Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Thats the commercial in NY for our recycling program. So lets take that into crafts. 

Reduce - Reduce the amount of stuff you throw out. Except for food I bet you almost everything in your trash you could turn into a craft project with the kids. Just make sure its clean. We wouldn't want any bugs in the house. All you need to do is go to google.com and search for a craft made from the items you have. For example, empty water bottles can be painted, decorated and used as a bud vase for a great Teachers gift. 

Also, reduce the amount of paper towels you use to clean up crafts messes. Use old sheets to cover craft surfaces and use old button down shirts for kids smocks. Also reduce the amount of styrofoam you use. I get so many kids in the store looking for styrofoam to make school projects and the teachers are telling them to use it. Styrofoam is made from oil, is very expensive and un-friendly to the environment. Try to find a project that doesn't use it if you can.

Reuse -  Remember that thrift stores are your friend. If your looking for some yarn to try a new project or if your kids want to make clothing for their dolls the best place to go is your local trift store. You can take a ratty sweater, unravvel the yarn, washit, even bleach it and re-dye it if you want. and then make something else. Another thing you can find are buttons. pick up some stained really cheap shirts, cut off all the buttons and use them on a shirt you have that's missing some or make use them to decorate a kids project. Then use the stained shirt as a dust rag. 

Recycle - Find out what is recycled in your area. Sometimes there are places you need to drop stuff off at. Also if you don't have kids, collect some of the things I mentioned and find your local Girl Scout troupe and share the items along with some ideas you found. Not everyone is a tech savey as we are. 

Flea Markets & Garage sales are a great place too. One mans trash is another mans treasure. My favorite find is old jewlery. some of those junky looking necklaces you find at garage sales for a quarter can be taken apart, and restrung with other beads or in another pattern to give them an up to date look and feel. Sometimes they just need a good cleaning,,, which brings me to eco friendly cleaning supplies. 

Toms natural Backing soda toothpaste is great to use to clean your teeth but it will also clean your silver jewlery. I'm sure if you did a little bit of searching you could find eco friendly alternatives to alot of things in your home. 

So here are some links I found for craft projects that are eco friendly

http://eileensfreetips.blogspot.com/2007/02/fun-useful-craft-ideas.html

Martha Stewart has a section of Earth-Friendly crafts

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/eco-friendly-crafts?rsc=3

Greenfeet.com is a great place to go to get almost everything you could dream of thats eco friendly. 

And then if you want another podcast to listen to I really need to mention More Hip than Hippie. Its these two girls that talk about what they do to be more eco friendly. They answer questions about being more green and every show they mention a beer and chocolate. How can you go wrong?!?! 

Mothers Day is May 11th and in the current issue of Pak O Fun they have the cutest hand made flower

The flower petals are cut outs of the childs hands and the leaves are cut outs from the childs feet. You really need to check it out at your news stand. 

On our show next week May 7th will will talk about some more projects you can make with and for your mom. But if you need any ideas before then, please email me at cookscrafts@gmail.com