Grandma Says: Rethink, Reuse, Recycle

I’m trying to model my behavior to teach my grandkids to conserve resources. My mantra: rethink, reuse, recycle.

It’s not easy, in a world of relative plenty. But here are some small ways I’ve cheated the landfill. I’d love to hear your ideas.

From Chipped Bowl to Decorative Object

When visiting children tipped over my favorite blue bowl, it chipped in a few places around the rim. So I patched the chips but some patches clearly showed.

Then I fashioned a bee and a daisy from Sculpey polymer clay to hook onto the edge of the bowl to cover the cracks. Now I have a new art piece.

From Kids’ Painting to Fancy Gift Wrap

I love to display the grandchildren’s paintings in my hallway. Later, after some months have passed, I recycle the artwork into one-of-a-kind gift wrap.

This is especially nice for family gifts, where children can be acknowledged for their contribution.

From Cardboard “Feet” to Wall Art

The die-cut, foot-shaped cardboard stiffeners that come with new sox look like footprints. So, Miss T and I created designs on them using marking pens.

Now I have these colorful footprints climbing the walls of my craft room. Each foot is its own little work of art.

From a Throwaway Box to a Decorative Shelf

This unfinished, throwaway wooden gift box contained Japanese bowls; the dividers kept them in place for shipping. I angled the box on my wall next to my desk to create a diamond shape, wall shelf.

I use it to display my desk toys–the fun tchotchkes my kids have given me as office playthings over the years.

I cut out a photo of Master N, turning one of the spaces into a photo frame. (Note the miniature bento box I made from Sculpey that sits in front of him.)

From Punched-out Cardboard to Stencils

After items are punched out of cardboard for various toys or games, kids can use what remains as stencils.

More Ways to Rethink, Reuse, Recycle

Before tossing anything, I’m always wondering how I might give it another life. Here are some recycling ideas previous posts to give you more ideas.

Large Cardboard Boxes

• Make a a cardboard house or a train engine a child can play in

Paper Scraps

• Fashion puppets from magazine cutouts and toilet paper rolls
• Turn brown packing paper into gift wrap with vegetable stencils
• Create puppets from magazine cutouts and toilet paper rolls,
• Make pom pom cannons from toilet paper rolls, balloons, and pom poms
• Design gift tags from cardstock scraps

Food

• Turn empty egg shells into cascarones (confetti eggs)
• Eat your table settings by creating centerpieces with fruits and vegetables instead of flowers
• Grow new vegetables from scraps; make crisp and lacy tempura from carrot tops
• Cook up a delicious soup from the last of the vegetables

Art Supplies

• Melt crayon stubs to create new, rainbow crayons

Fabric Scraps

• Make bean bags from fabric scraps or a baby sock
• Craft a felt book for a toddler with sheets of felt and felt scraps

What are other good ways to conserve resources?

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