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!