The Future of EcoScrapbooking

It's been nearly a year since I posted to EcoScrapbook. 

Life has gotten busy and I became the blogger who couldn't create new weekly content. I never thought it would be me. But it is what it is.

Over the course of a year, I didn't craft much and struggled with the future of EcoScrapbook. It was my un-craftable year and a time of being un-eco-friendly (not by choice).

My year of un-crafting made me rethink my ecoscrapbooking habits. 

There are businesses that don't have much sense of recycling and I found myself involved with two of them. I felt like a hypocrite. At EcoScrapbook, I preached about being green, but out in the work force, I have zero control of what can be recycled and what has to be trashed. It's been a daily internal struggle.

Since I was barely scrapbooking (thank goodness for mobile scrapbooking...PicsArt!), I began to take less photos. It's not that I stopped taking photos altogether (I have plenty in my gallery).

I started to enjoy life's moments by watching them without a lens in front of me.

I didn't rush to pull out my camera every time life needed to be documented. For so long, I recorded videos at school events and then finally realized that nothing compares to seeing my children through my own eyes. There's a connection you can only get when a camera isn't stealing the spotlight.

As I changed, I thought more about the bigger picture. I'm interested in the idea of teaching younger generations to take action and be more eco-conscious. In order for me to do that, my focus can't be on deciding what content to post next on EcoScrapbook.

With Earth Day here, I felt the urge to create a new post. I didn't expect it to turn into a decision on the future of EcoScrapbook.

Watch now:

What is the future of EcoScrapbooking?

That depends on you and how eco-conscious you want to be. I laid the groundwork as I presented creative and easy ways to craft and scrapbook with the Earth in mind.

The EcoScrapbook Blog and ebooks are your source for green scrapbooking and crafting. Whenever you need inspiration, just stop by and peruse my archived material or download an ebook.

As for me, I will continue to change the way I scrapbook and never stop thinking about how to turn trash to treasure. 

The EcoScrapbook Facebook page and YouTube Channel will still be up and running. Please follow along if you haven't already and I hope we can continue our community on social media. ~Danielle

New Eco-Crafting eBook!

Do you toss your empty toilet paper rolls? What do you do with all those plastic grocery bags? 

Eco-Crafting: 20 Simple & Green Craft Projects is packed with easy to follow tutorials that will help you turn trash to treasure. From making a wreath with grocery bags to upcycling an old pie pan into home decor, you’ll find the perfect craft project for you! 

Avoid the recycling bin and discover what you can do with different types of cardboard. Many of the tutorials are so easy, your kids can help and together, you’ll make the world a greener place.

____________________________

That's from my new eBook! Two years after I self-published the collaborative EcoScrapbooking: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers, I finally put together my top eco-friendly craft projects into one handy, downloadable book.

Eco-Crafting is now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read it for free! Not a current subscriber? Download Kindle to any device and buy the crafty eBook for on $2.49! You'll learn how to make 20 different eco-friendly craft projects and I'll earn a little pocket change.

Now that I know how to publish on Amazon, I can't wait to start my next eBook! ~Danielle

Related:

EcoScrapbooking eBook Launch Party!

DIY Fire-Starter

How to Make Melted Crayons

Earth Day Project: Camo Rain Boot Flower Pots

Earth Day Week 2015 ends today with my final project. It's one we've all seen on the internet: flower pots made from rain boots.

These belonged to my youngest daughter. When she was about four years old, we went to an Army surplus store for a pair of work boots for my husband and when she spotted the camo rain boots, she HAD to have them! Now, you must understand, she's a girly girl and to our surprise, she wasn't about to leave that store without them. Since she needed rain boots anyway...well, I think you know the rest of the story. 

Anywho, I've been wanting to do this project for a long time and now that it's spring, why not do it today? Although I had to pull out my winter coat this morning (I was outside enjoying the 70+ degree weather last weekend), I'm beyond happy for a new season and looking forward to a fabulous summer! Planting flowers brings me one step closer to that.

Here's how I made flower pots from camo rain boots:

Supplies:

rain boots

2 geraniums

organic potting soil

shovel

drill

Directions: Drill 5-7 small holes into the bottom of the rain boots for drainage. Add soil and geraniums. (Yes, that's my daughter's shovel. Since we moved last fall, I have no idea where my shovel is.) 

Who doesn't love a quick and simple project that also includes some upcycling?

Hope you enjoyed EcoScrapbook's Earth Day Week and remember to make Earth Day every day! ~Danielle

Missed an Earth Day project this week? Check them out below:

MON: Plastic Bag Wreath

TUE: Sticks & Stones Make Tic-Tac-Toe

WED: DIY Fire Starter

THUR: Homemade Cleaners & Dryer Sheets

And swing by my other blog, Greater Toledo's Mama Meow, for 10 eco-friendly websites for kids. (Note: Local information is at the top of the post, so you'll have to scroll down to find them.)

Earth Day Project: DIY Fire Starter

Happy Earth Day! It's Day 3 of Earth Day Week at EcoScrapbook and today I'm sharing another eco-friendly project I recently completed.

Apparently, there are several ways to make your own fire starter. I narrowed it down to one of the simplest ways to start a backyard fire this summer: dryer lint and toilet paper rolls.

If you've been a long time reader, you know I've made several crafts with toilet paper rolls. In fact, my Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies are famous and brings in the most traffic to this blog. Crazy, huh?

I've also scrapbooked with dryer lint. Google "scrapbook dryer lint" and you'll also find me on the first page. Another, who woulda thunk?

Both dryer lint and toilet paper rolls can end up as trash or if you don't regularly clean out the dryer's lint trap, your house can burn down. So instead, save these items and make something new like DIY fire starter.

I'm using a saved Cutie mesh bag to store these fire starters made from toilet paper rolls and dryer lint.

Check back tomorrow as Earth Day Week continues! ~Danielle

Make These Projects for Earth Day:

Kids Earth Day Project: Tic-Tac-Toe

Plastic Bag Wreath

No Sew T-Shirt Bag

Laundry Soap Recipe

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

Earth Day Project: Plastic Bag Wreath

Welcome to Earth Day Week at EcoScrapbook! Each day this week, I'll be sharing my latest eco-friendly projects. First up, a wreath made from plastic grocery bags:

Supplies:

25 plastic grocery bags

9" embroidery hoop

burlap ribbon

paper flowers

painted wood letter

hot glue gun

jewelry wire

wire cutters

scissors

1. Cut off the front of each grocery bag and set aside to recycle later. 

2. Stack each blank side of grocery bags on top of each other and cut off the edges.

3. Cut 10 10" strips to make 250 plastic strips.

4. Fold each strip in half and secure to embroidery circle with a knot.

Repeat until circle is covered.

5. Attach burlap ribbon to wreath making a loop at top and stapling it closed.

6. Make a bow by folding burlap ribbon around itself three times as shown:

7. Twist wire around center, insert into loop and secure together with wire. Cut off excess wire. The wire will be used to hang wreath on door.

8. Spread out the burlap to finish the bow and trim edges.

9. Wrap burlap ribbon around bottom right of wreath and staple closed. 

10. Attach painted wood letter and paper flowers with hot glue gun.

And now I have a beautiful eco-friendly door wreath just in time for Earth Day! ~Danielle

Related:

How to Make a Plastic Bag Skirt

No Sew T-Shirt Bag

Spring Diorama

Home Decor Tutorial: Repurposed Pie Pan

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

How to Make Your Thanksgiving Eco-Friendly

When I think of Thanksgiving, family comes to mind and I'm thankful to have such a wonderful support system in my life. I also think of turkey and all the food that comes with it when we gather together for a feast. I think of fall colors (not the snow and frigid weather outside my window right now) and realize Christmas is right around the corner.

As an eco-friendly crafter, I created three projects with Thanksgiving in mind. I have Halloween decorations, but not many Thanksgiving items to put out in the fall. The projects below will last the entire season.

Twine Bottle

I've been collecting empty bottles since there are so many ways to upcycle them. This particular bottle is from the Mexican soda Jarritos. It has a cool texture and I didn't want to cover the entire bottle with twine. Find out how you can make it on the Glue Dots Blog.

Fall Votive Candle

Who doesn't love burlap and chevron right now? When shopping for projects, you'll want to look for natural fiber items like jute twine and burlap. And I've always promoted eco-friendly and recycled cardstock like the kraft paper shown above. The supply list and directions can be found here.

Thankful Spool Centerpiece

This is a perfect addition to the projects above and includes the same type of embellishments in the supply list. Visit the Glue Dots Blog to find out how I made it.

Now that we've greened-up our Thanksgiving decorations, how else can we make a day of thanks also a day to be eco-conscious?

Green Thanksgiving Tips

1. Support local farmers' markets and stores when shopping for your meal. If the budget allows, choose organic foods.
2. Use recipes that allow you to make your food from scratch. I recently made a green bean casserole I found on Pinterest. Instead of canned soup, I made a homemade cream sauce and the result was delicious.
3. Eat dinner by candlelight (see projects above).
4. Ditch the paper plates and disposable napkins and cups. This is the perfect time to bring out those cloth napkins you rarely use. You can also invest in a nice place setting to use for years to come or find an assortment of pieces at a secondhand store.
5. Avoid the aerosol sprays and scent your home by simmering a pot of cinnamon sticks.
6. Recycle packaging, cans or bottles used to make your meal.
7. Compost scraps of vegetables and other leftovers.
8. Plant a thankful tree with your family.

Have another green Thanksgiving idea? Share it in the comments! ~Danielle

Related:

Kid's Craft Tutorial: Newspaper Leaf Wreath

Home Decor Tutorial: Repurposed Pie Pan

Photo Collage Pumpkin Centerpiece

It's a Blog Hop with Glue Dots & Marion Smith Designs

After an incredibly long and cold winter, I'm happy to see green grass and the flowers in full bloom. To celebrate the season, Glue Dots and Marion Smith Designs have teamed up for a blog hop, as well as introduce the new Glue Dots blog!

Upon receiving Junque & Jems and the Never Grow Up paper collection from Marion Smith Designs, I was inspired to create an upcycled diorama with my stash of Glue Dots.

Let's have a look:

Upcycled Diorama

Supplies:

Glue Dots® (assorted)

Glue Dots Desktop Dispenser

Marion Smith Designs paper

Marion Smith Design embellishments

cardstock (green, blue)

aluminum roasting pan

butterfly punch

EK Success fence

small flower pot

floral foam

moss

miniature beehive

fishing line

wire

The new Glue Dots Desktop Dispenser made it easy to attach punched butterflies to the paper tree I created:

and the floral embellishments to wire for the flower pot:

After attaching the background and paper tree to the roasting pan, I added clouds with Pop Up Glue Dots®, doubling up for more dimension:

and hung a couple with fishing wire:

Then I pulled out the XXL Glue Dots® to secure the rolled moss to the bottom of the diorama:

I also used an XXL Glue Dot® to keep the flower pot in place before using Glue Dots Glue Lines® to attach a popsicle stick to the back of the cut-out girl:

This allows her to stay standing and move around within the scene.

What a doll! I wish you can stay and play for a bit, but it's time to continue the blog hop and have a chance to win some goodies!

Dawn Barrett

Donna Budzynski

Erin Bullock

Joy Dickson

Jessica Griffin

You're here--> Danielle Hunter

Samantha Taylor

Grace Tolman

Marion Smith Designs Blog: Day 1 & Day 2

Find Marion Smith items at Scrapbook.com and BlueMoonScrapbooking.com. 

Glue Dots® products are available online at Jo-Ann.com or at your local Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.

Are you ready for a chance to win?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop by the new Glue Dots blog, visit our group of designers and say hello to all the designers from the Marion Smith team. Good luck! A winner will be announced on June 13th! ~Danielle

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