12 More Ways to Reuse Paper Bags

Paper bags have been a bit of a controversy.  Are paper bags better than plastic?  I have a previous blog post with Ways to Reuse Paper Bags, which includes a video documentary about whether plastic or paper are better for the environment.  Click here to watch the video and see the first 8 Ways to Reuse Paper Bags.

I think we all can agree that reusing canvas shopping bags is best.

If you still find yourself with paper bags here are even more ways to reuse the paper bags you end up with:

1.  Use a dust mop?  Struggle to get the dust and dirt off it?  Put it in a paper bag and put a rubber band around it to secure the bag.  Then shake the dust mop to get the dust and dirt off.  Carefully remove the paper bag.

2.  Remove wax.  Heat the wax through a paper bag, moving the paper bag around to use new portions to pick up the wax.  Do not use a printed bag as this may cause the ink to run.

3.  Reuse as gift bags.  Use acrylic paint to cover any printed areas or glue on decorative paper.  Use decorative punches to decorate the edges, add ribbons, etc.  Get creative!

4.  Place fruit in a paper bag to accelerate ripening.

5.  Make a mailer with paper bags.  Click here for a tutorial on how to do this.

6.  Make an amazing butterfly wreath!!

7.  Make paper!

8.  Use them to protect surfaces when your painting, gluing or doing other messy crafty projects.

9.  Cut out eyes and decorate to make a mask.

10.  Make a kite.

11.  Use them to separate your recyclables.

12.  Cut into strips and tape them to make chains for decorations.

You can also make a Paper Bag Scrapbook.  Click here to get my original, simple Paper Bag Scrapbook.

Find out more about my updated Paper Bag Scrapbook there and how to get the step-by-step instructions for free, too.

Become a Creative Goddess

I can't recommend Leonie Dawson enough!  She is prolific and successful and this is her program for creativity!  

Creative Goddess eCourse

Think you aren't creative - this will help.

Blocked creativity - this will help.

This will make you more productive, more prolific, more creative and more alive!

Or, do yourself a big favor and just sign up for the Goddess Circle.  You get access to ALL of her programs instantly and for 1 year for one price, PLUS forums with the most supportive people ever!  These are the people I turn to when I'm down and they lift me up, these are the people I share my tiniest successes and they all celebrate with me.  We all support each other, lift each other up, send each other love and share our wisdom.

I joined the goddess circle because I wanted to take the Business Goddess eCourse and knew that I would love all the other programs as well.  I have taken the Radiant Goddess Course as well.  Both of the courses changed (and continue to change) my life in beautiful ways.  

{disclosure:  I am an affiliate for Leonie Dawson, which means I get money if you purchase these products.  Don't worry, I would never promote something that I didn't support 100%!}

Recycling Places - BUiLDiNG CHARACTER

If you have never been to BUiLDiNG CHARACTER in Lancaster, PA, you have really been missing out!

BUiLDiNG CHARACTER is tucked away down an archway from the 300 block of N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA {342 N. Queen Street, Rear Warehouses, Lancaster, PA 17603}

(Full disclosure:  My retail space is in BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, I am a vendor there.)

At BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, you'll find original furniture made from upcycled items:  balusters become candlesticks, windows become tables, old wood becomes unique pieces of furniture and flower boxes.

 

There are plenty of antiques to browse.

There are 30+ vendors at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, including artists, artisans, people selling vintage wares and used clothing. Many of BC's vendors creatively recycling and reuse items in their creations.

Kate of Shiny Tings uses discarded items to create unique mobiles and other awesomeness.

Rejuvenated Furniture gives old furniture new life.

Cool glass bird feeders from the Eclectic Collective.

With 3 warehouses full of unique items, I have barely scratched the surface here!

Make sure to check out all the great events at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER:

• 1st Friday 6 pm - 9 pm

• Ladies Night Out / Music Friday 3rd Friday of each month 7 pm - 9 pm

•  2nd Sunday Flavor Fair 11 am - 3 pm

Say Hi! if you stop by!!

Don't Be Afraid to Be Creative!

I made these newspaper heart decorations for my booth at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER.  I put them up on First Friday and they were a big hit!

People kept saying that they could never come up with something so creative.

I don't particularly feel as though I came up with something that creative.  I knew I wanted Valentine's Day decorations in my booth.  I knew that I wanted to make them out of "trash."  I had a pile of newspaper.

Somewhere in my past, I think in elementary school, we made shapes (I think fish) out of newspaper.

Somehow I remembered this and created the hearts.  Then the other details just started to come to me.  I love buttons and have tons of them, so I knew they would be great!  I think they're why the hearts are so cute!

Anyone could have made the hearts if they had the same experiences as me.  I'm not any more creative than the next person.  I just had a cool elementary school teacher, the proper supplies and tools and the desire to make something.  I also did not have any fear that it wouldn't work out.  I didn't know, but I didn't really worry about it either.

They could have just as easily not worked out.

So, if you wish to be creative, GO FOR IT!  You may just need some tools or a little instruction and the desire to make something cool!  Don't be afraid of failing!  You can just try again if it doesn't work out.

My New Idea

I have been thinking and reflecting on my business lately.  I had been feeling like I needed to add or change something.  I love making jewelry and I will continue to do so, of course, but I wanted to add something, too.

Quite frequently lately I have been noticing people telling me that they "wish" they were creative.  I have been telling people they "are" creative.  They don't believe me, though.

So, I have decided to launch a line of eBooks to help people learn how to use their own creativity to make awesome stuff!

The eBooks will be much more than just a tutorial or pattern of how to make a predetermined project.  The tutorials will contain lots of information on how to create your own unique project.

For example, the first eBook will be "Design a Doll."  I will be sharing step-by-step instructions on how I design my own dolls, how I make patterns for them and instructions on how to sew them.  

Your project won't likely be perfect at your first attempt.  The beautiful thing is that you get to try again!  The more you make the projects, I hope that you will eventually become very comfortable with making things and coming up with your own ideas.  

The more comfortable you become, the more creative you will be!

First eBook Release

The first eBook - Design a Doll - is set to launch on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2011 in my Etsy Shop!

Inspiration from Nature

I think a lot of creative people say that they draw their inspiration from nature. But what does that mean specifically?

For me, it's a couple of things:

1. Most importantly, it means that I love our planet! I love the plants and trees. I like it the way it is or I don't want it to get even worse. I think we can clean it up, but I think we need to first do no additional harm to it. So, I am generally inspired to create things that cause no further harm to the earth. Additionally, I like to save ordinary things that are no longer useful to people to make them cool and pretty and useful again. (And to keep them out of the dump.) I like that when you wear pieces that someone made from recycled items, it can raise awareness to the possibilities of rethinking what we do with items. (Think about reusing before you chuck stuff!) It can start a conversation.

2. Colors of nature. Maybe this is what most people mean when saying they are inspired by nature. We cannot make anything more beautiful than what our earth already provides, in my opinion. The colors of each season are gorgeous.

Now, I am pretty open about my hatred of winter. This is mainly because I hate being cold and there isn't enough light in the day. I also love flowers and the growth of green. And it's either snowing (and I feel bound to the house) or it's dreary in winter.

However, this past weekend when my boyfriend and I were on one of our road trips it occurred to me that winter is beautiful, too, even without snow.

Did you ever notice how gorgeous the sky is in winter? And the bare trees are so pretty against the blue. I love brown and blue together.

I am going to try to really appreciate each season for what it offers and the beautiful colors it offers, instead of trying to just "get through" all my least favorite seasons (autumn and winter) to get to my favorites (spring and summer).

Brand Spanking New Item!

Square Glass Pendant PDF Tutorial

I am thrilled to bring you the full-color PDF Square Glass Tile Tutorial. Once you purchase it, I will send you a pdf file in an email with instruction and a list of resources to find the supplies to make these cool pendants.

I love these pendants because you can be so creative. The possibilities are only limited by your own imagination!

Available now in my Etsy Shop (under zines and tutorials), and for only $6!

Anti-Resolution

Each and every year I write out a whole bunch of New Year Resolutions. Then at the beginning of the next year I write out the same New Year Resolutions again because I never did them.....and so on....



This year I tried to take a different approach to the whole New Year thing -by just casually thinking that I would start doing this thing (i.e. regular exercise) or quit doing something else (i.e. eating M&M's). That didn't work either.



I think what I need is a plan of action and a schedule to follow. Not a resolution, just a change of schedule.



So, I have decided to do just that.



My Idea:



Lately I have been finding it impossible to find time to be creative. There is so much paperwork involved with running your own business, especially at this time of the year. Usually I just design and create jewelry whenever I feel like it. That isn't working right now because I have so many other responsibilities.



I have decided to get up early each morning and spent time first thing in the morning creating. Edit: this didn't work; instead, it is my priority first thing after work before I do anything else. I set the timer and then forget about everything else for the allotted time.



I know it will be difficult....I am not much of a morning person. (Obviously! See above sentence!) But I keep thinking that it would be such a lovely way to start the day. I am just committing to trying it for a month.



What I am Going to Do:



Each morning I am going to get up early and head down to the studio...without turning on the computer or doing anything else and sitting at my table and working on designs or creating.



After looking at my work table and my desk, there are a few things that I need to do to get ready for this for me to be able to succeed and not be distracted:



1. Clear off my workspace check

2. Have my tools and supplies organized and readily available check

3. I have started a notebook of ideas and I will keep that on my work table so if I am stuck, I can refer to it for ideas. notebook started

4. I also had to clear off my desk because it is in my studio and I am having a problem creating with a messy desk with uncompleted tasks. check



I am doing the above because I want to just be able to sit down and work for 45 minutes without wasting time looking for my pliers or trying to figure out what to do. I want my time to be worthwhile.



Also, I am not going to be concerned about making jewelry for my shops during this time. This is time just to create. (Or write, or collage....) If a great idea for my shops come out of it, great, but that is not the goal. (I made myself jewelry! Woo hoo!)



I am going to start tomorrow. I am not waiting until a Monday or another beginning of the month. I am just going to start!

Off to clean and organize . . .