CDs have become a bit obsolete of late with the increase of digital downloading, so what do you do with them then? They can’t go in the normal recycled (only a couple councils let you do this) and if you throw them in the bin then they will end up in landfill… not a good option.
Ever wondered what to do with you old, scratched or unloved CDs and DVDs? Most people have a stash of old data CDs at the back of their drawer that are in need of a good recycling! So Eco Innovators has organised the first CD Swap Meet Melbourne to be held on Thursday 4th march 2010 at a nice little drinking hole called the Edinburgh Castle Hotel in Brunswick.

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Salihan Crafts shows readers some great ways to reuse a bath puff: creating a yarn sleeve & pot scrubber

Tutorials from Salihan Crafts

pic from here

Curtains have many benefits in keeping out heat and sunlight. Ask around your relatives, most people seem to have a spare pair of the rubber backed insulated curtains stashed in a cupboard somewhere.

Alternatively you might like to pick up a pair cheaply at a charity shop or ebay or even make your own. Make some ties whilst you are there, you’ll want them open in the mornings. Here’s a great easy tutorial, making curtains is pretty much just about sewing straight lines which get easier with practice!

1. Stay home and celebrate
Seriously, I ‘ve always suspected that NYE is the night for people who don’t go out any other night of year.

As green planet suggests

if you stay home and host your own ring-in-the-new shindig, you’ll save transportation emissions—and, of course, money. You’ll also be able to better control the environmental impact of your night, from sending out email invitations to preventing the food and paper waste that comes from bars and restaurants.

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II was excited to see this living wreath on Design Sponge this week. It looks pretty easy according to the tutorial but I’m going to amend a current wreath I have rather than buy any materials. I’m making one of these tonight. It’s a great way to reuse garden cuttings from the last few days and looks great!

I’m loving these DIY centrepieces using fruit and veg. They are  definitely recyclable as they can be eaten on boxing day!

from Craftzine

Who needs pricey wrapping paper when you can make the most of old clothes? Cut flannel shirts or pants apart at the seams, making large rectangle-ish pieces. Make sure that you have enough to cover the box you’re using, then wrap as if you were using paper and secure with double-stick tape. (Put a few strips of double-stick tape on the box to help hold the fabric in place.) Tie bows out of shoelaces or with strips of felt. To make a fabric box topper, cut the hem off a leftover shirt and spiral it into an overlapping circle. Scrunch and gather in the middle. Stitch the center with a needle and thread and use double-stick tape or a safety pin to secure it to the top of your box. (By Amu Palanjian via ReadyMade)

Photos by Kathryn Gamble & Rick Lozier