Green Projects: Other Great Ideas

      Let me show you some other awesome green project ideas. People out there are insanely creative.  Here are some of their genius creations.

This creation from Better Homes and Gardens uses styrofoam balls and fabric scraps to make an eclectic centerpiece.

 This beautiful bracelet used to be a fork!  Made by MarchelloArt, it is the perfect example of repurposing something!

I am willing to bet you would not be able to guess what this mini purse is made from unless I told you.  Maybe if you could feel it. It has been crocheted from plastic shopping bags!  That's one way to keep them out of the landfill!  Made by shearmoresheep, this little baby is perfect for carrying your ID or credit cards!

I can't help but love this recycled journal, made from mailed letters and a cardboard box.  I love journals, and the quirkiness of this speaks to me! It is made by badbooks.

This tote, offered by itsourearth, is made from a coffee bean burlap sack.  Very cool.

Don't know what to do with all those leftover floppy discs? Curioustheatricals has made a mini journal out of theirs!

PicaPica offers this awesome bowl, made from melted army and cowboy figures!  How cool is that?

This bowl/platter, offered by Ibu, is made in the same fashion as my recycled coaster.  Very nice.

Hope you've enjoyed these ideas!

Mother's Day Gifts Under $30!!

     Next month is Mother's Day, which means you should be picking something out, and fast!  I have compiled some beautiful gift ideas from Etsy for all under $30!  Check 'em out!

 I just love this bird's nest necklace.  It is the picture of motherhood.  This was made by RhondasTreasures.  It is being offered for $22.

 This lovely necklace is personalized with your children's names.  It was made by oohsocharming.  It costs $27, and can include up to three names.

 These rings are one of my favorite Mother's Day ideas.  If you've got a hip Mama or wife, this is the perfect gift!  They are made by tinytokendesigns, and cost $23 per ring.

 I love this sweet photograph, featuring a mama and baby Gorilla.  It is offered by ChelseaVictoria, and is on sale for $26 right now.  It is a signed piece, and a portion of the sale goes to the Buffalo Zoo.

 This awesome stacking message for your Mom is cute, and says it all!  It was made by SimplyPerfectDecor, and is only $15.50!  A great gift that looks like it cost way more!

Or how about some custom stationery? (You know I gotta!) Get your mom or grandmom a set of monogrammed stationery!  Sets start at $6.  Check out our shop for other gift ideas!

I Heart Mason Jars

     Originally used only in the kitchen, these vintage Mason jars hearken to a time of yesteryear, where women would spend hours canning in front of a hot stove to save enough food for their families come wintertime. They remind us of a day when things were made to last, when beauty and character were as important as function.  I just love these jars, and I'm honoring them here.  See below the many uses my fellow Etsians have found for these fantastic pieces of American history.

This jar has been turned into a soap dispenser, and would be perfect for your country kitchen!  Check it out at ShaneLilyRain.

This little jar has been made into a soy candle by DreambytheLake.

This beautiful light fixture was upcycled by BootsNGus.  It is awesome!

SimplyUniqueStuff uses this jar as an art piece, filled with classic and elegant seashells.  This would be beautiful anywhere in your home!

Here's how I use these great jars in my home:

I use them as canisters on my kitchen counter.  Here they hold coffee beans, creamer and Splenda.  They match my aqua color theme perfectly!

I also have this little cutie holding ribbon remnants in my craft room.  Decorative and functional!  Don't you just love the tobacco container next to it?  I scored it at a flea market for $5!  I love old tins and containers!

Do you have any ideas I missed?  How do you utilize jars in your home?  Comment below!

My Favorite Valentine Items

     Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's time to think about cute decorations, scrumptious desserts, and that special someone.  Here are some of my favorite finds from my fellow Etsians.

 

This precious onesie is by codysboutique, and perfect for Valetines, or anytime!

This cutie is from our shop, Dragonfly Papers, and all of our greeting cards ship FREE!

This delicate necklace features your love's monogram.  Made by laurrose, it is sure to make your Valentine one happy girl!

 These tags by Dragonfly Papers are perfect for card making, gifts and favors.

I adore these accent pillows, made to look like Scrabble tiles.  Made by chunkymonkeyluv, they are the subtle touch your home needs for the Valentine's season.

A Tribute to Nancy Drew

     Growing up, I just couldn't get enough of super-sleuth Nancy Drew and her adventures.  Still to this day when I see a well-loved, yellow covered book, the little girl in me wants to flip through the pages and see what capers Nancy will encounter.  While it is not exactly socially acceptable for a grown woman to devote hours to reading childrens' books by herself, what is all the rage are vintage items that conjure up that reminiscent feeling in us all.  Pair that with the green movement and you see a lot of vintage items being upcycled. Upcycling is the process of changing a vintage item into something with a totally different use.  It is a great way to hold on to the old while incorporating a new, functional item.  There are many great items out there, however today's tribute is to Nancy Drew, a wholesome girl who never aged over the ages, and will continue to find her place in the lives of women young and old.    

This secret hideout for your valuables is by Secret Safe Books on Etsy

This typewriter key necklace features a tiny picture from a Nancy Drew book.  It was made by lizzybleu on Etsy.

This Nancy Drew book was made into a clock, and was made by teamawesomebaby on Etsy.

This book has been turned into a journal intermixed with blank pages and pictures from the original story.  It was made by yours truly, Dragonfly Papers.

This book has actually been made into a purse!  Genius!  Made by retrograndma on Etsy.