I never like to get rid of glass bottles and jars at home because I know they could be used for something else. Last night I was going through and organizing all of my crafting supplies and thought why not decorate some of them for funzies. I have been looking to do more crafting and send some gifts out anyway so this is a great way to reuse things I have around the house. This is also an excellent way to make a dent in my glass collection sitting in my basement. I used some ribbon, buttons, paper flowers and hot glue to attach everything and I think it looks pretty cute! If you don’t have a craft collection at home or don’t stock pile odds and ends like i do you want to decorate your own below are some links to where I got some of the stuff you see on my bottle:

Old broken or unused jewelry and hair accessories
Rags that are clean
Wrapping Paper or paper you have at home
Paper Flower Assortment
Buttons
Old Pins and Brooches
Bottle Caps
Ribbon
Glitter
Die cuts

The possibilities are endless! This is a great party craft for kids or scouting. You can even go natural and get leaves, twigs rocks, sea shells, sand anything! The Shabby Chic bottles make for great gifts or even something new to spruce up your house!

Don't Throw Away Your Old CD's

I have been cleaning out my house alot lately trying to organize and possibly upcycle things in my house I never use anymore. The other day I found a huge binder full of old CD’s I haven’t used in forever since I put all the music on my iPod. I didn’t want to throw them away as I had literally hundreds but I wasn’t sure how to make the best use of them. No one wanted them of course so I had to figure out something awesome to do with them. You see upcycled CD’s online and in stores often so I figured why can’ t I do the same. Here are some things I found online that I thought were cute.

1. The obvious use them as coasters. Glue either felt or some other cute fabric to it and you have automatic free coasters for your home. They make a super cute house warming gift and you can even decorate them if you want to add some personal flare.

2. Party decoration. Make flashy garland out of them for an event or even as permanent decor for your home. If you or maybe your child is a music lover why not string together some of their fave CD’s together and hang them from the ceiling or around the room as a border.

3. Make it art! Have unused frames at home? Take some CDs that are special to you and decorate them and hang them on the wall. This is also a perfect gift to give to someone that appreciates music and maybe a certain CD is special to them.

4. Use it as a party craft. Have no idea how to entertain a bunch of kids at a party. Hand out old CD’s and tell them to decorate them as they wish. Find cheap frames and some backing and let them make their own fun. Even go with the above and make their own coaster.

5. Bird Deterrent. Do you have birds that are always running into your glass doors or windows? Help them avoid hurting them selves by hanging a few on you doors and window so they can avoid flying head first into your house.

6. Are you a painter? Use them as pallets to mix your paint. There is already a hole in the middle for holding. You can keep clean them off easily and reuse them or keep them for mixing the same colors.

Do you have any fun uses for old CD’s? Let me know and I will post them on the Beagle!

Eco-Fun: Great Projects, Experiments, and Games for a Greener Earth

Eco-Fun: Great Projects, Experiments, and Games for a Greener Earth
The weather is getting nicer out and this makes all of nature seem more relevant since is will soon be sprouting all around us! This is a great time to learn how nature works, why we need to save it and out. Eco-Fun is perfect for the whole family to get involved. When the kids are bored give them this and make them learn something. Eco Fun could also be a great tool in a school setting as well as groups like the scouts.
Description: The earth they walk on, the air they breathe, the water they drink, the sun that gives them energy–not to mention animals and their very own selves: everything about our world excites children. And, with these 50 fun-filled, science-based environmental experiments, kids will discover more about how our planet works and how to make it better. Divided into five themes (earth, air, energy, water, and biodiversity), these activities show how each element operates alone and in connection with the others–and what effect it has on us and the environment. Here are real-life ecology projects to do at school or at home, and for the community. Helped by an abundance of lively illustrations, youngsters will become “supermarket sleuths,” finding out where food comes from. They can build a solar panel, make recycled paper, construct a worm composter, and create a forest ecosystem in a jar. And when they’re done with each section, they’ll take an entertaining quiz or complete a puzzle. There’s no better way to develop a child’s intimate connection with nature.

I am sure you have running around like crazy trying to get the newest hottest gifts for the children in your life this holiday. I saw a target commercial last night for a children’s dino-toy that didn’t look like anything crazy that was $42! This may not sound like a lot for 1 toy for 1 kid but when you have to purchase multiple gifts for multiple children besides everyone else you have to get for $42 is way too much! I decided to go on a hunt for cool & fun children’s gifts that are under $30! I think I came up golden. Tell me what you think.

Mudpuppy Constructibles Building Set - Bold Patterns

Mudpuppy Constructibles Building Set aren’t your normal old blocks! Not only do the colors and patterns make this building set super cool the set is aimed at improving hand/eye coordination which is always a plus for children. They can progress just by playing. I always loved building things as a child. I thought for a while I wanted to be an architect until I found out how horrible in math I was. Guess what greenies? This awesome gift is only $12.99

WorryWoo Monster - Nola

WorryWo Monster Nola I really just love this stuffed animal! I cannot get enough of it. Green is one of my very favorite colors obviously soo this little greenie of sorts just pushed a cute button in me! Nola is perfect for cuddling and loving for years to come and only costs $21.99!

Blue Orange Gobblet Gobblers

 blue Orange Gobblet Gobblers is a cool new way to play tic tac toe! You can gobble up your opponent! This is a great gift for any child. We all remember playing tic tac toe for hours or when we were bored. It is a great travel game as well. This excellent gift idea is only $19.99.

Blue Orange Spot It

Blue Orange Spot It is a super fun think on your feet game where you have to match the symbols together quickly before anyone else! Spot it has 4 different variations to keep you from getting bored and best part is it only costs $14.00!

Blue Orange Tell Tale

Blue Orange Tell Tale is a super fun game! You can inspire imagination and creativeness all in one simple game. You deal out the cards that range from easy to complex and from competition to cooperation and the receiver of the cards has to tell a story using the illustrated cards! How fun! All for $13.99

Pop Bottle Science - 79 Amazing Experiments & Science Projects

Pop Bottle Science- 79 Amazing Experiments & Science Projects This may be for the nerd in your life but whatever this thing is way cool! Pop Bottle Science has 79 different projects right there! Ranging from weather to geology to the body and tons more! How cool is that? To top it off this magic science lab is only $15.00

DIY Owl Decorations

I know I just did a DIY project yesterday but I love love love this craft! I have a thing for owls lately and this craft is soo simple and cute that I just counldn’t resist. I think you will love it too! Plus with all of this cold weather why not stock up on awesomely easy crafts! However those of you that use that tubeless tissue brand may be out of luck!

Supplies:
Toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes
Eco-Friendly Paint
Black Marker
Glue or Double Sided Tape
As usual any odds and ends around the house that you want to use to make your owls more fabulous and personal.

Directions:

1. If you choose to paint your owl, paint the tubes first and let them dry before trying to fold the top down.

2. Take your tube and fold down one end to make the ears. You can choose to glue or tape it to make sure the top says down or if you are planning on hanging the Owls anywhere. Depending on the type of paint you use the fold may remove some paint from the owl you can repaint some spots or paint after you fold.

3. Use the black marker and any other stuff you have to make your owls your own. You can cut holes in the fold to put string through for ornaments. You can make the owls your Advent Calendar instead of trees. If you use papertowel tubes you can cut them in different sizes and have a flock of owls sitting on display!

Paper Recycling Kit

 How fun ist this? You can teach your children or class about recycling paper and actually show them! This is great for a science project or for something to do around the house! Once your kids learn how to do this it can be a practice carried on through their lives to remember the importance of recycling! Green Creativity has amazing products for learning and fun! Learning to be green is great to start when you are young! You can get your Paper Recycling Kit here.

About:

Repurpose old paper into new paper with Green Creativity’s Paper Recycling Kit! This kit is designed to help your child understand how paper can be recycled.Learn how paper is made and recycled. Create lots of different textures and patterns and make them into unique bookmarks, notepads, greetings cards and more!Another great educational children’s toy that will help your child learn and care for our environment.Kit Includes: 50g of paper, paper making tray, net, 3 tubs of paint, 1 paint brush, colored yarns, silk flowers, ribbon and detailed instructions.

Natural Garland

This is a simple and truly elegant way to decorate your home for the fall or just for fun! You can change up the decorations every year and the best part is the materials are free. You can use these materials in garlands, to glue on to old home decor to make it look fresh and new!

Materials:
Pine-cones
Leaves
Acorns
Rocks
Twine or rope (what ever is lying around the house)
Hot glue gun

Directions:

1. Figure out your designs first. If you are using all of the same material for each garland separately this will be quick but if you want to change it up and alternate it is best to place it out first so you don’t get mixed up later.

2. Wrap and knot the twine around each pine-cone (you can use a dab of hot glue to make sure it stays). You should hot glue items like rocks, leaves, twigs or acorn’s.

3. Wait for the hot glue to dry. You can add glitter or pain to your fabulous new garlands. Dab them with essential oils so they can double as room fresheners as well (except for the pine cone which might smell on their own). Find my famous old broken hairclips, pins or buttons that you were needed an excuse to use and glue away!

4. Start hanging!! Place your garlands around your house to add some fall cheer to your rooms.

Pumpkins Gone Batty

 Materials:
Eco Green Acrylic Paint Black
Mini pumpkins (you could also try gourds for fun to make vampires, witches, spiders) from a local farm if you haven’t grown your own.
Black and white craft foam
Wings,ears & eyes template (just google it)
Hole punch
Glitter
Hot Glue

Directions:
1. Paint the pumpkins.
2. Sprinkle your bat with glitter (if you want)
3. Allow the pumpkin to dry completely. You can paint them any color you want. No one says bats can’t be green or pink right?
4. For each bat, choose a type of wings and eyes from your templates you like best.
5. Trace and cut out eyes from the white craft foam. Use the hole punch to make pupils.
6. Use the glue gun to stick the eyes to the pumpkin.
7. Cut the ears and wings from the black craft foam.
8. Attach the ears using a thin strip of hot glue.
9. Attach the wings using another thin strip of hot glue.
10. Let all attached pieces set. If the wings and ears look floppy you can use toothpicks (colored black) to stick to the backs to make sure the wings and ears hold their shape.

You can also wait until the end to sprinkle glitter on your entire finished pumpkin and spray it with adhesive. It is up to you. You can add pipe cleaners and make your creation zany! Use your imagination that is the most important part.

Twig Crayon

Oh how I love these crayons!!! How cute are they! I know the Twig Crayon is a little expensive but it is almost worth it being as how they are reusing items that would otherwise just be burned. The Twig Crayon could help give your child a creative twist on their next project. The box of crayons isn’t just a box of crayons anymore it was a part of nature and someone found a very suitable new useful way to display/create them. That is some cool innovation.
This is a great concept for show and tell or for a teachers desk! There are a million and one places to show the Twig Crayons off besides using them as actual crayons!

Description: Inntrax Twig Crayons are a unique coloring crayon from Poland. What makes these crayons unique is that they are handmade from discarded wooden twigs. During the winter months, planned areas of mature forests are cleared of underbrush, bushes and small unwanted trees in order to improve the environment for the mature oak and white pine. These small bushes and trees have no commercial value and are often burned on site. Inntrax Twig Crayons and Birch Baskets use these small bushes and twigs to make our Twig Crayons. Set of 8,12, or 24 Twig Crayons.

Go Green for Labor Day

I know most of us have off of work this Monday September 5th for Labor Day and we love to go out and shop the amazing sales everyone, even green businesses, are having but have you considered partying, shopping or wasting? Why not take the time to clean your yard, fix broken things around the house or even better do some fun crafts from things that have been lying around the house.

I thought I would share my Labor Day weekend plans/ideas and maybe they will inspire you to do the same!

1. Clean up our yard. After the hurricane our garden and lawn is covered in leaves, branches and garbage which needs to be sorted through and recycled. I will also keep an eye out for things I can use to make crafts for this weekend.

2. Get veggies and herbs out of my garden that are ready to be picked.

3. Cooking for the week using what I have gotten from my garden and from around the house that has been sitting there waiting to be used.

4. Decorate my house for Halloween. I have been waiting all summer to decorate and since the weather has been much cooler lately I see no reason not to.

5. Clean and organize the house. There have been some cabinets, closets and drawers that I have been ignoring that need some organization. In the process I can put things aside to use in crafts.

6. Work out! Why not get your fitness on while you have a 3 day weekend! Healthy minds start with healthy bodies. Plus if you are putting all of this effort into cleaning up the environment you can save some time for yourself right?

7. Find fun fall crafts to do for Halloween, fall or back to school anything. Remember to use the items you found from your yard or when cleaning out your closets, cabinets and closets.

8. Have family time. Play games, watch a movie or eat a family meal. You have 3 whole days to spend together make the most of it. Take this time to learn more about how your family can be greener!

9. Take time to relax. Read a book instead of watching television. Make some at home spa treatments for yourself. Take a nice bath to release the stresses from your daily life.