04/04/2012 - Doll Skin Ring

I was cleaning the gunk out of my wedding band and one of the diamonds popped out. Thank goodness I was able to find the diamond before it disappeared. This is my replacement until I get the ring fixed...well not really, but the lack of a ring was my inspiration.

Reclaimed Material: discarded doll arm
Other Material: sparkly scrapbooking brad
Tools: scissors, sandpaper, super glue, X-acto

How I did it: I cut a ring from a baby doll arm using regular scissors. It is the same concept as the doll skin tattoo bracelet. I smoothed the edges with the sand paper and shaped it at the same time. I then removed the legs of the brad and noticed there were little prongs holding a plastic sparkle in place. I raised the prongs to insert into the ring and poked shallow slits where the prongs would be when pressed against the ring. I put a dab of super glue where the sparkle was going and pressed it into the ring and let it dry. 

What I would do differently: I am not really a fan of this ring...this would have been better if I had just drawn a design on it. There does not seem to be enough contrast on the "skin" with the brad on it.

04/03/2012 - Cassette Cash Stasher

My improvisational skills are improving through my daily crafts. The original plan was this for to be a business card holder, but there wasn't quite enough room inside for cards. Folded up money fits just perfectly. Plus, who would think to check inside a cassette tape for your money? They would probably leave you money out of pity that you still listen to cassette tapes. It is just a win-win situation all around.

Reclaimed Material: cassette tape
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, screwdriver, electrical tape, paint pens, pliers

How I did it: I unscrewed the teeny screws that held the cassette together and removed the "guts". There were little sticks (no clue what those little things are called) that held the tape together so I used the pliers to pry them off. I cut a strip of electrical tape the width of the tape and stuck it on the top edge of the cassette to work as a hinge. I opened the cassette and lined the inside of the "hinge" with electrical tape. I painted the tape label and let it dry. I did not need to make a latch or closure because it clicked into place when I closed it. 

What I would do differently: My original thought was to cut off the hinges of an Altoids tin, but that was not so easy, so I trashed (giggle, giggle) that idea and went with the tape. If I made something like this again I would figure out a better hinge solution. I will probably do something with the guts sometime soon.

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

03/31/2012 - Cardboard Gift Tube

Three months of recycled crafting down! Only nine more to go! 

The nice thing about being a garbage picker/collector is that people save me their nice garbage they think I can use. Grandma Betty June gave me this neat little tube with a lid and bottom, but she didn't remember what she got in it. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it until I went to a fancy little chocolate shop that also sells beautiful paper crafts with a French theme to them and they had these on sale for $10. 

Reclaimed Material: cardboard tube, scrap paper
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, glue, brown shoe polish, gold paint pen, thin wire

How I did it: The base of the tube was glued on so I used a little wire to pull the edges away a little so I could tuck the paper under it. I used a bit of paper leftover from my SCRAP name badge project and cut it to cover the tube and glue it on. I painted parts of the instruments with the gold. I rubbed the shoe polish lightly over the paper to give it a vintage look. I used my finger as a paintbrush and lightly rubbed gold paint over the whole piece.

What I would do differently: It seems like the tube is missing something...like a pop of mauve or something. I also should have used tea to stain the paper. I do want to learn to do more vintage, Victorian-era, turn of the (19th) century crafts.

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.

03/26/2012 - Super Hero Wristbands

Super powers are not included in this craft...unless you count the power of crafting! I think this would be a perfect craft for a kid's superhero birthday party! Also, I love Wonder Woman, so I may just have to wear these out and about town.

Reclaimed Material: cardboard coffee sleeve, Velcro
Other/New Material: none
Tools: scissors, paint, paintbrush, pencil, ruler

How I did it: I pulled each sleeve apart where they were glued together, then wrapped one around my wrist to figure out the size and trimmed off the excess (making sure to cut off the glue-y part. Next I coated the front of the sleeves with paint, then waited for it to dry. I used the ruler to draw out the stars then painted the stars red. I got adhesive Velcro strips from SCRAP and cut one piece long enough to fit the height of the sleeve. I then cut the Velcro in half vertically because it was thick and used one piece for each wristband.

What I would do differently: I usually do my crafting once Zoe is asleep but this is one I need to do again so she can make her own bands.