RECYCLED CRAFTS


© Christine Barron
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Recycling is an art in itself...separating those cans, bottles, deciding whether or not a code 1 or a code 2 goes in this pile or that, is this recyclable, or is it just plain ol' garbage. Well, hey, let's cut out all the wondering and put this stuff to use! Doing so will not only remove all question of which pile it goes in (does it go in a pile at all???), but it will also aid in the reduction of garbage and processing of recyclable materials. And, as I always enjoy, it gets those creative thought waves bouncing around in your head! Just look at some of the things you can do: http://handcraftersvillage.com/recycled.... or http://www.greensense.com/GR_LIV.HTM.

Recycled crafts are an environmental-friendly form of creativity, and the medium questions the old adage, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." Who said so??? The possibilities are endless! Oh, you were going to throw out that old 2-liter bottle? Why don't you make an angel out of it instead? Or, instead of tossing those old toilet paper and paper towel rolls out, why not sit down and spend an afternoon making a castle, or some flowers or napkin rings out of them with the kids? Wouldn't it be better to make a braided rug out of those rags instead of just trashing them? Boy, it sure makes more sense to make a luminaria out of that tin can than it does to throw it out... And it doesn't end here.

As a mother of two young children, I can clearly see the need to recycle, to reduce-reuse-recycle, as the slogan goes, for several reasons. There are tons of waste created everyday in this country, and let's face it...we're going to run out of room eventually. All of this trash doesn't just dissolve into the ground, never to be seen again. Much of it will stay in the dumps 'til the end of time...things like that glass bottle, that old soda can or that candle that burned down to a "useless" pile of wax. This stuff could be, and should be, put to other uses. Also, teaching ourselves and our children to recycle -to reuse- promotes frugality and thriftiness, which are always good skills to have. And, creative recycling encourages alternative ways of thinking and helps promote togetherness, through the sharing of ideas.

One person can't make a difference, you say? Wrong!!! So maybe you save a small bag of garbage/recycleables or so every week just by recycling? Wait til your neighbor or your cousin checks out what you've been doing with all this stuff...chances are, they'll say "how clever," and go home and try it themselves, or they'll be inspired to do something a little different. Well, right there, you've inspired others to recycle, and no longer is it just one little person trying to do a good deed. And already, there are a few more items being reused. Soon, it's a widespread art, and a whole lot of recycling is going on!!! On a larger scale, think of all the things that are going on around us...tire swings, mulched tractor tires for soft landings at the playground, recycled paper, bins for recycling plastic bags at the grocery store, and, well...you get the idea. And this all started because one person was brave enough to look at things through new eyes.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

2.   Apr 8, 2000 3:58 AM
Thanks for the comments! Check back in the future for more on recycled crafts! I've only just started on this topic!

Chris
CE, General Creativity ...


-- posted by barinet1


1.   Jan 29, 2000 11:54 PM
I am a Child Development teacher. Recently, I attended a workshop that gave several suggestions on crafting with plastic bottles. I intended to incorporate ideas from the workshop into my curriculum ...

-- posted by Sandi_ego





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