Love 2 DIY on the Weekend~ Make a Gift for DAD!

What's better?

Another tie?

Or a handmade gift?

You know Upcyclers is all about handmade, so I'm sure you also know we recommend making something for Dad! Here's some great ideas I found that can get the kids' creative juices going and make Dad smile on his special day!

Mustache Mug Tutorial from The Tortoise and the Hare

Repurposed Tree Branch Tutorial from TRAASH!

The Mother Huddle.com

DIY Coasters from BHG.com

Office Organizer from BHG.com

Altoid's Tin Tool Box

Father's Day Trophies from smART Class

So there you go, lots of ways to let Dad know he's King for a Day~ Now go get your DIY on and Enjoy your Weekend!

;) Cat

Sustainable Sundays: Fall Finds

Wow September is almost here! Summer vacations are ending and students are heading back to school.  In fact last week's Sustainable Sundays post was absent from the blog because I was finishing our last summer trip before the kids had to return to school.

 

So, this Sunday I'm introducing TEN awesome Fall Finds from Team Upcyclers!  These fresh Etsy shops are actively participating on our team's networks. 

 

From accessories to decor these Fall Finds are perfect for an eco-friendly Autumn.

 

Autumn Colored Silk Ikat Scarf or Shawl by Mulberry Whisper

 

 

Shabby Autumn Corsage by ItsYourCountrySpirit

 

 

Steampunk Reversible Watch Movement Pendant

by Smithfits Bazaare Emporium

 

Vintage Bunting Banner by Blue Acres Farm

 

Fall Broken China Jewelry Pendant by TresauresAnew

 

Mint Green T Shirt Leg Warmers by Oh-zie Designs

 

Pale Yellow Computer Chip Earrings by Clone Hardware

 

Upcycled Wooden Button Ring by Chatter Blossom

 

Upcycled zipper pouch by Rose Mauve

 

Recycled Sweater Coffee Cozy Sleeve by Lynn Minney Designs

 

 

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace, as I have seen in one autumnal face" ~John Donne

 

Hope you enjoy our Sustainable Sunday picks this week!

Thanks, Bee

The Wooden Bee

Thrifty Thursday: Give Me Five$!

This week I wanted to see what five bucks could buy me so I searched our team's listings with our tag: teamupcyclers and found some awesome deals! I love doing these articles because I get so discouraged with the price of things in today's economy and finding these bargains always makes me feel a little more hopeful that you can still get a lot for your money! So let's get things started with my first "Whale" of a bargain~ I love these reusable bags from Greener Route!

Reusable Food Bags from Greener Route

And this Reusable Gift Bag makes a great pouch after the gift is given!

Reusable Upcycled Gift Bag from Custom Dynamite

You can make your own collage or use these DIY Kits for scrapbooking~

DIY Kits from Altered Inspirations

Jacqueline from Paper Jam hand folds these beautiful Gift Tag Favors and you get a set of four for only five bucks!

Teabag Fold Gift Favors from Paper Jam

Or how about a set of five gift tags upcycled from used gift cards~ now that was a gift that kept on giving, lol!

Upcycled Gift Card Tags by Almond Works

You can also get these cool notebooks upcycled from post consumer packaging from Potter About!

Notebook from Potter About

Want to keep your little girls' barrettes handy and organized~ here's a cute solution:

Barrette Holder from Art Recycles

I adore these upcycled fabric scrap baskets woven by Sally from American Recycle!

Fabric Basket by American Recycle

Jesse from Sparkly Trash really knows how to dress up some "trash"~ check out these Cupcake Note Cards upcycled from grocery bags~ Nom, nom!

Upcycled Note Cards by Sparkly Trash

I had a good laugh when I saw Kristen's pet lovers' scrabble pendants!

Scrabble Tile Pendant from k5art

Here's some more jewelry for a tight budget, this time for your team player~ you can have a custom bottlecap pendant made by Laurie from Believe in UR Dream!

Custom Bottlecap Pendant by BelieveinURdream

And there's lots more of these deals~ so I can't wait to share more next time I go thrifting on Thursday! Oh and HEY! Do I deserve a high five on these deals? Okay~ Give me FIVE!

Sustainable Sundays: Upcycled COLOR

Happy Sustainable Sunday! Each week we search and highlight upcycled creations made from over 2,000 sustainable shops on our Upcyclers Etsy Team! Shops that are actively upcycling and participating in our community are available for selections.

This Sunday we're talking about upcycled color, literally. Check out these amazing creations made from recycled CRAYONS!!

Melted Crayon Necklace OOAK Upcycled Mint Evergreen by

Instinctively Indie

Rainbow Melted Crayon Upcycled Art on Black - 3D Butterflies  by Abounding Treasures

Large Recycled Asian Crayons are great adults or children to color with by Our Childrens Earth

Upcycled Crayola Crayon Wrapper Vase and Flowers Memory Board Organizer by Art Recycles

With a little creativity, it's amazing what you can give a second chance!

We are not to throw away those things which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they can be used for good: they are instruments for good, in the hands of those who use them properly.
-- Clement of Alexandria

Enjoy your Sunday and be sure to make it a sustainable one.

Thanks, Bee

The Wooden Bee

www.thewoodenbee.com

inspired to recycle

Sustainable Sundays: MOM

Each Sunday we search and highlight upcycled creations made from over 2,000 sustainable shops on our Upcyclers Etsy Team!!! Shops that are actively upcycling and participating in our community are available for selections.

Since Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13th, this week we selected three sustainable shops offering something special for Mom:

Add a splash of color to your mom's life with this Mosaic Stained Glass Recycled Mirror

by Earth Mother Mosaics 

Give mom a stylish gift, like these pretty Arizona Tea Pop Can Cherry Blossom Earrings

by Miss Maggies Place

Don't get to see Mom this year? Send her this adorable 100% Recycled Paper Card which can be personalized, by Elodie's Shop!

You can find more handmade, upcycled creations from our team by using our team's search tag: teamupcyclers when shopping Etsy.

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.

~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

Enjoy your Sunday!

Bee
The Wooden Bee
www.thewoodenbee.etsy.com

Thrifty Thursday: $1,2,3 and change!

Did you go thrifting today? If not, don't worry, you can go with me! I browsed through several Upcyclers' shops and found some fantastic bargains for just a dollar or two or three, and a bit of change! Shipping was either free or very reasonable on all of these items. Some are supplies, some are custom creations, and some are handmade products. It's remarkable that in today's high-priced world you can find beautiful found or handmade objects for crafting and uniquely designed art and goods for less than you'd pay in a craft store, gift shop or big box store! Here's some of my favorites from my treasure hunt!

'The South' Gift Tags from Papers by Kristin

Vintage Music Scalloped Circles from Altered Inspirations

T-Shirt Logo from Idle Hands Yarn Supply

Reusable Snack Bag from GreenerRoute

'A Little Light Music' Greeting Card from Fyre Shadow

Vintage Sewing Patterns from American Recycle

Vintage Animal Mini Cards by Abounding Treasures

275 Junk Mail Flowers by Almond Works

Vintage Shell Beads from Antique to Chic Supply

Custom Name Pennant Banner from Art Recycles

Eco Felt Hair Clip by Ollie and Rose

You can find more thrifty deals from Upcyclers like this by searching with our tag: teamupcyclers! I did my search and then changed the filter to lowest price first!

If you found some treasures today, feel free to share your finds with us~ or if you have an item listed in your own shop for $1- 2 or $3 and change, you can share those with us too!

Stay tuned this week for even more great deals as we celebrate Earth Day all this week! The icing on the cake will be our Amazing 24 Hour Upcyclers Earth Day Sale!

Upcycled Gift Bows & Tags

At the beginning of the month I wrote about Upcycled Gift Wrap Ideas.  This week, I'm going to share some of the trimmings & bows that can accompany your upcycled gift wrap.
During the holidays our sustainable shop offers free gift wrapping, and of course it has to be eco-friendly.  So this year, on my quest to find eco-friendly gift wrap options for a cheap as possible, I complied some great gift ideas to share!

A Classy Tutorial for Burlap Ribbons found on For the Love.

Have extra magazines laying around? Make some magazine bows with this tutorial.

Ruffled Newspaper Ribbon by The Shabby Creek Shop on Etsy

When deciding our shop's gift wrapping, I decided to use this upcycled flat bow for shipping purposes. You can see how I made them here.

You can always skip the bows and decorate the paper yourself, like this hand drawn gift wrap found on Craftzine.com.

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Can't forget the gift tags! They are definitely needed to help us remember whose gift is whose, but they can also be beautiful additions to your gift wrap.

Here are some great ideas from our every own Upcyclers shops on Etsy!

Upcycled Christmas Gift Card Holder Set by ecochiqueboutique

Hanukkah Gift Tags by ariandmayadesigns

Christmas Snowman Red Bandana Fabric Gift Tags by ITSYOURCOUNTRY

Recycled Giftcards created into Upcycled Gift Tags by Almond Works.

 

Making gift tags out of old Christmas cards seem to be the most popular method of creating upcycled holiday gift tags. I used the idea (and my craft punch) to make my own this year.

You can find different shaped recycled Christmas card gift tags all over Etsy, Pinterest and Google. Here are two tutorials on making them:

Punch Out Gift Tags from Greeting Cards, by Crafting a Greener World

Recycled Gift Tags - this post uses post consumer waste like cereal boxes

Here's a few more eco-friendly gift tags finds on Etsy...

Handmade Recycled Paper Gift Tags by Perks by Melissa.

Distressed Chalkboard Gift Tag

 by Avery Range Designs

Let us know what you are upcycling into gift wrapping this year! And remember to save this year's holiday greeting cards for next season's crafts!

Happy Holidays!

Thanks, Bee

inspired to recycle wood

www.thewoodenbee.com