Big stores and crafty recycling

Apparently, Macy's is now interested in crafty recycling projects. I got their latest flyers in the mail, and the kid-centered flyer was chock full of projects made from recycled materials.

In this photo, you can just see the flower made from recycled water bottles peeking out from behind the cute little girl.

These boys are living out their Tom Sawyer dreams on a raft made from water cooler jugs.

On this page, they prompt readers to make a birdhouse out of an old coffee can. (Come on, does anyone get their coffee in something other than a Starbucks cup these days? It is a cute idea, though.) I've got to say that my favorite is the turtle in bottom half of the page. I think his neck is made out of an aluminum dryer vent hose. I'm not sure what framework they used for the shell, though it looks like it's stuffed with green plastic bottles.

And finally, more flowers!

If you want to see any of the images in a larger size, feel free to visit my Flickr site.

A different kind of key ring

I saw this fabulous ring listed on Elsewares. What a cool idea! Apparently the ring is cast in sterling silver from an actual key. I definitely don't have the metal-smithing skills to make this myself, so I'll add it to my wish list for now.

I've always had a fascination with old keys, in part because my dad's parents took us to a place called The Baldpate Inn, which has an extensive key collection. Also, my mom's father passed down a box of old keys that had belonged to my great-grandfather. I've since used some of these keys to make a couple different projects--a windchime for my mother and a lampshade for me.


Elsewares also has other darling things, like a fly catcher necklace, a sterling bird necklace, and the Um tote. I'm in love with the tote because not only is a made of felted wool, but it also folds flat. Very clever.

Clever keychain

Thanks to Cat for inspiring this project, which will be featured in the January issue of The Satellite magazine. It's a great way to use up odd beads leftover from previous projects. All you need is some leftover beads, flex wire, a couple of crimp beads and some imagination.

So what's stopping you? Go bling out your keychain!