10 Ways to Reuse Magazines

In honor of Earth Day this Sunday, I'm sharing different ways to reuse some things we commonly throw out.  Today is magazines.

I want to once again say that the best thing for our earth is to actually not purchase magazines to begin with (I know sometimes you just need to hold something in your hands and read it, though.)  Reusing is preferable to recycling because recycling takes up significant resources and energy.  Why not reuse your magazines instead to make something functional or a cool gift.

Here are 10 ideas:

1.  Make a Magazine End Table.  (Apartmentterapy.com)


2.  Decoupage t-shirts, bags, sneakers! Decoupage Accessories

3.  Weave coasters our of magazines

4.  Make a magazine bowl  (I will definitely be trying this one out!)

5.  Gift bows

6.  Magazine paper can tutorial by Recyclers Anonymous

7.  3D Pop Up Flowers

8.  Magazine Gift Bags

9.  Make envelopes out of magazines

10.  Recycled Magazine Christmas Tree.  I have always thought these were so cool, but never made one!  By Just like Martha.

10 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are everywhere.  They are easy and convenient when you are on the go.

Unfortunately they are filling up our landfills and clogging the ocean.  Recycling is a little better, but it takes a lot of resources to recycle a plastic bottle.

The best option is to not use plastic bottles at all.  The 2nd best option is to REUSE plastic bottles.

Here are some ideas:

1.  Make a cool and funky mobile!


2.  Make a terrarium with a 2 liter plastic bottle. Tutorial for bottles with the base, and tutorial for bottles without


3.  Here's a whole list of crafty things to do with plastic bottles

4.  Give them to your local crafty or artsy person. Maybe even local elementary schools' art programs would like them.

5.  Here's another list of awesome crafty ways to reuse plastic bottles, such as the vase above! 

6.  Fill up a two liter bottle with water and put it in your tiolet tank.  (Flush it to empty it completely first.)  When your tank refills, you'll use less water because the bottle will take up some of the room.
It will also decrease your water bill while using less water.  Win, win.

7.  Cut the top off bottles to use as funnels.  Using different size soda and water bottles will give you different size funnels.

8.  Build a house!  Okay, probably not for everyone.  This professor in Serbia build this house from 13,500 bottles.

9.  Make a loom.

10.  Use them to plant an herb garden.
What do you do with your plastic bottles, or do you have any ideas now?

10 Ways to Recycle and Reuse Newspaper

This Sunday - April 22, 2012 - is the 42nd Earth Day!

As you know, I am a huge supporter of trying to preserve the earth with little steps that you can take each day.  And I love making things with items that were originally destined for the trash!

Today, I bring you 10 Ways to Reuse Newspaper!

First of all, you can eliminate the need to do anything with newspaper by getting your news online!  However, I know that sometimes you just want the physical paper in your hands. 

If you must subscribe, here are some things to do with your newspaper when you're done reading it:

1.  Make a newspaper flower!  It will never wilt!

2.  Make cute decorations!  I made hearts for Valentine's Day, but you can make any shape you like!

3.  This was originally another Valentine's Day project for me, but you can make any shape you want with this great tutorial.  It basically transforms newspaper into clay.

4.   More newspaper flowers!  These were at Ripley's Believe it or Not in Atlantic Ciy, NJ!

5.  Crumpled up newspapers are great for absorbing odors.  Put them in coolers when you are storing them to keep them fresh!  Put in luggage when you are storing it.  Or stuff them in your sweaty sneakers to absorb the moisture and odor.

6.  Line your veggie draws in your frig with it.  Again, it absorbs the moisture and smells.

7.  Wrapping paper!  Look at that amazing bow on top, too!  I found how to do this on Adelle.com.au

8.  Paper Hat

9.  Flower Pot!  Bonus:  you can put the pot right into the ground!

10.  Use around the house:  messy cleanup, line pet cages, line kitty litter (or even use as kitty litter in a pinch!), wash windows and line trash cans.

Earth Day 2010

 

It's Earth Day!

Of course, everyday is earth day here in the B.B. Bellezza studio and website.  

In honor of Earth Day, here's a recap of some posts that I have done in the past with the theme of trying to save the planet - one material, one craft, one art project at a time!

I recently made my blog Carbon Neutral.  If you haven't already joined this great program, there's still time to join in.  (More information at the link.)

Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles

Upcycle Plastic Bottles into a cool mobile

Plastic bottles and Ocean Pollution

18 Fun and useful ways to reuse newspaper

Newspaper Flower Tutorial

How to reuse paper bags

Reuse Paper Bags and make a Cool Scrapbook

Recycled Newspaper Puffy Heart

12 Ways to Reuse and Recycle Sheets

Recycled Pop-Up Cards

Reusing an umbrella

I've recently become an "Avon Lady", and Avon has a new initiative "Hello Green Tomorrow."  If you donate $1 to Avon, they'll plant a tree!   If you place an order with me today, I'll donate $1 to them in your name.  (To place on order, go to http://youravon.com/KimBurkhart If you are in Lancaster, PA I'll be glad to deliver your order to you, use representative delivery.  Outside of Lancaster, PA, use direct delivery.  I'll see your order and donate the $1 with my order next week!)

Earth Day Eve

Tomorrow (a/k/a Earth Day Eve) I'll be joining other green businesses at the 2nd Annual HACC "Lancaster Celebrates Earth Day" event.

The event begins in the morning with a clean up, which is part of the "Great PA Cleanup Challenge," and continues throughout the day with guest speakers and nature walks.  

I'll be set up with my upcycled - recycled handcrafted jewelry in the East Building 10 am - 2 pm.

This event is open to the public, so come on out and Celebrate Earth Day!