Unique art idea - no paint or canvas

Living mosaic art from Succulents Galore

Maybe you can design your own succulent wall or table planter like the one pictured or maybe you would like to buy a kit.

There are long lasting cedar kits that come complete with 25 cuttings for planting, moss and soil.
The planter measures 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" and is 2 " deep. It has been designed to be planted and hung on a wall or fence. It also can be placed on a table as it makes a terrific focal and conversation piece. The kit come fully assembled. Instructions are included for planting the succulent cuttings. See more details...

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.

She sells sea shells

We made these lovely hangings from some shells we collected a few years ago, and stored in a box, and some jute string we had at home. To make it an easy activity for those as young as three, I dipped the string ends in wax and allowed it to dry before we started threading.

Making macrame

 macrame owls by Jolanta Surma

Aren't they beautiful? Jolanta has been focusing on creative macrame for a long time. I have been doing macrame longer than her but only do simple cords that children can learn. (I don't have a lot of patience)

I keep to easy to complete knotting like the hemp cord on this real 4 leaf clover pendant.

If you would like instructions, online, for beginner's macrame please visit Elaine's site.

WHAT IS MACRAME? A type of textile-making using knotting of threads. The main knots used are the full hitch and double half hitches and the square knot.
Macrame was done as long ago as the 13th-century when Arab weavers knotted the end threads on rugs, towels and shawls.

Bird Feeder

Eco Friendly Family Fun

We had a large collection of plastic bottles as well as the tops and found this lovely idea at pinterest.
Materials needed:
2 wooden spoons - we used old ones
Plastic bottle
Plastic twine (lasts longer outdoors)
Funnel with pipe that fits in bottle
Bird Seed

Instructions:
Visit Family Fun
NOTE: We did not do No.3 in the instructions but instead tied the plastic twine around the top of the bottle long enough to hang in the garden and replaced the lid.

Linked at Child Central Station

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 easter bunny

The cutest little Easter Bunny you ever did see! She is such a pretty Easter yellow. She has two big bunny ears, a little pink nose, a fluffy tail. She fits perfectly into Her yellow felted Easter Egg... soft and snuggly and ready for your special easter love.

She has been needle felted from 100% wool.
She is big and stands about 3.5 inches tall.
She is Waldorf inspired.
She is Child Friendly and LOVES to play with children.
She is all natural, eco friendly and non toxic.
Her egg has been wet felted and stands about 4.5 inches tall.

Find her and her brothers and sisters at Fairy folk

Barking Boys Toys

These guys make all natural wooden toys and use non-toxic, eco friendly paints, sealed with shellac. All of the items are handmade and they even use all recycled materials in our shipping.

This Tree of Life wooden puzzle has eight pieces in bright fun colors, perfect for little hands.

Hand Knitted Organic Australian Merino Beanie

Beanie handmade in organic Australian merino wool. It is very soft & cute for babies and toddlers from around 1 to 2 years of age.  The stripes are dark green and purple and navy with a lime green top knot.
Visit the designer

Toys support Queensland's flood relief

1 softie toy of your choice can be purchased  from Pocket Carnival to help others in need.
You can choose from:
Little Bear (new!)
Bunny in Orange
Rainbow Frog
Lion in Snowshoes
Bunny in Green
Mermaid in Green top
Mermaid in Orange top

$25AU from the sale of this softie will be donated to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal

More info about the Queensland Floods in Australia here
Pocket Carnival is illustrated, designed, imagined & created by Penny Eager & Chris Clark in Melbourne, Australia. Visit their website  or  blog   or join them on facebook. 

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

Wooden Sun Toy

This sun stacker is made from sustainably harvested wood, non-toxic paint, and natural wood polish made from beeswax, jojoba oil and essential oils. Perfect and safe for little hands!

Each of the Sun Stackers are uniquely handcrafted by erin at  Imagination kids where they have lots of other handmade, eco friendly unique items.

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!

Great new apron idea

Help make a difference in the kitchen and the environment! Keep little hands clean while baking, and use no paper towel. A unique tear away tea towel is attached for both purposes.

Also, can be used to keep hands clean at craft time. Simply wet the tea towel so kids can wipe gluey hands all by themselves! Again, you eliminate paper towel usage and keep kids clean.

For the adventurous boys... or tomboys! This apron has a Camo panel cover. Has black trim.
Ties in the back.  Size small (ages 2-5 approx). See more at Lootz Designs.

If you are in Vancouver, Canada, Shop Cocoon 3345 Cambie Street is having a can drive for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and will give you 10% off any apron.

Creative crayons

Unleash your child’s creativity with these easy-to-use, affordable, art-inspired, & eco-friendly crayons!
We like them as:

• they are made of quality, recycled, non-toxic crayons
• they will not roll off the table
• they are chunky and easy to grip for little fingers
• each crayon is unique

They are Li'l Grippers Chunky Crayons (3) - Jumbo Hearts with GLITTER from Gourmet Play. Look at all the beautiful colours.

Nature Table

This was all the things that the children and I collected on our walk - seeds, seed pods, white stones, bottle brush and bark. Things from the trees that were on the ground in Sydney, Australia.

We arranged our collection on the table and decided that we would paint the ball shape ones for Christmas either silver or gold.

It was lovely to see all the natural beauty together in one place. We seem to get a proliferation of natural bits and pieces around our house - on the verandah, on the window sills and hanging off the walls - so it was nice to gather them all in one place.

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