DIY Burlap Sack Project Tutorial: Mr. Potato Head Bag!

Hey friends, so in my last post, as you know, I mentioned that I had a project idea to use a recycled burlap sack.  I was able to acquire a couple sacks through my local Freecycle site, and have already finished my project!

I ended up making a storage bag to hold my son's Mr. Potato Head and all of his parts.  I have just posted my project along with a fully illustrated tutorial on my IDMommy blog, so you can try it too...check it out!

Recycled Burlap Sacks

I just recently came up with an idea for something useful that I want to make using burlap, so I posted a "wanted" ad on my local Freecycle site, in hopes of obtaining some.  If I do get my hands on some, I will share my project with you!

But, in the meantime, I thought I'd peruse the web for some other fun ways to use burlap.  Of course, there are more sites that sell recycled burlap handbags than you can shake a potato at, so I thought I'd highlight some of the more unique applications...

like this cool chair made from burlap sacks from Colcha: (via Green Eco Services)

Have yourself a red and GREEN Christmas with this great stocking by Lama Designs: (via Yummery)

You can also make quite the fashion statement with these great pants and skirts made from recycled burlap sacks: (via Great Green Goods)

Old Chair Turned Outdoor Swing!

I always find funky old chairs at garage sales and thrift stores that I'd love to make over, but just don't have the space to acquire them.  That's why I got excited about this great way to repurpose an old chair into an outdoor swing!  I just might be able to utilize an old chair after we move into our potential, hopeful, new house some time in the hopefully near future!  Read the full blog post from Peppertowne, here! (via ApartmentTherapy)

DIY Woodgrain Pencil Holder from Recycled Soup Cans!

Oh soup can, how do I use thee...let me count the ways!

I use soup cans for all kinds of stuff...they help me store and organize my pens and pencils in my office, my toiletries in my medicine cabinet, and my "junk" underneath the kitchen sink.

Sometimes I spray paint them (above, left), sometimes I paint them and add embellishments (above, right...using recycled ribbon scraps), and sometimes I just leave them as-is (above, center).  There are endless ways to "decorate" a soup can, but overall, I find them to be very useful!  My most recent soup can makeover was this very "executive" looking "woodgrain" pencil cup, which I'm going to show you how to make right this very second!

 Step 1: Eat some soup. It's good for you.  Just ask any NFL player's Mamma!

Step 2: Remove the label and wash the can.

Step 3: Obtain some woodgrain Con-Tact paper from your local hardware store.

Step 4: Measure your can, from the base to however high you want the "woodgrain" to reach.  I like to leave a little metal showing on top so I measured from there.

Step 5: Mark the length measured on the edge of the Con-Tact paper.

Step 6: Roll the paper around the can to mark the measurement of the circumference.  Make sure you have a little overlap.

Step 7: Knock it off!  Oh...I mean...Cut it out!

Step 8: I know this is exhausting, but you're almost done.  Hang in there.

Step 9: Peel back the paper from the back of the Con-Tact paper, just enough to get it started.  (You know what will happen if you pull the whole thing off...it'll fold over and stick to itself and you'll have to start over. Or you won't quite get it lined up right and it'll stick, you'll try to pull it off to reposition it, it'll tear, and you'll have to start over.  Trust me...start with just an inch or less...)

Step 10: Line up the edge of the paper and wrap around your can, and when you're sure it's aligned with the top and bottom edges, press down and stick that little exposed bit to the can. From there, stick the rest to the can as you peel back the rest of the paper.  Kinda like putting on a Band-Aid (...if you follow their sterile application instructions, that is.)

Voila!  This soup can has just taken a step up in life, from the recycle bin to the desktop! Way to go...I knew you could do it!!  And hey, while you're at it, why not make one for Dad for Father's day?!  It would make a fun recycled gift that you could even do with your kids...maybe even fill it with some cool new pens.

So there you have it...bet you didn't think I could turn a "slap-a-piece-of-contact-paper-on-a-soup-can" tutorial into TEN steps!  Why on earth, you ask, would I spend this rare and precious time today while BOTH of my boys are napping SIMULTANEOUSLY just to show you how to do this?  Because I am so dedicated to spreading the DIY/Recycled love, THAT's why! :-)  Now go raid your recycle bin and get those pencils organized!