Kids Earth Day Project: Sticks & Stones Make Tic-Tac-Toe

You know the children's rhyme that begins with "sticks and stones may break my bones," right? Well, not with this Earth Day Project! Sticks and stones make for a fun little game of Tic-Tac-Toe.

Supplies:

4 sticks

rocks (two different colors)

twine

scissors

The directions are simple and great to do with kids. Create a Tic-Tac-Toe board with sticks and secure together with twine. Easy peasy! A few minutes of work equals a leisurely outdoor game of strategy.

Stop by tomorrow to see what I do with dryer lint! ~Danielle

Make These Projects for Earth Day:

Plastic Bag Wreath

Summer Memories Container

DIY Ombre Corkboard

Birdseed Ornaments

How to Make Melted Crayons

I'm a crayon collector! Each year, after school lets out, I take all the used crayons my children bring home and dump them into a gallon container. They get used sometimes, but as broken, pointless crayons, they're often overlooked. I think I probably have crayons from my childhood in there too! (Hoarder Alert!)

I've always wanted to make new crayons out of the old ones and finally did so with my six-year-old. We made them to pass out to her class for Valentine's Day.

They're about the size of Reese Cups and each one is unique.

Here’s how we made melted crayon Valentines:

Supplies:

Several broken/unwanted crayons

Cutting board

Knife

Paper towels

Cupcake liners

Muffin pans

Oven

Oven mitts

Small treat bags

Instructions:

1. Peel off the crayon wrappers.

2. Have a parent chop up the crayons into smaller pieces. I used a few paper towels on a cutting board and a large kitchen knife. Set oven to 250 degrees.

3. Place cupcake liners into muffin pans.

4. Fill the cupcake liners halfway with crayon pieces.

5. Bake in a pre-heated oven until crayons are melted into a liquid, about 10-12 minutes. Use oven mitts to remove pans from oven.

6. Let the melted crayons cool for about 3 hours or overnight before peeling off cupcake liners.

7. Insert melted crayons into small treat bags to pass out to your class.

You can use stickers to seal the bags or tie bows with ribbon. As always, get creative and have fun! ~Danielle

Related Kid's Crafts:

Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies
Painting Roses With Celery
Painting Shamrocks With Toilet Paper Rolls

Tutorial: No Sew T-Shirt Bag

I don't sew. Sewing machines scare me and it's a rare occasion when I sew by hand. I like no sew projects and these easy to make t-shirt bags: 

Upcycled Fashion: T-Shirt Bags

As I organized my closet, I didn't want to donate these two worn-out green-themed t-shirts, so I upcycled them instead and here's how:

No Sew T-Shirt Bag Tutorial

In less than thirty minutes, I had two new bags to show off and looking forward to making more in the future. ~Danielle

Related:

EcoSpotlight: Eco-Conscious Children Changing the World
Mini Eco-Friendly Scrapbooks
Upcycled Projects for Every Month of the Year

Easter Craft Round-Up

I love April! The weather is warmer and I'm celebrating two special days this month. 

First is April 20, which is Easter and my birthday! As a child, when my birthday fell on Easter, I often had a bunny cake and was extra spoiled during family get-togethers. Next up is April 22, Earth Day, and I'm sharing daily EcoScrapbook tips on Facebook and Twitter all month long.

Let's get in the Easter spirit with a round-up of fun and easy crafts! Enjoy! ~Danielle

1. {for you} Gift Bag for Easter

2. Easter Bunny Napkin Rings

3. Peter Rabbit Gift Boxes

4. Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

5. Framed Easter Photo

6. Easter Card

Painting Roses With Celery

After making clovers with a toilet paper roll, I felt like experimenting (like a kid) again and used a celery heart to stamp roses:

 I started on a blank sheet of paper with yellow and pink acrylic paint (my red was running low).

Then I pulled out a sheet of 12x12 cardstock:

 and removed a few outside stalks for smaller roses:

I had a couple used gift bags next to my desk and figured "what the heck?"

After drying, it was group photo time!

What to paint with next? ~Danielle

Kid-Related Paint Projects:

Easter Kid's Craft: Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

Toilet Paper Roll Gift Boxes

Chalkboard Headband Storage

My St. Patrick's Day Craft Experiment

St. Patrick's Day is next week and I have yet to put out any decorations! I'm so behind on this green holiday. We haven't even seen signs of our little leprechaun visitor!

I thought I'd do a St. Patrick's Day craft experiment and see if I could stir up some luck (and motivation)!

I pulled out a toilet paper roll (see this pin), shaped one end into a heart, stapled the other end to hold the shape in place, and grabbed some green paint:

I used a Studio G St. Patrick's Day stamp on these 6x6 pieces of kraft cardstock. 

As the glitter paint started to dry and lighten, I wanted to see how other colors of paint would look over the clovers. Let's check out the results:

Not bad, but I should have done the darker colors first and then the light, glittery green...or went to the store to buy a clover shade of green acrylic paint.

Since I had leftover paint, I continued experimenting:

I think I may cut out some of these designs and use them for scrapbooking or crafting.

Here's the final look of the original clover after it dried:

This page will most likely end up in my 365 Grateful album. For more St. Patrick's Day crafts, see the links below. I'm off to the attic for decorations! ~Danielle

Related St. Patrick's Day Projects:

Kid-Sized Bangles

Jar Lid Magnets

Rainbow Mini Book Cover

2013 Highlights & What to Expect in 2014

Happy New Year! I'm back from a two week break and ready to get things rolling for 2014! Hope your holidays were happy and you're as excited for the new year as I am. Before we get into EcoScrapbook of 2014, let's have a look back at 2013.

The most exciting event of 2013 was the release of EcoScrapbooking: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers, a collaborative eBook by creative minds:

It's free to read online or download. If you haven't done so already, check it out and get eco-inspired this year as you scrapbook!

Another accomplishment was the completion of three Layout A Days, including one where I was a featured scrapbooker. Click the links see the layouts from February, May and October. You can join me for the next one in February as we discover ways to break all those scrapbooking rules! Click here to view more details

In 2013, a few of my projects became famous! Check out my googly-eyed Easter eggs on the Reader's Digest website! Then there was this rainbow craft project from 2011 that has been pinned and recreated countless times and brought in a ton of traffic from Facebook:

The biggest hit of last year, bringing in over 10,000 visitors in March, were the toilet paper roll Easter bunnies I made for Glue Dots:

I also took a road trip and taught my largest class at the Memories Scrapbooking Expo in Columbus:

visited the Jillibean's store:

and set up a table at a school's holiday gift shop:

Another cool thing of 2013 was when I shared my old scrapbooks with you. This one was from 23 years ago:

And here's a scrapbook from a few years later:

Now that we reviewed the old, what's new for 2014?

I've always wanted to incorporate stories about people, particularly from the younger generations, who are making a difference in the world by being "green."

I will continue focusing on eco-friendly scrapbooking and crafting as I dig into my stash of saved goodies. And I plan to experiment with more alternative ways to scrapbook. Like my 2012 Instagram scrapbook, I will make a 2013 book of square prints, but this time it'll be Smashing! I've briefly played with a Smash Book previously, but haven't used one as a scrapbook yet.

Finally, I will memorialize my dog in a tribute post, as well as an entire scrapbook dedicated to our beloved Tabatha. New Year's Day was a sad one for our family when we discovered our 12-year-old dog unexpectedly had gastric volvulus, commonly known as bloat, and one of the main health concerns for German Shepherds. So look for that in the near future.

I don't have a plan set in "digital" stone yet as I've done in the past. Blog posts may even be limited as I wish to focus more on the world of publishing. We'll just have to wait and see what 2014 is really all about. Cheers to a new year! ~Danielle

Kid's Room Craft: Chalkboard Headband Storage

As a mom of two girls, I have to deal with excess "girly things" like headbands and since I do like to craft, I came up with this hanging chalkboard headband storage (say that five times fast):

Kid's Room Craft Tutorial: Hanging Chalkboard Headband Storage

Supplies:

Glue Dots® (Lines, Mini, Micro)

3 plastic ice cream containers with lids

chalkboard paint (Rust-Oleum)

paint brush

painter's tape

sandpaper

sunglasses rope

neon craft foam shapes (bug and butterfly kit)

googly eyes

pipe cleaners

wire cutters

decorative cardstock

chalk

scissors

drill

1. Lightly sand the outside of each ice cream container. Wash and dry the containers.

2. Drill holes into the top of each container and into the bottom of two containers. Cover holes in the inside of each container with painter's tape to prevent paint drips.

3. Apply three coats of chalkboard paint to the outside of the containers and allow at least 4 hours of drying time in between coats. Set aside for 3 days.

4. Create 6 foam butterflies/bugs with antenna from the kit (2 for each ice cream container) and use Mini and Micro Glue Dots® to secure pieces together.

5. Remove the painter's tape once chalkboard paint has set for 3 days. Cut the sunglasses rope (mine came straight from the 1980s!!) into 3 equal pieces and thread through the drilled holes, tying knots to secure into place. Cut off excess rope.

6. Decorate the chalkboard containers with frames created from foam strips and the butterflies/bugs from Step 4. Use Glue Dots® Glue Lines to adhere foam to the containers. Add additional foam shapes if desired.

7. Cut the ends of each ice cream container lid and attach decorative paper with Mini Glue Dots® to the tops. Secure the cut lids to the bottom of each container with Glue Dots® Glue Lines to keep headbands from falling out.

8. Hang the chalkboard headband storage, insert headbands and use chalk to write messages on the sides.

Try painting wood or cardboard shapes with neon acrylic paint as an alternative to foam. It's all about getting creative, repurposing items from around the home and sharing projects with others. ~Danielle

Related Glue Dots Tutorials for Kids:

Upcycled Summer Memories Container (another fun ice cream container project!)

Jar Lid Magnets

Upcycled & Kid-Sized Bangles

Disclosure: This blog post was written while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

Earth Day Ideas: Crafts

It's April! You know what that means? Earth Day is near! 

I'll be sharing eco-friendly projects all month long as I gear up for the launch of my eBook EcoScrapbooking: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers! 

Stay tuned for an Earth Day blog hop on April 22nd! Ten lovely scrapbook designers and eBook contributors will share "green" tips, projects AND the free EcoScrapbooking eBook.

Until then, enjoy these weekly round-ups of Earth Day ideas. This week, I want to share some of the upcycled crafts I found on Pinterest. ~Danielle

Related:
Eco-friendly Scrapbooking: Pause & Get Published
Documenting Earth Day activities in a mini-album
Take Twelve: April 2012 (Earth Day theme)

Upcycled St. Patrick's Day Craft Projects

It's that time of year again! Bring out the clover decorations, catch those leprechauns and find a pot o' gold at the end of a rainbow! Kiss me, I'm Irish... St. Patrick's Day is near!

Some of my favorite and most popular craft projects were created just for March 17th, but the fun begins weeks before St. Patrick's Day. You can read more about our family fun and the leprechaun named Roger here. 

Today's post is a round-up of my upcycled St. Patrick's Day craft projects. Click the links for tutorials!

Upcycled St. Patrick's Day Crafts

1. Rainbow Mini Book Cover

2. Jar lid Magnets

3. Kid-Sized Bangles

4. Paper Scrap Rainbow

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? If so, what do you enjoy most about it? ~Danielle

12 Upcycled Crafts for Every Month of the Year

What can I upcycle today? That's the first question I ask myself when starting a new craft project. If you're reading this right now, I know you often ask yourself that very same question.

Over the past year or so, I've meshed together recycling and crafting. The result: an arsenal of upcycled crafts for every month of the year.

12 Upcycled Crafts for Every Month of the Year

Each project is made from items that often end up in the trash or recycling bin. All of them are craft tutorials I created during my time as a Glue Dots designer and most are crafts for children or ones they can make too.

JANUARY | Kid's Craft Idea: Toy Storage Containers

FEBRUARY | DIY: Birdseed Ornaments + Upcycled Tags

MARCH | Kid-Sized St. Patrick's Day Bangles

APRIL | Easter Kid's Craft: Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

MAY | Mother's Day Upcycled Flower Carrier

JUNE | Father's Day Cassette Tape Card

JULY | 4th of July Snappers Box

AUGUST | Summer Memories Container

SEPTEMBER | Back-To-School Project: Upcycled Pencil Holders

OCTOBER | How to Make a Plastic Bag Skirt

NOVEMBER | Kid's Craft: Newspaper Leaf Wreath

DECEMBER | A Christmas Planner: Coffee Sleeve Mini-Book

When I first joined the Glue Dots design team in 2010, I was still trying to find my niche amongst the many crafty and brilliant bloggers I've had the pleasure to discover. Over time, I realized that I love turning trash into treasure and being eco-friendly in the craft room. What was the last thing you recycled while crafting? ~Danielle

Toilet Paper Roll Crafts: Cindy's Penguins & Bunny Napkin Rings

Cindy from My Creative Life linked up two kid's crafts for my Toilet Paper Roll Challenge. First up, these cute little penguins:

Next, Cindy shared these clever bunny napkin rings:

Check out Cindy's penguins here and the bunny napkin rings here.

Additional Toilet Paper Roll Crafts:

DIY: Birdseed Ornaments + Upcycled Tags

Toilet Paper Roll Gift Boxes

Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

Easter Kid's Craft: Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

I've been on a roll lately (no pun intended), making crafts from toilet paper rolls. There's a box full of them in my craft room! I'd like to see how many things I can make before the end of the year and I'll be seeking your assistance. There's a big announcement coming tomorrow and some goodies involved...stay tuned!

Now, for my latest toilet paper roll creation... The kids will be fighting over these adorable bunnies (mine did!):

 

If you've been a long-time follower, you may remember my googly-eyed Easter eggs over on Snap.Scrap.Blog.Tweet. They're just as cute as the bunnies. See the complete tutorial here.

Okay, let's get rollin'...

Supplies:

Glue Dots© (Craft, Mini, XL)
toilet paper rolls
1/2" toilet paper roll strips (2 for each bunny)
acrylic paint
paint brushes
googly eyes
black marker/pen (Marvy Uchida Le Plume)
white pen (Sakura Gelly Roll)
cotton balls

1. Paint toilet paper rolls and strips. Apply 2-3 coats. Let dry.

2. Secure the ears together with Craft Glue Dots©. Attach ears to the toilet paper rolls using Mini Glue Dots©.

3. Adhere googly eyes to each bunny using Craft Glue Dots©. I used a pencil mark in the center as a guide.

4. Use a black marker to draw the faces and a white pen to color in the teeth.

5. Attach cotton balls to the back side of each bunny using XL Glue Dots©.

And these toilet paper roll bunnies are done!

It's almost time for Easter, so round up the kiddos and get craftin' on your very own toilet paper roll bunnies! (I know, I'm being a bit dorky. My excuse: it's late at night as I'm writing this.)  ~Danielle

Additional Glue Dots Tutorials:

Toilet Paper Roll Gift Boxes

Upcycled Pencil Holders

Confetti Dropper

Disclosure: This blog post was written while participating on the Glue Dots design team.