Making these things into those things

April is Crafty By Nature month over at CraftStylish. (Speaking of which, be sure and enter the contest for a free Yudu screen printer!)

So, here are a couple recycled project tutorials I’ve got over there now. The first is all about crafting with VHS tapes!

I spent a week with a dismantled video cassette, figuring out things to make from the tape. The Mutant Project Count was very high, but I finally managed several ideas, including these cathy of california – style loomed flowers. Pretty, and indestructable.

Thankfully, I live with the greatest engineering brain ever (K’s, not mine), so we collaborated on these simple VHS bookends. We love them – and have replaced pretty much every other bookend in the house with them. Anyway, there are how-to’s at that link.

And then these are some Easter baskets woven from chipboard food packaging – a pizza box, 12-pack soda box, and a Bisquick box, to be exact. They’re super-simple to make, and sturdy as all get-out. You can cut the handles off after Easter and use them for organizing.

I love these kinds of upcycling projects. They do take a little wrestling, but they really build your creative muscles.