Mini Plarn / VHS Tape Bag

I finished crocheting this mini plarn and VHS tape bag this morning. The plarn and VHS tape were spun separately then plied together. It became a mini bag because the bottom did not want to stay flat for any more rounds, lol. It is 9 inches high (not counting the bottom) and it is 11 inches wide. It is still a very good size for carrying groceries and other things in. The pattern is the same as the last plarn / VHS tape bag that I made.

Recycled Cardboard Notebook

On Friday I will be taping 2 more t.v. shows. One of them will be about making books / notebooks out of recycled items.

So today I did a run through on how to make a notebook out of a juice pouch cardboard box.

I covered it with some scrapbook paper, and I used 100% recycled paper (purchased at Staples).

I used the front and the back panels of a similar box. I'll post step by step instructions when I make my show notes.

Long-Eared St. Patrick's Day Creature

Here is the sock creature that I made from a St. Patrick's Day sock yesterday.

You can see the buckle on the back.

I think that its cute that they are two different sizes. My toddler loves them.

Long-Eared Sock Creature

Last night I had a dream where I won a sock creature contest by default, and I hadn't even made anything. I had only said that I was going to make a St. Patrick's Day sock creature. However no one else had even said what they had planned to make, let alone made anything. So when I woke up this morning I knew that I had to make that creature. However my St. Patrick's Day socks were all footie socks, and I needed a sock with a leg to it. I found these fun polka dot socks in my stash. Yes, I have a sock stash for crafting purposes. This creature came out of the book Stray Sock Sewing: Making One-of-a-Kind Creatures from Socks by Daniel. This little guy is called a long-eared mini doll, and he is the first creature how-to in the book. He is super easy to make, and my toddler loves him. After making him, I discovered another pair of St. Patrick's Day socks in my stash that would work for this. I just might be making another one later today.

Even More Plarn

I finally emptied that large tote bag full of white and clear cut plastic bags (loops). I was able to get 5 skeins of white plarn and 2 skeins of clear plarn. The two top skeins in the picture are not a full skein. I'll add more to them at a later date.

I placed all of my tiny balls of plarn in a plastic food container. They don't get all tangled up in there, plus I can see what I have.

I still have a ways to go before I have cut up all of my plastic bags. I dropped off a bag of bottom seams and handles that was left over from making plarn in the grocery store recycle bin. Inside I saw some Hannaford and brown plastic bags. I couldn't help myself, so I took those bags to make plarn out of. Tonight I will work on my pile of cut newspaper bags. I should have a few colored skeins tomorrow as a result.

I'm almost finished making my mom's present. Once finished I want to start on a 2nd present for her. I thought that I would have to break my record of not buying yarn to buy the right color for her. However I discovered some in my stash earlier today. So far I have not bought any yarn or fabric this year.

More Plarn

It was another plarn making day. I made these 2 skeins of plarn from the white and clear bags that I cut last night. I also started making another white skein. I'll continue making more plarn tonight.

I was able to work on my mom's birthday present during story time at the library.

Downsizing the Plastic Bags

Yesterday I taught several Girl Scouts how to make plarn (plastic bag yarn). They seemed to have really enjoyed it. The 30 minutes just flew by. I will probably see them again to teach them how to make juice pouch notebooks. In fact some of them were in the classrooms that I use to collect used juice pouches from.

Since all of my plastic bag classes are now over, it was time to make plarn from what plastic bags I had left. I have a lot of plastic bags left over, a whole leaf lawn bag full of them. So last night I cut the bags and filled my large tote bag while watching t.v. When it was completely full, I joined the loops and made a ball of plarn. I barely made a dent in my plastic bag stash. So for the next few days I will be working my way through the bags until I don't have any left.

Yesterday morning I had to get my oil changed and have something in my car looked at. That can eat up a few hours. As a result I am half way done making my mom's birthday present. You got to love portable projects.