TR2TR - Trash to Treasure

Glass jars turned into pin cushions

2012-01-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to decorate some glass jars so that they would look pretty and still be functional containers. What fun to create pin cushion tops for my jars.

Below are some glass sealer jars with the sealer lid and metal ring. First I found some sytro balls that were the same diameter as the jar lids.

I then glued the sealer lid intact to the metal ring. (using goop glue)

Using a variety of fabric (ideally something with a bit of stretch) I used some dark green velveteen, dusty rose felt, and the poly faux animal fur to cover the styro ball halves. Fleece would work well too but I didnt have any handy and was to lazy to dig through my fabric tubs.

I used straight pins to hold the fabric in place while I hot glued with a glue gun. You need to pinch gather as you glue the fabric so that you dont have bunchyness around the edges, but dont fret over it if it does bunch up a bit, as you will cover it up with trims.

Then I glued to the top of the jar lid. and decrorated with a variety of lace, trim, dangling beads, etc for a lovely finished jar lid that is now a pin cushion.

These jars can hold so many wonderful craft items and look decorative and easily to remind and spot fun items to use in your art projects.

You dont have to use canning jars, any jar with a lid will work just fine, it just happens I have 100's of jars and I did like the decorating possiblilites with the wider metal ring lid.

Canning jars can be purchased second hand at yard sales, thrift shops etc for mere pennies or again you can easily recycle your own glass jars with lids depending on your personal ideas.

Also you don't have to use styro balls for the top. You could sew a fabric pillow stuffed with polyfil and glue to the top as an alternative. But again I had the styro balls to use up anyway and was too lazy to get out the sewing machine. And I liked the height and sturdiness of the styro ball.

As you can see by the picture I made a few of these containers and I really do have plans to make many more because I can see that it will be absolutely fabulous to store many baubles and bits.

They are already filled with beads, dominoes, wooden tiles, rusty bits and buttons, and I have added some of my decorated pins I have received from PDA members as well as a set of my own pins (more info to come). Why not add a pretty brooch to the top for decorating too!

Here are the pics:

2 different size jar lids using a 3 inch and 2 inch styro ball cut in half. Dont worry about jaggy edges on the styro as this will not show when done. But do try to make sure the ball is reasonably straight on the bottom of the cut. After the fabric is glued with hot glue, I used a combination of hot glue around the edges and a little bit of goop glue in the center to give an instant bond as well as long term bond to the project.

When gluing the sealer lid inside of the metal ring, be sure to push right to the top and just in case you may have got some glue along the inside of the metal ring, don't screw the ring onto the jar too tightly otherwise you could glue your lid to the jar permanently. Having the lid on the jar allows for easy decorating and adding trims, just be sure to check by unscrewing from the jar so that inc ase there is glue you can remove before it sets.

After gathering the stuff I wanted to use, this project probably took less than 15 minutes to complete each one.

Another open challenge with out a closing date. I look forward to seeing your creations and other ideas that may come from this tutorial. What will you store inside your jars?

Happy creating!

kim

Samples by Kim Newberg (4 images)

Styrofoam Packing Pieces

2012-01-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Okay here are the styro blocks cut up into assorted pieces. To give you an idea of size, they were cut to approximate the size of soap bar boxes or large match boxes. Each box was covered with either tissue paper, wrapping paper, dictionary pages and music sheets. You could use fabric, paper bags and scrapbook papers, what ever comes to mind.

Can you believe those few pieces of styrofoam in the above picture yielded 44 pieces when cut up? Surprisingly it only took a couple hours to wrap them all.

Finished samples by Kim Newberg

Altered Glass Bottles by Tee - Teresa Hall

2011-11-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

So Elegant and not that hard to accomplish, yet how many times do you toss a glass bottle into the recycle bin without even thinking about it?

Hopefully you will be inspired by these lovely creations to create some of your own altered bottles.
These can be used as containers for a variety of things from buttons to candy or even a penny collection. Then again created below by Josie, what a lovely vase for a single flower or bouquet. Enjoy!

Teresa (Tee) Hall

Josie Hancock

Recycled CD cases by John Dyhouse

2011-11-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

Who knew that you could take those hard plastic CD cases and turn them into miniature books/works of art? Well John Dyhouse did of course! Take a look at his humorous take on the "Gentlemens Club" Then be sure to check out Josies version, a gift she made for a friend.

Josie Hancock

Alter Used Paper Towel Rolls by Tee aka Teresa Hall

2011-11-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

Stop!!!! Don't throw away those Paper towel and toilet paper rolls until you have a look at all the incredible creations below. Tee starts out by flattening the rolls and then the creativity begins. If you want to learn more about how these are made, stop by the TR2TR group on PDA Paper Digital Art Network to see how these are created as well as many other recycled and up-cycled projects. Here is Tee's finished piece as well as all the other members that have contributed their samples. Enjoy!

Tee (Teresa Hall)

Jean E Roman

Mara

Josie Hancock, she took another twist at this and used the roll as is round and created a base and lid. This lovely cylynder container holds halloween treats for her special tricksters! Thanks Josie for another technique to recycling paper towel rolls!

Carol Johnston

Puzzle pieces by Brigitte Vosgien

2011-09-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Although puzzle pieces have been used on our site for creating art in the Rompe Cabeza Group, somehow we forgot but Brigitte has reminded us that puzzle pieces are perfect to recycle. Especially when you have missing pieces from the box or everyone has made the puzzle over and over. A box of puzzle pieces can be a treasure trove of art and craft delight!

From jewelry, to charms, as backgrounds for other art and as the finished art itself.
See what our members are doing with discarded puzzle pieces.
WE will post all new art creations using puzzle pieces here, but if you would like to see other creations you can always visit the Rompe Cabeza puzzle group on PDA for even more inspiration!

Brigitte Vosgien uses puzzles as embellishments within her art pieces and as the art itself.

John Dyhouse Puzzle background bases for art creation

Jean E Roman also uses puzzle pieces as the base for art creation

and she dangles charms from the puzzle pieces.

Wendy Kirk (3 pieces)

Newspapers and paper scraps

2011-09-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Newspapers can be torn for paper mache, make fun party hats for play, and with some paint can be works of art and even made into flying kites!
Jean has started us off with a lovely paper doll made from newspapers, scrap craft papers and magazines. If you want to learn more about her techniques stop by PDA and join us and then join the TR2TR group to learn how to create lovely art projects from items you may be discarding.......

Jean E Roman Newspaper Doll

Empty Cardboard Ribbon Spools by Jean E Roman

2011-08-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

Jean has wowed us all again with this gorgeous recycled cardboard ribbon spool.
Now when I go the the dollar/craft stores I will be looking for ribbon and the spool its on for creating new projects! I can't wait to try this.

If you would like to try this and many other projects, be sure to join PDA and then join the TR2TR group for many exciting projects using household discard items!

Jean E Roman - Trinket Box

Empty Sardine Cans by John Dyhouse

2011-08-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Who would know that an empty sardine can could make a fabulous niche for altered art projects. Here are a few samples by John Dyhouse to inspire you. If you would like more information on how he created these projects, Join PDA and then join the TR2TR group, we would love to have you and your art creations!

John Dyhouse Window Niche

John Dyhouse 3D Mermaid Niche

Recycled CD's

2011-08-06T12:02:00.001-07:00

This post is to host art creations made with CD's

Wall hangings, trinket boxes, art books, and more!

Check back often because as new entries are uploaded in the Tr2TR group, this post will be updated with new images and links. If you would like to know the techniques and materials used for creating these lovely projects, please come join us on PDA and then join the TR2TR group for all the information. We would love to have you create and contribute to recycling into art!

Kim Newberg - Wall Hanging Embellished Gypsy

Kim Newberg - Trinket Box (CD Base)

Brigitte Vosgien (2 cds)

Wendy Kirk

Robin Woodward aka Robin's Nest Recycled CD Clock

Shannon aka Tin Roof Studio (2 cds)

Josie Hancock