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!