Saturday, October 9, 2010

Re-purpose on purpose


I recycled some bottle caps to make into charms as an exchange at our retreat this next weekend. I chose a halloween theme insert with initials, so did one up for each gal. I love how they turned out! I got some great designs from Stacy on ETSY, if you would want to check them out. I think they are awesome and so is she! I plan to make some other styles for Christmas gifts with scrabble tiles and such. I shall make key chains, necklaces, zipper pulls and other things. She has a great sale going on right now too, so pick up several! As you can see in my earlier post with the vampire teeth charms, that I used a pourable glaze over it. I did that with these too, but I made the mistake of using a marker to outline the circle before I poured it. As it turned out, it blead! Guess I won't make that mistake again! Anyway I ended up redoing them and just put an acrylic dome covering over them that you can purchase at
Aunt Christys Certainly a lot easier to work with! They consequently, looked better in the long run!




Other new uses..... I had gotten this portable massager as a gift from AARP and it has sat on my desk. I had a magazine laying on top of it and Boa jumps up to sit on it, automatically turning it on! He didn't jump, so guess he must have really enjoyed it. lol

See how relaxing a massage can be!

Another item for a new use, you can see is my Q-Snap quilting frame. It makes a great cat hammock! Occasionally I get to use it covered with a white sheet and as a photo box for display items. That is, if and when I can get it away from a cat who sleeps about 20 hours a day!

So what do you do to recycle or repurpose items?

12 comments:

Sharne Gregory said...

What a wonderful keepsake for all the ladies on your retreat.

PeggyR said...

That's a great idea! Enjoy your retreat.

Sharne Gregory said...

Ally Pally is short for Alexander Palace. They have lots of different exhibitions there. The Knitting and Stitching exhibition is the one I am going to. Lots of textile showcases, workshops, galleries etc PLUS shopping!!!!

Pattyskypants said...

Ur kittehs is supah KEWT! Wish mai mom had a kwilt frame fur me to sleep in!! xxoo Bhu

Hi, sweetie pie! If you only KNEW the extent of my insane repurposing! I don't think I could even list them! Nothing gets used less than twice! E.G.: when we buy coffee, we re-use the bag to get more beans and then grind the beans into the bag. I think we are on our seventh use of the Nico Sol bag at this point! So, we get a 5% discount for bringing a "bag" and a 5% senior citizen discount. Money talks! xxooo P

NEEDLEWINGS said...

It's all about the economy and the environment, Patty! OH and us poor folk too. lol
Thanks Sharne for explaining the Ally Pally. Sounds like a blast!
Hey Peg, hope all is well with you and Norm!

Carola Bartz said...

That's what cats are supposed to do, right? Sleep 20 hours a day. I tell ya, in my next life I'll be a spoilt domestic cat!
Love your bottle cap keepsake!

JenW!~ said...

I just stumbled upon your blog. I love your charms and am sure those at your retreat will be thrilled with them.

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I attempt to be a recycle artist who saves the positives and negatives of all my cuttings...both paper and cloth. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Your cat is so sweet!

Deborah said...

Wonderful use for a quilt frame! Lovely kitty! One of the things I do is deconstruct clothes and costume jewelry from thrift stores for quilting and jewelry-making projects.

JenW!~ said...

Wanda,
Thanks so much for your comments on my blog. I may start a new one because that one is no longer who I am.
I am in Muskingum County. Donnely is my best friend so I am at her house alot. I will tell her you said hello.

Traceyr said...

Love the bottle caps and all that orangeness.

Wow to that cat - what a sleepy head! Mind you that does look like one very comfortable hammock! :)

Jean Franks Beck said...

You have a beautiful blog! My mom is an avid quilter, going on retreats with her bee at least once a year, so I really enjoyed seeing your (and the others') work. I'll comment here since I'm a papercrafter, and I *adore* these charms you've made for everyone - what a treat! Thanks for visiting my blog, and good luck in the candy draw! :)

Oh - I recycle/repurpose tons of vintage "stuff" - but only after I've hoarded it and admired it for a while, LOL! My mom buys stashes of antique lace /MOP buttons/ trims, which I love to use on my cards and other crafty projects. ;)