Recycled Crafts » Product Reviews

Review: The Cloth Paper Scissors Book by Barbara Delaney

stefaniegirard — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:05:00 +0000

This book is 100% recycled art goodness! I’m pretty sure just about every wonderful project and tutorial includes at least one bit of something that originally did something else. So if you like making things out of other things (and would you be here if you didn’t?) then you will love this eye candy packed book that will become your “go to” book for inspiration or to try a new technique you haven’t yet experimented with. This being a compilation of the best of the best you will find lots of styles that will surely broaden your creative pallet. It did for me. I tried using watercolor with recycled book pages to make a Halloween pumpkin card.

More about the book from Interweave Press:

The Cloth Paper Scissors Book

by
Barbara Delaney

Find out where paint, paper, fabric, metal, and wax all come to play

Uncover the very best articles and projects from the first six years of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Barbara Delaney, assistant editor for Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, has assembled a gold mine of the top articles, hands-on art pieces, and mixed-media ideas for the first time ever. Explore the exciting worlds of collage, journaling, encaustic, printing, assemblage, metal work, and more. Discover how to make interesting fabric surface designs, keep a uniquely-you sketchbook, and transform a basic photograph into something unexpected. The only rule in this must-have mixed-media resource is that there are no rules.

In addition to projects and techniques, the artists of The Cloth Paper Scissors Book elaborate on their favorite tools and mediums. Choosing and using just the right paint, fabric, paintbrush, glue, paper, wax, found object, and more is made easy for you with this light-hearted guide. The projects inside are suitable for many skill levels, with opportunities for every mixed-media enthusiast to have fun while enhancing their skills and adding a personal touch to their art. If you are new to mixed-media, you will love the accessible and easy-to-learn projects. And if you are already familiar with mixed-media and Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, you will love the convenience of owning so many great articles and art project ideas in one superb collection.

With The Cloth Paper Scissors Book, you’ll enjoy the advice and company of the best mixed-media artists in the convenience of your own home.

Review: Coth Paper Scissors Gifts 2010

stefaniegirard — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:12:20 +0000

My oh my! This issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts 2010 from Interweave has it all! Super projects in virtually all mediums that generally include at least one element that’s recycled. I think my favorite section was on all the different types of banners you can make with all sorts of materials for all sorts of occasions. Not only do the projects rock, there are a whole bunch of new products and findings I haven’t seen before and can’t wait to work with. There is so much in Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts 2010 you will be inspired to be creative for the entire year to come! And speaking of the year to come, are you looking for a calendar to keep you organized in a pretty and creative way? Why not get the Cloth Paper Scissors 2011 Calendar.

The designs featured in it are beautiful to look at as well as creatively inspiring!

The coolest recycling thing I learned at the Craft Super Show and CHA Winter 2010

stefaniegirard — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:15:54 +0000

Kunin felt and all Kunin products are made from Eco-fi, high-quality polyester fiber made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles! Can you believe that! I had no idea. Kunin felt is a staple in so many adult and kid crafts, now it makes me feel so happy to know it is so eco-friendly! To see more pictures from these two big craft shows pop over here, here and here. And if you know of a cool craft supply that is eco-friendly or recycled be sure to drop me a link, I would love to share it!

[tags]Kunin felt is 100 percent recycled[/tags]

Marjorie’s Cracked Plate Jewelry

robyn charles — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:12:41 +0000

I’ve never been someone who has wanted china in my house, as I tend to break things way too often! But if I ever did have china, Marjorie would be who I’d send my broken pieces to! Marjorie’s Cracked Plate Jewelry takes broken pieces of gorgeous china and gives them new life as necklaces, bracelets, earrngs and more!

And if you don’t see exactly what you like? She takes custom orders!

Spotlight On: Dinner Time Chimes

robyn charles — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:13 +0000

I love all the amazing recycle-themed crafts on Etsy, and Dinner Time Chimes is one of my new favorites. Their gorgeous wind chimes are made from silverware found in estate sales, flea markets and thrift stores. Each chime is unique, gorgeous, and … holy cow, I’m going to overload on adjectives.

The shop also has some great tags made from recycled and reclaimed boxes, perfect for using as either gift tags or price tags. Head on over to Dinner Time Chimes to check out their full inventory.

Best part? The shop owners are super sweet!

From Tea Towel to Tote

Alissa — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:16:16 +0000

Check out this cute pink-and-lime-green shoulder bag made from a vintage tea towel. It’s offered in She-Su’s Etsy shop, along with a sampling of other wonderful wearables reconstructed from neckties, pillowcases, vintage fabrics and other thrift store finds.

[tags]vintage, tea towel, necktie, pillowcase, tote[/tags]

Steampunk Ring

Alissa — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:31:07 +0000

Sylvia Anderson‘s steampunk ring is a hands-down portable conversation starter. Made with an antique watch movement — including interesting embedded jewels — this particular ring is adjustable to nearly any ring size. While the gears may not help tell time anymore, they certainly act as a beautiful stand-alone work of art.

[tags]steampunk, Etsy, ring, watch, gear, time, jewelry[/tags]

Postage Stamp Earrings

Alissa — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:34:23 +0000

I love the idea of recycling postage stamps — artwork in miniature — into earrings. The fact that I’m a Frank Lloyd Wright fan doesn’t hurt, either. C.D. Childs offers a number of vintage postage stamp jewelry items, each encased in glass and finished with lead-free solder.

[tags]stamps, Frank Lloyd Wright, jewelry, Etsy, solder[/tags]

Vintage-Inspired Bobby Pins

Alissa — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:16:50 +0000

Found & Made Designs is exactly what it sounds like — a studio that creates handcrafted items using bits and pieces of vintage, recycled or repurposed materials found at estate sales, thrift stores and junk piles. In this delightful Etsy shop you’ll find conversation-starter jewelry and desk accessories pulled from the pages (literally) of vintage books, ephemera and dictionaries, like this cute set of storybook bobby pins featuring glass baubles.

[tags]bobby pins, jewelry, desk accessory, glass, bauble, vintage[/tags]

Floppy Disk Desk Accessories

Alissa — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:05:52 +0000

The 80s and 90s brought us big hair, questionable fashion trends and — to a lesser extent — floppy disks. Mike Rosati of Designing Time turns those rarely seen disks into colorful refillable jotter notebooks and other desk accessories. A notebook like this would make the perfect gift for your computer enthusiast or collector of all things computer past.

[tags]floppy, disk, computer, notebook, jotter[/tags]

Upcycled Bracelets

Alissa — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:06:27 +0000

Bracelets look great, but they don’t always feel great on your wrist. By wrapping used bangle bracelets in colorful yarn, not only have you created a soft accessory for your skin, but you’ve also created a whole new look. Here are a few Etsy sellers offering pretty yarn-wrapped bracelets:

[tags]bracelet, bangle, yarn, jewelry, accessory[/tags]

CD Earrings

Alissa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:27:56 +0000

These cute earrings are music to the recycled crafter’s ears. Shannah at UpCycleMart upcycles discarded CDs into pairs of cute and unusual earrings, like this geometric-themed pair made from the printed side of the CD. She also works with the unprinted side of CDs and embellishes with paint and dainty beads. Check out the upcycled earrings collection at her Etsy shop.

[tags]CD, earring, jewelry, upcycle, beading[/tags]

Scrabble Tile Pendants

Alissa — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:56:00 +0000

Pieces of Me Pendants offers a wonderfully sweet collection of pendants made from used Scrabble tiles. Each pendant is sealed with a high-gloss nontoxic glaze and comes with an organza bag with gift card tag, just waiting to be gifted to a special someone. A bargain at $5 a piece — plus the shop is offering a buy two, get one free sale.

[tags]pendant, Scrabble tile, game piece, necklace, jewelry, chick, bird[/tags]

Recycled Coffee Sleeve

Alissa — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:36:42 +0000

The next time you crave a take-out coffee, come prepared with your own stylish coffee sleeve — recycled from a sweater, of course. Head on over to East Coast Kitsch for a sampling of colorful ideas from Jane Murphy, or support your fellow crafter and purchase one from her shop. East Coast Kitsch also features other recycled wool and felted products, including bags, pins and cases.

[tags]coffee sleeve, sweater, felt, bag, pin[/tags]

Playful Assemblage

Alissa — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:44:51 +0000

Cat Bishop a.k.a. Artsy personifies (or puppifies, in this case) everyday objects with funky assemblage works, including Scottie (shown) made from a vintage xylophone toy, a 50s alarm clock and French tart tins. Check out her Etsy shop for more unique one-of-a-kind sculptures made from vintage doodads.

The artist writes in her profile: “If our outward appearances were to accurately reflect the incongruity we feel inside, on a daily basis, we’d look like these people–eyes asymmetrical, faces askew, legs off at uncomfortable angles, ill matched Jello molds for boobs. The work is about the ways we assemble ourselves, the cobbling together of a self more presentable than the one we know.”

[tags]assemblage, Artsy, retro, vintage, sculpture[/tags]