Reusing an Old Tin

I stumbled upon this old watch case and didn't have the heart to throw it away.

It has a nice, foam center with a circular slot where the watch (that I lost) used to be.

Remembering how crayons roll off the table when my daughter colors and sketches, I decided to reuse this old, squarish tin as a crayon holder.

Now my daughter knows to return the crayons into this holder to prevent them from rolling off the table.

It's a nice, simple way of making life easier and more organized by reusing old household items.

What about you?  What's your "reuse," "recycle" story?

Save a Tissue Roll, Save the World

If you watched the now defunct TV series "Heroes," you'd know where the quirky blog post title came from!

I'm all for reducing, reusing, recycling and upcycling so this was one project I couldn't wait to get my hands on!  

Dear hubby left these giant tissue rolls for me one morning (he brought them home from the office) and I spotted them sitting on the desk.  I instantly knew they were for me!  I was giddy excited and smiled from ear to ear!  Such DIY project potential in these tissue rolls (Yes, I may be the only wife who gets strangely excited when her husband surprises her with tissue rolls).  Well, they really had me at "hello."  This meant another DIY project/challenge for me! 

Since these are gigantic tissue rolls, they aren't the flimsy kinds.  They're thicker and sturdier.  One look at it and I knew they were perfect for corralling items; perfect as pencil or pen holders.  All I needed to do was decorate it and glue a firm base to hold whatever items I decide to place in them.

So first, I washi-taped the first roll.  I'm a fan of all things chevron-print now (see pinterest board on Lovin' Chevron!)...but honestly, I think it turned out less than perfect.  Something about the gaps in the washi didn't do it for me (I think for chevron-print to work, there should be equal stripe widths).  It took me more than an hour to painstakingly achieve chevron but ummm, I'm not exactly satisfied with the result.  Could have been better.

I was happier about the design of my second tissue roll.  I wrapped it in Ellen Krans scrapbooking paper (from a set given to me by my sister from her US trip).  It's a school-themed print which I love since it's so me!  And it only took about five short minutes to do!  Now, that's my kind of DIY project!

What do you think?!

Next, I used the tissue rolls to trace circles on foam sheets to use as the base and cut them up. 

Then, I adhered them to the bottom of the tissue rolls with a glue gun.

Tada!  Tissue rolls with a foam base!

And the finished product - giant tissue rolls turned cutesy pencil holders.

That's it.  Easy peasy DIY project.

I wouldn't mind doing more of these in the future.  Maybe try to achieve a better chevron-printed one.

I enjoin you to do the same if you can get a hold of giant tissue rolls!  Let's save the world one giant tissue roll at a time! = )

Homemade Bag Tags

These homemade bag tags are super easy and fun to make!  I kinda got carried away with this project!   What was supposedly just a couple of foam bag tags became a fun experiment on trying to make bag tags with different kinds of media.  I tried regular foam sheets then board paper then corrugated paper then glitter foam and washi-embellished each one (except for the one made with glitter foam which was nice just as it was) .  It's the washi tape that got me going.  ( Side story: My hubby got me 24 pieces of washi tape on a trip to Tokyo.  I think it was his way of making me feel better for being unable to make the trip!  Hahaha!  Love every one of them and love him for his usual thoughtfulness!). 

After the first washi-embellished foam bag tag, I made another and another to see what each one would look like!  I'm not quite sure if I'm done yet!

Parents, you can do this as a fun summer activity with your children!  For your younger kids, you may prepare the bag tag beforehand and they can decorate/embellish it with foam cutouts (stuck with double-sided tape) or washi tape.  These bag tags may be done in preparation for school opening!  Your children will surely be proud of their own homemade bag tags!

Here's one I made with my four year old.  I prepared the board paper bag tag and she embellished it with washi tape.  I love the random design!

Each bag tag is 3"x 5" and can fit a calling-card-sized ID card.  If you wish to make one, here's what you need:

1. foam/board paper/corrugated paper

2. washi tape (optional but fun to use!  Get creative and use other embellishments like foam stickers, paper cut-outs or stickers of your favorite characters).

3. double-sided tape (you may use glue if you're using board paper)

4. OHP or transparency film (or you may forego this altogether.  I just used this as a protective cover for the ID card.) - cut to the size of a calling card which is 3.5"x 2"
5. Scotch/transparent tape - to tape the OHP or transparency film on the underside of the window.

6. post screws ( optional because you can permanently adhere the handle with double-sided tape.  Using post screws is the better option though as it will be more durable than the double-sided tape and you may unscrew it to slide the ID card out.)

 

Post screws.  I got these in National Bookstore.  They were the smallest ones available.

First, click on the template below and save it for printing.  Check if the dimensions of the printout are correct ( This is a 3"x5" bag tag). Cut out the template and trace unto a foam sheet, board or corrugated paper.

And this is what it would look like:

Cut around the lines, rounding the edges so they're cuter.  Washi-embellish at this point if you want to have extra loads of fun!

Tape the 3.5"x 2" OHP/transparency film on the underside of the window then put double-sided tape also on the underside, making sure there's at least half a centimeter of space from the window edges or your ID card will not slide in from the top of the card.

Look at my crooked double-sided tape.  Tsk. Tsk.  Martha Stewart will sack me.

Adhere the front side and back side of the tag and punch or poke a hole midway above the window of the tag.  This is where you'll insert the post screw.

Punch or poke a hole through the ends of the tag handle and insert the post screw through the holes of the tag handle and the tag.  Notice that I also washi-embellished the post screw!  Fun!

Attach the post screw and you've got yourself your own homemade/handmade bag tag!  Do a celebratory dance!

Here's what the yellow foam bag tag looks like on luggage.  Hey, not bad!

As I mentioned above, if you're having difficulty finding post screws, you may cut a slit through the tag (midway above tag window) where the handle can be inserted and secure the ends of the handle with double-sided tape.  The difference is that the handle is permanently adhered and you would have to cut it apart to remove or change the ID card.  It would look something like this:

 Below are all the tags I made!  Fun!

Easter Craft Fun

We had so much fun during a family crafternoon session the day before Easter.  We had  many craft projects lined up, too bad there was so little time to do all.  

Just some of the activities we thought up in preparation for the Easter breakfast celebration:

1. Rabbit masks for the kids made out of foam sheets

2. Egg decorating

3. Mini paper baskets

4. Brown paper baskets

Before we knew it, the sun was setting and I only took a night shot of the dining room centerpiece.  Hope you enjoy them nevertheless.  

Rabbit masks made out of foam sheets. Copied this from an art project done in school!

 I stuck double-sided tape on the back side.  It works better than glue.

 I used a hole puncher to make tiny holes to put the garter in place.

Brown paper bag baskets.  Got this idea from the Martha Stewart website.  Check out Paper Basket Bouquet.  Martha's basket looks better of course!

Decorated the basket with foam stickers.

The other paper baskets were made out of pastel board paper. 

My pink and purple paper basket. (Behind it are the eggs waiting to be dyed!)

My mother-in-law studied the stencil and made a larger version of the paper basket.  Below is a photo of her creation.  Really cute.

I made out a stencil for efficiency.  Stencil for the mini paper baskets.

Voila!  The nightshot of the stuffed bunny centerpiece purchased by my mother-in-law surrounded by our little arts and crafts projects...I love the yellow paper basket my sister-in-law made.  Too bad this is my only photo of it...The table runner is made out of yellow-green felt paper.  My sister-in-law scattered foam stickers on the felt paper to make the effect of strewn flowers and insects on grass.  Lovely.