31 Things to Create with Recycled Materials - Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 1 & 2

Welcome, Welcome, if I haven't yet wished you a HAPPY NEW YEAR, glad you could make it.  It is so weird that we are at the start of the year so soon.  Time seems to be moving faster the older you get, and we try and hold on for longer looking back to those times when time seemed to be limitless.

Any how, this month is seeing me get involve, plan, put in place lots of things that I hope will be a blessing to you.  I will be taking part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge which started yesterday on the 1st January 2017.  I am not sure quite what happened, well yes I did - Family happened and I didn't get my act together before hand and upload my post for you to get into the action yesterday with me, so you get two posts in one today! (smile)

31 Things to Create with Recycled Materials

Over the Christmas and New Year there seems to be a lot of waste generated and I have found quite a few ways to do something about it!

For the rest of the month I will be sharing 31 Things to Create with Recycled Materials, these are things that I have made and use in my studio.  I have found so many uses for the things that readily get thrown away (if you don't have the recycling facilities in your area) and I have also found great ways to create the things that help with storage that you would normally purchase and costs sometimes and arm and a leg when it comes to storage for art supplies.

I will also be sharing many of the creative tools and techniques I have been able to use, make, that serve me not only in my studio but also around the home, some of them are really cool, and I hope you like them.  Check out the videos that I will be creating alongside these posts on my YouTube Channel. 

By the end of the 31 days you will be looking at those things you recycle with new eyes, and you will also be thinking about the things that you can make. I will be creating some 'How to' videos and tutorials for you, so if you see something that I have shown you that you would like to make then let me know that you would like to learn that specific thing.


Why not be part of the creative solution to doing something about our environment and see what you could create with the things you have around your home - and it means that one less bag goes to landfill!

So here are the first two things that you can create:

Day 1: Supplies holder made from Toilet Rolls and paper

The sections are made from toilet rolls card board and then wrapped with rolled newspaper.  It all makes for a very sturdy storage container and can be made in a variety of designs.

A handy loop is created at the back to allow the container to be hung up or stand up.

The only other materials that were used was gesso, paint and glue.  This container was also part of my Creating on a Budget posts and I did a video for you to get a better look.  It can be further decorated with doodles, or embellishments.


Day 2: Weaved paper storage container

This was a lot of fun to create, and I would love to try bigger things to create.  I have seen some cool baskets and rugs weaved from these paper tubes.  They are very sturdy once rolled and can be shaped into a variety of things - worth a try!

This container is made entirely out of rolled paper that is glued together.  A combination of the rolled paper and the weave technique gives you a very strong storage container.

I painted it white once I had put it all together and then added some glitter paint.  It does the trick and holds some of my scissors and other tools.  

Do check out my YouTube Channel to see some of my videos created .

Come back and join me tomorrow to see what else I have been making.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Creating on a Budget - Fabric Vase

So sorry that I haven't been around here on my blog.  I have lots to share over the coming weeks about things that I have been getting involved with.  It is great to be able to share some of the opportunities that have come about and as they bless me I hope to be able to bless you as well.

I have been playing around with different materials in the studio, looking at ways in which you can create art especially when your on a budget.  I have a range of projects on my blog that where I have used recycled materials that can be transformed into a work of art and so thought I create a series of a few more things that you can make.  I will rearranging my blog to make some of the projects more accessible, and there will be step by step projects, so please do come back.  Also sign up for my newsletter - the first issue will be out in July, and there will be lots of hints and tips to help you on your creative journey

Fabric Coated Vase

I found some mini vases at my local dollar store.  It can be a great place to find things that you can transform and utilize in your studio, and I have loads of cool projects coming up. 

The original surface of the vase was a lightly engraved but nothing to write home about, so I decided to change them.

I created a face from a mold out of clay and attached using paper clay (another thing I will show you how to make), I then tore up strips of fabric and armed with my powertex (one of my favorite supplies at the moment), coated the fabric and then applied to the vase.

 As the fabric dried I also wrapped it with string to give it additional texture.  Once it all dried I highlighted areas with gold and bronze paint.  I have a video of the vase coming up on my YouTube channel so check there to see it up and personal lol!

I love it, and think it looks quite cool.  I have two more that I will be altering and sharing with you over the coming weeks. 

Fabric Coated Vase - Amanda Trought

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

While your at it check out Craftsy online courses, there are some free ones

Recycled Project - Supplies Storage Container from Toilet Roll Tube

Welcome to Creating on a Budget, a look at ways in which you can create fun, stylish things using recycled materials.

Today I want to show you the storage container that I created using the inner cardboard of the toilet rolls.  Toilet rolls tubes are something we normally toss into the recycling bin, but they have a wealth of things that they can be used for and today I will show you one of those things.

If you need a flexible storage solution - I am always looking for things that help me organize my studio space.  I find there are specific tools that I want to have at hand without having to put them away in draws, and then spend time looking for them when I need them.  I found that creating this storage container, it provided with the much needed tool that could be hung and out of the way or placed on the desk space.  Check out the video to see more of it in action.

So for something that would be discarded, you can find greater use with just a little bit of imagination.

I really enjoy having the storage container as it can be hung and out of the way as well as being placed on the desk.  There is a space for everything and everything in it's place

It is time to look at recycling in a different way, there is so many space and money saving things that can be done or created with recycled products, there is no limit with a little bit of imagination.

Come back and see what other ways in which we can use recycled products.

Recycled Projects - Recycled 101 - Create a trinket bowl!

Welcome to another week of recycled projects, where I have taken a plastic drinks container and turned it into a bowl that can be used to display some of your favorite things.

I have taken newspaper rolls and wound them round the bottom of the bottle, creating a base

 I have then painted it with a water resistant paint product called powertex, and then added a gold finish around the bowl.

It is now a great place to store my stones that are waiting to be painted.  Check out the video below to see it up a bit closer.