Wrap Up Back to School With DIY Bookcovers

Upcycle, recycle, and cycle your school books into something fashionable.

^{Photo by Lori Hutchinson} 

It's back to school and that mean books, piles of them.  Books go through lots of handling and wear, so how do you keep them clean, in shape and something you really want to look at? It's as simple as a no sew book cover. 

Making book covers from paper bags is an age old craft, but what if you want to take it a step further? 

Here are some simple ideas to help you personalize your books using a myriad of items you probably already have at home. 

Things you can recycle to make book covers:  

• Artwork
• Gift Wrap
• Shopping Bags
• Fabric
• Maps
• Magazine Pages
• Posters
• Newspaper
• Denim Jeans
• Plastic 
• Vinyl or Fabric Tablecloth

Why not make a bookmark at the same time!

 

^{Fun Scrap idea from Scrap Girls - A great way to show off your personality using almost anything from concert tickets, birthday cards, magazine headlines, buttons to ribbon. The main ingredient is your imagination!}

^{Broadway Paper suggests using Gift Wrap to wrap up your books.  Why not use some scraps or recycle wrap from a special gift?}

^{Like to travel?  Did you take a road trip or do some overseas travel last summer? Use your road maps!  From Martha Stewart} 

 

^{Surely you have some painting, drawing, doodle or calligraphy practice sheets.  Artwork is a great way to recover and personalize your books.}

^{Hand Fold (or sew) a piece of fabric to make a unique cover from Craftically.com.  Use old clothing, jeans, tablecloths, napkins, etc and turn it into an upcycle craft.}

 

^{From Classroom Scissors the Brown Bag Book Cover} 

Now that you are inspired, get out your scissors and see what you can create to make a a memorable school year!

How do you fold your fabric or paper items to make a book cover? Watch this  How to make a paper bag cover video. 

 Article © Judith Gorgone Planetpals.com all rights reserved.

for other great back to school ideas see PP Back to School Pinterest page or LIKE Planetpals on Facebook for Daily GREENspirations

Summer Is A Natural For Craft Fun!

It's summer.  What better time is there to walk the beach or park and collect objects for nature crafts!  Here's 8 of Planetpals best picks for summer creating that are as simple and sweet as a summer ice cream.

Wizard Sticks by To Swoon For.  Easy and fun.  Why not string them and make a wind chime?

Use natural objects to emboss From My Plum Pudding. A basketful of fun! Why not make large ones as stepping stones?

Make a Sand Bowl.  Simple and playful but elegant.  Dripped sand can also be used to 

cover bottles.

Sand Art How to from Planetpals.  Make paintings or other crafts.  Simple recipes.

Painting fish won't make you crabby. Try these painted rocks and other rock crafts from Planetpals 

Another one that would make great stepping stones with large stones or be just jolly souvenirs or decor using small ones.  These footprints rock for a seaside home!

Leaf collecting doesn't have to be just for Fall. From Rachel Whiting. Make a Leaf collection and DIY a Journal.  Why not make your own Paper Recipes  available from Planetpals.

Spelling rocks!  Paint or write on rocks.  Whether you write the word "beach", write your name or a message. It's so simple!

Inspired? Stroll around and get your feet wet doing a new nature craft.  Nature crafts are a natural.  For more fun and fascinating nature crafts check out Planetpals Nature Crafts Pinterest Page

© jag Planetpals.com 

Red, White, Blue And Oh So Green Patriotic Campers

Summer means patriotic holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor day. It also means camping and the great outdoors.  Some folks have combined the two in a clever way by decorating their campers in patriotic motifs.

Usually it's an upcycled project using an older model.  Raise the flag to these tin can campers, camper vans and busses that proudly display the USA flag and would be a welcome addition to any patriotic parade or campground.

Happy Campers for sure!

For more fun Patriotic Ideas check out our Patriotic Craft Page on Planetpals.com and
Patriotic Ideas and Foods on Pinterest.

A Big Blue Very Green Cleanup

One Small Beach In Sandwich MA Gets Down To Earth

To many seaside dwellers, Spring cleaning means getting the neighborhood and beaches cleaned up from Winter debris and ready for Summer.  One such community is Sandwich Downs in East Sandwich MA.  

According to resident Bill Dewire they have held an annual beach cleanup every Spring for over a decade. They also have one after July 4th.  Each time it involves the neighbors, their children and friends who enjoy this beach year round.

The neighborhood association organizes a day each Spring and supplies the bags.  Residents come armed with shovels and rakes.

The beach cleanup is always a big success!  Many of the one hundred families participate, raking up seaweed and scouring the beach for unwanted trash and dangerous objects. They collect several dozen bags of waste. Among the endless collection of plastic they unearth bottle caps, toys, flip flops and one year, a four foot whale bone!

Year long,  the residents here are pretty diligent in picking up after themselves. A clean beach is important to all.  However, like any ocean community, things get misplaced and lost in the sand, boats passing by sometimes toss items overboard, and many things float in from neighboring towns.

Each section of this beach has an ample supply of recycle and trash bins as well as "doggie bags" at the boardwalks for everyone to use.  They also have abundant signage to remind everyone to be green and save the blue.  We think it's great!

We can all take part in year round maintenance of all our beaches and natural surroundings by doing our part.  Remember, the next time you are at the park or ocean, to use the bins provided, bring your own bags, be a PAL and keep your world clean!

Whether you are a beach goer or a boater, help keep our oceans littered with only seaweed, shells and stones :)

Tailor Made Father's Day Gifts From Recycled Materials

Planetpals Favorite Collection of Recycle Craft Ideas for Dad For Father's Day That Anyone Can Do!

Make Father's Day even more special with a talior made gift that can be fun or even useful as well as eco-friendly!

Tell a story about your father with a card that encompasses some of his favorite objects and photos.  Make a custom designed tool jar or fishing box. Award him a trophy for his special talents!  All these projects are doable at any age and for any level of expertise.

Have fun and be green! 

Fathers Day Recycle Crafts:

Mini Tool Boxes from Recycled Tins

Simple idea-paint them one color or paint a design. Just an old tin (any size) and a handle.

Recyle Trophy Cup 

Lots of fun for any special person made from cups and paper rolls. "World's Best Mom" "World's Best Dad" "World's Best Brother" or "Best Soccer Player"."World's Best Planetpal" Possibilities endless and so cute!

Handmade Card from Recycled Materials

Start with recycled paper , card or make your own paper from recycled paper. Add mom or dad's favorite buttons, trinkets, trip mementos, old keys, tools, old jewelry and photographs. Make it meaningful.

Make a Recycle Treasure or Tool Jar! 
Planetpals Exclusive! 

Many versions. Unique Ideas, how to instructions, samples. Make a treasure jar for holidays, mothers day, fathers day, everyday. Simple and Easy.

 

A Key (Chain) That Will Stay Close to Dad's Heart!This one is shrinkydink. But use recycled materials, trace hand onto recycled paper or cardboard, reduce in a copier, then finish this great craft: Paint it. Decorate it. Laminate it. One hand for each of Dad's treasured kids

 

Dad Bags for Father's Day Lots of fun for any special mom and dad. (Add buttons, flowers and bows for mom). Make a gift and put it in a home made Bag. Try to use recycled materials to decorate your bag, too!

Wrap it! Make Your Own Boxes 

Patterns and ideas to make your own boxes from recycled boxes plus recycle gift wrap ideas

 

For more Father's Day and Everyday recycle craft ideas such as paper mache, paper making, gardening etc go to Planetpals Craft Pages.  

Or Check out PLANETPALS Pinterest Boards:  DIY Green Gift Wrap and Cards and DIY Green Gifts.

 © Judith Gorgone Planetpals.com