Garbage to Glamour!

By: Stephanie Benney

Now that we have finally started to see warmer temperatures and signs of Spring the inevitable approaches…SPRING CLEANING!  While you are weeding through all of your wardrobe, memorabilia, house goods and nik naks,  take a second to look at the items and try to see the green potential in all of them.  Green and recycled craft projects and jewelry are ultra trendy, not to mention the fact that they are one-of-a-kind and unique to your personal history.

As I started researching this trend more thoroughly, my creativity was sparked and I started looking around my loft for my own hidden treasures.  I found some old forks and turned them into a ring holder, by using clay to bind the stems together to form the base and bending the prongs upward to display my rings.

Who doesn’t end up going through all of the keys on their key ring wondering what some of them unlock?  Why not paint those orphan keys your favorite colors and string them with any beads you may have lying around to make a shabby chiq necklace or bracelet?

If you are anything like my Mother, you have more artificial flower arrangements than we have days on the calendar.  Instead of kicking them to the curb on garbage night, consider making a nostalgic floral choker or attach one of them to a bland headband for a romantic, 1920′s look.

While some of us “chicks” will be collecting ideas for creative craft projects during summer break with the kids, some of us single “chicks” may be in the mood to freshen the vibe of our urban loft or townhouse with a makeover.  Whether it is art projects with the kids or crafting an abstract collage for your loft, be sure to use eco-friendly media and materials, such as low or no VOC(volatile organic compound) paints, stains, and markers.  Reuse old scrap paper, photographs, newspapers and magazines.  Newspapers can be given new life as wrapping paper for gifts by painting a design with bold color.  Turn old magazines into fun bows to top presents by cutting strips and folding into whatever size and style you desire.

From old clocks, unused antique typewriters, picture frames and buttons to measuring tape, tablecloths, and t-shirts, there is a productive afterlife for these items beyond their original purpose.  All you have to do is open up your eyes and your mind to the possibility of creating a truly unique, sustainable treasure.

While some of us are bursting with inspiration and running towards our attics, basements and closets with a chiq transformation in mind, some of us need a little more help.  There are plenty of magazines and resources out there to help us accomplish “higher creativity”. Try checking out  www.ecogreencrafts.com for all of your safe and non-toxic craft product needs.  This site has a great blog and crafting ideas for all ages.  For the more “outside-the-box” crafter, I found the Green Craft Magazine, sold at Border’s Bookstore to be a refreshing resource with unusual and unique ideas.  Well chicks….I guess there’s nothing left to say except GET YOUR GREEN CRAFT ON!

Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com