by C.S.Alexis

Created on: June 06, 2008

Recycling is the way to go with crafts for anyone who enjoys making things. I am an artist and I have been creating useful items from discarded materials for years. My motive back when, was from an economical stance but, in this day and age it is essential to help preserve our environment. There are so many different things you can do with everyday items and the cost for the effort is extremely minimal. Here I will scratch the surface of my ideas and suggestions on crafting with recycled goods.

Turn old jewelry into something fun. I have collected containers full of beads, jewelry findings,gem stones and chains to use in miscellaneous crafts. The sky is the limit with these adornments. Earrings can be made from a few simple beads and brass wire. Bracelets and necklaces are the obvious, but did you think of a key chain or book mark crafted from those recycled beads? Salvaged stone sets can be glued or wired or mounted to almost any kind of craft to add flare and color to your finished product. I keep these items in recycled containers so there is another use for discarded boxes with lids, jars, coffee cans, and other solid containers with lids. Use the recycles to store other recycles for later use in your crafting.

Speaking of containers, here are just a few things you can make from the empties. Recycled ribbons and bows, strings and cords, wires and threads, all tossed to the wayside, can be glued to glass jars or cardboard boxes, plastic or styrafoam containers of all sizes. They can be personalized with glitters and paints and used for storage of many personal items. Make a ring dish to hold your rings by the sink while you are washing your hands. Keep pencils and pens next to your phone or computer. Make your crafts to match the decor by implementing the same color schemes where you will display the finished product. You say you don't have wires and strings or threads and ribbons. That's okay. You can use pictures cut from magazines, colored paper, scrapes of cloth or almost any other flat, discarded materials to decorate the container in progress. I have used bits of wood, shells, and tiny stones to do the same. Have fun with it and use your imagination. You can find appropriate glues that will adhere almost anything to anything. Give it your best shot.

One time I made a nightstand for my bedside out of a very heavy cardboard box. I even put a door on the front of it so that I could use the inside for hidden storage. It was decorated with pictures cut from

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