I cringe everytime I put a cereal box in the recycling bin. Sure, it's better than tossing it in the trash, but there's such stiff yet pliable material in my hands, yet at that moment, I'm not clever enough to come up with a project for its re-use. Luckily, someone else is (though I bet it wasn't the mogul herself)...
Materials
I have a penchant for purchasing stuff that’s cool, but for which I don’t have specific plans or use. Case in point: I have piles of pulp and sci-fi novels from the 40s-60s. The art and colors are amazing, and the language provides for ridiculous quotes for ages. But after I slice out the illustrations, and force my way through the first and last chapters so I can say I ‘read’ them, these dimestore masterpieces don’t escape from their cardboard homes often.… Continue Reading
Citrus fruits come from the family rutaceae, and include species such as limes, lemons, grapefruit, tangerine, citron, rangpur, Buddha's hand, and myriad types of oranges.
Like everything else that's good for you and delicious, they also boast an abundance of household uses. Re-Nest (by Apartment Therapy) suggests:
From MocoLoco:
"Lighting by Georgiosi is influenced by music and objects of everyday. The Puppetronics concept is translated into a giant UV sculpture of a dancing puppet not unlike a jellyfish, synchronized to the music and suitable for any rave. Other items that are used in Georgiosi lighting include speakers, saws, screws, rubber balls and marbles, but you can also find slinky lights, scouring pads, mesh and sink… Continue Reading
Tennis balls aren’t just for the courts anymore. Life Hackery offers up 50 uses for the fuzzy spheres, none of them involving rackets. Hints on the list include wrapping sandpaper around them to sand curvy surfaces, cutting them in half to make jar openers, and converting them into field mice condos. For the entire list, visit Life Hackery.
Hate the In-The-Cave look of flash photography? The answer lies in the airline Barf Bag. "Yes, that’s right… Those cute lil’ white plastic bags that the airlines keep tucked away in the back of every seat are absolutely perfect for diffusing the harsh beam of a direct flash. Just one barf bag (a/k/a: “flight discomfort bag”) stuck onto the top… Continue Reading
Okay, so you might not have a huge stockpile of unused inner tubes in your garage, just waiting for an uncommon use. But if you did, here's twenty-five things you might do with them.
• Deceptively simple dog toy.
• Make rubber bands
• Clear the drain.
• Make a belt.
• Clamp glued projects.
• Make a… Continue Reading
This clever photo led me to this excellet tiny recycled greenhouse. What a use for the boxes of CD cases that I refuse to throw away.
Materials: Four compact disc cases
1. Remove the front (the clear part) from three of the cases.
2. Tape or glue the three cases in a box shape, and then add the final case on the back, as in the photo.
3. Help your little seedlings thrive by placing the greenhouse over the plant, using… Continue Reading
If you logged on to your local Craigslist, chances are you'd see at least one household with a dead or recently removed tree, begging for someone to help reuse the material. "Cool," you'd say, "but what would I do with a dead tree?"
DIYLife has 30 ideas.
People are using bananas to make some weird stuff, let me tell ya. But, in the interest of spreading the knowledge, from the not-so-odd to the head scratchers, here goes:
10. Aphid deflector: Burying dried or cut-up bananas peels a few inches deep around the base of your rosebushes to detract aphids.
9. Fertilizer: Potassium rich, bananas are great for us as well as our gardens. Dry out leftover peels over the winter months. In the spring grind… Continue Reading
Brazilian designer Mana Bernandes specializes in making beautiful jewelry from common, inexpensive items, like "Clasp" made from hair ("bobby") pins. While she doesn't offer a how-to, I bet one could figure out the technique from the photo. It reminds me of those regal neckplates you see on ossuaries and paintings from the Ancient Near East...a handmade version would certainly complement your handmade Pharoah costume nicely.
Other designs include:
Epsom salt - magnesium sulfate - are a major component of most bath salts, potting soils. and in some lotions and gels intended for pain relief. Its high magnesium content and gritty texture makes useful for all sorts of other tasks. Gomestic has assembled a mighty fine fifteen here.
"Wine is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages on the planet. Its history spans thousands of years and while heavy drinking of any alcoholic beverage rather brings lots of health-related troubles instead of benefits, current research suggests that a glass of red wine each day may be providing you with more than just a little relaxation. "
Instead of pouring that flat brew down the drain, you might want to try a couple of these tricks.
Plant food. Beer has yeast in it and yeast is good for plants. A few tablespoons of flat brew added to the garden will enrich the soil.
Bee killer. Get yourself an old jar, punch a few 3/8" holes in its lid and then fill the jar with beer. Screw the top back on the jar and set it out in your yard where bees and wasps are a problem. The bees… Continue Reading
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