Recycled Teen Crafts: Purses

 

Recycled crafts are very popular, and they should be. It is good to use recycled materials when crafting, and it is something that your teens will enjoy. This article will provide you with step-by-step instructions for creating several different purses out of recycled materials; and you teen will love completing these projects with you.

Dish Towels Purse

Dish towels come in many fun patterns and designs, and they are inexpensive. Teens will love the purses they can make with dish towels. For this recycled craft you will need needle, thread, ribbon, scissors, and a dish towel.

Start by folding the dish towel so the outside is on the inside, but allow about 3 inches of extra material on one side. Help teens thread the needle, and sew the sides together. Make sure to sew them a few times to make them stronger.

Help teens cut the ribbon so it is long enough for a shoulder strap and sew it to the inner sides of the purse. This teen craft is quick and it uses recycled materials to create a unique purse.

Pocket purse

Another easy purse can be made using recycled pockets, fabric glue, scissors, needle, thread, and ribbon. Start this craft by cutting out a couple pockets from different items of old clothing. Then decide how to assemble your purse. An easy way to do this is by starting with the biggest pocket, and gluing the smaller pocket onto the side of it. Remember you can sandwich the pockets together to create multiple areas to this purse craft.

When all of the pockets have dried, help teens cut a piece of ribbon long enough to be a strap. Thread the needle and sew the straps to the inside of the biggest pocket. This unique recycled purse is a great way to get your teens to be creative.

Pant Leg Purse

Instead of throwing away your ribbed pants, teens can recycle them into a purse. For this craft you will need an old pair of pants, scissors, needle, and thread. Start this craft by cutting off the bottom of one pant leg. Make sure you cut straight across the leg and it is long enough for your desired purse length.

Turn the pant leg piece inside out, and thread the needle. Help teens sew across the cut edge of the paint piece and tie the thread in a knot to secure it. Then cut three long strips from the other pant leg, and braid them together. Tie the ends in a knot and sew the knot to the inside of the purse to complete this recycled craft.

Creating recycled purses is fun for teen, and it will allow them to understand how important it is to recycled. Try these crafts with your teens, and you will both have a great time.

Spring Home Decorating Ideas Using Recycled Materials

 

Spring is a great season for bringing new life to your home decorating projects. Spring is fresh and fertile, and these ideas will show you how to use recycled materials in your spring themed home decorating projects.

Collage Photos

Flowers, birds, bunnies, plants, fruits, and vegetables are all spring images. Use old magazines to create collages to display on your wall. Cut out spring images and glue them to pieces of heavy paper. Then place the images inside old frames and hang them on different areas of the wall. You can use multiple images or you can use large pages with single images. This craft is great for adding style while recycling materials.

Plastic Lid Wall Hanging

Make a spring themed wall hanging using plastic lids, paint, paintbrushes, scissors, and ribbon. Start by painting all of the lids a solid color. Then decide on the message you want to write on your banner. Spring and bloom are good word choices for decorating during this season. Then paint each letter of your message on a different lid. Cut holes in the sides of each lid and use the ribbon to tie them together. Hang this project in your home for instant décor.

Dried Flower and Twig Candle Holders

Add that spring touch to your candles by placing them in these handmade holders. For this idea you will need twigs, ribbon, dried flowers, hot glue, and jars. Start by tying the ribbon around the lip of the jar and using the glue to secure it in place. Then glue some flowers and twigs to the ribbon to add more seasonal charm Candles complete the look.

Bird's Egg Centerpiece

For this centerpiece you will need grapevines or twigs. You will also need glue, eggs, a needle, paintbrushes, and paint. Start making the nest by wrapping the vines or the twigs together in a circle. Add more vines until the circle is smaller and the bottom is covered. Use glue along the way to secure it in place. Then use the needle to poke a small hole in the egg and blow out the contents. Finally paint the egg and place in the nest for your centerpiece.

These spring themed decorations are fun and easy to create. Try these ideas in your home decorating themes for spring, and you will love the results.

3 Fun Recycled T-Shirt Crafts

 

Everyone has t-shirts that they love but they no longer wear. Maybe you outgrew your favorite t-shirt, or maybe it got a hole in a very unflattering place; either way there are some awesome ways you can recycle your t-shirt to make it last many more years. There are several fun ways to reuse old t-shirts, and this article will inspire you to bust out your old shirts and get crafting.

My favorite simple t-shirt craft is the t-shirt pillow; it is easy and a great item you will use for years to come. All you will need for this project is an old t-shirt, needle, thread, scissors, and some stuffing. Now simply cut the sleeves of the shirt and the neck of the shirt so it makes a square. Next you will need to turn the shirt inside out, and thread your needle. Start sewing at the left or right side corner of the shirt where you cut the sleeve off. Continue sewing until you have sewn completely three sides around the square. Now sew half of the final side, and turn the square right side out. Fill the pillow with stuffing until it is a good density, and sew until the square is completely sealed. This project makes an awesome pillow out of a shirt you might have thrown away.

Another fun shirt project is a shirt purse. This project is easy, and it is a good way to recycle; all you will need is a shirt, scissors, and needle and thread. Simply turn the shirt inside out. Sew the top edge of the shirt, where your head would go, shut. Next cut the sleeves off of the shirt, and sew the holes shut. If this shirt is long sleeved this is helpful, but you can use short sleeved shirts as well. If the shirt has long sleeves you can use them as a strap; if not you can use a strong ribbon or piece of felt. Just sew the sleeve ends to the sides of the bottom of the shirt, and you have an awesome bag.

Another fun way to save a t-shirt that means a lot to you is making a t-shirt pot holder. For this project you will need a piece of felt, an old shirt, scissors, needle, and thread. Now simply cut out the part of the shirt you like. If there is a picture or a fun pocket cut out a square that is suitable for a pot holder. Next cut a piece of felt slightly bigger than the t-shirt piece. Now lay the shirt on top f the felt, and sew around all of the edges. Cut a small strip from the felt and sew it to one of the corners of the square. Now you have completed your potholder, and you have recycled one of your favorite shirts.

There are many ways to recycle things found around your home into fun and useful craft projects. I hope these ideas have helped you to reuse some of the items you might throw out.