04/11/2012 - Sparkly Z Necklace

SCRAP had gotten in a donation of sparkly charms and they had a lot of "Z"s. I though it would be cute to make a stretchy bracelet for Zoe to wear...but she did not approve and insisted she only wanted one "Z". She also asked me where the "O" and "E" were. Isn't she...wait for it...charming?

Reclaimed Material: rubber, sparkly "Z" charm, necklace clasp
Other Material: jewelry wire
Tools: scissors, safety pin, jewelry pliers

How I did it: For the necklace, I did a round braid to fit Zoe. I slid on the sparkly "Z" to the center of the necklace before I added the closures. I slid the jewelry clasp over the wire and made a loop and pulled it through an opening at one end of the braid (about 1/4" down) so the clasp came out the end and enough wire was left hanging out of the opening. I wound the extra wire up to the end, trimmed the excess and tucked in the end of the wire. I did the same thing on the other end, except I didn't add a clasp and I made a double loop a little bit bigger than the other side.

What I would do differently: I did try to incorporate the charm into the braid, but it didn't look quite right. I think a thinner braid would be much better, but this size works for my picky little diva.

04/10/2012 - Copper and Rubber Wristband

For Christmas I made various handbags as gifts for people, including one with rubber inner tubes. I thought I had measured the purse handle length incorrectly and trimmed off the excess...only to find out it was too short. To make my long story even longer, I had a leftover bit of rubber with fabric stitched to it. I need to make a longer purse handle, so I will have more pieces like this if I want to make more. I do like this wristband a lot and have been wearing it all day.

Reclaimed Material: scrap rubber/fabric piece, button, copper wire
Other Material: none
Tools: scissors, needle, thread, pliers

How I did it: I threaded the copper wire through a large-eyed needle and used it to whip stitch the unfinished ends of the rubber on both ends. I flattened the wire by tamping it down with the pliers. I placed the button and sewed it onto the rubber then cut a slip for the button hole that corresponded with the button placement. I used black thread to cover the button hole.

What I would do differently: I could have done the button hole stitching with a sewing machine, but by the time I got the right tension, etc. it was just easier to stitch it by hand. Also, the copper whip stitches could have been a little bit neater, but it is an effect I want to keep practicing.

04/08/2012 - Button Hair Pin

Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say. My hair is getting awfully shaggy so making a cute hair pin came to mind. Thankfully, that quote refers to more important things than my hair.

Reclaimed Material: rubber, button, copper wire
Other Material: bobby pin
Tools: scissors, X-acto knife, needle nose pliers, wire stripper


How I did it: I cut a circle from the rubber about 1/4" bigger than the button. I cut marks around the circle to feather it. I cut a small slit in the rubber to pull the button notch (? not sure what the back of a decorative button is called) through. I slid the bobby pin through the button hole. The copper wire was from a broken electrical cord so I had to strip off the plastic using the wire strippers. I took one of the copper wires and wrapped it around the button and bobby pin to secure it.

What I would do differently: This needs something to differentiate the black rubber from my hair. I think I will make some type of doodad to mount behind the rubber. I used copper because it kind of matched the button that I got from a bag I got from SCRAP.

04/02/2012 - Noah, the finger puppet

Zoe gave me this idea by grabbing one of the ends I cut off of an inner tube during the big basket project. She put one on her finger and walked around saying she had a finger puppet. She also named this little guy. I told her I made the finger puppet for her. She looked at it skeptically and said, "his name is Noah." Then she snatched out the green hair and said, "because he has NOAH hair." This is what she gets from the Bible stories I tell her?

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tube, button, plastic bottle ring, green thingie
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, Sharpie, X-acto knife

How I did it: The tube was already cut to the size I needed and I had already cut skinny little strips. I used the X-acto to cut little notches along the top to string the skinny rubber strip through to bring the top together around the hair that was going to be pulled out anyway. I cut two more notched to sew on the button, using the rubber strip. After cutting two more notches for the mouth placement, I cut the plastic ring in half. The ring had little flaps on it, so I notched them on each side to hold the mouth in place after I tucked it into the rubber. I drew a black circle on the button to make the eye and gave Noah to Zoe the next morning.

What I would do differently: It would be fun to make more Zoe-approved puppets.

04/01/2012 - Bicycle Basket

This was a new basket that was turned into a recycled project. That normally goes against what I am trying to do, but this was for Jason's coworker. I guess she loves this style but the plastic weaving would always come loose, so she wanted it woven with rubber. I am a bit surprised at the transformation of this basket...it is cute as a button.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes, button
Other/New Material: plastic bicycle basket, safety pin
Tools: scissors

How I did it: I removed the plastic weaving from the basket then washed and cut strips of rubber to the same size as the plastic weaving I removed. I began weaving along the bottom and worked my way to the top. (The white vertical lines in the picture are part of the basket frame. I wrapped the top edge with rubber. I cut wider pieces of rubber and folded them in half, lengthwise, and did a twisty braid along the bottom and the top of the basket. I cut two different sized circles and cut them into flowers. I put the smaller one over the larger one and poked a small hole in the center and pushed the button (the kind with the mount on the back) through. I pulled the button notch through two lines in the weave and pinned it in place.

What I would do differently: I want to figure out how to make bicycle baskets using old bicycle spokes, but I think the spokes would need to be welded together. I couldn't resist adding the flower to the basket...I hope the coworker likes it.

Before

After

03/30/2012 - Basket Finish Work

I am really good at waiting until the last minute to finish things up. I think it is quite a skill really. I had the weaving done but needed to cover the corners and attach handles on all 12 baskets before my brother-in-law arrived to pick them up at 4pm.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
 Other/New Material: screws, staples
Tools: scissors, drill, screwdriver, ruler, marker

How I did it: I dropped Zoe off at school and started cutting strips to cover the corners and started stapling them onto the baskets...then ran out of staples, grrrr. I ran to the hardware store and got the staples and met the most unhelpful employee there. The screws I had for the handles were not going to work so I asked him for help finding something similar. After his lack of assistance, I managed to find the screws I needed on my own, the hurried home. I finished the corners then measured 24 pieces of inner tube for handles. I measured and marked the hole placement for the handles -- 48 in all and drilled the holes. I had to poke the screws through 4 layers of rubber for both sides of the handle (I tried a hole punch but the screw heads were too small). I screwed in the handles by hand...of course I couldn't find a flat head drill bit, so it was all by hand. I finished this by about 3:45pm and thankfully Mark didn't arrive for another 40 minutes, so I had time to double check each basket to make sure the weaving was straight, etc. Phew. That was quite a day...and I still had to meet a 5pm deadline to submit my art pieces.

What I would do differently: NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! It was a stressful day and when I let myself wait until the last minute I run into problems like running out of supplies or not being able to find tools. It all worked out but I was pooped by the time 5pm rolled around.

03/29/2012 - Completion of Tree Art

I got news today that this piece was chosen to be in a First Thursday show...hooray. To be honest I didn't really figure out what "First Thursday" meant until I was talking to my mother-in-law about it and did a little web research. This and my Portland Bike Lane piece will be part of a 75% recycled show sponsored by SCRAP and Whole Foods. Can you notice anything strange about this picture?

Reclaimed Material: bicycle brake wire (cables)
Other/New Material: none
Tools: cable cutters, electrical tape

How I did it: I finished this piece by continuing to unravel the cables to make the various branches and tucking the ends under the canvas. I wanted to give a 3D effect to the piece, so I raised some of the "branches" and trimmed them at various lengths. I had to bend down the ends because each strand is razor sharp...I have the cuts to prove this. I trimmed off the excess wire from the back of the canvas and used the tape to hold the cables in place.

What I would do differently: Once I start a project I am really excited about I have a hard time sleeping because I just lay awake thinking about my next step, so I didn't get much sleep during this process. I should do things differently by getting more sleep, but it is hard to turn off creative processing mid-stream. I am very excited with how this turned out. My doggie, Max, was outside while I was taking this picture and is sitting right behind the piece so you can see his silhouette in the middle of the piece.

In case anyone reading this lives in the Portland Area, here is the information for the opening, but the pieces will be on display the whole month:

03/28/2012 - Brake Wire Tree

Trees are some of my favorite things. They are beautiful, unique--I can go on and on and on. I was so excited to start the tree once I finished the canvas. I was a little worried this wasn't going to turn out the way I wanted it to when I started the trunk, but as I kept going it came together nicely.

Reclaimed Material: bicycle brake wire
Other/New Material: electrical tape
Tools: brake wire cutters

How I did it: After I washed the wire/cables, I started with the trunk of the tree by using pieces of brake wire that had cable stops on the bottoms, yes, I was just told by my hubby that is the correct name. I threaded the wire through the weaves and twisted them randomly to give it more of a trunk look. I unraveled a strand of the brake wire and used it to hold the trunk in place by looping the strand around from underneath. After the trunk was completed, I spread out the brake wire to make the branches. I unraveled the ends of the brake wire branches to make smaller branches then tucked the ends between the weaves of the canvas.

What I would do differently: I need to be more careful with the brake wire because I got a lot of little cuts. I also scrubbed them before I started this project but there was grease in the nooks and crannies of the wires, so I think I should soak them overnight in Simple Green.

03/27/2012 - Finishing up Rubber Frame

This frame took much longer than I anticipated it to. I was working on it in the middle of the family room floor and I think every family member, even the dog managed to walk on it while I was sitting there.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes, wooden frame
Other/New Material: staples
Tools: scissors, staple gun

How I did it: I finished weaving the horizontal strips through the vertical, pulled them taut and stapled them to the other side. Because the strips were so thin I had to continuously straighten them out as I went along.

What I would do differently: Next time I do a frame this large, I definitely need to use larger strips (I think I said that already), but it really paid off because the weave looks really nice.

03/25/2012 - New Rubber Canvas Project

This is a project I have been wanting to do for quite a while now...the finished art not the frame. This is a piece I ended up submitting for a show, but I am waiting to hear back whether or not it has been accepted. 

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes, wooden frame
Other/New Material: staples
Tools: scissors, staple gun

How I did it: I cut the rubber into thin strips. There are lines on the rubber that I used as guides. I started by stapling the strips along the top edge of the frame then pulling them taut over the front of the frame then stapled them to the bottom. I then stapled a row of strips along one side of the frame. Furthermore (writing so many "I"s and "next"s is getting boring), I began to weave the strips through to the other side then stapled each strip as it was pulled through.

What I would do differently: I need to remember to take pictures of my projects when I finish them for the day since some are taking longer than a day to finish. This is just a corner of the finished piece, but this picture gives a general idea. 

03/24/2012 - Rubber Octopus Toy

I have this weird thing where I critique rubber inner tubes. My favorite class of inner tube are the lovely ones that are shiny and wide. Some of the tubes I go through are nasty with bits of the road imbedded in them, filled with a green goo after a flat, or covered in bright orange patches. Those tubes give character to some projects, but they are not my preference. I wrote all that to say that this little buddy is made from my favorite type of rubber.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, white marker

How I did it: I tied a simple knot in a piece of rubber inner tube. I tucked one of the ends into the knot so that both ends came out the same side to make the legs. I cut the two ends into 24 kind of equal strips by cutting the ends in half so there were four pieces, then again to make 8 pieces. I cut each of those eight strips into thirds. Next I braided the thirds and tied them off to make each leg. I used the white marker to draw on the face. 

What I would do differently:  I was trying to for a "clockwork orange" thing with his eyes, but the execution was not so successful. I need to little bits for faces and also maybe stuff the head with fluff. Zoe is happy with him though.

03/23/2012 - Last of the Basket Weaving

Holy moly! I did it! 12 baskets done, well, mostly done at that point. The project left my hands in need of some tlc and a good scrubbing. It felt good to have the bulk of the project done.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples 
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: See: original rubber basket project. 

What I would do differently: Moisturize my hands better during the process.

03/22/2012 - Baskets - there is an end in sight!

I had to do an inner tube run to my hubby's work to raid their tire/inner tube recycling bins. Apparently I have competition in raiding those bins, but there is plenty to go around and the artists who are also raiding the bins do awesome work - one makes belts and the other makes die cut bracelets. These tubes are really dirty though and filled with talc, so almost a week and half later I am still trying to get stains off my fingertips.
 
Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: See: original rubber basket project. 

What I would do differently: I should have washed the second batch of tubes better.

03/21/2012 - You guessed it, baskets!

Knocked out two more...woot woot. I actually took one to a crafting affair called Makin' It with Destination DIY and got most of it done there. Super fun event with free beer and pizza, who could ask for anything more? I got to chat with some super talented crafters/creators/makers and check out their fabulous creations, all while listening to some groovy tunes. 

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: See: original rubber basket project. 

What I would do differently: Maybe I should have been drinking more beer during this project...I seemed to be really productive at the crafting party!

03/20/2012 - Finished another basket

I saved all the finish work for these until the end. My biggest goal was to get the weaving done.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples 
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: See: original rubber basket project. One thing I haven't mentioned yet is that I covered the wood with rubber by stapling rubber pieces I splayed open on the sides of the wood that were going to be covered with the weaving.

What I would do differently: I still need to figure out a frame option that would be easy for me to make myself.

03/18/2012 - More and more baskets

I managed to add 2 more baskets to the grouping. Zoe grew tired of the baskets after me sitting and making 5 of them and came running in with her "magic wand" and said, "Abracadabra make these baskets disappear! Mom, stop working on the baskets! Abracadabra make all this rubber disappear!" Her magic skills need some work because they did not disappear.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples 
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: Still doing the same thing: rubber basket. 

What I would do differently: Get Zoe some magic lessons.

03/17/2012 - Making progress on the basket project

I didn't make 3 of these in one day, the chronicles of the baskets show them cumulatively.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples 
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: See: original rubber basket project. 

What I would do differently: Not applicable, or is it?

03/15/2012 - Another Basket

This was the official start of my 12 rubber basket project, so this will be dominating a few posts. I washed about 115 inner tubes in the bath tub and put a swimsuit on Zoe and her stomp on them like grapes to get them clean. Ah, what special mommy/daughter time.

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tubes
Other/New Material: staples 
Tools: hammer, staple gun, scissors

How I did it: Thankfully I didn't have to build the frames for these baskets or I would probably still be working on them. The frames were built by professionals then I pretty much followed the same thing I did on the original rubber basket project.

What I would do differently: Since the prototype was a success, there is nothing to do differently.

03/09/2012 - Rubber Triangle Bracelet

I wanted to try something funky with a piece of inner tube, but I am not sure this translated well from the mental picture I had of this. This is kind of geometric, 80s-ish. I can't help but think of Jem and the Holograms. Wow, that makes me sou

Reclaimed Material: rubber inner tube
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, X-acto knife 

How I did it: I cut a long triangle from the rubber long enough to fit around my wrist with a little bit of overlap. I cut two vertical slits on the short side of the triangle for the point to fit in.

What I would do differently: I should have cut the triangle longer. The point pulls out of the slits a bit. OK, sorry, that sounds worse than I mean it to, I am now getting my mind out of the gutter. This is really boring and needs some pizazz...glitter? sparkles? diamonds?

03/05/2012 - Rubber Stamp

With all the rubber that I use, I thought I would try my hand at making a rubber stamp. I thought it would be fun to make Zoe her own little name stamp so she could mark her artwork. Can you spot the problem?

Reclaimed Material: bicycle inner tube,wood scrap
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, glue, books


How I did it: I cut out the letters for Zoe's name. I then cut a rubber strip that would fit the wood and letters and glued the strip onto the wood, then glued the letters onto the strip. I put the block under a pile of books so the rubber wouldn't buckle and waited for it to dry.

What I would do differently: Oh, so many things I would do differently. First of all, I had totally spaced that I needed to mirror the letters so they would stamp the right way on paper! Duh. Secondly, I need to figure out a better glue to use. I knew the regular glue I used wasn't the best option and it hardened the rubber. I think a heavy duty rubber cement would work, maybe. The wood scrap I used wasn't very big, but it seems cumbersome, so will use a smaller scrap next time. One last thing is that I will make the letters thicker by gluing rubber strips together then cutting out the shapes. Oh well, you live and you learn.