Recycled plastic bag envelope

This masterpiece of engineering is a mailing envelope which transforms into a tote bag - instructions on how to make it are here on the Etsy blog.

You can make it out of plastic fabric, or why not try making your own fabric out of plastic bags for a complete recycled craft experience. Making plastic bag fabric is easy, the final result is strong and really useful for bags, baby bibs, purses. I made a wonderful bag this way, about 5 years ago and as soon as I find it, I'll post a picture: it's gone into that cupboard upstairs that leads to Narnia...

Recycled beads

Getting crafty with beads is a great way to create your own unique jewellery and accessories, but have you ever thought about going one step further and making your own? There's a brilliant step-by-step recycled bead making tutorial at cutoutandkeep.net which shows you how to make your own beads out of old plastic drinks bottles.

Plastic beads that you buy in the craft shop have probably travelled half-way round the world before finally coming to rest on your chic home-made necklace, so why not cut down on those bead miles, and make your own?

Weave a recycled Easter basket

Diane Gilleland has created this pretty Easter basket out of woven strips of recycled cardboard food boxes. Full instructions at craftstylish.com. Start raiding that recycling box!

Recycled card Christmas baubles

My photo does not do these babies justice. Just go to craftstylish.com and make some for yourself - they are really beautiful, and surprisingly easy to make. Follow the craftstylish instructions and you will get 7cm baubles, perfect for a Christmas tree. I can't resist fiddling with instructions so made these two giant ones out of recycled card by scaling everything up times three.

The result: very dramatic 20cm paper lanterns.
The general reaction: Squee! I want one.

Recycled paper star garland

Another decoration for the Transition Town Worthing Christmas bash - a star garland made out of recycled wrapping paper.

Take a length of twine and create knotted loops where you want each star to be positioned. Cut out as twice as many paper stars as you want on your garland, one for each star's front and back - there's a great star template at activityvillage.co.uk to use. I used wrapping paper, but old wallpaper or craft paper would be equally good.


Cover the reverse of one star in Pritt stick glue, use a glue gun to glue the string onto the star, and then sandwich another star on the top of the first one - you may need a dab more from the glue gun to keep the string in place. Glue gun a button onto the star, and you're done.