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Book Review and WIN a copy of Fantastic Recycled Plastic: 30 Clever Creations to Spark Your Imagination

November 11, 2010 by Stefanie Girard

Fantastic Recycled Plastic: 30 Clever Creations to Spark Your Imagination
by
David Edgar and Robin A. Edgar

Let me start by saying my background is Industrial Design so I know about how much effort goes into designing manufactured packaging. It gives me such pleasure to recycle the stuff that someone else spent so much time designing giving it a new life after its first one is done and appreciating its qualities. That’s what pretty colors and shapes of plastic packaging have to offer you. This book Fantastic Recycled Plastic: 30 Clever Creations to Spark Your Imagination gives you ideas for tons of modern and whimsical designs along with the techniques and skills to make your own creations come to life. I know of what I speak, check out the broken heart charm I made inspired by Fantastic Recycled Plastic after, of course you leave a comment at this post so you are entered to win a copy of the book!

Leave a comment by Midnight ET Thursday November 18, 2010 and you are in the running.

The fine print-Contest is open to USA residents only.

More about the book and its authors from Lark Books:

“Plastic is fantastic to craft with—and these imaginative, whimsical creations are out of the ordinary! From colorful canine silhouette pins and magnets and a holiday snowflake decoration to marvelous masks, they turn recycling into art.

Organized by level of difficulty, the items range from simple creations even a schoolchild can do to a fanciful, rolling biplane and a slithering, jointed serpent stuffed with lids and caps. All the necessary techniques—cutting, shaping, fastening, heat-forming, making tabs—unfold in step-by-step photos, along with clear, comprehensive instructions. Sidebars provide extra information on plastics, recycling, and more. Plus there’s a gallery of innovative international work by professional artists to inspire you.

What a great way to get creative…while saving the earth, too!

 

A former arts administrator and associate professor of art, DAVID EDGAR worked as a production artist on the EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland projects for the Walt Disney World Company. David’s artwork is represented internationally in corporate, institutional, and private collections. Find out more about David at www.plastiquarium.com.

ROBIN A. EDGAR writes profiles, art reviews, and features for national, regional, and local publications. She travels throughout the United States as a keynote speaker and workshops facilitator, teaching reminiscence writing techniques based on her two books, In My Mother’s Kitchen: An Introduction to the Healing Power of Reminiscence and Personal Legacies: Surviving the Great Depression. Find out more about Robin at www.robinedgar.com.”

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Comments

  1. Melissa Craig says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:33 am

    love it!!

  2. Sue H says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:39 am

    That looks so cool! My nephew would love creating something out of “junk”! Thanks for the chance to win!

  3. Angie says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:40 am

    This book looks awesome!

  4. Jenni N. says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:42 am

    What a cute book! Hope I win 🙂

  5. Hannah P. says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:49 am

    this looks like a great book for teaching kids how to recycle and use everything in crafting!

  6. Sew Woodsy says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:57 am

    This book looks awesome! I hope I win–I love “upcycling”! Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!

  7. Ashley Million says

    November 11, 2010 at 10:12 am

    I will certainly put this on my to buy list if I don’t win!

  8. Tabitha says

    November 11, 2010 at 11:49 am

    How fun…love it and would love to win it!

  9. annika says

    November 11, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    I would give it a very good home, and i promise to be very inspired

  10. Gretchen Fleener says

    November 11, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    What a cool book! I have a big bin full of colorful plastic lids and other plastic items that have been waiting for inspiration to hit me. This looks like just the thing I need to give them all new life!

  11. Fallon says

    November 11, 2010 at 2:37 pm

    What a great idea! 🙂

  12. Nonnie says

    November 11, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    This looks like an awesome book! What great ideas!

  13. jennifer wilson says

    November 11, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    anything that helps me reuse and recycle is great

  14. Melissa says

    November 11, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    This book looks really neat! I just made a bracelet out of a vintage plastic knitting needle. What fun to recycle plastic.

  15. Turtle Mom says

    November 11, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Neat book!

  16. Danielle says

    November 11, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    What a great book. And I thought I was original by making fish out of apple juice bottles, lol!!!

  17. Kate says

    November 11, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    I am super excited to read this book- I hope I win! 😀

  18. Britt says

    November 12, 2010 at 5:57 am

    I love the fish in the lower right-hand corner!

  19. Scy says

    November 12, 2010 at 6:48 am

    Love it–always looking for artistic ways to recycle and this book fits the bill!

  20. Ricki Duke says

    November 12, 2010 at 7:04 am

    Wow! What great ideas. Love to own this book. So many different ideas.

  21. Shay says

    November 12, 2010 at 7:19 am

    The talent and creativity of some people just floors me. That they can look at a piece of trash and see these kinds of project is amazing.

  22. Tracy says

    November 12, 2010 at 8:39 am

    There’s a kids museum in the area that sells commercially recycled materials on the cheap (bins, buckets, paper scraps, strings, etc.) – my 4yo son & I could have a hay day with this book!

  23. Paula Wirfel says

    November 12, 2010 at 10:05 am

    This book would be fun, educational, and environmentally-friendly. I’d love to win this and do the projects with my grandchildren!

  24. Kimberly S. says

    November 12, 2010 at 10:40 am

    Wow, I would love to have a peek at this book. I am always looking for ways to recycle this kind of stuff.

  25. darlane says

    November 12, 2010 at 11:22 am

    Wow…This books looks great. This looks like fun stuff…thanks for the contest 🙂

  26. Susan Spiers says

    November 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Everyone needs this book! What a great thing to use up those plastic bags everyone has zillions of!

  27. Sho says

    November 12, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    What a great book! I will need to track that down … 🙂

    Thank you for the opportunity!

  28. sharon says

    November 13, 2010 at 12:51 am

    recycling rocks..thanks for the chance…..s

  29. lyn Lewis says

    November 13, 2010 at 4:27 am

    What great fun this looks! Many thanks for the opportunity to join the names in the hat!
    Fingers SO crossed… lol

  30. suzanne says

    November 13, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    TOO, too cute. If I don’t win it, I will have to BUY it. Wonderful ideas for children.

  31. Noreen says

    November 13, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    I love that more and more people are finding ways to use our waste products. What fun looking ideas in this book.

  32. Joanne Carpenter says

    November 13, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    I love to make something new from something used. I’d like to win.

  33. Sunni says

    November 13, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    My daughter and I love craft projects, but supplies can be expensive. I would love to get some ideas and inspiration to repurpose junk we already have!!

Have you read?

Recycled Paper Cylinder Face Art – A Colorful Win for All Ages

I recently stumbled across this super creative project on Instructables – “Face With Recycled Paper Cylinders” – and I had to share it with you all because it’s just the kind of craft that checks all my favorite boxes: recycled materials, hands-on creativity, and fun for literally any age.

The idea is simple but genius—roll strips of recycled paper (think junk mail, old magazines, leftover printer paper) into cylinders, then arrange and glue them to form a unique abstract face. You can make it funky, realistic, Picasso-inspired—whatever your mood or style dictates!

What I really love is the blend of eco-conscious crafting with true artistic expression. This isn’t just another kids’ project—it’s something you could easily do with a group of little ones, a classroom full of teens, or even as an adult art therapy or weekend wind-down activity. It’s super relaxing and surprisingly satisfying seeing all those paper rolls come together to form something new and expressive.

The tutorial itself is easy to follow, with plenty of visuals to guide you along the way. You don’t need any fancy materials—just glue, paper, scissors, and a board or piece of cardboard to serve as your canvas.

I also appreciate how this project leaves so much room for personalization. Want to make it into a full face? Go for it. Prefer to focus on a single eye or mouth? Totally works. You can even play with color schemes by choosing papers with a certain palette, or painting over them once they’re rolled.

In short: this is a total keeper for anyone who loves crafting with purpose. It’s the kind of project that sparks creativity while gently reinforcing the idea that beautiful things can come from what we usually throw away.

Highly recommend giving it a go—solo or with a group. And if you try it, tag me or drop a pic—I’d love to see your recycled masterpiece!

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