Bye Bye March!

Just when we thought winter was finally over here in Minneapolis, we get another March snowstorm! Here are a couple shots out my Junk Mail Gems studio window. I guess this is only the 4th time in recorded history that we've gotten some significant snow on the last day of March. I love winter days like this in Minnesota, when the snow is wet and sticky enough to stay on every branch and I don't have to go anywhere and drive in it! Well, tomorrow is April and it can only get nicer from here on out! I can't wait to get out and do some biking again!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from Sammy and his new blue bunny!

2008 St.Paul Craftstravaganza

I just got my Junk Mail Gems booth assignment for this year's St. Paul Craftstravaganza, being held next month! I'll be toward the entrance, to the left (in yellow below), so come and visit me! Click here for some directions to the fair.

DIY Crochet Fun

My mom has recently inspired me to take up crocheting when she made our baby a blanket using this book of crochet blocks:



So, I bought the same book and have been using it to learn & practice, making a bunch of different squares that I'll eventually connect into an afghan. I'm only 5 squares away now!

Anyway, speaking of crochet, I just came across this great video on how to make a crochet fortune cookie on YouTube, via Kelley's posting on the ReadyMade blog. Fun!!



Can't get enough crochet? check out Crafster for some more crochet project ideas and a crochet forum!

Recyclying Dead Batteries

I admit it, I'm guilty of throwing away a battery or two in the trash. I guess I just didn't want to keep them around until I came across a way to recycle them, and get the dead ones mixed up with the good ones. So, I decided to turn this old stuffing mix container into my own dead battery holder. It was the perfect shape to turn into a giant battery. All I did was cut a hole in the lid that would fit a D battery, covered the outside with orange and black construction paper, and used a white colored pencil for the text, and voila! A recycled recycling container!



I also just found this great site that makes it easy to find a battery recycling drop-off box when my can gets full! You may be surprised how many places around you actually have these collection boxes for batteries and cell phones.

Security Envelope Magnets!

If you are a subscriber of our free e-newsletter, then you already know that I've just added some cool new magnets to my selection of products made out of the patterns inside security envelopes! Check them out!

Other Security Envelope Projects

So after spending the afternoon making more of my security envelope beads, I thought I would peruse the web looking for other folks who have found ways to re-use security envelopes. I ran across Karrie's cool tutorial for turning them inside out and re-using them!



I also found these cool gift tags made out of security envelopes in the "littleorangekitchen" etsy shop!



It's nice to know there are other people out there who notice the little things in life...specifically in envelopes!

Recycled Plastic Bag Animals

This is so much fun...check out the cool chicken made out of recycled plastic bags! Hand made by crafters near Cape Town, South Africa, you can get your own for just $10.99. If chickens are not your thing, check out their other animals!

Junk Mail Art

Check out this cool artwork made out of recycled junk mail! I discovered this via a recent posting on Green Dimes' blog. Schimmel is the artist...check out more of her stuff here!

NEW Security Envelope Pattern Beads!

Have you ever paid attention to the inside of security envelopes that you get in the mail? There are SO many unique graphic patterns in there that so easily go overlooked. Here is a collage I made with some of the patterns I have collected over the last couple years:



Well, in the subject of security envelope patterns, I have some good news and some bad news.
The BAD news is I'm discontinuing my mirrors and buttons that are made out of security envelope patterns. The reason is that I've found that the paper is too thick to work well in my button making equipment, causing me to waste several mirrors before getting one to work. So, in the spirit of being green, rather than continuing to waste materials I will no longer be selling those items.

However, the GOOD news is that I am coming up with some new ways to re-use these envelopes! I am now offering some sweet hand-rolled paper beads that showcase this unique material, available in blue, black, or both!



You can purchase the loose beads in lots of 10 (with a choice of blue, black, or a mix of both), or already made into earrings and necklaces! Each bead is about 1/2" long and make quite a one-of-a-kind green statement!