Recycled Candle Holders

It's hard to stop the recycling kick once you get started. I keep looking at things in a whole new way. I made these candle holders out of small cardboard tubes.

1. Cut each tube to the desired height.

2. Spray with metallic paint and sealer.

3. Insert floral foam inside the tube, making sure the bottom is level.

4. Insert candle into foam.

5. Arrange silk leaves and butterfly as shown.

Obviously if you choose to actually light the candle, you would need to be careful as the candle burned lower, so as not to catch the leaves and cardboard on fire.

Recycled Flower Vases

For a friends wedding, we needed 20 very tall flower vases for the reception tables. The tall glass ones would have been great, but also very expensive. We came up with this economical version instead. I started with large cardboard tubes; the kind that holds plotter paper for drafting printers. I sprayed each with silver metallic paint and then a sealer. The sealer really is necessary. I learned the hard way when the paint began to rub off on my hands! Inside each tube, we placed a weight (it isn't seen, so it can be anything) and then arranged a few flowers and ivy.

Upcycling contest

I entered the Upcycling contest sponsored by Singer/Craft Magazine and was chosen as a runner-up! I created baby shower decorations using a pair of old jeans, stash ribbon and paper napkins. Check it on on their website.

Instructions:

Invitation -- use a blank greeting card, stitch ribbon, jean material, and paper napkin to front of card using zig-zag stich.

Centerpiece -- cut out two squares from old jeans, stitch sides together to create a bag, insert ivy and flowers, tie with ribbon, and cut out paper napkin elephant graphic and glue on front of bag.

Favor bags -- cut out small squares from old jeans and stitch sides together to create small bags, fill with candy, tie with ribbon, cut out elephant graphic from napkin and glue on front of bag.

Banner -- cut out denim squares and paper napkins with pinking shears. Stitch paper napkin squares to denim using zig-zag stitch. Cut small slits in corner of denim squares and thread ribbon through, tying knots at each slit.