Category: Recycling

Most of us have experienced the fun of visiting the local bowling alley and testing our skills against those pins.

Or trying to win a huge stuffed animal at the ring toss game in a carnival sideshow.

Some of us have even experienced the frustration of hitting a tiny golf ball towards an unseen target.

They are all fun activities, but they cost money and require you to tackle traffic and parking.

Guess what? You can turn your yard into a bowling alley, a sideshow ally or even a mini-golf course. Even a fun fishing lake.

The best part is, it will cost virtually nothing as you can make these games and more using recyclables.

HOW TO TURN OBSTACLES INTO POSSIBILITIES WITH CREATIVE RECYCLING

By tamuria

On April 30, 2018

In Creativity, Recycling

If I gave you some paper and pencils, you would expect to write or draw.

Paint, brushes and canvas could indicate a picture to be painted.

Coloured paper scraps, scissors and glue would tempt you to make a collage.

But, a cardboard roll or box, a tin can or plastic bag – these represent endless possibilities.

REMARKABLE RECYCLING – THE COFFEE POD PENANCE

By tamuria

On March 26, 2018

In Creative Living, Recycling

It all began with a visit to a son’s house.

He made us delicious coffee from his machine and casually asked how often we used the coffee pod machine he had given us.

When we revealed it was reserved for special occasions, he advised us to make it more accessible.

And that’s when a tiny thing became a huge problem.

HOW TO MAKE A PLASTIC BOTTLE BIRD FEEDER

By tamuria

On June 28, 2017

In Child friendly crafts to make, Recycling, Wacky Workshops

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – how to make a plastic bottle bird feeder.

We all know the damage plastic is doing to our environment and the importance of recycling it so it doesn’t end up in landfill or our oceans.

We can take that one step further and get our kids involved in creative recycling to empower them to help save the world.

By showing them how to reinvent things, we are opening up their creative minds to come up with new ideas for recycling and reusing.

3 GREAT WAYS TO REUSE PLASTIC BOTTLES

By tamuria

On June 7, 2017

In Child friendly crafts to make, Recycling, Wacky Workshops

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project, focusing on ways to reuse plastic bottles.

Plastic seems to be one of the biggest curses when it comes to the world’s environmental concerns.

It is responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of marine creatures every year. It accounts for nearly 20 percent of landfill waste and up to 80 percent of rubbish littering beaches, seabeds and oceans.

By finding fun ways to reinvent plastic and creating with children, we can avoid adding to this number and empower kids to help save the world.

HOW TO MAKE A FLOWERING SEAT

By tamuria

On September 28, 2016

In Fun For the Big Kids, Recycling, Wacky Workshops

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project- making a flowering seat.

Spring had sprung in Australia and we’ve been doing the annual spring clean for a few weeks now.

Part of the process is getting rid of things or transforming them, that are no longer useful.

If you read my post Trash to Treasure, It’s Easy, you’ll get some great tips for transforming things you cannot bear to part with.

For me this year it was a silly, broken chair.

The thing about that chair that had been sitting in storage for a few years was that my sons had sat on it while studying for important school exams, such as the School Certificate and High School Certificate.

It has history and memories of the days when this house was bursting with the loud voices and music of teenage boys.

How could I possibly part with it?

A year ago I put it outside in readiness to put on the footpath for a council collection. I just kept finding reasons not to leave it out.

Now, a broken chair just looks like rubbish, no matter how many memories it holds.

So I decided to make it pretty by turning it into a flowering seat and transform it into something useful and worthy of keeping.

MAKE THIS SUPER EASY COLOURFUL BIRD OUT OF NEWSPAPER

By tamuria

On August 17, 2016

In Child friendly crafts to make, Recycling, Wacky Workshops

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – a colourful bird made from newspaper.

There are so many fun crafts that can be made with newspaper and one of my favourites is newspaper sculpture.

Unlike paper mache, there is no need to make loads of glue and wait for it to dry before adding more layers, though this is also a fun activity. Did you see my posts How to Make Glamgorgious Easter Eggs and How to Make Heads Turn with Paper Mache?

Newspaper sculpture simply means scrunching and twisting the paper into the shape you want and then decorating it. Too easy.

This colourful bird was always a favourite in my kids’ workshops and the process of making the crepe paper balls is an excellent activity for fine motor skills.

GET ORGANISED WITH THESE GREAT RECYCLING PROJECTS

By tamuria

On July 20, 2016

In Child friendly crafts to make, Recycling, Wacky Workshops

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – great recycling projects using things you already have.

A few weeks ago I gave instructions for a really cool train desk caddy, How to Make a Starlight Express Desk Caddy.

While this one is really fun and uses recyclables, it may not be big enough for your needs. If you are looking for something larger, my shoebox caddy could be just what you need.

Want something with a simple, clean design? My tin can caddy is easy, looks great, and would even make a lovely gift.

Perhaps you want something pretty to contain hidden treasures? Then you’ll love my petal princess.

HOW TO TURN STICKS INTO WONDERFUL AND USEFUL OBJECTS

By tamuria

On May 11, 2016

In Child friendly crafts to make, Recycling

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – stick art.

There are so many wonderful things you can create using the sticks you find in your yard – or even in a park if you live in an apartment. Did you read my post, Making These Fairy Furniture Projects is a Walk in the Park?

Crafts involving nature are a great way to boost imagination for kids – also yourself – and help them become really aware of nature’s beauty and its ability to give us all the tools we need to make beautiful art.

Consider the natural dyes that have been used in painting for thousands of years.

While it’s always fun to play around with a new art set or creative kit, designing your own creations with the bounty of nature truly enhances creative thinking.

More than that, it is really cheap and accessible to anyone, regardless of budget.

This week I’m sharing five fun projects using sticks and a few other supplies.

TRASH TO TREASURE – IT’S EASY!

By tamuria

On September 2, 2015

In Fun For the Big Kids, Recycling, Wacky Workshops

TRASH TO TREASURE – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO RE-PURPOSING JUNK

Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project.

Your old shirt can look so beautiful and hold so many new and artistic memories

I know, you just can’t possibly get rid of that stained shirt. It’s the shirt you wore the first time you took a bus to the city and talked to that stranger who knew your crazy cousin Ed.

Oh, and that lonely earring. You lost the other one four years ago but it could still show up, right? It’s your lucky earring. The last time you wore it you found a shiny five cent coin on the ground.

We all have things we can’t manage to let go of when trying to de-clutter our spaces. Often they are silly, useless things that are loaded with some sentimental meaning just for us.

The only way to deal with these things is to transform them into something useful. That way you can still enjoy the wonderful memories they bring instead of having them take up space in your wardrobe or jewellery box.

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creative living for big and little kids

Category: Recycling

5 FABULOUS CHILDREN’S GAMES EASY TO MAKE YOURSELF

HOW TO TURN OBSTACLES INTO POSSIBILITIES WITH CREATIVE RECYCLING

REMARKABLE RECYCLING – THE COFFEE POD PENANCE

HOW TO MAKE A PLASTIC BOTTLE BIRD FEEDER

3 GREAT WAYS TO REUSE PLASTIC BOTTLES

HOW TO MAKE A FLOWERING SEAT

MAKE THIS SUPER EASY COLOURFUL BIRD OUT OF NEWSPAPER

GET ORGANISED WITH THESE GREAT RECYCLING PROJECTS

HOW TO TURN STICKS INTO WONDERFUL AND USEFUL OBJECTS

TRASH TO TREASURE – IT’S EASY!

TRASH TO TREASURE – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO RE-PURPOSING JUNK

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