Recycled Origami Lucky Stars

These are so fun to make!  And super easy.  I used the tutorial found on Crescendoh, but my whole thought was recycling newspaper.  So I started with the funny pages :).  Then I coated them with a layer of mod podge to make them a little more stable.  What an excellent vase filler :)

Check back for more projects using origami stars!

Wedding Wednesdays: Recycled Pink Rose Comb

Just lovely...need I say more?

Created from a pink soda can rose, a gold soda can lace mod podged butterfly and vintage jewelry bits.  Will be up for sale at my next show July 16th from 1 - 5 for Clarkson Alumni Reunion on the Cheel Lawn!

A Happy Sunflower - Another Recycled Soda Can

Since Arizona cans have no deposit on them, they are a really great thing to recycle.  Here is another flower I created:

Created by cutting a large Arizona Can in half and then cutting down each side at "even" intervals and then cutting them into petals.  Bend the sides of the can down around the center.  Layer the pieces staggering the petals and wire together.  The brown center portion is the bottom of another can that I cut around the edges to give it a frilly look.  The rest is just paint :).  

I even don't mind the back side which I have left unpainted so you can tell where it came from.  With a brighter colored Arizona can, it would be pretty even without the paint!

Enjoy!

I'm Back! Arizona Can Bobbi Pins

I had a nice break on vacation and finally found supplies for making hair accessories that didn't have to come from China. My first creation was a set of bobbi pins with purple Arizona can recycled roses.  They are super cute :).  I will have other great hair accessories to show later this week.  Hobby Lobby had everything I was looking for.

I also came home to a lovely surprise.  My hydrangea blossomed a beautiful blue while I was gone.  Unfortunately the weeds came up with it!  So that will be another part of this weeks projects WEEDING!

For the girls at work: My Spinach Artichoke Pizza Recipe :)

Every Wednesday the girls at work and I go to Little Italy in Potsdam b/c Tara's BF makes us Spinach Artichoke Pizza.  It is to die for.  If you like the dip you will love the pizza!  While on vacation I still needed my "fix" so decided to make one myself and it actually turned out really good. A definite do again recipe but I think I will make a few small tweaks next time.   After searching and reading several different recipes none of them seemed good to me, so I came up with my own!

Janessa's Spinach Artichoke Pizza :)

Ingredients

2 tbsps butter

2 cloves of garlic - minced

2 tbsps flour

1 1/2 c. milk (I used skim and it worked fine)

1/2 cup parmesan cheese - divided

6 oz fresh spinach washed, patted dry and roughly chopped

Mozzarella Cheese (I used part-skim and it was good)

1 can artichokes - rinsed and cut up (I bought 14 oz but didn't use them all)

2 pizza crusts - I tried Freschetta Artisan Crusts and they are delicious :)

Tomato - optional

Instructions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.  Add the garlic and cook for about a minute on medium heat.  Add the flour and mix until combined and thick.  Gradually whisk in the milk, bring to a simmer and allow to simmer for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring frequently  Add parmesan cheese and mix until well combined.   Add spinach and allow to cook for 1 minute or until it wilts.  

I find that pizza stones work best but use whatever you have.   Place half of the spinach creme sauce mixture on each crust.  Then add a layer of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with parmesan.  Place artichokes on top of the cheese, use how ever many you want.  I used them sparingly b/c we aren't overly found of artichoke.  Place another layer of mozzarella cheese.  Put sliced or chunked tomato on top and then sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese.  

Bake at 425 degrees on middle rack of oven for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly!

This is a fairly mild spinach and artichoke recipe, the next time I am going to try adding more garlic (b/c I love garlic) using a romano/parmesan mixture (bc I'm Italian) and possibly either some crushed red pepper or some finely diced hot sweet pepper, to give it a little more zing.  It was definately good the way it was, but I just like my food a little spicier.  

Enjoy!

The Mad Recycler goes on Vacation!

Just wanted to say goodbye before I leave for vacation.  I am off for some R&R at the beach.  I really need to recharge my batteries so I may or may not be blogging on my trip.  I guess it depends if something inspires me to write.  I will however be bring along a stack of soda cans all ready to be made into stuff just in case I happen to get bored.  I will probably be the only person at the beach making roses out of soda cans!

Here is where I plan to relax: 

At the Anderson Ocean Club in North Myrtle Beach. 

I will however be visiting several flea markets as you know I just can't resist, so be prepared for great flea market finds next week!

Regular blogging will resume June 27th!

Wedding Wednesdays: Blue Recycled Soda Can Hydrangea Bouquet

The recycled bouquet: 

The inspiration from last week's Wedding Wednesdays: Red & Light Blue Wedding

Via Style Me Pretty
Elyse Hall Photography
Eventology Events

I wish I had had time to make it larger like the one above, but so far it is only 3 bunches of hydrangea, so it could work for a bridesmaids bouquet.  I think it is so lovely and double the size would be perfect!  Each petal is hand-cut and hand-painted so each one is unique!

Enjoy!

One of these things is not like the other....recycled soda bottle peony :)

Can you pick out which peony is made from a soda bottle? 

Ok so it's a little obvious but really not that much.  If my peonies in the jar had been a little more fresh it may have been more difficult, but I still think it looks amazing!

Poppies that are always in bloom :)

After posting photos of my real poppies last friday and as normal coming home to find almost all the blooms gone, I got to thinking about the shape of a poppy and how it kind of resembled the bottom of a soda bottle.  So here is what I came up with from plastic bottle and soda cans:

Hand cut each bottle and shaped them into petals.  Painted with regular craft paint and sealed with mod-podge.  The center of the flowers are punched, cut and painted by hand from soda cans.   The stem on the red bottle is too thin so I think I am going to have to try old fence wire or a metal coat hanger for the others.  

Check back this week for more plastic bottle flowers :).  

Poppies & Pinterest

First of all, my poppies are in bloom!  I normally never get to snap a photo of them before all the petals fall off, but this year I got some good ones!

This one is almost print worthy :)

I also have a new addiction, Pinterest!  If you have not seen this site it is amazing.  Basically on your account you have boards and attached to these boards are "pins" which are photo links out to other sites on the web, for example to a product you like, a DIY tutorial or cool space.  I have found some really great ideas and it is also a great way to keep track of DIY projects you would like to do or for inspiration :).  

Check out my pinterest site!

If you would like me to invite you to the site just send me an email: themadrecycler@hotmail.com.

Scrumdiddlyumptious Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam

Kind of like pumpkin stuff, we love strawberry-rhubarb.   Strawberry-rhubarb pie has to be one of my favorites, so I decided why not have strawberry-rhubarb all year long by canning it.  I found a wonderful recipe for jam that I share below!

Ingredients

4 1/4 cups diced rhubarb

4 1/4 cups sliced fresh strawberries

2 (1.75) ounce packages of powdered fruit pectin

1/2 tsp butter (optional)

10 cups white sugar

Directories

Place rhubarb, strawberries, fruit pectin, and butter into a large kettle over medium heat. (Butter is optional but helps keep jam from getting too foamy). Stir the fruit mixture to help the juice start to form, and add sugar, about 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved and the juice is starting to simmer. Turn up heat to medium-high, bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, and cook and stir for 1 minute. Making sure that Rhubarb is tender.  Skim off any foam that forms.  Then can or freeze!  Makes approximately 12 half-pints.

The jam is excellent on toast.  It tastes like strawberry but has a little bit of that rhubarb sourness.  I am already planning to make a second batch b/c it has been such a hit.  

Enjoy!

Wedding Wednesdays: I'm so in love with Red & Light Blue

I found this wedding about a week ago and probably already showed it to many of you but I am so in love with it.  The red and light blue color palette feels chic yet still fun.  Check it out!

Via Style Me Pretty
Elyse Hall Photography
Eventology Events

Via Style Me Pretty
Elyse Hall Photography
Eventology Events

Via Style Me Pretty
Elyse Hall Photography
Eventology Events

Check out the full wedding image gallery here!

Also a great red and light blue brooch bouquet on Etsy: 

Brooch Bouquet: The Carnival by designmevintage

Once upon time....this was a pop tart box :) - Chalkboard Decoration Set

Its amazing what you can do with chalkboard paint.  It is by far one of my favorite things.  To follow my sustainable decorating theme, using my Fiskars Seal Punch, I punched out these seals from a pop tart box.  I then painted them white for the base coat and added a couple coats of chalkboard paint.  Be sure to let it cure for 24 hours! When you are sick of the letters, just wipe them off and write or draw something else!

The green gingham daisies are recycled soda can mod-podged with gingham scrapbook paper!

Hoping to make Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam tonight!  I'll let you know how that goes later this week!

Enjoy!

Thanks Everyone & my Latest Flea Market Finds

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Massena Heritage Festival and checked out my new stuff.  I had a great show and made some more great contacts!

I have also been slacking at showing you my latest finds at North Country Neighbors in Potsdam.

I have fallen in love with old colored tin.  This 1950s flour swifter is a great addition to my kitchen for only $5!  I also purchased an old working padlock with both keys.  Right now it's just lying on an end table for decoration but I'm still working on other uses.  It was so cute and rustic I couldn't pass it up for only $6!

My flea market search will continue when we go to Myrtle Beach in a little over a week :).  I hope to find something like these: 

Toy Tea Cups by OldTymeNotions

If not I can always order them off Etsy!

I LOVE Arizona Cans, and I guess the tea :) & Massena Heritage Festival Craft Show is SATURDAY

My latest aluminum can madness is for Arizona cans.  I had never really had their products before except for the Arnold Palmer, but bought one last week just for the can and it turns out I actually like the tea too :).  The cans I used below were the peach green tea and the peach tea.  The colors on each can are fantastic, these two cans had light pink, dark pink, turquoise and off white!  This decoration set will be on display and for sale at the Massena Heritage Festival Craft Show at the Massena Arena, Saturday June 4th from 9am - 5pm.  Stop by and check out more of my new creations! Happy Weekend!

Let Freedom Ring! Red, White & Blue Rose Decorations

My latest decoration set to celebrate Independence Day.  Created from Fruit Punch, Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Cans.  This set will be on display and fore sale at my show Saturday June 4th from 9am - 5 pm at the Massena Heritage Festival Craft Show at the Massena Arena.  Stop by and check it out!  It's even more beautiful in person!

Wedding Wednesdays: My first recycled soda can Bouquet ♥

I have been making the recycled soda can roses for so long and I hadn't had a chance to make a bouquet yet.  Last week during my mini-break, I started creating the roses.  It is a long grueling process to make so many roses, but definitely worth it once you see the end result.

Each stem is wrapped in floral tape, which is extremely sticky and a real pain to work with but once I had them all wrapped I coated the stems in corn starch and it removed the stickiness.   I also wired some old pearls from a broken necklaces and added them in as well.

I am considering selling these on a Made To Order basis b/c there are so many different routes you could go with it and I would love to make custom creations.  

Look whats next, HYDRANGEA :) 

Check out this bouquet as well as lots of other new stuff this Saturday, June 4th at the Massena Heritage Festival Craft at the Massena Arena from 9 am - 5 pm.  

Enjoy and Happy Wednesday!