Valentine’s Day – Not the holiday typically set aside for handmade / recycled gifts, unless they’re from your 5 year-old. Or so I thought.
Keep your flowers and chocolates – I totally want this.
Maybe a little chocolate, in the form of a mocha – so i can use my new present.
Just in case you’re judging me a little for using a paper cup – check this.
A short while after applying Gold Bond medicated itching cream (with menthol) to a bug bite on my arm, I became suddenly aware that I must not have gotten all the lotion off of my hands after application.
And as the menthol-induced coolness at the new and shocking location intensified, so did my wish that it was customary to wash ones hands before using the restroom.
This morning I woke up slowly. And during my trek to wakefulness, I heard weird noises. Some kids playing outside? It seemed sort of muffled or far away. It was more like a whine or a moan and I thought maybe my kids were playing house and someone was mad that they had to be the cat again.
I kept hearing it and my curiosity was enough to make me decide to wake all the way up and investigate. I sat up and listened really carefully for the noise again.
And then I heard it. And I knew.
And I reached under my bed and grabbed my two-year-old daughter’s ankles and pulled her out from her below-bed prison.
Now, I don’t know how she got there. I asked her of course. She was either hiding and got stuck, or she came in and laid on my floor and fell asleep, only to roll under my bed while dreaming she was bread going in the toaster.
You know I love the free stuff. And I love books. And I have a Blog – Trifecta!
So when I heard about Blogging For Books I had to check it out.
Free books just for speaking my mind – Does it get any better than that?
Blog? Want Free Books? Check it out here.
I got these two giant tubs of arts & crafts supplies from the office of my old church. They’re doing a Spring cleaning of sorts and they’re tossing or donating a bunch of stuff.
It was like Christmas! Who could know what I’d unearth in the next layer of kid-friendly fare? Pom-poms, foam sticker shapes, a rocket kit and the makings for a pinewood derby car were near the top of the heap.
And then, underneath the sheets and sheets of construction paper, I found something brilliant: A clear VHS case filled with crayons.
Now, I don’t think the people who stashed the crayons in there were trying to be awesome. I bet they were thinking, “Where am I going to put these crayo…oh hey! There’s a video case!” But I thought it was a stroke of genius. For many reasons. One, because what else are you going to use those cases for?! We’ve moved on to Blu-ray and those things are from, like, six generations of technology ago. Two, they’re just the right size for an on-the-go coloring kit. The flat sides make them easy to fit into a shoebox alongside some small notepads or activity books. Three, they’re clear so there’s no wondering if the case is filled with just crayons or crayons and poo (I’ve had toddlers).
I feel a little smart, too. Like maybe I could run a site like The Upcycle Blog. You know, if having one good idea (that I really didn’t technically even have) qualified me to do that. If that counted then yeah, I could totally do that
I’m addicted to these – and I don’t care who knows it.
I love to make them and I love to use them. I’m forever tearing up my magazines and leaving piles of supplies scattered around my office – and since it’s our home office, my husband can’t get enough of that last part.
Each envelope comes with upcycled stationery and sails nicely though the postal system.
To view a few sets, check out our ETSY store!
I’m always on the lookout for cool ideas – if I were making a list this would be at the top.
I love this little bird!
You can get your daily dose of creative genius at something created every day.
I was in the bank last week doing bank related things when I noticed a small Christmas tree. It was decorated with white envelopes clipped to the tree with little wooden clothespins; each painted clothespin sported a cute Christmas ornament. A closer looked revealed each envelope was preaddressed to one of four destinations: Healdsburg Animal Shelter, Healdsburg Senior Center ? Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club of Healdsburg or Healdsburg Food Pantry and already had the appropriate postage using, of course, cute Christmas stamps.
The best part is that each of these organizations will benefit from the extra donations they will receive this Christmas season ? the second best part is that I get to keep the cute clothespin! I now have four.
Evidently there is a woman in our community who upcycles clothespins into donations.
I have no idea who she is, since she doesn?t include a placard on the table to ensure that she receives full credit for this endeavor – But I feel blessed to have the opportunity to participate in her kindness.
Last week when I was visiting my super-awesome-sister, who also happens to be super-awesome-thrifty, she was mid-painting when I noticed she was using a plastic movie case as a painting palette.
Pretty Smart.
To see some of her super-awesome-paintings – check her out here.
We were strolling the grounds of the Real Goods Solar Living Institute located in Hopland, CA this afternoon and eventually wandered into the gift shop. There are loads of amazing things and among them – a working tin can robot!
It’s best to plan a visit and tour the gift shop, but if not – you can always pick it up here.
We had such a good time that I am including a link to yelp.com so you can read what other visitors had to say!