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Posts tagged with 'recycle'

  • Weekly DIY Roundup: Cat/Pet Beds!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, AUGUST 22 2008 06:03 PM | PERMALINK

    For quite awhile now my partner and I have been planning to get a cat, and we're finally going for it in a couple weeks! So this week's roundup is all about cat/pet beds! I love Meg's Decor it Yourself idea from a few months ago, turning a vintage suitcase into a portable pet bed, and apartment therapy has a great version:

     



    Pets aren't usually too picky, so a super simple pillow-esque design like this one on Crafty Daisies would work just fine...

     

     



    Or there's Deb's Going Green's...

  • How to make a Backpack, DIY Back to School Special, Threadbanger

    POSTED BY ROB CZAR, AUGUST 22 2008 11:59 AM | PERMALINK

    In conclusion to our back to school week, Rob and Corinne are showing you how to take an old mens suit jacket and magically transform it into a backpack. So nows the time to raid uncle Ned's closet for an old sports coat, break out the scissors and get to DIY'in.

  • A binder is a binder is a...

    POSTED BY KENDRA CUNNINGHAM, AUGUST 21 2008 02:41 PM | PERMALINK

    With back to school coming up and Threadbanger and Decor it Yourself devoting an entire week to it, I was asking myself, "How can I contribute?" So I scoured the forums and found a great question from JaymieKarn, asking how to recycle binders. And as much I wanted to use them to rebuild my grandma's fence, make a doghouse, start a compost heap or turn those old binders into an alternative fuel source. Instead I kept it simple, not that I couldn't do any of those things.

    So I took an old binder laying...

  • Weekly DIY Roundup: Button Down Shirt Projects!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JULY 18 2008 05:32 PM | PERMALINK

    The other day I tried out an idea I'd seen on a blog using button down shirts and it was so fun that I went on a thrifting spree for more shirts. Now I have a ton of them and I needed more ideas for things to make, so I got searching and found some great projects!



    The one I tried out is this skirt idea, which uses 4 sleeves so that the sleeve cuffs with the buttons go around the waist. Mine was pretty messy, but I learned from my mistakes and plan to make more! The blog that gave me the idea was ...

  • Vintage Knitting Needle Jewelry!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JUNE 28 2008 08:00 AM | PERMALINK

    I first saw this idea maybe a year ago, and I'm sure it's been around way longer than that, but I finally got around to trying it out yesterday and it's superrad!


    It's the same concept as the classic toothbrush bracelet, so the directions are basically the same: put vintage plastic knitting needles in boiling water till they're pliable, then bend them as you choose.

    Here is a blog post on diylife about the bracelets, and another on Elliphantom Knits with a basic how-to and some great looking...

  • Weekly DIY Roundup: Reusable Shopping Bags!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JUNE 27 2008 11:10 AM | PERMALINK

    Back in February there was a Threadheads episode all about reusable shopping bags, but I think it's always a great topic to revisit, and I've just discovered a new idea I want to share. Turn your old tank tops into shopping bags with a couple super easy steps! Anitra of the Coffee Pot People blog made up this tutorial, and then I made one sideways so the strap holes are centered and it works fabulously!

     


    Another great recycled tote bag project was in Readymade magazine awhile back - this one...

  • Interview with Cosette Cornelius-Bates!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JUNE 25 2008 08:00 AM | PERMALINK

     

     

    I'm so excited about the release of Knit One, Embellish Too by Cosette Cornelius-Bates (aka Cosy), having been an admirer of her work through her blog for awhile now. Cosy is an amazing accessory designer/knitter, and yarn recycler and spinner. While I know not all you threadheads are knitters, I thought everyone would appreciate Cosy's love of recycling and reusing, as well as the unique style she gives her work with both design choices and embellishment. Even if you have no desire to knit...

  • Weekly DIY Roundup: Scrap Thread Uses!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JUNE 20 2008 08:48 PM | PERMALINK

    Browsing the forum, I noticed sheenozucchini's post asking for ideas for using scrap thread, as I have been asking myself the same question while my scrap thread container fills to the brim. So I did some rounding up and here's what I found...

    Include scrap threads in your paper beads for added durability and visual interest, like Ma Rut did for her craftster "save our earth swap".

     



    Use tons of scrap thread along with scrap fabric and water-soluble stabilizer to make your own custom art...

  • Weekly DIY Roundup: Necktie Projects!

    POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JUNE 13 2008 07:15 PM | PERMALINK

    In the spirit of Father's Day, this week I bring you a Dad-present-inspired roundup - things you can make from old neckties! Whether you have one or several dozen, there's a project for you!

    I'll start small... you can find some gorgeous fabrics in tie form, so you can just treat it as a small amount of fabric for whatever project could use a unique accent. Blogger blissed out uses scraps of tie silk to applique a sweater, beautiful!

     



    I've done the same thing to decorate a photo album cover:

  • DIY Succelent Planter

    POSTED BY MEG ALLAN, JUNE 09 2008 09:17 PM | PERMALINK

    Giant Jeans Parlor! is a rad craft & DIY blog based out of L.A.

    Here they make an up-cycled bread pan into a planter for a succelent garden. Another way to re-purpose an item you may otherwise throw away when old or rusted.

    You can use this method of adding drainage to lots of household items. What re-used housewares have YOU used as planters or indoor gardens? Send pictures to tips@threadbanger.com to be featured on 'Decor It Yourself'!

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