Happy (plastic free) Easter

 

I am still unable to leave comments, even on my own blog.  I plan to reinstall Firefox in a few days.  I'm reluctant to do so because I lose everything, including all my saved cookies.  

As most of you who follow along on my blog are aware, every April leading up to bEARTHday, I try to create something new from recycled, repurposed, or reusable items and turn them into art.  Each year the task gets harder because there are limited things I can come up with to create.

For example, I'm not one who drinks soft drinks, especially in cans, so art made from aluminum cans is limited.  I also seldom drink anything from plastic bottles, including soft drinks or water.  So making art from plastic bottles is practically out of the question.

You will find a ton of art (and some of it quite clever) made from plastic bottle and jar lids.  Unfortunately, it would take me about as long to collect enough to make art from these lids as it would for plastic lids to disintegrate in the landfill.  I am just not a person who buys plastic.

That reminded me of the plastic we use at Easter, so I am bringing back this post about my beef with Easter.  I call it

Why Easter is not Green

At the risk of repeating myself, I've said this before: for being so green, Easter isn't really green at all.  So, please put up with my antics while I share my thoughts with you.

What do I mean by Easter not being green?  Easter celebrates a rebirth, time for renewal, time for spring. It occasionally occurs around the time we celebrate Earth Day, too. So why is it, you ask, that it’s one of the most UN-green holidays ever? Plastic, plastic, plastic.

In case you’ve never thought about recycling, plastic is a petroleum product. It lives simply forever in the landfill. On a larger scale, it’s the material that wars have been fought over, especially those in my lifetime.  

Plastic wrapped in plastic stuffed in a cardboard gift basket

Same baskets, expanded view.

 

Although the bag is canvas, there is a ton of plastic in the bag.          

Plastic holding candy wrapped in plastic.

I give this one credit.  Although the plastic gifts are wrapped in plastic, at least the "grass" doesn't look plastic and the "basket" is cardboard.

This is possibly the worst offender of all the baskets I found at Sam's a few years ago.

Supplies: Plastic Easter Eggs and Napkins

Plastic has taken over the Easter industry. There’s probably more plastic sold, then disposed of at Easter than at Christmastime, although I have no statistics to support that. Granted, even though I don’t have kids, I can see what is being sold in the stores: plastic baskets wrapped in cellophane or plastic, loaded with plastic eggs, along with individual chocolate bunnies wrapped in hard plastic shells, sitting atop plastic grass in various colors.  Even Peeps, those disgusting marshmallow confectioneries sold in the United States and Canada, shaped like chickens and bunnies, come wrapped in plastic.

Am I a cynic? No. I love Easter. It even lands on my birthday on occasion. But parents need to indulge their children in a very different way using only recycled or eco-friendly materials to celebrate this holiday which will also provide a great teaching moment.

However, if you have some of these ugly eggs, here's a way you can use them to your advantage.  BTW, I got mine at a garage sale years and years and years ago (probably sometime in the late 1980s).

Although my plastic eggs are very old, I have observed two types.  One type snaps together in two parts, and one type is fused together, like the one above.  This is a single egg that snaps shut, while the other type twists apart into two pieces.  I'm not describing this too well, I'm sure, but you don't want this one shown above.  You want the egg that comes apart into two pieces.

Now that you've chosen your plastic egg, pull a napkin of your choice apart.  There will be three layers, so be sure to use only the top layer.

Once your napkin is apart, turn it over and cut it in a circle.  Cover the egg with the glue of your choice.  I prefer white PVA glue which helps the napkin shrink and fit perfectly on the egg, while sealing the entire assembly.  When dry, you can even stamp on your egg(s).


Try not to press too hard, because the napkins are fragile and will tear apart, like mine did.  However, since the egg color and the napkin colors were compatible, once the glue dried, my error didn't show as badly. 

Once dry, place your egg in your Easter basket and make about a dozen more!

While I make a few more of these, let’s look at some of the worse plastic Easter offenders and some possible alternatives.

1. Plastic Easter baskets. Alternative: buy natural fiber baskets at the thrift store, or dig out one you’ve had for years like I did.

2. Cellophane or plastic wrapped Easter gift baskets. Alternative: consider wrapping your Easter basket using tissue, old dress patterns, or other eco-friendly materials. Or, leave it unwrapped if it doesn't have far to travel to reach the recipient.

3. Candy goodies wrapped in plastic to go in the plastic baskets. Alternative: dye real eggs using natural dyes with your kids and hide them in the baskets or outdoors early on Easter morning. Instead of buying the pre-made chocolate bunnies, why not buy a bar or two of your (or your kids) favorite chocolate and cover with various bunny stickers or rubber stamped images.

4. Plastic grass. Alternative: Use your paper shredder to make recyclable grass. When Easter is over, put the shredded paper in your compost pile or around the base of your plants. Don't leave it in your basket, because it might attract varmints or critters. If you have plastic grass, be sure to either dispose of it quickly and responsibly so pets (like curious cats, dogs, or birds) don't get into it and accidentally digest it, or do as I do, wrap your basket filled with the grass (probably purchased in the 80s) in a large kitchen trash bag that you keep from year to year.  Never dispose of it so birds can get it. They will be attracted to it to use in their nests.

5. Hard plastic wrapped chocolate bunnies:  Alternative: Instead of a chocolate bunny, find the softest, cuddliest stuffed bunny rabbit to add to a child's Easter basket.

6. Plastic eggs.  Alternative: Here's a look at some I've made in previous years.

I hope you find some lovely napkins to recycle your ugly offensive plastic eggs this year (next year since Easter is today) and turn Easter into a genuine green holiday!  Note too, this is the same basket and same green plastic grass I use every year.  At the risk of repeating myself, I really appreciate your visit on this Easter Sunday. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this look back on my take of why Easter is not green.  For Day 5 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday, I recycled two Easter posts.  

 

Recycling old magazines

 

Again, I am unable to publish my comments.  Blogger has decided to strike again.  You will see my comment I left to you SOON, I hope.  BTW, I will be re-installing Firefox in a few days. 

Yesterday I showed you how to use wax paper that holds cereal.  Today, I will show something that includes a cereal box.

I'm fairly certain most of you know to put your cardboard to good use, like the cereal box I'm showing in the above photo.  But did you ever think to save old magazines, especially those from advertisers, to use under pieces or objects you glue?  Once the glue has been spread on the item you wish to adhere, remove it, and turn the page of the magazine.  You are now ready for the next item you wish to glue.  Works well on both wet and dry glues.  Kelly at Collage Lab uses coffee filters when she spreads her glue.  I use coffee filters to make coffee!  If you don't get magazines or junk mail, an old telephone book will do the same trick!! 

For Day 4 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday, I showed one way to recycle old magazines.

 

 

Cereal Freebie

 

I appear to once again be unable to publish my comments.  Blogger has decided to strike again.  You will see my comment I left to you SOON, I hope.  BTW, I will be re-installing Firefox soon. 

I've been highlighting freebies since 2014, and today I'm bringing back two from that year.

Inside every cereal box is great FREE wax paper.  You can use it between book or journal pages that may still be slightly wet with paint, behind pages you don't want getting paint or spray ink on, 

you can create various techniques using it, or you can line your spray mist box, then use it in art collages later.  All you need to do is wipe it off with your hand before you put it to work the first time, and you have a freebie from repurposed materials.  

And although I used regular wax paper on this next project, you can certainly use the cereal freebie wax paper.  However, when using the cereal wax paper, after opening it, use a clean, dry towel to wipe down the inside.

I first cut four strips 8 inches long and 4 inches wide.  They are now 4" X 8".   If your decide to make this you may choose any size, but be sure each strip is twice as long as it is wide.

You can (and may) now put your wax paper away because you won't need it anymore.

Now that your strips are cut to size, audition your dried flowers you pressed last year

to see which ones work best in the space available.

Choose four different flowers, leaves, or arrangements, then fold the wax paper in half. 

While your iron is heating to wool (NO STEAM), bring out your parchment paper or your craft mat.  Be sure whatever you use will cover both sides of the assemblies.

After cutting a sufficient amount of parchment paper, you can return it to your craft storage area.

Now it's time to iron your squares.  Keep moving your iron because you don't want steam hole impressions showing on your finished work.   Feel free to check often to see if the wax paper is sticking onto itself around the edges.

Turn the pieces to the opposite side and iron that side, too.  Be sure to cover your iron when you do.

Once you are sure the wax paper is sticking well to itself, you are ready for the next step.  Isn't this lovely with the light shining through?

If your guillotine cutter (or craft knife) cuts better than mine, you may skip this step.  However, I didn't cut a single one of these to the exact proper size, so I had to improvise. 

Once all four of your squares have been sewn, grab some colorful washi tape and place it the length of one side such that there is a small amount of space between two of the panels when the washi tape is in place.  You need that tiny bit of space  

in order to create a 90 degree bend.

Continue adding tape and bending until the four sided box is complete.

Place a tea light (preferably battery powered) inside the box

and enjoy it from every angle, while others admire your creativity.

This is Day 3 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday and I recycled wax paper from a cereal box and repurposed some flowers in wax paper and created a lovely light I can take to my back patio to enjoy in the evening.

 

Second on the 2nd:Trees

 

I appear to once again be unable to publish my comments.  Blogger has decided to strike again.  You will see my comment I left to you SOON, I hope.

As most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means I had to look for something that reflected Trees, Gillena's theme this month. 

This post was created for two very different challenges from two different challenge blogs that are no longer active or available to view.  This entry was originally published in September, 2014, and contains the ONE and ONLY poem I ever wrote. 

It was even published in a national teen magazine, although, for the life of me, I can no longer remember the name of it.

After all, I was only 11 when I wrote and submitted it.  Actually, if truth be told (and again, I simply don't remember) I suspect I talked my Grandmother (Grands raised me from birth) into submitting it for me.

   While trying to create this entry, I looked high, low, and everywhere in between for the tree image I though I owned (in green).  But it must have belonged to my friend Kathy, because it was in with a bunch of stamped images I had received from a stamping swap I participated in years and years and years ago.  I did, on the other hand, find the other tree, but should have left it off, since I didn't stamp it nearly as well as the tree I had received in the swap. 

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit. 

 

 

 

For Day 2 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday, I recycled an old post.

 

Fog

 

EDIT: I appear to once again be unable to publish my comments.  Blogger has decided to strike again.  You will see my comment to you once blogger stops being angry at me. 

I want to once again thank my dear friend Chris, whose blog is PearShapedCrafting, for being such a great host in March.  We will definitely be inviting her back next year.

We now introduce a new host as we do each month.  This is also a first time host and we are delighted to introduce Gillena, whose blog is Lunch Break.  Many of you know Gillena because she hosts Sunday Smiles and Art For Fun Friday.  She lives in St. James, Trinidad.  Gillena's theme for April is Trees are Awesome, Aren't They?

Also, beginning today and continuing through April 22nd, I will recycle, reuse, or repurpose something to keep it out of the landfill.

I named this first entry Fog.  Details are below.

 

As you can see, the deciduous tree in the foreground overshadows the evergreens shrouded by the fog.  The focal image found in my stash, is surrounded by recycled security envelopes.  I love using them because the patterns are all so different.

 

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) cannot leave comments on Facebook, TicTok, or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  Period! We also don't allow tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Please remember if your blog is not in English, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs, including mine.  Finally, we do not allow back-links to any journal page published prior to the start date of this month's challenge. Hope to see you and your Trees are Awesome, Aren't They? inspired art soon at Art Journal Journey.

 

Thank you beyond belief for visiting today. Bleubeard and I would love to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of Trees are Awesome, Aren't They?

 

T Stands For Spring (mugs)

 

Let's head to our favorite mug store. 

Spring is in the air at The Spice Merchant.  Flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing.

 

A camper van will take you to the country where you might even find a few wild flowers and birds (see on shelf behind this one).

 

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book, as I have done.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time.  

 

 

Daffodils

 

I created this for Art Journal Journey (AJJ) and for my dear friend Chris, this month's host.  She can be found at PearShapedCrafting. Chris's theme is Spring Forward.  

This will be my final entry for Chris's theme at Art Journal Journey (AJJ).  I purposely colored outside the lines because I was never sure where one color should end and the other begin.  I have two detail shots to show.

 

Unfortunately when I was gluing the image to cardstock, some of the watercolors reactivated and made a bit of a mess.  Next time I'll seal the image before I glue it in place.

Thanks for stopping by today. Bleubeard and I would love to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of Spring Forward.  There's still time to join in.