Got an old cardboard box, plastic grocery bags, leftover fabric and an old book ready for recycle? Once again I'm up to crafting using only materials found around my home. My latest project involves upcycling or recycling these items to make a new wreath. I drew inspiration from some of the felt flower barrettes I've made for my daughter.
Supplies I used:
Cardboard Box
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat
Dinner Plate
Craft Glue
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue Sticks
Burlap Fabric
Plastic Grocery Bags
Needle
Thread
Paper Back Book
Hole Puncher
Jute Twine
Hole Puncher
Jute Twine
The first thing I did was put the box on my cutting mat and essentially used a dinner plate as a cutting ruler. I just traced around the edges of the plate with my rotary cutter to form a base/form for my wall hanging.
Thinking I might possibly decide to sell this one (one of my daughters said absolute not!), I didn't want the back of my hanging to look sloppy so I decided to finish it off a little too. I cut a piece of burlap slightly larger than the circle. I added a little craft glue to one side and smoothed the burlap on top. I then flipped it over and ran a basting/straight stitch by hand to gather the burlap around the inside to make a smooth covering for the what will become the back of the hanging.
I wanted to be able to hang it easily so I took a piece of jute rope and tied it into a loop. I hole
punched through the board, inserted the jute, looped one end into the other and pulled tight to create a hanging loop.
Then I tore out pages of the book, rolled them into cone shapes and hot glued them in circles around the "front" of the card board until I filled all but the center in.
For the next part I stuffed a few plastic bags inside another and tied a knot on the end closed to my newly stuffed "ball." I then took a piece of my fabric, covered it around the bags and used another piece of jute around the back of it to secure it.
I then glued the covered bags down in the center (tail facing the board side) in the center of my "flower" and this is what I ended up with. Not too bad, aye?
This is just beautiful! Congratulations on your awesome talent and imagination.
ReplyDeleteThank you! So glad you liked it!
DeleteClassy! Classy! Classy!
ReplyDeleteThank you! So glad you liked it!
DeleteGreat way to upcycle pages from an old book. Nice project.
ReplyDeleteThank you! So glad you liked it!
DeleteThanks, guy! I really appreciate the comments & you stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the "yellow pages" from several old phone books would be strong enough for this? Anyone tried different weight paper?
ReplyDeleteThe paper would be thinner so it would be a little more fragile but I'm sure it would work great.
DeleteI recently came into possession of 10-12 boxes of old books. The legible ones will be given away to anybody who wants them. The damaged ones needed a new life. Thank you for this, it'll suit them perfectly!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked it and to be of help! I'm a total book worm and have more projects using books that are no longer usable on my site. Be sure to check them out and thanks for stopping in! :)
Deletewhat size pages did you use
ReplyDeleteIt was a standard sized paperback. I believe the pages are about 5x7 inches.
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