More Christmas recycling!

I'm on a recycled Christmas blitz! All the bits and pieces I have been hoarding are finally finding a use!!

Cue the unfinished items with big plans (lucky I still have a couple of months up my sleeve).

Just had the bathroom renovated, so no need to a shower curtain anymore. What do I do with all the rings? So far, a mini wreath, but I my also thinking dream catcher? This one is a bit of  red bias binding and some white ribbon, with a bell and a bow to top it off. I haven't finished this one yet, but it is very close. 

Next is this snowman variation. Before I painted the last one, I thought about glueing on some fleece. Not too successful, as you can see the red poking though, but once there is a face and buttons on, it should be ok. I can't remember what I used for the head, but the body is a milk bottle top. Maybe it's a coke bottle top? Not sure.....

Last year I made a gift out of cardboard and felt, I may make some more, but make them smaller. Maybe houses? Will have to see what happens...

So much inspiration at the moment, but not so much motivation. I'm gonna blame winter.... ;)

Christmas crafting, recycled style...

A cute little Snowman popped up on my FB feed using bottle tops. How could I resist giving it a go?? 

http://www.oneartsymama.com/2012/11/bottle-cap-snowman-ornaments.html

I had already started saving milk bottle tops for someone (can't remember now who?) and thought I could substitute with these instead. To get some variation in size, I used a milk bottle tops and the lid from a pasta sauce, but I also tried a coke bottle top. Another item I have been salvaging from the recycle bin are the used coffee pods, and thought this would make an awesome hat ;)

So, here is my interpretation of the Snowman. His head is a milk bottle top and his body is a lid from a glass jar. I painted it with my white spray sealer, first on the outside only, but went back and did the inside as well. I sealed it with some Mod Podge, and doubled up using it as the glue. I used some googly eyes and a faulty bead for his nose, some sequins for his mouth. Some beads make his buttons, although they look a little small... His scarf is made from felt, but I will raid my ribbon box next time.....

As a test, he isn't too bad. A few notes to remember, spray the backs FIRST, then the front, to stop the front being damaged. The head pin was causing the base to spin backwards when held up, so I used a bead to separate it a little from the rim of the lid, and used another between the "body" and "head" to give somewhere for the scarf to sit. I could use wire, to make it a bit softer? The hat has been deliberately placed at an angle, but could be straight on, if required. I could also glue two lids back-to-back, to give a more 3D effect, or even just his head?? May try that next time.... ;)

Bread tag Robots

I was given a bag of multi coloured bread tags - you know, the little plastic clips that hold the end of a loaf of bread closed? What to do with them??

So, after a Google search, up popped a cute little robot http://www.michlinla.com/2011/04/slap-another-post-with-dueling-crafters.html Using him as inspiration, I did some experimenting....

Since my tags are a different shape to the one on the web, I tried a couple of variations. First, I put two tags together with a head pin in the middle (the green one), and tried many different ways for the arms, but I ended up glueing them in place because they kept falling behind the body. I had already saved a bunch of keyboard keys from another project that didn't happen, so had all the ingredients on hand, which is a plus... ;) I used a heart shaped confetti (also on hand) as an accent, like the original inspiration pic.

The second I tried a jump ring at the "waist". Still glued the arms in place and used a laptop key, rather than a keyboard key. It is way more fragile, but makes for a flatter piece. You can see where I put some holes a bit high and had to redo them so the jump rings would fit. She also has a little flower in her hair.

Third try, I turned the top tag around, and I like the results ;) More head pins, though, so I have to master turning the loops.... He looks like the sheriff, with his star badge on his chest :) 

The fourth guy looks a bit naked, but I have been experimenting with painting them... I trimmed the arms slightly differently (more like the original) and it helps with the arms moving around, (not sure I like the pointy shoulders, though...) and used the leftovers for some dangly feet. Gives an interesting effect, don't you think??

I think, out of all of them, the red one is my favourite. Yes, it needs 4x pins, but I think it is more stable and proportioned than the others. I definitely see more of these in my future! ;)

Quick table centre

Amongst all my fabric, I have some preprinted panels that, I think, were supposed to be placemats?

So, I chose the top one and made into a table centre. It is not quilted, as such, since there is no batting, but I did put some brushed cotton (flannelette) on the back. This means it isn't thick, and definitely not a heat pad, but purely decorative. It wasn't printed square, so I had to make allowances as the design did not allow me to trim too much off ;)

The outside border (the pink one) was added to make it a bit bigger, then the binding in burgundy red. Quilting is minimal, but I did add some hearts into the corners ;)

Kimonos - part 2

So I have been looking at the kimono patterns, since they were already printed - 3 of each style - plus I had all the colours piled up. Since this was a long weekend, I thought I had the perfect opportunity to get them done ;)

After looking at some inspiration pics on Google, I saw many layouts with thin borders and corner stones, so I put a white border on, and added an inner border.... but, I cheated a little ;) I made some strips and put them in as a folded edge. I think this will give it some dimension, plus it's easier to do.

Although many layouts used red and blue, I thought a gold would be better. Searched my stash and found a yellow that worked with all the patterns. I tacked them on by machine to hold them in place. Tested with some navy background to see if it was going to work ok.

So, I have done the horizontal strips, while trying to decide if I want cornerstones or not. I think I can do without, judging by the mockup.

So, I stitched the rows together, but clearly didn't pay enough attention to my original layout, because I put the in the wrong order ;( No matter, though, it still looks ok...

Looking for ideas on quilting, now, so I can get this one finished... It may be a candidate for the Canning Show this year as a wall quilt? I found an ornate stick I can use for the hanger that is the perfect length. 

I'm thinking binding in the yellow also - hopefully I have enough left!