Project ReStyle - Week 15

 This week I decided to celebrate Earth Day by making notepads for our kids that serve on student council.  They work really hard to collect our recycling every week so I wanted to say thank you.

Picking up the recycling at my school is no small task.  The kids sort through everything to make sure it can all be recycled.  Apparently  envelopes with plastic windows is on their "reject" list.  If they find one or anything else that is not acceptable your whole recycling bin gets return with a TAINTED label. 

When a friend at work used one of these to leave me a note it reminded me of some craft projects I've seen around the internet.  I began collecting envelopes and transformed them into tiny notepads to give the kids.

I like showing them that not only is it good to recycle but reusing, or ReStyling can be really fun.  After I made the 2 dozen pads I decided they needed a little dressing up if I was giving them as a gift. 

 Right in front of me were 3 leftover napkins from my lunch yesterday.  Chipotle is a wonderful Mexican food restaurant and they also happen to be very environmentally friendly.  I cut the napkins into strips to make bows, kind of like raffia.

I hope the kids like them but even more than the notepads themselves I want the kids to know I appreciate their service and hopefully they will be inspired to look for creative ways to reuse materials.

Project ReStyle - Week 14

Today I took a boxy pullover that I found at Goodwill for $2.00 and turned it into a simple cardigan.  Even though the days are heating up my classroom is cold.  Layering cardigans with jeans and skirts has pretty much become my uniform.

The hardest part of this project was cutting into a perfectly good sweater.  After that I just trimmed the cut edge with ribbon using the same method as I do when making Lazy Days Skirts.

I thought about putting the ribbon on the outside but I think the sweater will be more versatile just being white and gray.  No one else may see this detail but I know it's there and I kinda like that. 

I think I'm one week behind on my ReStyle Projects.  Not to bad for almost May.

Project ReStyle - Week 13

 For this weeks project I pulled out my old jewelry box, the one full of things I never wear.  I grabbed a bracelet that lost a dangle and a necklace that I like but is dated.

I used some tools to move a gem from the end to the missing space and to remove the pendant from the necklace.  Then I joined them together.

Whola! 

Fun, but still subtle for when I'm feeling fancy.

More jewelry box projects to come.

Project ReStyle - Week 12

With a little sand, tea lights and yarn I turned these jars from my recycling bin into outdoor candles for a party next weekend. Do you have any party decorating ideas to share?

Tuesday Tutorials and Project ReStyle: Week 12 Combo

 We are into day four of our spring cleaning and feeling rather pooped so I decided to take a break from the dirt removal and whip up a little gift for my loyal companion.  I noticed some old pillows yesterday when I was going through the linen closet.  I considered tossing them but then thought I could put them to use as a dog bed.  This could be one of my quickest most appreciated sewing projects to date.  I think it took me all of about 30 minutes, and that is with taking pictures.

See, cleaning really tires him out.

30 Minute Dog Bed
You'll need two old pillows and a duvet cover or flat sheet.

Fold the duvet cover (or sheet) in half and place the pillows side by side in the center.

Fold up one side.  (Something tells me he knows this is for him)

Then fold up the other side.  (He can hardly wait)

 I ironed the edges so they would lay flat but I didn't bother with the ironing the whole thing.  It is a dog bed after all.  If you feel the need to make it smooth and pretty go for it.

Pin the sides together so you have the three overlapping layers.

See, this make a big envelope for your pillows.  

Sew up the two side seams with a good 7/8 inch seam allowance and turn right side out.  I admit flipping around was a bit tricky but keep at it until the seams are on the inside and you have a nice pocket.

Insert your pillows...

and you have yourself a dog bed.

This makes a good size dog bed but you could make a smaller version if you fold the sheet in quarters and use one pillow.

30 seconds later.

Two minutes later.  Nap time is over and he's back to guard duty. 

Like I said this is one appreciated gift.  You are welcome Wrigley.  I love you too.

I can't let all this cleaning go to waist so stop by tomorrow for a little house tour.

Project ReStyle - Week 11

Spring cleaning has begun but I took a quick break to braided necklaces.  I used this tutorial.  So easy.  So cute.  These will make great presents of all the little girls (and big girls) in my life.

Project ReStyle - Week 10

I had something else planned for today's Project ReStyle but my husband came home with some plants and one thing lead to another.  Whenever we garden the girls love to jump in and get their hands dirty.  They have some garden gloves but their hands have grown since the last time they were used.  I'm trying to focus my projects around useful items and things from our needs list.  I love that these used up fabric from my scrap bag, are useful and needed and finally that the girls think they're cool.

Check back Tuesday for my tutorial so you can make your own.  Easy Peasy.

Project ReStyle - Week 9

The bottle cap was ReStyled for a preposition game using paper and Mod Podge.

How the game works:
 As a speech pathologist, I often see kids who have difficulties with prepositions.  For this game you practice your prepositions by flipping over a card and reading the where to put your object.  The next player mixes up the cards, picks one and moves the object again.  To make the game a little more challenging follow multiple steps by flipping two cards and moving two objects.  Earn 1 point for each correct move.  The first player to 10 wins.

This game was fun and easy to make your own or pick one up at my Etsy shop (here).