EcoHeidi Craft TV Show

I haven’t been ignoring this blog……just been busy being creative and doing the new EcoHeidi TV show on the Cool2Craft network. All my projects have been going over to the Cool2Craft site. Check out the latest EcoHeidi Projects this week on http://www.cool2craft.com…there is a video LiveStream on the EcoHeidi Show going 24/7 with this weeks projects and be sure to sign up for the newsletter……then you can get the instruction photo tutorials on these cool projects.

Don’t miss these cool projects…..

Plastic Water Bottle Cap Snake

 

Cereal Box Mosaic Coasters

 

Cereal Box and Water Bottle Cap... Tic Tac Toe Game

Every Monday there is a new show on the Cool2Craft Channel. Lots of cool projects. So check it out

EcoHeidi

A new look at the Plastic Blister Packages

Plastic ‘Blister’ packaging is every where….it’s the plastic ‘window’ like part on a package that protects the item inside the package….yes you usually rip it off the card board backing and throw them both away.  Wait!  No….Not any more….I love those packages…there are so many shapes and sizes. I have so many ideas for them I haven’t even begun…..

A few plastic 'Blister' packages

I recently bought this toy package for another project. (It’s the truck in the above photo…. I knew right away I could use the ‘blister’ …..I was very excited there was so much detail. So here is what I made using the Cool2Cast  plaster. I poured the C2C plaster into the plastic blister….then when it set up….about 2 hours I carefully removed and here is the truck in plaster only.

Truck from C2C plaster

Now you could paint very fancy…but I just put on the basics… You could hand paint the name… I just used self adhesive pre-cut craft foam letters.

Cool2Cast Plaster Truck Painted with blister mold

This would be a great project for boys… we are always looking for cool projects for boys.

So next time you open a package….don’t throw away those plastic blisters…. I’ve got so many more ideas to share

EcoHeidi

Just  creatively recycling!

Upcycle those Old Tarnished Ornaments with the Look of Embossing with Glue

 

Glass Ornaments Upcycled

I have so many older ornaments that keep getting put back into my Christmas boxes….I just can never seem to throw them away….

I love the technique of the Look of Embossing with Glue….I’ve been doing for years with momma Aleene’s Tacky glue…..It’s funny ’cause it is probably a vintage technique…yet it always seems timeless.

Here is a video that I did on Cool2Craft to show you the technique….keep in mind there are so many ways to use this technique.

All you need is Aleene’s Tacky Glue or try one of the newer glues like Aleene’s Fast Grab or Aleene’s Quick Dry….these two work well on the curved surfaces of the ornaments.   I put on a piece of scotch tape on the nozzle to create a fine line flow of the glue.  I used an empty tomato paste can to hold my ornament while I put the glue on.  Squeeze the glue onto the ornament into any design you want…let the glue dry until it is clear….then spray paint with Rustoleum White Flat paint. ( yes I know spray paint is not very eco friendly…. you can use acrylic paint… I would suggest applying a acrylic paint with a cosmetic sponge.. let paint dry in between coats…it will probably take about three coats.).. When paint dries completely you can color with the chalk.  I used the Decorating Chalks ( the ones used in scrapbooking) and brush them on with a hard bristle brush.  You can use any colors of the chalk to change the look. If you want to seal the ornaments, use a Workable Fixative that can be used over chalks (always test first)

Enjoy Creatively Recyling

EcoHeidi

 

 

 

Fall Eco Project

Here is my Eco Project for November….Fall Scarecrow made from Cereal boxes…old jeans….brown bag….

Scarecrow made from Cereal Boxes

Materials Needed: Cereal Box….Old jeans…old shirt or fabric with fall motif….paints-flesh tone and black…brown bag…..Black sharpie….Glue (I’ve used Aleene’s Tacky Glue)…wax paper or other eco friendly paper to work on….Popsicle sticks (2)

I have found one of the biggest challenges in teaching crafting to kids (and some adults) is gluing. They always want to use too much glue!!! For adults it probably comes from our childhood. Schools had a paste that didn’t hold anything so thinking if we used more it would hold better. With today’s glues you do not have to use lots of glue.  So for this project I  tried an alternate method…. and it worked great!! All gluing on this project was done by applying glue with a cardboard squeegee. Pour small quarter size puddle of glue onto the wax paper. Dip squeegee into glue and apply. It’s best to work a small area at a time.

Apply glue with cardboard squeegee

To get started on your project, trace and cut a pattern from a cereal box.  From the cereal box, cut an additional 1-5/8″ circle (head)  and a hat… Paint circle (head) flesh tone acrylic paint. Cover hat shape with fabric by using cardboard squeegee, place glue over surface, then place fabric into glue. let dry and trim fabric to hat shape.  Paint the shoe area  with black acrylic paint. Cut and glue small squares of the fabric for the sleeves and denim for the overalls.  Glue painted head onto body. Glue hat into place. Cut the brown bag into fine strips or  cut ‘fringe ‘. Glue to the back of head, at the sleeves and lower part of overalls.  Glue Popsicle sticks to back of  Scarecrow…this will help if you want to place in a plant, or the kids want to use as a puppet.

As many of you know I’m working on a curriculum for teaching Eco crafting and creativity to kids. I’m doing my ‘test projects’ with a day care here in my town. There are 70 kids ages 2 to 5.  I think both Eco and Creativity go together. Many of our schools have stopped the much needed art and music programs. That means kids do  not have a creative outlet. It’s important as parents,  grandparents etc to teach  our kids how they can  be creative with projects like this. When it’s a Eco Project, it shows kids both recycling and being creative.  If you are a teacher, this is to help you with a fun inexpensive idea for your classroom.

Let’s all work to make this happen- Eco Friendly and Creativity at the same time!!!

Just being Eco

Eco-Heidi

FaveCrafts Radio

Don’t miss FaveCrafts Radio on Sunday Nights!!!  Tonight March 14th I’m on with my Eco Friendly/Green Crafting segment.   How are we all going to help our Mother Earth??? I’m creatively recycling. Be sure to check out favecrafts.com and click on the Green Crafting Section…. Lots of my designs are there just waiting for you to also  Recycle Creatively!!

Eco Heidi

Plastic Water Bottle Necklaces by EcoHeidi