Going Green Craft Projects

Quick and Easy Half Apron - Great way to use old scraps. 

Quickly sew up a half apron in your favorite fabric with this easy tutorial from Ashley Johnston of Make It and Love It. The pocket is a cute touch and a handy place to stash those teaspoons. This simple sewing project is great for beginners, but also makes a quick gift for Mother's Day, birthdays and more. For a touch of personalization, try embroidering the monogram of your recipient.

Materials:

• 1 piece of fabric 18 x 25 inches (main piece)
• 1 piece of fabric 4 x 25 inches (waistband)
• 2 pieces of fabric 4 x 35 inches (ties)
• 1 pieces of fabric 6 x 8 inches (pocket)
• coordinating thread
• scissors, sewing machine, etc.

Use 1/2 inch seams unless otherwise noted.

Instructions:

1. Start by making the ties. Sew along the long side, with right sides together. Curve your seam at one end, if you want, to give it a more finished look.
   
   
    
2. Like this. Then trim. Turn them both right side out. Iron flat.
   
   
    
3. Top-stitch really close to the edge, all the way around both ties.
   
   
    
4. Next, fold over the long edges of your waistband, about 1/4 inch. Iron. Then fold over the ends a 1/4 inch and iron.
   
   
    
5. Then fold the whole waistband in half lengthwise and iron.
   
   
    
6. Next, your going to sew around 3 edges of the main piece. The 2 sides (shorter sides) and the bottom (one of the longer sides). Turn under each edge a 1/4 inch, and then 1/4 inch again. Sew.
   
   
    
7. See all 3 sides that are sewn?
   
   
    
8. Next, lay your main piece right side up with the unfinished edge at the top. Align your waistband up at the top.
   
   
    
9. And fold the other half of the waistband over the top. Pin in place and sew close to the bottom edge, leaving the 2 ends open.
   
   
    
10. Next, your going to attach the 2 ties to each end. But first, you'll need to fold each unfinished end just a little bit so that it will fit nicely into the opening. If you'd rather not do this, just make your strips 4 x 34 inches (instead of 4 x 35) and they should slide right in without folding. I just like the look of it.
    
    
     
11. Then sew close to the edge to secure the ties in place. Cute, right?
    
    
     
12. Lastly, the pocket. Fold over the top edge (one of the shorter ends) 1/4 inch with wrong sides together. Then flip that sewn edge back and fold over 1 inch with right side together. Sew along the edge, 1/4 seam allowance. Trim the corners.
    
    
     
13. Then turn that section right side out. This is the top of your pocket. It makes it all nice and neat looking.
14. Now fold the 2 sides in 1/4 inch and then fold the bottom up 1/4 inch. Iron into place.
    
    
     
15. Then pin your pocket onto your apron. (You'll notice my ties aren't sewn on yet. I did it in a different order.)
    
    
     
16. Now, sew around the sides and bottom of the pocket to secure it to the main section.
    
    

Magazine Holder

Don't throw away your kids' old cereal boxes--turn them into attractive magazine holders with this handy craft.

What you'll need:

• Empty cereal box
• Scissors
• White acrylic paint or spray paint
• Light green and dark green acrylic paint
• Sponge or leaf shaped foam stamp
• Thin paint brush
• Sand paper or gesso/craft medium (we used Liquitex Basics Gesso)

How to make it:

1. Cut off top of cereal box. Halfway across top of box, cut at a 45 degree angle down to front of your magazine holder, cut straight across then back up other side at the same angle.
2. Lightly sandpaper outside of cereal box. (They are usually shiny, coated paper.) Alternatively you can paint a layer of gesso all over the box. Either one of these methods will help the paint adhere to the box.
3. Spray paint the box white, or paint on with inexpensive sponge brush. Let dry.
4. Cut out leaf shape from sponge or use a leaf shaped foam stamp.
5. Pour out small amount of green paints.
6. Use thin paint brush to add a swirled line all over the box, this is the vine. (See photo.)
7. Sponge paint (or use foam stamp) green leaves on front of box leading to sides of box. First the darker, for background leaves, then lighter for foreground leaves. (See photo.)
8. If painting more than one box, try to connect vines on each box so when set together they will match. (See photo.)

Tips:

• Any kind of decorating technique can be used. (Decoupage, glued fabric scraps, children can do this!)
• Try to decorate the front of the boxes so when lined up they all coordinate with each other.
• Use heavier detergent boxes so the boxes will be sturdier and hold up to younger children messing with them.

 Green Crafting Gift Wrap Bow

Don't throw out your old magazines, do some green crafting with them. Having a lot of patience and time you can create this amazing-looking multi-looped gift bow. Magazines have never been so crafty until now.

Materials:

• 1 magazine page (or 8 ½ x 11” paper of your choice)
• Small hole punch (or a sharp object for poking a small hole)
• 1 metal brad
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Cut across the magazine page to make nine 3/4 to 1 inch strips.
   
   
    
2. Start with one strip and make a loop at one end.
   
   
    
3. Turn the strip and make a loop at the other end.
   
   
    
4. Use the small hole punch (or sharp object ~ be careful!!) to make a hole through all 3 layers of paper.
   
   
    
5. Place the brad through the hole.
   
   
    
6. Repeat with the remaining 8 strips. (I find it best to hold the prongs of the brad between my teeth while I loop the next strip, but do whatever works for you.)
   
   
    
7. Open the brad to hold all the strips in place.
   
   
    
8. Attach your finished bow using double sided tape.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Muslin Snack Bags
   
   
   These little muslin snack bags are the perfect size for all your snacking needs and perfectly environmentally friendly saving all those plastic bags! Follow these instructions for sewing your own snack bags for everyday use.
   
   Materials:
   
9. Muslin Fabric
10. Embroidery Floss

Steps:

1. To make one cut out a 5”x12” piece of muslin fabric.
    
2. Fold the end of the fabric a 1/2”down on one of the 5” sides and hem leaving the ends open. Repeat on the opposite end.
    
3. Fold the cloth in half so the hemmed ends meet (stitching side out)
    
4. Sew around the edges first with a running stitch, than with the zigzag stitch.
    
5. Slip a 16” length of embroidery floss through the shaft to work as a drawstring and tie a knot.
    
6. Leave the stitching on the outside so food doesn’t get caught in the thread.
    
7. Fill the bag with yummy snacks such as nuts, dried fruit, pretzels.