Original wall art that you could create

Repurposed vintage maps are used to create a beautiful one of a kind unique decor piece from ElizabethSt

The looping waves of paper create a flower-like piece of wall art. Perfect for the quirky collector, the travel enthusiast, the lover of unique art. Don't you just love the colour and the design? I also adore how it has upcycled the old maps.

I have seen something similar made by children out of cardboard rolls and thought this was a great idea for children to experiment with.

Recycle my heart

A society is defined not only by what it creates,

but by what it refuses to destroy.

John Sawhill

Yesterday my grandson and I took advantage of the beautiful summer Sydney day and walked the calm waters of Kurnell beach. We found lots of white sun bleached shells and a small amount of sea glass. My grandson had not seen this before and at first thought it was dangerous but I showed him how the sea water and sand had swirled it smooth. We found clear glass and brown and my personal favourite - bright green - which seems rarer. I am hoping to create something with this glass soon.
Glass can take up to 1000 years to breakdown which is why it is wonderful to reuse it.
The simple yet elegant Transparent Heart in the photo has been cut from the side of a Newcastle Brown Ale bottle.
We loved wandering on the sand and feeling the breeze blowing on our skin and finding small treasures and will return again soon.

RECYCLING OLD CRAYONS

Never throw away unwanted crayons again!
There are 2 ways to make crayons:
1. In the oven in muffin tins
2. Heat the wax and set in chocolate molds, plaster molds or ice cube containers
In both methods you need to peel any paper off the old broken crayons, with children helping and sort the crayons into colours.

1. Place muffin liners in the muffin tins.
Half fill muffin tins loosely with crayons.
Add glitter into the wax if you like.
Place muffin tins into a 250  degrees Fahrenheit oven.
Watch carefully
The crayon pieces will start to melt after 5 minutes.

Remove the muffin tin immediately when the pieces melt.

Let then cool completely before touching and emptying out.

2. Place different coloured crayons into separate microwave safe cups or bowls.
Microwave for about 4 minutes.
Place newspaper under molds.
Pour the hot wax into the molds.
Let it set for 10 minutes.
Place into the freezer for about fifteen minutes.
When the wax cools it pops out easily from the molds

If you do not want to make your own you can purchase recycled crayons at Crazy Crayons

Things that might interest you

We are having fun making this little fellow

and

lovely little boats from natural materials
at moment to moment

Thinking of creating something like this

Going to bake a 1 cup loaf with wholemeal flour using this recipe

Look for these in the garden with Bowerbird Blue and Baby Bees House

And paint these while they are still flowering everywhere

Enjoy your holidays everyone

Eco friendly finger paint

INGREDIENTS:
4 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup cornstarch
4 cups water
1/2 cup earth friendly dishwashing liquid
Food coloring*

MAKE:
Mix the sugar and cornstarch  in a saucepan.
Stir in the water.
Heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture is clear.
Remove from the heat.
Pour in liquid soap. 
Cool.
Divide into 4 containers and add colouring.

* Natural food coloring suggestions:
Yellow - tumeric
Orange - saffron
Pink - beetroot juice
Red - Cochineal (E120) made from the cochineal insect
Blue - Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) a flowering vine

Art with Kids

I love collage and so does my daughter.  Today I discovered 111 COLLAGE DESIGN which has lovely artwork often about nature.

It reminded me of some of the simple tearing of papers and gluing and using found objects to create beautiful artworks that children and all of us can do. Look at the use of colour in ' Trees Can Grant Wishes.' - creating beauty by limiting the pallete. Thought this could be a starting point with all children from about 2 years of age when they can rip and glue - who doesn't love tearing paper and gluing?

Cubebot by David Weeks

"Made of sustainably harvested cherry wood, clever Cubebot rises from a simple paperweight to assume a variety of action poses. His mighty “elastic-band” muscles and durable limbs can withstand playtime with kids ages 12-150. Folds into a perfect cube when it is time to rest."  See more of this design at eco - artware.com

David Weeks, the designer, also designs furniture, lighting, home accessories and commissions. See his latest lighting  catalogue and read his blog

This adorable real 4 leaf clover pendant is on a hemp cord with wooden beads and a loop and bead closure. It is handmade for children by Christine, who likes the natural, rugged quality of hemp, at

IdahoHempWorks      She found the 4 leaf clover herself - special!

eco products for creative kids

Stubby Pencil Studio offers eco friendly kids art materials and school supplies like crayons made from soy - not petroleum; stationery, greeting cards, sketchbooks and journals made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper - not virgin trees; pencils made from sustainably harvested wood and recycled newspapers - not dying forests.
You'll find unique gifts for children, non-toxic toys, classic games, educational books, children’s craft kits, and reusable bags.

Looking for art ideas to do with children? At early play you can find free fun techniques for young kids.

Looking for recycled craft ideas? Try Recycled Crafts Box or Green Crafts for Children