Recycle Masks that are Spooktacular

It's as simple as cardboard, Paper Mache and a lot of creativity.

Dan Fenelon, a New Jersey graffiti artist, created a parade of Masks for the Morristown, New Jersey Halloween event this year. Dan works with children and adults in NJ and is known for his amazing murals.

Hope you enjoy his spooktacular work as much as I did!

Learn more about Dan Fenlon Graffiti Artist and see his amazing Murals and more.

Recycle Masks by graffiti artist Dan Fenlon

Recycle Masks by graffiti artist Dan Fenlon

Recycle Masks by graffiti artist Dan Fenelon

Recycle Masks by graffiti artist Dan Fenlon

Recycle Masks by graffiti artist Dan Fenlon

A Collage Class That's A Natural

Visit the park and make art from nature!

Artist and volunteer June Rubin teaches this creative and inspiring Collage Making workshop at Yosemite which is hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy.  This San Diego based artist hosts this on site classroom once a year. She is the artist in residence six  days a week.

The “Make Your Own Yosemite Collage” class is held in Yosemite Art Center in Yosemite National Park. Using mainly recycled papers and fabrics to create their own unique artworks artists are inspired by the natural beauty of Yosemite. 

Her class is a natural!  Not only is she teaching visitors to be a Planetpal by recycling paper and other materials into collages, but items vary on individual collages.  June says "We take a walk first in the park to make a sketch of Half Dome view. Classes this year were as small as 1 student, or up to 19. It was a blast!".

It makes you wish you could go to Yosemite and make one!  Like me, you Can't?  Check out Planetpals Collage Page on Pinterest.  

Do your own project!  Next time you go to the park, take photos, make a sketch, collect natural things like bark, leaves, acorns and feathers and use them in your collage or just use recycled papers like magazines, gift wrap, newspapers, and junk mail.  And of course, your imagination!

Learn more about June:  www.junerubin.com

There are weekly creative sessions with a variety of artists at Yosemite, mostly painters. They mainly have watercolor classes, sometimes other mediums , as in Jun;es case. Classes are walk in and pre registered. Open to all ages. Supplies provided. 

Check out these photos from June's 2016 sessions held in October.  I'd say she was a big hit!

Students create collages from recycled paper!

Recycled paper and feathers found in the park 

A majestic scene of Yosemite park in recycled paper.

Yosemite memory as tall as trees.

Telling a story with paper, stickers, feathers - found items 

Happy Class showing off their collages- not one the same!

No matter what your age-this class is an inspiration!

Creative Ways To Reuse Kids School Work

No don't throw!  Repurpose Recycle, Reuse, Remember.  What to do with kids art, compositions and homework. 

Some of your kids schoolwork and artwork is surely worth saving.  How can you make it last longer, display it, reuse it or repurpose it?

Make a book.
For lasting memories, take choice pieces of schoolwork and enjoy it for years to come.  Make a book for each school year or for each school. For instance a book for  elementary, junior high, high school.

via inhabitots

Use it for book covers.
Wrap schoolbooks in art.

Via Teach Preschool

Make Gifts!  Greeting Cards and Gift Wrap
Cut it, mount it, fold it and make greeting cards to relatives and friends for holidays or everyday

Via Marthastewart.com 

Frame it.
Take those favorites and frame it for a special room or study.

Via improvementcatalog.com

Hang it. 
Many creative ways to make a gallery. Sometimes the fridge is too small to accommodate.  Displaying it is a wonderful way for kids to see how their work improves.

Via frugallife

Make things!
Take some choice pieces and fold them, cute them, and make mobiles, kites, greeting cards, gift wrap.   Or for craft paper in paper mache, quilling, paper chains, origami, collages, and other paper crafts.

Make A Recycle Mobile - (Mobile by MAX Shinohara)

Make a Recycle KITE! - (directions via planetpals.com)

See many more creative paper recycle crafts visit Planetpals Craft Pages

You Autumn Love This October Full Moon Pals!

Happy October Full Moon  Pals

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This full moon is in Aries on October 16, 2016 at 07:25 GMT.

October full moon names are: Harvest Moon, Hunter's Moon, Kindly Moon, Blackberry Moon, Raven Moon, and Moon when quilting and beading is done.  This full Moon is also called the “Travel Moon” and the “Dying Grass Moon.”

After the fields have been reaped, the leaves begin to fall and the deer are fat and ready for eating. Hunters can ride easily over the fields' stubble, and the fox and other animals are more easily spotted. Some years the Harvest Moon falls in October instead of September.

Go here for a complete list of full moon names and the cultures that named them. Learn more about the Full Moon Names,  Moon Phases and Moon Facts at Planetpals!

SWAP and SHOP Curbside Now that’s a green idea!

Would a curbside swap work in your town and how does it work?

Here in the US we have several recycling alternatives.  One popular one, is an annual swap event at the town transfer station.  Each year the town of Concord MA hosts a swap and residents transport their disposed items to the facility and "drop off and swap off". . Our town has a town swap two times a year at the transfer station and it saves 500 tons each time from the landfill.  Imagine what you could do if it is curbside!

Some towns have permanent "swap shops" at the recycle facility Some have a permanent book swap, some a paint swap, and some a "put and take" shop for furniture and household goods.  Many facilities have all of these facilities in various buildings or trailers to recycle many kinds of reusable items. 

But sadly, not every town or place has or can have this.  Many cities have no space for a transfer station and rely on curbside pick up. Such is the case in the USA as well as the rest of the world. 

One of my favorite alternatives, I first witnessed was in Germany. The town of Ludwigshafen held two curbside swap and shop events each year.  They reserve specific dates for a Clean Out.  Residents leave good reusable items such as furniture, household, toys etc on the sidewalk between certain times and other residents can take them. Everything left over gets picked up by the town for disposal.  Certain conduct rules apply.   

The towns of Halifax and Saskatoon, Canada recently had just this sort of event, they called them Curbside Giveaway Weekend and Saskatoon Curbside Swap . 

The "Treasure Hunt" theme is modeled on highly successful events held in other Canadian cities. Residents in Ottawa have enjoyed biannual events since 2007 and Winnipeg began hosting the event in 2009. 

Here are some of the guidelines they used for their successful event:

• Rules for Setting out the FREE items
• FREE curbside items include
• Curbside Give Away Etiquette
• What shouldn’t be given away?
• What to do with leftover items
• Share your unwanted items year round

Would a swap like this work where you live? 

It seems that it could be a great green  alternative in towns that do not have a transfer station or swap facility available on a permanent basis or urban areas where most residents have little access to cars. It's a great way to recycle useful things and purge!  

Why not try this in your community or neighborhood? Or get your town recycle committee to organize such a "swap and shop" event.

It's a zero waste way to dispose!

How to Recycle it, Sell it , Swap it or Give it Away - Planetpals

Neighborhood, Community Swap Tips and Directions ... - Planetpals

Planetpals Earthday Swap Activity Ideas for The Classroom or ...

A World of Earth Costumes!

So Many Ways To Make An Earth Costume For Any Earth Holiday or Costume Celebration!

Here's an Earth contest competition, that is sure to go global!  India holds the Fancy Dress Earth Costume Competition each year. These are great world costume ideas for Earth  Day, Halloween, Mardi Gras, America Recycles Day, or Carnivale , and Earth Friendly!

The theme is Fancy Dress Ideas for Kids on Environment Day or Earth Day. They suggest students Explore Environment Day or Earth Day and Think about the Importance about the Day.

Each child is required to make a social statement about earth and each costume has to tell a story.   If you want to see them all in detail check out the website or UTUBE. There are a world of videos on the sites showing each costume from all sides and all angles. There is also some narrative.  Most costumes are based on the GLOBE but many concepts include Water, Recycling, Planting, Ozone, etc.

Fancy Dress options are based around following topics:

• Save Earth
• Clean Environment
• Re-Cycle Product
• Save Trees
• Save Animals

What Planetpals they are! 

I Have Chosen Some Of My favorite Fancy Dress Earth Costume Results Kids Did For Environment Day and Earth Day:

 

Many other recycle costume ideas at Planetpals.com