From Trash to Treasure!

I admit that I have this bad habit of saving everything. In general, this is done with the idea that I will eventually use each and every item. As I have stated before, I am NOT a hoarder! I merely "collect"...a lot! Back in the day, my grandfather would tell me, "Don't throw that away, you may need it some day." The lesson stuck. So now, I save things. In one cabinet, there are pieces of used wrapping paper. I have carefully untaped, smoothed (even ironed), and folded these remnant pieces with good intentions of reusing. It never happened as I have found the ease of gift bags! The cabinet is filled to overflowing with these recycled beauties..and now their day has come!

Darling Daughter is here for a visit. It is always fun when she is here but this time is extremely exciting! We always seem to find some interesting craft project to do while she is visiting and this time was no different. Craft project of the weekend....fusing plastic! This is the ultimate in recycling crafts as what started as using plastic shopping bags as the medium soon turned into a mad search through the house to find any and everything that would fuse to the plastics. We soon discovered my stash of wrapping papers. In the pile of papers were a lot of the shiny mylar type wrappings. The paper backing can be peeled off just leaving the shiny, iridescent plastic. She layered multiple layers of plastic between two sheets of paper and then ironed them. The iron was on one of the cooler settings so it would not burn the papers. After just a few minutes, the plastics melted enough to become one thick sheet of pliable, almost vinyl-like material. Some worked..some did not..but it was fun to experiment! Now she plans on using her newly made materials to make purses, reusable shopping bags, jewelry and ornaments.

This whole project has been a win/win situation! She has a new found craft and a wonderful stockpile of new materials. I have a much cleaner cabinet! We had some much needed mother/daughter time! I think this craft project was a success!