Goals for 2009
1. Try the everlasting vanilla
2. Work on the garden to produce enough veggies that I do not have to buy them any more.
3. Give eco friendly gifts
4. Make reusable fabric gift wrap
5. Change the cats litter to something better for the environment
6. Buy only what I need and donate everything we do not use.
7. Give my kids eco friendly birthday parties.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Celebration Flags
I wanted to make reusable fabric flags for my children's birthday parties. After looking at many different tutorials I made these.
I started by buying 4 different types of fabric. I went with a light blue, green, and blue and green plaid, and a pink. I bought 2 yards of each fabric. I also bought about 8 rolls of an off white 2 inch ribbon.
I then cut out a triangle from cardboard. I decided on the size I wanted my flags and then made my triangle 1/2 inch bigger on all sides. Using chalk I traced the triangle on the fabric.
I then used my pinking shears to cut the triangles out.
Next I place two of the fabric triangles back to back and sewed around the bottom two sides of the flag. Leaving the top open.
Flip the triangle rightside out. It is helpful to cut the bottom of the triangle before you flip it so that there is less fabric on the inside, this will make the bottom point sharper. Next iron the triangle flat.
Next I folded the ribbon in half and ironed it. I then cut it into 3 foot sections, this was just long enough to cover the top of three flags side by side with enough extra to tie to another strip. I then burned the edge so it would not fray.
Next I placed three flags in the fold of the ribbon and pinned them there. I sewed across the ribbon to attach the flags.
Finally I tied three sets of flags together and placed them across the fence in the yard.
A not on why I put three together at a time. After finishing the individual flags I decided to put them in groups of three so that I could change the color schemes as needed. I can connect green and blue, or pink and green, or any combination that went with the party theme.
I started by buying 4 different types of fabric. I went with a light blue, green, and blue and green plaid, and a pink. I bought 2 yards of each fabric. I also bought about 8 rolls of an off white 2 inch ribbon.
I then cut out a triangle from cardboard. I decided on the size I wanted my flags and then made my triangle 1/2 inch bigger on all sides. Using chalk I traced the triangle on the fabric.
I then used my pinking shears to cut the triangles out.
Next I place two of the fabric triangles back to back and sewed around the bottom two sides of the flag. Leaving the top open.
Flip the triangle rightside out. It is helpful to cut the bottom of the triangle before you flip it so that there is less fabric on the inside, this will make the bottom point sharper. Next iron the triangle flat.
Next I folded the ribbon in half and ironed it. I then cut it into 3 foot sections, this was just long enough to cover the top of three flags side by side with enough extra to tie to another strip. I then burned the edge so it would not fray.
Next I placed three flags in the fold of the ribbon and pinned them there. I sewed across the ribbon to attach the flags.
Finally I tied three sets of flags together and placed them across the fence in the yard.
A not on why I put three together at a time. After finishing the individual flags I decided to put them in groups of three so that I could change the color schemes as needed. I can connect green and blue, or pink and green, or any combination that went with the party theme.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Eco Paint
A while ago I bought this eco-friendly finger paint. It is made by eco-kids they also make dough. All of their items are made from plant extracts. I was excited to find paint for the kids that was not made from chemicals.
While out one day I found little spill proof jars with paint brushes I had used them before when teaching and they work great. These were extra small ones so they work perfectly for Bry's little hands.
It has been a while but I finally took some time to try them out. They come in powder form and you add equal parts powder and water. You have to mix them really well and they are still a little powdery but they paint well. The kids had a blast and they both made great artwork. I would recomend these paints for anyone who has kids.
While out one day I found little spill proof jars with paint brushes I had used them before when teaching and they work great. These were extra small ones so they work perfectly for Bry's little hands.
It has been a while but I finally took some time to try them out. They come in powder form and you add equal parts powder and water. You have to mix them really well and they are still a little powdery but they paint well. The kids had a blast and they both made great artwork. I would recomend these paints for anyone who has kids.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Eco Art
We recently bought some eco friendly art supplies from Stubby Pencil Studio. They have many good for the earth items made especially for young kids. My bought soy crayons, crayon rocks, and some natural play dough. The prices were very reasonable and I am incredibly happy with everything we got. Andon thought the crayon rocks were pretty cool and they both loved the play dough. We will be ordering more stuff very soon.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Toys and Gifts for Kids
Over the last few years there has been a huge amount of green toys hitting the market. Here are some that I love. These toys are made by companies dedicated to ecofreindly production. The best thing about these toys, besides being green, is that they are all kid powered. No batteries, which are an extremly wasteful product, only kids imaginations are needed. For now most of these toys can only be found online, but hopefully we will be finding more of them in the local stores. Think ahead to all those kids you buy for throughout the year (especially if you are buying for my little angels) and order some great toys you will feel good about giving.
Green Toys
I bought the kids the Sand Play Set and the Tea Set. We love them not only are they made from recycled milk jugs but they are ultra sturdy and made entirely in the USA. I would recommend these to anyone. We take the sand set to the park with us and I am always getting comments about how nice they are.
Plan Toys
When we buy Bry her first doll house it will be a Plan Toy. These are great wood toys made in a very ecofriendly way. I am loving some of the new designs. What child does not need a dollhouse with a solar panel roof, a wind turbine, rain barrel, recycling bins, and many other great green building elements.
Anamalz
I am getting a bunch of these for Andon. They are great for keeping in my purse for pretend play anywhere and they are just so cute. Anamalz come in four catagories wild, farm, austarlian, and prehistoric
Sprig Toys
These cool toys are paint free, ecofriendly, and battery free. Thay are made from a bio composite made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. I know Andon would love these construction vehicals.
I have also bought many items from Etsy, in particular those in the teams EcoEtsy and EtsyOrganic. Handmade pruducts are unique and often ecofriendly. (Although you may have to do some questioning to find out if they are indead ecofriendly products.)
Green Toys
I bought the kids the Sand Play Set and the Tea Set. We love them not only are they made from recycled milk jugs but they are ultra sturdy and made entirely in the USA. I would recommend these to anyone. We take the sand set to the park with us and I am always getting comments about how nice they are.
Plan Toys
When we buy Bry her first doll house it will be a Plan Toy. These are great wood toys made in a very ecofriendly way. I am loving some of the new designs. What child does not need a dollhouse with a solar panel roof, a wind turbine, rain barrel, recycling bins, and many other great green building elements.
Anamalz
I am getting a bunch of these for Andon. They are great for keeping in my purse for pretend play anywhere and they are just so cute. Anamalz come in four catagories wild, farm, austarlian, and prehistoric
Sprig Toys
These cool toys are paint free, ecofriendly, and battery free. Thay are made from a bio composite made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. I know Andon would love these construction vehicals.
I have also bought many items from Etsy, in particular those in the teams EcoEtsy and EtsyOrganic. Handmade pruducts are unique and often ecofriendly. (Although you may have to do some questioning to find out if they are indead ecofriendly products.)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Meatout Mondays
I heard about this through a blog of a friend here.
I would love to see more people go meatless and Meatout Mondays is a good way to start. TO learn more about why meat is unhealthy for both you and the environment click here and be sure to sign up for Meatout Mondays. If you need any suggestions for good meals try these check out my recipes here.
I would love to see more people go meatless and Meatout Mondays is a good way to start. TO learn more about why meat is unhealthy for both you and the environment click here and be sure to sign up for Meatout Mondays. If you need any suggestions for good meals try these check out my recipes here.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Eco friendly colds
With two little ones someone always has a running nose around here.
I do not like tissues for many reasons
1. I hate going through boxes of tissues
2. they always end up in the laundry and all over my clothes
3. babies tend to find the tissue box, pull out tissues, and rip them apart
I decided to do something about the tissue problem at our house. I did not want to go buy a ton of handkerchiefs so I looked around the house at what we had. We have a lot of receiving blankets that we are no longer using. Instead of just giving them away I thought I could use them. I have started by just cutting up a few with pinking shears. It is great. We now throw them in the wash instead of the trash. If they get left in a pocket there is no mess in the laundry. Bry can not make a mess with them.
I might sew some up into nice squares but for now the pinking shears work.
I do not like tissues for many reasons
1. I hate going through boxes of tissues
2. they always end up in the laundry and all over my clothes
3. babies tend to find the tissue box, pull out tissues, and rip them apart
I decided to do something about the tissue problem at our house. I did not want to go buy a ton of handkerchiefs so I looked around the house at what we had. We have a lot of receiving blankets that we are no longer using. Instead of just giving them away I thought I could use them. I have started by just cutting up a few with pinking shears. It is great. We now throw them in the wash instead of the trash. If they get left in a pocket there is no mess in the laundry. Bry can not make a mess with them.
I might sew some up into nice squares but for now the pinking shears work.
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