Recycle Cotton Pants

Cotton Pants and Jeans are the best material to recycle and make shoulder bags, shopping bags etc.

I have used my son's cotton pants to make this shoulder bag. It can contain quite a good amount of things. I have cut the material such that the pockets are left as such, so that they can be more effectively used!.

See the following links also:

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/08/shopping-bag-from-jeans.html

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/08/shoulder-bag-from-recycled-jeans.html

Easy painting for kids

Vaccation is there and you need thousands of activities, ( that too new novel ideas) to keep our kids engaged thru the days. Anything is better than watching TV and computer games.

Here is one idea. Instead of just painting in pieces of paper and thowing it off, do a master piece they will be proud to display in their rooms..

Materials needed

Thermocol sheet - You can buy from craft shops. Some times I keep the flat ones that come with packing of electric/electronic items

Acrylic paints - colours of your choice

brushes

sketch pens

How to

Using sketch pens draw the outline of the picture they want to paint. Bigger kids can draw their own designs. Pencils wont work on thermocol sheets, so you have to use sketches pens etc whose nib is soft. Now use the acrylic colours to colour the picture. Use broad brushes to fill bigger areas. Fill thoroughly so that white thermocol spots are not seen inside the picture colored.

Enjoy vaccation with kids as well as decorate our homes.

No Limits for creativity

Cover for Kitchen Appliances

Here are some snap shots to give an idea of recycling.

Who will not like to keep the Kitchen appliances spic n span. Keep the appliances clean by making a cover for it. You can always recycle bits and pieces of cloth. Only thing to ensure is to use same thickness cloth bits for a single project. That will give more life to it.

Cut the pieces as required for the shape of the appliance you want to cover and then sew the edges.

I have used pieces of curtain cloths. In the cover for the coffee maker I have painted the coffee cups using acrylic colours. For the electric cooker, the cloth was plain, so I have done simple embroidery patterns.

Great way to beautify your kitchen also!.

M-seal art

Materials needed
Mseal
Pot – shape an be your choice
Acrylic paints
Paint brushes
Fevicol

Method

Wash the pot and dry it. Give a coating of any dark shade.
Mix the m-seal. Use little bit of talcum powder so that it does not stick to fingers.
If required draw a light sketch of the design you want to create on the pot.
Take small rounds of the mix and shape it like leaves and petals and fix it on the pot. It will stick directly on the surface. If not use little bit of fevicol.

For the stem, roll out the m-seal into long strings and arrange. Keep aside for 2-3 hrs for drying. Once dry, give the colors of your choice.

This can be done by children also. They will really enjoy doing the m-seal petals and strings. Even other shapes can be formed and used to decorate their boxes or shelves etc.

Other m-seal art :

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/07/m-seal-art.html

There is no limit for creativity

Another Patch work

Have bits and pieces of fabric. Create a new Patch work Cushion cover.

Materials needed

Scraps of fabric
½ m Plain fabric for back
Knowledge of sewing

Method - Front

Cut the pieces of fabric into squares of 31/2 inch squares. Arrange and see how the patterns will look good. If the fabric are of contrast shades/designs it will look better. Have few plain squares in between. Cut as many squares as required. I have made a 4X4 square.
Stitch the squares as arranged. To get the required size of the cushion I have added another straight piece of fabric from 2 contrast designs.

Method - Attaching the back with overlap

Cut the backing fabric into two.One should have length more than the other. The extra length should be kept as the overlap. The total length and width should be as required for the cushion plus the seam allowance.

Attach the front panel to the backing material with overlap. Attach velcrove or buttons ont the overlap.

Cushion cover for your favourite cushion is ready!