Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway- String Craft: Create 35 fantastic projects by winding, looping, and stitching with string

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Giveaway- String Craft: Create 35 fantastic projects by winding, looping, and stitching with string

Leave a comment in today’s post by October 6th, 2016 and you are in the running for this cool book filled with all sorts of new and innovative projects.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

Transform your home and make unique gifts using string!

Follow Lucy Hopping’s simple instructions to create a whole host of stylish home accessories to update your decor. In the first chapter “Display and decorate,” you’ll be able to make a cool geometric lampshade, get organized with embroidered storage baskets, or revamp a bare wall with a large piece of wall art that consists of lots of little canvases which combine to make an impressive deer. Wrap your furniture in string too. There are projects to transform your chairs, decorate a table, and stitch rainbow curtains.

All the creations in the second chapter “Accessories and Jewelry” can be worn, so you can be a walking work of art! There are embroidered buttons to embellish a cardigan, a vibrant neon necklace that makes a statement, and even a cute pineapple purse that will liven up any outfit.

In the final chapter, “Artful gifts,” you can use all your new skills to make your friends and family beautiful gifts such as pretty stitched notebooks for the student in your life, a trendy arrow cushion for a new home, ceramic hanging decorations for Christmas, and why not whip up gift boxes and gift tags as the perfect finishing touches?

Start with the simplest projects and progress to more complex designs such as the intricate string art owl, guided every step of the way by clear step-by-step illustrations and a comprehensive techniques section.

Looking for more ways to upcycle furniture? Check out these Upcycling Furniture Books we found on Amazon.

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Comments

  3. This sounds like an absolutely amazing book and I would love to have it! Jadahlgr at Yahoo dot Com

  6. This is so cool, I’ve be trying to teach my young grandchildren different crafts so that they have something productive to do instead of playing with electronics. This would be great for them. I think I would really enjoy it also

  7. I love to learn new crafts. Would love to learn this as it looks like a portable craft to take with you!!! Maybe I will be the lucky one to win!

  10. OMG, you have turned that plain notebook into a piece of art!!! What a clever crafty way to use up leftover embroidery thread..Would love to know how and pass on to my grand nieces.!

  25. I would love to have this book! I’m always looking for new ideas on crafting with my grandchildren. Thanks for the opportunity.

  44. This book looks very cool. The projects look very fresh and fun. I love the yarn bowl, the lampshade, and the book on the cover. Pick me!

Have you read?

DIY Paper Bag Mushrooms – A Creative Upcycled Craft for Kids and Nature Lovers

There’s something magical about mushrooms — maybe it’s the fairy-tale vibes or their cozy woodland charm. Either way, turning ordinary brown paper bags into mushrooms is a fun, hands-on craft project that kids (and adults) will enjoy. The best part? You’re reusing materials that might otherwise go to waste. Win-win!

This easy tutorial walks you through making your very own forest of recycled mushrooms using simple supplies you likely already have around the house.

What You’ll Need:

  • Brown paper lunch bags (you can even use grocery bags cut to size)

  • Scrap paper or newspaper for stuffing

  • String, yarn, or twine

  • Scissors

  • Paints (acrylic or tempera work best)

  • Paintbrushes or sponges

  • Optional extras: markers, stickers, googly eyes, craft glue

Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Mushrooms

Step 1: Create the Mushroom Top
Start by opening your paper bag and gently crumpling up some newspaper or scrap paper. Stuff it into the bottom of the bag — not too tight, just enough to give it a rounded shape that will form the mushroom cap.

Step 2: Form the Stem
Once the top is nice and puffy, hold the bag just underneath the stuffed section and twist it lightly to shape the stem. Tie a piece of twine or string around this part to hold the form. You’ll now have a mushroom top with a long paper bag hanging down — that’s your stem.

Step 3: Trim to Size
If the stem looks too long or uneven, grab your scissors and snip it down to your preferred height. You can even experiment with making some taller and some short and chubby for a little mushroom variety.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Time for the fun part — painting! Flip the mushroom cap upright and paint it any way you like. Classic red with white spots? Go for it. Bright blue with glitter? Why not! Use brushes or dabbers to add spots, swirls, or patterns. Let kids express their creativity — there’s no wrong way to decorate a magic mushroom!

Step 5: Let It Dry
Place your mushrooms somewhere safe to dry. You can use a sheet of newspaper or cardboard to avoid mess. Once dry, they’ll stiffen a little and hold their shape nicely.

Step 6: Display Your Mushroom Garden
Line them up on a windowsill, add them to a play area, or build a fairy village in the corner of a room. You can even glue them to a cardboard base and add moss, pebbles, and tiny paper critters for a full scene.

Extra Ideas:

  • Add flags or tiny doors to make mushroom homes.

  • Draw faces or names on the stems to turn them into characters.

  • Use cotton balls or pom-poms for fluffy mushroom spots.

Why This Project Rocks:

This is one of those crafts that doesn’t need a trip to the store or fancy tools — just a little time, a few basic supplies, and a bit of imagination. Plus, it encourages kids to see the creative potential in everyday materials — a great step toward more mindful, eco-conscious crafting.

So go ahead, raid the recycling bin and bring a mini mushroom forest to life.

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