Add Some of Nature's Texture to Your Wall

Before you go out and buy something to put on your wall, you might try making something from everyday items that you can find in your backyard.  Like this wall decoration made from twigs and cardboard!

Materials: 

• Cardboard
• Hot glue or tacky glue
• Small, dry twigs from your backyard

How to:

1. Cut the cardboard into the letter shape that you wish to create.  This will serve as a background on which to glue your twigs.
2. Break the twigs so that they are the width of the cardboard
   
3. Glue the twigs on in a collage over the cardboard.
4. Other nature decorations could also be glued onto this letter, such as leaves, flowers, etc. 
5. Holes can be added to the cardboard to create a wall hanging for decoration.

With just some everyday, common items, you can create this fun, textured wall decoration.

Picture provided by:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=250214101785418&set=a.250214055118756.1073741825.176112689195560&type=1&theater

Make Your Own Rainbow Crayons

Take old, broken crayons and turn them into new, multi-colored ones in creative shapes in 7 easy steps!

Materials:

• Old, broken crayons
• Oven
• Metal cookie cutters
• Foil
• Cookie sheet

How to Recycle Broken Crayons:

*Preheat oven to 325 degrees

1. Peel all the paper off of the crayons.
2. Wrap aluminum foil around the bottom of the cookie cutter.
3. Fill the bottom of your cookie cutter or silicone mold with the broken crayons of any color.
4. Put the cutter or silicone mold on a cookie sheet (optional: put parchment paper down so reduce mess)
5. Put the cookie sheet in the oven for 5 minutes. (Cooking times vary. 5 minutes works in my oven but you may need to adjust time accordingly.)
6. Take out the cookie sheet and let it cool. For faster cooling, stick it in your freezer or, if it's cold enough, stick it outside!
7. Gently pop out the crayon from the mold. (It may take a little force, but be careful not to break them!) And enjoy!

You can also use muffin tins and melt the crayons in the bottom of each section to create new crayons!

Upcycling - The New Way to be Environmentally Crafty

"Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value." - Wiki

     My whole life, I've been drawn to the arts.  Drawing, painting, writing, reading, crafting, scrapbooking... You name it, I've probably tried it.  There's just something about making something complete with your own two hands out of smaller elements.  It's like putting together a puzzle out of pieces that no one would have ever known would fit together. 

     Recently, I've discovered the art of creative upcycling, making new things out of seemingly useless products.  I think it's just about the neatest thing on the planet.  That's why I've created this blog, to share and create new ideas for reusing old materials.  

     Happy creating!