I was pretty ecstatic.
The low down on a clothes swap. Each gal brings her treasured clothes that she doesn't wear anymore. Then sorts the clothes in stations by type, pant, skirt, dress, fancy, tops, sweaters... THEN DIG IN. We had an area to keep selected clothes (and the ones worn to the party since we were all running around in our undies). This is very important. I did overhear someone say she had to find a pant that fit because hers went home with someone else. Leftovers are donated.
The organizers also made a party of it and provided food and mimosas! You can do potluck also.
I was so impressed by how much fun being frugal and sustainable can be.