Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Swap Gallery

[Martine]

Original topic here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=239115.0

Green if you have sent.
Blue if you have received.
Purple if you have sent and received.
Teal if you have requested an extension and will be sending late.
If you are still in black font and have not contacted me, please contact me ASAP!

Martine < > Bigmouth
HeatherJuneYoung < > kartiana - removed from swap completely - one partner moved w/no forwarding address
subliminalpolka < > h_pets360
Castaways < > pixie5
llisaredd < > faemystique
Pinokeeo < > sera unravled

So here's the thread where you post your loot!

[subliminalpolka]

Received! 

First off, this was my first swap through Craftster and H_Pets360 really delivered; I couldn't have asked for a better partner.  Onwards!


O hai, recycled packaging.


Bags!  The painted one was rescued from a Goodwill bin, the other was crocheted using gardening string, free pile cotton thread and stash yarn.  The latter has already undergone a test drive at the farmers market; we are pleased to report that it is a superior radish holder.


As described:  "The yarn should be about a sweater's worth, as it WAS a sweater.  A horribly patterned UGLY sweater, but a sweather nonetheless."  My yarn addiction is pleased.


Lovely buttoned cuffs, also the result of a sweater deconstruction.  Currently tied with the above crocheted bag for "Most Favorite".


Art, courtesy of a wooden block found at a construction site.  The telephone poles are pieces from a toaster that H_Pets dismantled.  Clever, yes?


Mmm.  Reading material.

In sum:  Yay!  Thanks again, Stephanie!

[pinokeeo]

Awesome package and a great beginning for our gallery.  I love the wood block art.

[Martine]

I love the "consume" robot bag!  Great stuff!

[h_pets360]

if anyone's interested in what happened to the REST of the toaster, i made you a clicky link!

[pinokeeo]

Good use of an old toaster.  And a funny post as well.

[Sera unravled]

I got my awesome package from pinokeeo yesterday.  but unfortunately I have no batterries in my camera.

hopefully pinokeeo can post pictures cause you all need to see the cool stuff I got.

[pinokeeo]

Ok, Sera Unraveled received the package I sent her.  Unfortunately, her camera is misbehaving, so I will post pics for her.

First, a pair of scrabble earrings in her initials, in a very small box made from a greeting card.




Next, a keychain from a wine cork and a tassel from an old comforter.




And a necklace made from scrabble cubes.




Also, a wearable leather pouch, made from an old jacket.




Then, there's a fan I made from an old record album.  She likes Neil Diamond.





And, the last item, a woodburned panel for her wall.  It's a stylized drawing of the Reduce/Reuse/Recycle symbol.




Glad you liked everything Sara.  I can't wait to receive my package.

[Sera unravled]

I didn't realize you made the box....

I love my new fan.  I showed it to my fiance, I had to wake him up and the first thing that he saw was Neil Diamond staring back at him.  I think he got a little creeped out.   After looking at it more carefully I noticed that I have the same album.  Although the picture on my CD cover is different that the one on the record sleeve.


I love everything, thanks again Phyllis

[h_pets360]

That fan made me giggle.  I have a bunch of crap records and record covers that I've been trying to decide what to do with.  So many possibilities!  And now I have one more, thanks Pinkokeeo!

(eeee! pre-edited to add that I didn't mean that Neil Diamond was crap!     I meant the records I have that are in my craft supply are crap - badly scratched, or one of the millions of abandoned christmas albums, etc).

[subliminalpolka]

I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much I covet your Diamond fan.

My love of the wall plaque is less embarrassing.  Nice!

[h_pets360]

I received!  I'll post pictures later today!

[h_pets360]

The package, opened by my overeager partner-in-life before I could get my camera out.  That card is adorable.



The bangles are really cute.  I haven't advanced my knitting skills up to cable level.  I'm impressed.  But my wrists are just a smidge too big.  I'm gonna have to come up with another use for them or give 'em to my skinny cousin.     They're made with recycled yarn, a hoop that was part of a macrame planter, and a plastic bangle.



I'm going to untangle these, then use 'em to mark important sections in my copy of Carrots Love Tomatoes.  They're bookmarks Subpolka made with her "epic stash of beads and buttons" and some string.  (I had some similar buttons that I sent a different swap partner and I was kind of missing them.  Thanks!) 



This is a sweet planter made from a CD case, wine corks, slides, and a tie.  I stuck one of my plants that definitely needs a more attractive container in it already. 





and plant markers made out of soda cans and wire clothes hangers!  I needed more of these.  Subliminalpolka wrote "because function isn't necessarily pretty," but I love 'em.  And I think the little flashy bits might keep the a@#$%@# birds away from my baby bean plants!  Here they are shown with my beloved aloe.



My favorite:



Guess what it is!

A utensil roll!  I always forget to pack this stuff when I take my lunch to work!   Comes complete with reusable napkin.  Woooot!



Thank you, subliminalpolka!

[llisaredd]

I'm totally stealing that utensil roll idea! That's awesome, clever, AND useful!

[pinokeeo]

Great package!!  I'm totally stealing the plant marker idea. 

[h_pets360]

I donno why two of those pictures are weird (one's on it's side, the other is oddly stretched).  I fixxed 'em in photobucket, but it's not showing up.

[subliminalpolka]

Dag.  Sorry to hear that the bracelets don't fit; there were kind of tight on me, as well, but I just attributed that to having freakishly wide hands. 

Otherwise, so glad that you liked everything!

[Martine]

I got my package from Bigmouth, and I'm in awe!  I love everything so much, thank you a ton Bigmouth. 
And now it's photo time so I can show it off!


This is an oven mitt made from a shrunken old sweater and some bits of yarn and cotton thread from another swap.  It's perfect because I lost my last oven mitt while I was moving!!



A cool little pouch made out of fused plastic target bags and some thrifted/saved rickrack and buttons.  It's going right in my huge purse to hold my essentials in a place I can actually find them.



A stack of really beautiful handmade paper (in green and purple ).  The best part is, they're made out of anti-abortion pamphlets--I had told Bigmouth that I was a feminist and she worked it into the crafts in such fun ways!


Some awesome handmade notecards.  They're handmade paper and the embellishments are all kinds of fun  stuff from thrifted books (and some ribbon).  The envelopes are all made out of a whole foods paper bag--each envelope has it's own little personality, too!


This is my favorite one of the notecards from above.  It has the definitions for "right" and "radical" on it, along with a cool funky solar system illustration.  I'm going to make sure I save this one for a worthy recipient!

Again, thank you so much, Bigmouth.  I love everything!

[Bigmouth]

Oh, I'm so glad you like it, Martine!  I thought the definition of "radical" was absolutely a hoot.  It was from an encyclopedic dictionary (the kind that comes in multiple volumes--I picked up a single volume at a thrift store once), and I think it was from the early 60s.  I think it says more about the time when it was written than it does about the actual meaning of "radical."  I thought it would be funny to stick an even older idea of an earth-centered universe on there with it.

OH.  And my package from Martine came on Friday, everybody.  I've been out all weekend (found a house! woot!), but I'll try to take photos today.  Get ready for awesomeness in the gallery!

[Martine]

^Yeah, when I read "unAmerican or unsound means of improving the social order" I lol'ed.  I'm thinking of a friend who would also get a kick out of it, hehe!

[Bigmouth]

Feast your eyes on the fantastic package I got from Martine!  I love everything!  She even wrapped items in newspaper with craft-themed images!


The first thing I opened:  a set of recycled pinbacks, redone with fabric scraps from her stash.  I love these, and I plan to wear them as a group of four.


A cassette wallet!  So fun!  And it's from an old educational cassette (even better).


A matchbook journal.  This is just great.  She made the outside from an old file folder box, and trimmed it with a chocolate wrapper from a fancy shop in Madrid.  She filled it with office paper that was printed on one side.  This is so well done.


And, my favorite:  this mixed paper journal.  The cover is made from the file folder box, and covered with an image from a 1963 science book (I can't even begin to address all the ways this is perfect for me).  The pages are salvaged from half-used thrift store notebooks!  She bound it all together with leftover embroidery floss.  And the results are just perfect.  Martine is really good at this.


Check out the pencils she put in to go with the notebooks.  They're made from paper (magazines and newspapers, I think) wrapped tightly around the lead.  I'm assuming she purchased these, because I assume you'd need a special machine to wrap paper that tightly.  Anyway, they're the perfect complement to the notebooks, and spot-on for this swap!


All these items are so great, and they're exactly the types of things I would have picked out for myself.  It's like she's known me for years, even though we've never met.  You can craft for me any time, Martine.
Thanks for swapping with me, and thanks for organizing this fun swap.  I really enjoyed the challenge!

[SunflowerSmiles]

whhhhoooooowaaaa!!  check out those pencils!!!  that is toooo cool!  I've never seen that before!  wowzers!!!

[Martine]

I'm glad you liked your package, Bigmouth!  And yes, heh, the pencils were most definitely purchased, but I thought I would throw a few in since I made you notebooks and the pencils just matched the swap theme so perfectly.

[pinokeeo]

Ok, I just wisted those pencils.  They rock!!  Great package!

[Martine]

^If you're interested, the ones I got were called "Translations Pencils" and I just ordered them from a shop online.  They should be easy enough to find through Google

[subliminalpolka]

Wow...nice!

Being a paper fiend, I can't help, but be totally enamoured of Bigmouth's notecards (anti-abortion pamphlets, heh) and Martine's journals.  Very awesome.

[pinokeeo]

I received today from Sera Unraveled.  She nailed my tastes perfectly.

First of all, a very clever wreath made from drinking straws and bits and bobs of recycled stuff, like soda cans and bottles cut into butterflies, a small bird's nest with two very small birds, lady bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, a turtle and a bee.  All my favorites.




Next, earrings and necklaces.  The first set is puzzle pieces, and they shimmer and change colors in the light.




The second set is computer keys.  I love these.



Action shot.



And the last item, my favorite, is a clock.  I had asked for a clock for my craft room.  The clock face is from a puzzle box.




Thanks, Sara.  I love everything.  Awesome creativity.

[Sera unravled]

I'm so glad you like everything.  I was really worried about the wreath.  it took me a long time to figure out what I was going to put on it.

The puzzle piece earings and pendant was made from a puzzle that had a different picture on it depending on which way you looked at it.  The red one was lions and the blue one was penguins and seals.

I really did have fun making everything.



I wore the earings you made me the other day at work.  One of the ladies I worked with asked what letters I had and why.  After I told her she said, "well it's a good thing your initials aren't F.U."

[h_pets360]

I loove that matchbook journal, Martine.  And the mixed paper journal.

Sera Unraveled - those computer earrings are a cool idea.  I wouldn't have thought to paint the keys!

[llisaredd]

I really love everything in this gallery This swap has changed how I craft. I always think of what I can make from stuff before I throw it away now 

[bookstorebabe]

I am kicking myself for missing this swap! You guys are so awesomely creative! Everything rocks.
I love making stuff out of thrifted goodies, and what my DH would call trash, but what I call craft supplies.
Well done! I hope there's a round two someday.

[faemystique]

I really love everything in this gallery This swap has changed how I craft. I always think of what I can make from stuff before I throw it away now 

I tend to make a lot of stuff recycled, I had one swap partner comment that I was "quite the recycler" and her package was made of all new stuff... I guess I didn't realize how much I re-created or UpCycled as I like to call it!! Maybe I ought to put a warning label in that says something about how I often upcycle items and for the swap partner to let me know if they prefer new materials used...

LOL

I am anxiously awaiting my package... I keep going to the mailbox with huge anticipation... Can't wait!

[llisaredd]

I am anxiously awaiting my package... I keep going to the mailbox with huge anticipation... Can't wait!

I am also anxiously awaiting you receiving your package, lol. After receiving yours, I can only hope you're half as happy as I am. So, without further ado...


An awesome checkbook cover/wallet combo made from recycled/repurposed vintage fabric


A gorgeous and much needed needle book made from recycled/repurposed fabric. I love everything about this!


Loving this pincushion/needle book in a tin! Isn't this awesome?


This bag is so cute and just perfect for my little girls things when I drop her off at child watch. It's made from repurposed/recycled fabric including a pair of faemystique's daughter's pants! Isn't that a wonderful way to use them? Love it!


If I was forced to choose one thing as my favorite, this would be it. It's simple and so well done (everything was but remember, I'm being forced to choose a favorite...) and just perfect for shopping at the farmer's market or for picking things in my garden. Love, love, love this!

Can you tell I like dragonflies?

[faemystique]

I received, but my internet was down today  and I will have to wait and see if the repairman can fix it tomorrow... I am at work right now.  I got a very nicely woodburned dragonfly picture, a froggie and dragonfly reconstructed apron, a candle in a jar, and a reconstructed knitting needle case.




THANK YOU!!

glad you liked your things... sorry my darn computer/internet was on the fritz... I took pictures, just couldn't post them... argh!

[kartiana]

I am in love with all the dragonfly stuff! Everything is so beautiful

[pixie5]

such great stuff here!! i only wonder what'll be in my package!!

[SevsOnlyGirl]

Since your organiser seems to be MIA, I went through the gallery and left feedback for:

llisaredd and faemystique

I need to hear from the following swappers so that I can leave feedback and find angels:

HeatherJuneYoung
kartiana
castaways

Thanks!!

[h_pets360]

thanks, Sevs!

[SevsOnlyGirl]

You should all thank one of your own swappers - she brought this to my attention!   I don't know if she'd like to be outed though.

[h_pets360]

Thanks, mystery swapper!  and hurray for my partner, subliminal polka.  My plant is still quite happy in it's little slide pot!

Hurray for the craftster community!

[SevsOnlyGirl]

It always makes me happy to have happy swappers!!

[kartiana]

I should pay more attention to the swap thread......  I don't know what's going on with the organizer, but I do know why I haven't sent yet so I messaged SevsOnlyGirl with my explanation. I hope this can be worked out. I would rather have the swap removed from my profile then have a negative for no fault of my own.

[pixie5]

I received from pinokeeo (my angel!!!!) yesterday!!

And this is what i got!!!
 a record bookmark


pants bag


record plant hanger


vinyl book from an old table cloth






I'm so siked about the record hanger!! Thank you!!!!

[pinokeeo]

Glad it worked for you.  Sorry you had to wait so long for it, but we got it done.

Enjoy!