February Challenge Material- Discarded Cassette Tapes

     
     The challenge material for the February Repurposing Project is discarded cassette tapes from the Hood River Library and discarded VHS tapes from the Mid Valley Elementary School library. The Master Recyclers were contacted about how to recycle the cassette tapes and VHS tapes.  There is not a convenient way to recycle these materials in the Columbia River Gorge.  Far West Fibers, in the Portland area, is the only place I have heard about that will take VHS and cassette tapes to recycle.

      The mission is to find creative ways to repurpose the cassette and VHS, along with their covers.  If you choose to join in the challenge and need materials, you can stop by the Columbia Art Center during business hours and take all you need.  Please send me a picture of your completed project so I can include it on my blog at the beginning of March or bring it down to the Art Center by March 1st,  so I can include it in the First Friday exhibit on March 2nd from 5pm-7pm.

      I can't wait to see what everyone has made with this month's challenge material!!

Week Seven- Magazine Scrap USA Map Collage

Magazines scraps were used to make this USA map collage.  Using this technique always results in amazing projects.  I'm still trying to decide if this project is finished or not.  I feel like something is missing.  Any ideas?

Week Six- Valentine's Projects

I was asked to teach a craft project for my daughter's class for Valentine's Day.  Here are the two ideas I came up with.

Valentine Bookmark made from paint chips

(This was my daughters favorite)

Pocket notebook made from recycled cereal box, scrap book paper with a peek-a-boo heart window.

Week Five- Bad Art

 I have in the search for bad art painted on canvas for a repurpose project.    I took the piece of bad art, cut  a stencil of the deer head out of contact paper and painted over the top of it. Once the contact paper was removed, I was left with something new to hang on my wall.

Here is original painting. 

What I learned:

•  I don't think contact paper is the best option for the stencil, although I did use old contact paper.  It did not want to stick to the textured painting very well, so small areas ended up with paint under it.
• Choose a painting with bold colors.
• Acrylic paint will come off the canvas if you attend to it right away, before it dries.  Just use a little water to help "erase" the mistakes.

 My next project will be a jackalope for my sister for her birthday... I don't think I need to worry about spoiling the surprise.  I don't think she reads my blog.  But, if you know her, don't tell!

Here's the finished jackalope!

January Challenge- Used Billboards

Here is what was made out of January's challenge material, used billboards.  

Deer head -

I got this idea from Pinterest and made it my own by covering foam board with billboard material to create this three dimensional deer head.

Tote Bag and Wallets

Butterfly chair-

I found a butterfly chair frame with a ripped cover, so I used the cover as my pattern and made a new one out of billboard material.

I found this step stool at a garage sale.
All it needed was a fresh coat of paint and a new billboard cover.

This was created by a Dual Language Kindergarten class at Mid Valley Elementary School.  They each created a picture of themselves or a pet on small pieces of billboard.  The piece of billboard their teacher used had writing on it, so she pieced together the letters she found to create yo=me.

Here is our first exhibit of the Repurposing Project during First Friday's Art Walk at the Columbia Art Center in Hood River.

The challenge material for February is cassette tapes and VHS tapes.  Let me know if you are interested in joining the Repurposing Challenge!  Send pictures of your project or bring them to the art center on the first Thursday of the month, March 1st.

Recycled Art Class at Art Center

I started the day with teaching a class about recycled crafts to a group of children ages 5- 9 and their parents.  We made found paper wallets, the same ones I helped 300 students make this week at Art Week at a local elementary school, and recycled sweater monsters.  It is always so rewarding to work with a group of people who are just as excited as I am about creating with recycled materials.  

I have a couple more children's recycled craft classes scheduled in The Dalles, Oregon in February and March through WonderWorks Children's Museum.

February 21st- Recycled Wallets

March 8th- Lavender Dolls and Recycled Pocket Notebooks

Week Four- Unmentionables

I stumbled across a blog called Belle and Burger  that showed me how to make panties from recycled t-shirts, so I decided to take a stab at it. After making the first pair, I was hooked. Not only are they fairly easy to make, but I can modify them to fit just the way I like them.

 I am now on the hunt for t-shirts or knit clothing to repurpose into this new project. I have already make at least 10 pairs and keep asking if any of my kids want some. So far no takers.