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Recycled Materials In Crafts

Updated on August 10, 2011

Where To Find Materials To Recycle For Crafts

Recyclable materials are all around you. If you just look at what you are throwing away, I'm sure you will find something. Knitters, crocheters, and anyone else that uses yarn can make recycled yarn out of plastic bags, clothes that no longer fit, or anything else that can be torn into strips about 1 inch wide. People who do scrap booking can find a multitude of pictures and papers in the trash. Beaders can create bead from the papers that are being thrown out. Go outside and walk along the road or the highway. You can find cans, bottles and other items to make unique items out of and clean up the roads also.

This is also called up-cycling.

Notice all the plastic bags flying around the highways getting stuck in the trees, bushes and fences. Those would make wonderful yarn for a knitter or crocheter. In the picture, you will see plastic strips that have been cut for use as yarn. The kitty says "For ME?"

Photo appears courtesy of "wikiHow Creative Commons"

I was so excited when I received the email on April 1, 2011 informing me that this lens had won a purple star. It is a privilege to receive one of these purple stars as it means you have done a great job on your. lens. Only 1000 of these beauties are given away so they are to be prized. Believe me I am so excited to have won this star for Using Recycled Materials In Crafts lens.

Rag Rug with Cat
Rag Rug with Cat

Rag Rugs From Recycled Materials

Made by Braiding, Crocheting, or Knitting

Rag rugs can potentially be made of anything that can be cut into strips. Here are some examples for you: plastic bags, tee shirts, pillow cases, sheets, tights, old clothes (such as blue jeans), scraps from sewing, and anything else that you can cut into strips.

To make these rugs, you can braid, crochet or knit the strips. Just think of the lovely rugs that you can have around your house. Oh, yes, if you are really ambitious, you could loom these rugs on a large loom. My aunt used to make these rugs and we had a good supply of them as I grew up. This is a good way to while away the time while you watch TV. Need a wedding gift that is unique? Make one of these lovely rugs for them.

Photo appears courtesy of "Public Domain"

If yes, tell us what you make and what you use.

Do You Use Recycled Materials For Crafting?

See results

Making Yarn Out Of A T-shirt - Great way to recycle

Books On Crafts From Trash - Learn how to change your trash to cash with recycling

Stop Throwing Money Away: Turn Clutter to Cash, Trash to Treasure--And Save the Planet While You're at It
Stop Throwing Money Away: Turn Clutter to Cash, Trash to Treasure--And Save the Planet While You're at It
This book will show you how to used recycled materials and how to organize them. Just the book you need if you want to change Trash to Treasure.
 
Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects: Creative Projects, Simple Techniques (Lark Jewelry Book)
Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects: Creative Projects, Simple Techniques (Lark Jewelry Book)
Making classy projects out of castoffs. Need to be willing to put the time into learning basic metalworking techniques, such as soldering and sawing.
 
Jewellery from Recycled Materials (Jewellery Handbooks)
Jewellery from Recycled Materials (Jewellery Handbooks)
This book shows you step-by-step how to create jewelry from recycled materials. Also tells you the importance of using recycled materials to help the environment.
 
Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects
Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects
Shows you several versions of rag rugs created from scraps.
 

Plastic Bag Crochet - Beauty Can Come From Ugly Plastic Bags on the Highway

Plastic Bag Crochet
Plastic Bag Crochet

Look at this beautiful purse that was created with plastic bags that would have polluted the environment. The plastic bag is now a thing of beauty and useable again.

Photo appears courtesy of "Creative Commons by Toia"

Recycling Plastic Bags - There are so many uses for plastic bag yarn

Fabulous Jewelry From Found Objects - Creative Projects, Simple Techniques

Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects: Creative Projects, Simple Techniques (Lark Jewelry Book)
Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects: Creative Projects, Simple Techniques (Lark Jewelry Book)
This book will give you ideas of what types of jewelry you can make from castoff items that you have found. She gives you ideas how to use old magazines and newspaper inserts, pencil stubs, broken glass. Need to be able to put some time into learning how to work with metal. You will get to see 40 project that 16 artisans have created from castoffs. These are classy projects....not tacky. You get step by step instructions with pictures for the visual part of the learning. You will also see what others have done with items they have found which are not in the instructions.
 
Tin Can Doll Furniture
Tin Can Doll Furniture

What To Do With Aluminum Cans

You can make many wonderful things with aluminum cans

Do you have a lot of aluminum cans that you throw away because there is no recycling program near you? What can you do with them? I have found a few crafts that you can make with them.

You can make wind chimes out of them (see video below), jewelry, doll furniture, cars, motor cycles, airplanes, pencil holders just to name a few. I am sure there are many other crafts you can make out of them.

Photo appears courtesy of "Creative Commons by urbanwoodswalker2"

Recycled Wind Crafts - From Aluminum Cans

Sweater with beads used to get beads for necklace.
Sweater with beads used to get beads for necklace.

Using Beads Rescued From An Old Garment

To Make Beautiful Jewelry

In my seedbeadersters yahoo beading group, LJ told us to go on by her blogb> and take a look at the necklace she had just created with beads rescued form an old sweater that her sister had.

The yarn from the sweater can be recycled, too.

This goes to show you to keep your eyes open. You never know where you will find the resources to create your crafts.

Photo Credit: LJ, Bead Knitter Gallery

Links To Help You Go Green - In Your Crafting

Recycle Water Bottles by Making Crafts

Make some crafts with your kids with empty clear plastic bottles. This article will show you how to make toys and such with recycled plastic bottles.

Up-Cycling

seems to be a big theme for the shops of the artisans. Look in Etsy, Zibbet, or any shops of this type and you will find them. This is a great way to help the environment.

working

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