Recycled Leg Warmers

 

Don't freeze trying to pull off those spring looks too early. Make some easy DIY leg warmers from your old sweater pile, and throw them on with a cute sundress.  Years ago in High School I would lock myself in my room on snow days tearing up my clothes and sewing them back together again in new ways. It was soo much fun to go back to school with new creations. This DIY was one of my favorite ones from those good old days. 

1. You will need an old ugly sweater either from your grandpa, your give away pile, or your local thrift shop. The thicker the sweater the better. You will also need a pair of scissors, and a thick piece of ribbon or a scarf that you don't mind cutting up.  

 
2. Cut off both arms of the sweater. 

3. Cut a LONG thick strip of your patterned scarf, or your piece of ribbon. The length must be long enough to wrap around your ankle a few times. 

4. Weave your fabric strip through the sweater holes near the end that you cut off. Weave the fabric all the way around and tie a cute bow.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other leg warmer.

6. Put your new leg warmers on your leg (arm whole first). Tie the bow tighter around your ankle and position the bow near the front of your foot. 

7. Cut off excess ribbon.

  

8. Slip on a cute pair of flats and you are ready to ROCK!  

 

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Total Time Needed:

2-3 Hours

Get the message across with a repurposed cookie sheet.

Materials

• Non-aluminum cookie sheet
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Self-adhesive shelf liner
• Scrap of wood
• Hammer
• Large nail

• Empty can
• Glue (we used Crafter's Pick The Ultimate)
• Supermagnets
• Bottle caps
• Card stock
• Markers

Instructions

1. Measure the back of your cookie sheet and cut a piece of shelf liner that's an in
   Materials
   
   

   • Non-aluminum cookie sheet
   • Ruler
   • Scissors
   • Self-adhesive shelf liner
   • Scrap of wood
   • Hammer
   • Large nail

   • Empty can
   • Glue (we used Crafter's Pick The Ultimate)
   • Supermagnets
   • Bottle caps
   • Card stock
   • Markers

   Measure the back of your cookie sheet and cut a piece of shelf liner that's an inch wider and an inch taller. Stick the shelf liner to the back of the cookie sheet by peeling off one corner of the liner and laying it down on a corner of the cookie sheet. Slowly pull the backing away as you smooth the liner onto the sheet. Cut off the excess shelf liner.


2. To make a hole for hanging, place the cookie sheet over a piece of scrap wood and use a hammer to punch a nail through the center of the rim.


3. For the pencil holder, cut a piece of shelf liner that's about an inch taller than the can. Wrap the liner around the can so that the ends overlap a bit, then cut off the excess liner. Glue two magnets to the side of the can.


4. For the bottle-cap magnets, glue a magnet inside of each cap. Cut a piece of card stock to fit the cap, write a name on it, and glue it on top of the magnet.

Denim Pocket Purse

Turn an old pair of blue jeans into a hip over-the-shoulder bag.

Materials

• Pair of old jeans
• Scissors
• Needle and thread

• Ribbon or braided rope
• Iron-on transfers, paint or patches
• Velcro strips or snaps

Instructions

1. Begin by cutting out a back pocket of an old (but not threadbare) pair of jeans, being careful to cut outside the seams so the pocket stays intact.
2. Sew a long piece of ribbon, an old belt, or braided rope to the sides of the pockets to make a shoulder strap.
3. Next, let the outside of the purse become a canvas for ornaments. Decorate with iron-on transfers, fabric paint, beads, patches, or appliques. More ambitious kids might embroider their initials or other designs on the denim for an authentic seventies look.
4. To hold the purse shut, sew strips of Velcro, buttons or snaps to the inside of the pocket.

Recycled Glass Jars into Dazzling Vases!

Measure and cut elastic thread to a length that will encircle glass, plus several inches to tie off. Thread first group of beads on elastic thread, test for fit and tie off. Now you can pre-cut a number of pieces of thread and continue threading until vase is completely covered.

Fill vase two-thirds full with water and floral preservative. Cut stems of flowers (here I used lisianthus) to correct length so that the flowers sit just at the top of the rim of the glass. Continue until the vase is full.

Recycled Frame Jewelry Holder

Rather than replacing the glass, I used it to make a jewelry holder.  

You savvy bloggers have seen these before I am sure, put together with an old frame and some screen or chicken wire.  I have seen them in boutiques for jewelry display, and also happened to notice the one below at the Antique Fair last month.  I was inspired to make one of my own, but I wanted it to be backed by pretty fabric. 

 

How to Make a Recycled Frame Jewelry Holder:

Supplies:

1. Recycled picture frame
2. Fabric of choice
3. Spray paint
4. Screen, chicken wire, or ‘hardware fabric’ from your local home improvement store
5. Wire cutters
6. Box cutters or craft knife
7. Foam board
8. Hot glue gun
9. Staple gun
10. Hooks (optional) for screwing into wood frame

Step One:  Trim your wire mesh with wire cutters to fit inside your recycled frame.

Step Two:  Trim your foam to the exact internal measurements of your frame.  You can use the cardboard that often comes with a frame, but since I didn’t have any, I used foam board, available at any craft store.

Step Three:  If you don’t like the color of your frame, then spray paint your frame in the color of your choice.  I chose a Rosewood tint by Rustoleum.  You can also spray paint your wire mesh for a cohesive look, if you don’t like the rustic quality of the metal.   I also spray painted the little hooks I used to screw into my frame for additional jewelry display so it would all be the same color. 

Step Four:  While your spray paint dries, staple your fabric to your foam. 

 

Step Five:  Once your paint is dry, use your hot glue to secure your wire mesh to the inside of your frame.  Then use more hot glue to secure your fabric covered foam to the backside of your picture frame. 

Step Six (optional):  If you’re using a wooden frame, you can screw your hooks into the frame for added display.

Display your jewelry holder anywhere you please.  I made this particular one for my daughter’s room to hold all of her blingity bling. 

Sidenote:  Please don’t be fooled by the chandeliers hanging from my five year old’s jewelry frame.  I am really not a pageant mom – I am just demonstrating how great this project works for grown up baubles.  And I better take them down quick before she gets any ideas… 

Doesn’t it look so lovely in her room ?

But now that I stand back and look at this creation, I am quite tempted to put it in to use for my own jewelry collection. 

So now I’ll be hunting for yet another “broken” picture frame to transform . . .