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The following are some of many different types of useful techniques and ideas.

I have included some information for those that have no step by step instructions 

so that you'll have an idea on how to proceed with the project.

Please feel free to email me (ReUseItNut) if you want more instruction

on any specific item, or have questions...Now Make & Give... a handmade gift!

~The Traveling Artist~

I made this for my grandkids...they love to draw and color so I thought it would be nice for them to have something they could take along when they travel with their Mom...It's a bit more complicated than most of the projects I've made but it was worth it...It holds a roll of paper they can change with a twist of button and have their crayons and pencils in a side compartment.

~Homemade Flowers~

Using hangers and some paper or material, hotglue gun and paint...the flowers are ready

 for an Easter dinner center piece! Just straighten a metal coat hanger, cut a piece about  12",

bend one end into a flower petal shape. Cut a piece of material usig the petal shape as a pattern,

with an over lap of 1/2". Run a bead of hot along the edge of the petal shape and attach the

material. On the underneath, glue the loose edges to itself. Repeat this for however many

petals you'd like on your flower (I used 4). Put all the petals together with duct tape. Wrap

the stem with green material. Make leaves from same green color material and attach with tape.

Wrap the green material over top of the tape and prop up the material petal. Take about 5 twisty ties (like the ones used on bread bags) and twist them together at one end. At the other end,

curl each end using a piece of the coat hanger (being careful of the sharp edges). Put hot glue

on the twisted end and place in the center of the petals...done...

I used a piece of newspaper on one flower, a piece of gauze from an old emergency kit on

another, and a piece of scrap material from an old tee shirt on the third one. You can paint

the cloth if your feeling crafty...I added some white from the center out to give them a bright

look. Pretty as well as long lasting, you'll have a decoration for Easter or anytime,

year after year...

~Butterfly Clips~

These are made using a piece of white plastic grocery bag (without print) and twisty ties. Find a butterfly picture with a dark outline (see Details), about the size you want, tape corners to a piece of cardboard a bit larger than the picture. Tightly tape a piece of plastic grocery bag (larger than the picture) over top of the picture. Paint the black area first, let dry. Paint the spaces with what ever color you'd like, let dry.

Paint another one the same way. Cut out the painted butterflies. Cut a piece of paper slightly smaller

than the butterflies, spread both sides with Mod Podge (quickly-it dries fast) and attach the butterflies

to both sides, let dry. Coat both sides twice with Mod Podge, let dry in between coats

Super glue a black colored twisty tie to the back (which ever side looks like it should be in the back) 

in the center of the body, let dry completely.

Attach to a house plant or wherever you'd like to add color. These make great additions to any

house decor as well as a great gift idea.

~Yard Flag~

Since we're Redskin fans, I made this yard flag to show our team spirit but found it was just the

beginning. Once I got the painting done on the helmet, I went ahead and painted the team name

along the edges.

I used 2- 12"x12" pieces of white plastic grocery bags (without print). I painted it the same way as

the Butterfly projects (see details), covered in Mod Podge on both sides, added yarn edging and covered all of it again with the Mod Podge. I made loops separate and glued them on to hang on a yard flag pole.

This craft project would make a nice gift or if completely sealed with outdoor sealer, can be left out

to display all season.

~Candy Decanter with a Lot a Bang~

I made this for my Dad as a birthday gift...Short Fuze represents a part of his personality so it was fitting

to add fireballs in the jar at the center...He loved it..It's your basic paper mache' project.

Using an empty glass jar (this one was from instant coffee) I hot glued a wad of newspaper around the

jar in the center and then filled in gradually above and below the wad. Then proceeded with the paper mache' using newspaper strips and a flour /water mixture, let dry.I hot glued a piece of small rope on the lid and then paper mache'd over top of it.Painted the hold thing black and then added the nick-name...put fireballs in the center and it was ready...

 ~Paradise~

I made this for my sis, she loves the beach and palm trees...I used a lid from a plastic container, some

homemade dough (for recipe) mixed with coffee ground (for color and some texture), pinecone petals, plastic from

a 2 liter sode bottle, wire and a piece of cloth, some green and blue paints.I hot glued the pinecone

petals together, side by side and the on top of each other to form the trees. From the 2 liter bottle, I

cut out leave shapes, heated slightly in the oven (until the ends curled up), painted them green and glued

them to the tree tops. I made a mound of the dough, stuck the trees in in and let dry. Then I made the

chair from wire and glue on a piece of cloth for the seat. Painted the water splashing on the beach and

placed the chair near the water's edge. It was so cute...I had to share...