Ugly 80s Prom Style Bow Refashioned into a Cute Chainlink Purse!
Bows are usually some of my best friends, but there was something about having one pretty much smack dab on the front of this already very frou frou red mini dress that was rubbing me the wrong way. So I decided to remove it and make it into a cute bow-shaped purse. Click on the steps to see how you can refashion your own ugly bow!
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- Step 1
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- Step 2
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- Step 3
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- Step 5
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- Et Voila!
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recycle your paper into cute little hermes birkin valentines!
another cool way to recycle your paper. visit the hermes website to download templates to make your very own kelly bag. just pick your location, click on “travel the world of hermes,” and select the paper bag pic (”i want it, i’ll have it!”).
what a cute craft to give your valentine, especially filled with some organic chocolate goodies.
thanks for the pics tatertotsandjello and prettyinthecity!
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how to recycle one of your totes into a hacked snowboard bag!
what’s a girl to do when she needs a snowboard bag and can only afford to spend $28 a week?
why, hack one, of course!
this army-colored oversized tote that the c.l.a.s.s. eco-materials showroom gave away to guests at their nyc launch party was the perfect size. you can use a similar bag or even sew two small duffel bags together.
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first, i cut away the bottom of the bag to create two extra pieces that would form the sides of the snowboard bag.
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cleo matches my board!
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then, i just sewed the two extra pieces to either side of the remaining portion of the bag, et voila!
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total cost: $0
total energy used: a little to power the sewing machine, but not nearly as much as it would take to make a brand new snowboard bag
other useful hacks:
check yourself before you wreck yourself: how to recycle those padded inserts that come with your bra
turn your plastic bag into a sewing machine cover
need a new laptop bag? make one out of a recycled t shirt!
laid off? recycle your business cards for waste free catharsis
make your old tank tops into reusable totebags/scarves
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turn your plastic bag into a sewing machine cover
despite the utter yuckiness i feel for apple, i can’t help but be drawn to the disgustingly pretty things they churn out, and this here sky blue bag is no exception.
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does anyone remember this one? i got it when i purchased my ibook way back when, and still remember feeling more in awe about the bag than i did about the computer! it’s been in my closet for years now and instead of trashing it, i wanted to honor it by making it into a cover for my sewing machine!
the steps are fairly simple:
1. cut off the bottom and top inch or so of the bag and turn it inside out.
2. trace the outline of the item you want to make a cover for, leaving about an inch and a half for the hem.
3. sew along the outline you traced and try it on for size. if it fits correctly, trim the edges off so that it looks like this:
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4. turn your completed cover right side out and voila!
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you can also cut a little side slit out for any plugs or wires that need to poke out.
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now your sewing machine, toaster oven, or mao zedong bust can stay dust-free and you have saved another bag from the dump! pat yourself on the back, mister!
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greenaid grenade eco-bag
saw this little gem at spring in dumbo and it really blew me away! was that as bad as it sounded in my head when i thought of it?
well regardless, remember that part in full-time killers when andy lau throws one activated grenade into the crime boss’s jail cell, and then tosses in 20 more dormant grenades so the poor guy has to look for the one grenade that will kill him? well this product really has nothing to do with that, but it’s still pretty sweet.
sure, it looks like a cute and cuddly live one, but it is actually a compartment for your reusable bag that you can clip onto your jeans or purse!
image courtesy of switchedonset.com
while you’re there, ask them if they have the dexter chair:
this would be a pretty snazzy and inexpensive way to jazz up a flea market find.
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green giftwrapping for the holidays
of all of the inanimate objects i could be, traditional giftwrapping would probably be in my bottom 5 (along with a plunger, those plastic rings that keep beer cans together, and toilet paper). think about it - giftwrapping gets one moment in the spotlight on the big day of the unwrapping and then, in an instant, is thrown away as if it never existed. sure, some people, like my mom, carefully save the paper that their gifts come wrapped in, but then just keep it in the closet forever. is that the kind of life you want your giftwrapping to lead?
this year, i’m switching to less wasteful methods of wrapping my gifts. my favorite, furoshiki, or the art of wrapping items in a large cloth, is easy to do, and your giftee gets to keep and reuse the wrapping so there is no waste!
check out this how-to video from recycle now.
Furoshiki gift wrapping from RecycleNow on Vimeo.
the video shows you how to wrap funky-shaped items like bottles, and even shows how the recipient can turn his/her new cloth into a bag!
some great ideas for where to get cloth are to reuse a piece of cloth that you already have, buy a $5 pashmina or scarf, or even use a shirt or sweater!
check out the link here.
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byob op: bring their own bags or pay
anyone who has shopped recently at euro furniture superstore ikea has noticed that the plastic bags there are not free. has that deterred people from using them? the short answer is heyl yah! 92% or approximately 64 million less ikea bags were used last year. talk about results!
not to be left in the dust yet again by the rest of the world (ahem: metric system), new york city mayor michael bloomberg has proposed a tax on plastic bags across our city. if the proposal passes, that means that you will save 6 cents on every bag you decide not to take at grocery stores and other retailers. it’s just the extra nudge that people who ask for a plastic bag for a stick of gum or a bag of chips (you know who you are) need to think, yes think, for a moment about whether or not they really must have a bag in order to carry their purchases home.
of the 6 cents, 5 cents will go to the city and 1 cent will go to the participating store as an incentive fee. officials estimate that the plan will generate $16 million a year for our city, which is not too shabby. what they may have forgotten in their calculations is that new yorkers are pretty good at taking action when they know their hard earned bucks are at stake. i estimate/hope that we will actually use less plastic bags even if the city makes less money.
here are some reusable bag options that i’m feeling right now:
baggu bags in a rainbow of colors. the muted jewel tones are very en vogue right now.
flip and tumble’s easy to roll up bags
greenworldbags are sturdy and come in fun patterns
skn has cute designs like tomato and blueberry and will plant a tree for every bag you buy!
shagbags come with cute pouches and have cinches to hold all of your belongings safely inside.
shoutout to dave h for hooking me up with the story.
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reversible: how advertising is helping to save the planet
johnny strategy of spoon-tamago.com was kind enough to send us intel about these one-of a-kind bags from our french brothers from another mother and sisters from another mister:
the company that makes them, reversible, selects advertising tarpaulins with the best graphics that are about to be discarded. instead of being incinerated, the tarpaulins are made into useful and durable bags. a return envelope is included with each purchase so that the customer can send back the bag when they feel it has reached the end of its life-cycle, and the bag is then made into more tarpaulins or other plastic products.
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swap: kate spade pink purse
msrp: $400
in new condition
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contact lori at saggirlinbk@gmail.com if you’d like to trade!
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break the chains of your plastic bag oppression!
i used to come home from the supermarket, unload my groceries, and disgustedly try to stuff all of my newly acquired grocery bags into my overflowing ikea bag holder
. something about the whole process drained a little bit of my soul out every single time. ugh.
nowadays, i carry around a super-lightweight tote bag that i just pull out whenever i need to transport stuff that i buy. (i know that this is not a newsflash to anyone, but i am surprised at how many people still do not do this!) not only do i get glances of respect at the market, when i get home, i don’t have to roll up my yucky plastic bags. and it feels sooooooo good. oh yeah, and i’m saving the planet in my own little way too. that’s always a perk.
every now and then, when i’m cooking for more than one, i’ll end up needing extra bags. when that happens, i try to use as few plastic bags as possible, and save the ones that i do take. for every month that i don’t fill up my ikea container, i make myself a cornish hen and eat it guiltlessly. so far, so delicious.
in true swyyne fashion, i need to do a product plug, so here it is: cole haan’s logo market bag is sturdy, classic and smells nice too.
i’d also like to mention that last time i was at whole foods and a guy pulled out his own tote bag, the females around him noticed and reacted with delight!
it’s a win/win situation people.
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l.a.m.b. gwen stefani band bag
for trade! preferably for another bag/holding receptacle of some sort. in gently used condition. does not come with the golden lamb, but otherwise is in beautiful shape.
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why is this a site?
swyyne has always been an experiment for me. with all of the other super eco sites out there, i've been feeling like i want to contribute something just a bit different. so for now, here are my random musings.
look for stuff
feed yourself