Shampoo Bottle Wreath Tutorial

As crazy as it may sounds that's what it is - My Shampoo Bottle wreath.

For a long time I've had my collection of empty shampoo bottles.

The colors were so pretty that I didn't want them to go to my recycling bin. I was desperately looking for an idea on how to use a shampoo bottle in any craft project but wasn't successful, and then I saw this beautiful wreath from Williams-Sonoma....

I simply fell in love with the shapes of bay leaves and then I've got an idea.... I still don't understand how my brain connected shampoo bottles and bay leaves but it did... I've decided to slice my shampoo bottles and cut out "bay leaves" and since my bottles had "autumn" colors I thought it should work for Thanksgiving Decor. Why not?

First I cut off the top of the bottle

Then I cut along this red line and around the bottom to open up the main body part.

When it's all open - it is super easy to cut out "the leaves"

That's how they look like!

Then I've decided to use the tops of the bottles.....

You'll need to help flower "petals" to open up by pushing them against their natural curve.

Note. Since I am having a lack of storage most of my items have to be flat in order to fit into my garage cabinets, that's why my wreath is going to be flat as well.

I've cut out two cardboard circles and glued them together.

(As you can see, I am using old cardboard box)

Then, I wrapped an old plastic tablecloth (leftover from my Halloween decor) around

and your base is ready!

Now that you've got all components - get your hot glue gun ready, and let's rock-n-roll!

Start with flowers first, I've decided to cut off the spout to make my flowers sit closer to the base of the wreath and hide connection points.

This is my half way in the making and it took only 5 minutes to get here:)

5 minutes later, I've got it all done

Few finishing touches, like pom pom hearts of the flowers

and a piece of ribbon and we are done.

Reduce, reuse, recycle! works all the time!

This wreath is my way of saying "Thank You!" to our Mother Earth.

Be thankful and have a great day!

I am sharing this project on the following link parties

Hope Studios Tutorial Tuesday

Shabby Chic Cottage

The Shabby Nest

DIY Living Showcase by Cheri

The Trendy Treehouse

Witch for Halloween

Can you imagine Halloween without a Witch?! Of course not! That's why we decided to add one "real" witch to our 2010 Halloween crew. If you read my old post "Pierott" then you know the technique and materials for this creation. This is another spoon doll.

That's how it's all started

and that's how it looks when it's all done.

Face and body - old kitchen utensil

Hair - 99c Store find: braided synthetic hair

Hat - black craft felt and paper flowers

Cape - piece of old black T-shirt painted with orange polka dots

It is a very easy project promoting reusing and upcycling. I hope you will try it.

Sincerely,

A Book End Made Out of Milk Carton and An Old Book

Me and houses..... While back in April I've had an Emerald City Project, where I went a little bit crazy

It's been built out of 32 boxes in different sizes and you can read more about it in my April posting "Emerald City Part 2"

The project today is much more modest:) We are going to be making a book end out of milk carton and an old book cover that I am using as a roof.

Materials you will need: milk carton, zip lock bag filled with sand to serve as weight, an old book cover (I am using my daughter's old book with shapes) and old wallpaper to cover it all.

Before:

After:

I think it is kind of self-explanatory, but if you have any questions - please, let me know. I am here to help:) By the way, this Book End is part of my upcoming collection on how to organize and recycle....

Piggy Bank Out of Large Soda Bottle

Here is another great project from Disney Family Fun that couldn't resist: Piggy Bank out of large soda bottle.

I think with school starting soon or in some cases already going, Piggy Bank can serve as a great motivational tool:)

You will need a soda bottle, tissue paper ( in my case I've use 1 1/2 sheet), two toilet paper tubes cut in a half for the legs, chenile stem for the tail, button for the nose and two wiggle eyes. Web site suggests to use toilet paper tube for ears as well, but I decided to go with craft felt, Mod Podge to apply a tissue paper and Tacky glue to attach the rest. Very simple! Me like it:)

I will skip a picture of soda bottle:) Here it is after two coats of freshly applied tissue paper:

After it is dried (usually overnight), time to start the assembly line going: glue button as a nose, add wiggly eyes, form and glue down the ears (if you need a pattern that I've created, let me know and I'll send you one). Glue the legs down and a tail. Let it dry, cut out the coin slot using craft knife and you are done! or.... if you are as crazy as me you can take it a step further and have fun with paint:) That's how it looks like when it's all finished

Happy savings!

Note: for more detail, please go to Disney Family fun recycling craft:)