Usint the Retro Monster Framed Mirror (http://www.craftster.org/yabbse/index.php?board=42;action=display;threadid=873) as a starting point, I covered an AOL cd tin in pulp fiction book covers.

First I saved a bunch of images of the book covers from online, then I printed them out in b/w in a grid.

I cut the two pages out to cover the top and bottom of the tin
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/pulp_tin/pulp_tin1_640.jpg

Then I glued the paper onto the tin, and mixed a bit of red acrylic paint in with Mod Podge.
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/pulp_tin/pulp_tin2_640.jpg

I Mod Podged the whole thing in two coats.  As a bit of warning, the paint seemed flakey in the Mod Podge, but as soon as I wash brushing it on, it smoothed out.  Please pardon my poor podging job.
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/pulp_tin/pulp_tin3_640.jpg
Thanks to katiesays17!

--susan.

http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/action.do?categoryId=6000&siteId=1111

I love this mag.  It's all about step-by-step photos, with clear explanations written over them to point out specific things.  And they've got great projects, big and small, mostly for around the home.

I found it while tooling around my wondrous local library, of course, and bought a subscription for my bro-in-law.

--susan.

I had a great old huge pair of corduroy pants, which I made into a skirt that fits.  You could use any pants for this project-- including pants that already fit you, or that are too small.  See http://megan.scatterbrain.org/notmartha/tomake/jeanskirt.html for another great how-to guide.

1.  open inseam of pants all the way around and up center back seam
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt1_640.jpg

2.  fold over front crotch and sew down out of the way. should make straight vertical seam from front;
mark new center back seam lines. I took mine in by about 2 1/2" each side. lines should be straight, bypassing back crotch piece which will stick out as extra
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt2_640.jpg

3.  pin straight vertical center back seam. pants legs should be laid out as they fall naturally, in an A line.  If you want a straighter skirt silhoutte, gently move the pants legs inwards.  For more flare, move them more outwards.
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt3_640.jpg

4.  straight center back seam, past old back crotch area. Pin straight down until fabric doesn't come together anymore
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt5_640.jpg

5.  cut off legs at desired length. I premeasured this.  Here you can also see the front & back center seams pinned
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt6_640.jpg

6.  pin extra leg fabric into triangular gaps left by center crotch seams. If using nap fabric. make sure it lines up nicely! I made the corduroy wales vertical in the inset, although they were following the A line of the skirt on the rest of the fabric.  It might be cool to use a totally different fabric here
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt7_640.jpg

7.  take the whole thing to your machine and sew front and back vertical center seams

8.  front: sew in inset.
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt8_640.jpg

9.  back, as above. Note that back inset is smaller than front. I just laid the fabric as the pants fell, but you could move it around to make the insets the same size
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt9_640.jpg

10.  I staystitched bottom of skirt all the way around in two parallel lines so that it would fray up to the stitches. I didn't stitch the insets because they were made using the pants cuffs. contrast thread color looks rad here.  You can also do a regular hem for a cleaner look.

11.  worn, front
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt10_640.jpg
12.  worn, back
http://www.nolke.com/images/picKLE-cache/susan/projects/cord_skirt/cord_skirt11_640.jpg

--susan.

Well, I made this a while ago, but Heather Joy just gave me good prompting to put this up.  

I had a huge argyle sock collection from years of thrifting.  I couldn't bear to throw away the holey ones, but they became bad enough that I couldn't wear them with shoes anymore.

1.  So I cut the foot part off, or as far up as I needed to, to get rid of the holey area.  I also cut the tubes open to make rectangles.

2.  I laid the sock rectangles out in a configuration I liked, then sewed them together, end to end, to make a long strip.

3.  I laid this almost-scarf onto a piece of polarfleece, which I then cut out.  I actually needed two pieces of polarfleece sewn together in the middle, cos the thing is soooo long.

4.  I sewed 3 sides of the long rectangles together, right sides together.  Then flipped it right-side-out, folded the last (short) unsewn side in, and sewed all the way around the whole thing, making a tiny gutter.  This helped the thing stay flat.

5.  Finally, I used red acrylic yarn and a big metal yarn needle to make little ties, keeping the two rectangles together.  Decorative & functional!

The finished product is very thick, wide around the neck, and loooong (as you want it).  Here are some images.  Feel free to ask me any questions about contruction!

http://www.punkchick.com/images/argyle_scarf1.jpg

http://www.punkchick.com/images/argyle_scarf2.jpg

I found this site with cool recipes, but it seems a bit complicated:
http://www.greentit.com/vegan.shtm

Does anyone have any easy recipes or recipes with easier-to-find/cheaper ingredients?

Thanks!
--susan.

I know this might be a touchy subject, since if you have a good thing you don't want it to get all crowded, but can anyone suggest some good dumpstering areas for me to try?  

I got lucky once with one outside a futon shop-- lots of good wood scraps.  I am interested in building supplies, wood, windows... of course fabric, plastic doohickeys and other craft supplies.

Thanks!
--susan.

Does anyone know of a non-wool felt alternative?  Felt is so easy to work with and cheap, but I'm feeling left out as I don't use wool.  

Perhaps polarfleece, as it also doesn't ravel?  Problem is, it doesn't come in squares, and tends to curl at the ends.  Ideas appreciated!
--susan.