Die Cut Machine Soda Can Flowers

I started cutting soda cans with my Epic 6 Die Cutting machine before Christmas, but finally found the time to write a blog about it! Using the dies gives a more distinct look and greater size options than the hand punches. For today's tutorial, I am using a daisy style flower shaped dies from Lifestyle Crafts.

Supplies:

Die Cutting Machine (I use a Epic 6)
Cutting Mat
Flower Die Set
Soda Can
Scissors

Step 1: Cut the top and bottom off of your can with the scissors cutting one the side of the can to leave one large rectangle.

Step 2: Arrange the dies you want to cut out on the cutting mat, make sure the arrangement is no larger than your can. I also added a thin piece of cardboard to my cutting matt to help it cut all the way through the can.

Step 3: Place soda can rectangle over top of the dies and then place the top of the cutting mat on top hold it together to make sure the dies don't slide!

Step 4: Send it through your die cutting machine! You may want to send it through twice especially if your dies have foam on them like mine.

Step 5: If necessary, carefully pop out flowers from soda can.

Tada! You should now have the layers for your flower. Glue them together to create the finished look. You may also choose to slightly curl the edges to give it a more 3D look!!

Wedding Wednesdays: Bridesmaid Gift Custom Charms

This would definitely make for a unique bridesmaid gift.  They could be used as wedding glass charms, necklaces, bracelets, key chains and what ever else you can come up with.  

I purchased the antique brass base and matching glass disc from the etsy shop Newbora.  I got 10 of the 10mm base (approx 1/2 in)  and 10 of the matching 10 mm glass for $10.  They by far had the cheapest price but it ships from China so it did take a little while to get to me.  So if you order don't be in a hurry to get them! There are multiple sizes and styles available including earrings!    The quality is great though and worth the wait!

For the letter, I used a "J" from the title of vintage piece of sheet music.  You could use just about anything, an old picture, a word from a book or dictionary.  So technically this counts as recycling in that way as well.
I used my Loctite Crafter's Glue, which so far has been permanent and dries crystal clear.  The best part is it takes about 24 hours to solidly cure, so you can adjust it.  I cut out a rectangular piece larger than the glass disc and put a dab of glue on it and placed it over the letter.  As the glue cures it gets clearer and clearer but you can still move it to make sure the letter is centered.
 

Once it is completely dry, cut around the glass disc with an exacto knife, put another dab of glue on the back of the letter and press it into the brass base and let dry!  I attached a little gem on a wire for extra decoration.  

Not up for making your own, check out one of my favorite shops founding on Etsy for great jewelry options!

Bridesmaid Monogram Necklace Package - founding - $192.00

My absolute favorite: 

Wildflower Earrings - foundling - $50.00

Recycled Vintage Button Bobbi Pins

These cute little hair pins where created from my vintage button collection and regular bobbi pins you can buy at almost any drug store.  They were actually really easy to make.  All I did was take a tiny amount of glue (super or another strong glue, I tend to shy away from super glue bc I glue my fingers together)  place it on the end of the bobbi pin, give it a few minutes to set.  Then I stitched the button around top side of the bobbi pin with a small needle and thread.  Lastly, I added a little bit of glue to the back side on the thread to seal it and now it is securely attached!

 

Fun and easy to make!  A good way to put to use all those old buttons!

I will have an assortment of these with me at the show this weekend. 

Wedding Wednesdays: Bridesmaid Yo-Yo Headband

Lately I have had kind of an obsession with head pieces!  Created from upholstery fabric samples, for a fun yet chic wedding this would be a lovely bridesmaid headband. 

 

This will be available for sale this weekend at the Massena Chamber Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show at Robert Moses State Park Picnic Area from 9 - 4!  Stop by and check it out!  So much cuter in person!

Wedding Wednesdays: Beautiful Recycled Vintage Hair Comb Set

Need I say more?

 

This pair of hair combs was created from salvaged vintage jewelry parts.   Pearls, aurora borealis crystals and lovely gold roses with white enameling!  A great statement piece instead of a veil!

Check back soon, there are more great combs to come!

Recycled Button Blossom Bobbi Pins

Another 99% Recycled craft.  All but the bobbi pin, thread and glue is recycled.  The fabric I used came from furniture upholstery samples that are normally just thrown out but I was lucky enough to have some given to me :).   The buttons are part of my ever growing collection.

Basically they are very simple to create.  The fabric portion is just a small yo-yo.  Making a yo-yo is very simple you cut out a circle of fabric (I traced the bottom of a glass) and do a running stitch about an 1/8th of an inch around the entire edge and then pull to gather.  I put a few extra stitches around the center to hold it down after I gather it, then I sew on the button and glue it to the bobbi pin.  Great for scrap fabric, old sheets, and even old clothes.

Enjoy!

99% Recycled Corkscrew Quote Ring

This ring is definitely rough, but it is the first of its kind so it was still a learning process.  Of course the text I used was from a vintage children's book that included several parts of Alice In Wonderland.  The base of the ring is from an aluminum Jack Daniel's bottle cute and wound into a corkscrew and lined with scrap black leather.  The quotes are on the ring "Curiouser and Curiouser" said Alice "DRINK ME" white rabbit "EAT ME".  Watch for more of these to appear in my shop and at my next show.  They are so fun to make and the next one will be cleaner I promise :).  

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Wedding Wednesdays: Custom Ordered Recycled Wedding Cuffs

This was my first order for custom cuff bracelets for part of the wedding party in a wedding this weekend.  The wedding colors are red and black featuring damask print.  The bracelets look amazing!  Besides the ribbon each cuff is 100% recycled.

These two are extra tiny ones made for the flower girls.  They include a button with elastic cord to make sure they will stay on their small wrists!

If anyone is interested in custom cuff bracelets for their upcoming wedding they make an excellent and unique bridesmaid gift!  If interested send an e-mail to themadrecycler@hotmail.com.  Pricing is $15-$20 per large cuff and $10 for small cuffs.  

Enjoy!

Recycled Butterfly Bracelet

Many of you have already seen this bracelet as I wore it Saturday.  Created using some elastic thread, buttons and butterfly punches from an Arizona Green Tea can.  It is very dainty and not sharp at all.  It is also reasonably fragile as if the butterflies get folded over they can get broken!  Watch for it or one like it at my next show July 16th from 1-5 on the Cheel Lawn! 

Recycled Butterfly Bobbi Pins

Lovely little butterflies made from soda cans painted and/or mod podged with lace or vintage sheet music.  Just adorable...

These and many others like them will be for sale at my next show July 16th from 1pm - 5pm on the Clarkson Cheel Lawn.  Please watch for other upcoming shows as I have booked several in the next few months!

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!

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!

New Recycled Cuff Bracelets

I received a custom order from a friend, she wanted a yellow and orange bracelet which is so far out of my color schemes I have been creating but turned out beautifully.  The large yellow rose is a recycled soda can and the large white/orange rose was a vintage brooch I found at a flea market. 

Another turquoise creation: 

My new favorite quote which I'm going to try to incorporate into a bracelet, so be on the look out for it :).  

Vinyl Wall Decal by wordybirdstudios

I have some other new items to showcase throughout the week, but didn't get to take many photos last night as I was installing my little dog Bubba's in ground radio fence from PetSafe.  Installation took a long time but bubba has probably a little over and acre to play in.  He is currently terrified of the fence :(, which is really hard for me, but this is for the best so he doesn't get hit by a car.  I will be sure to update you on the process.  

My geeky side has also come out this week.  I am going to try to fix my iPhone 3G I ran over with my car. It needs a new LCD, glass and touch screen digitizer.  Hopefully I can manage to change all of this myself.  Wish me luck!

Happy Weekend! Splash Page and New Shop Item - Jack Daniel's Cuff

My techy side has been at work lately creating a splash page for my blog/shop.  For those of you that don't know, a splash page is a web page with all of the links to get to the blog, shop, facebook, twitter and anything else you want to post.  Basically it brings everything together in one easy to find location.  So bookmark the page for the most up to date news about The Mad Recycler.

www.themadrecycler.biz

I also wanted to announce that that Jack Daniel's Cuff has been added to my etsy shop, for all of you that loved it, you can now have one of your own.  It is made entirely of recycled materials.  The aluminum cuff is lined with black leather, one size fits most and very comfortable to wear.  Check it out!

Recycled Jack Daniel's Cuff by The Mad Recycler  aka springsnthings - $15.00

"I fell in love with Jack Daniels again" - Miranda Lambert - Jack Daniels Cuff

I definitely consider this bracelet to be a work in progress.  It has not been lined or had anything fancy done too it, but it was too fun not to share along the way.  I'm sure not many of you know, but Jack Daniels has recently started coming pre-mixed in aluminum bottles.  You can get JD & Coke, JD & Diet Coke, JD & Ginger Ale.  The bottles right now are not returnable, so the wonderful people at The Ole Smokehouse have been saving them for me!  The bottles are just the right thickness for cuffs and require not additional snap to hold them on unlike my soda can version.

Jack Daniel's by Miranda Lambert - Full Lyrics

I am also gearing up for the SLCHA Antique and Artisan Show this Saturday, April 30th from 10 am - 4 pm.  Hope to see you there!  

Enjoy! 

 

My New Recycled Flower: Is it a poppy or ranunculus?

This is my latest creation, a pink flower with a pearl in the center.  I am not sure if it looks more like a poppy or a ranunculus blossom.

So what do you think?  Is it a ranunculus or a poppy?  I think it could be either depending on the color and center decoration!  Either way it will make a great addition to my recycled wreath decorations, cuffs and I think I may branch into headpieces too!

A Red Poppy :)
Photo Credit: Flower Info

For all of you who have never seen it, since it does not grow well in Northern NY (trust me I've tried) this is Ranunculus aka Persian Buttercup.
Photo Credit: International Flower Bulb Centre

Enjoy!

The completely recycled soda can cuff! - Pink Daisy Lace Cuff

Is everyone sick of seeing cuff bracelets yet?  I am still not tired of making them, each one is unique, and I have a new favorite every time.  This cuff was totally created using soda cans, the flowers, the leaves and the cuff itself are all from soda cans.  The only thing not from a can is the scrap fabric covering the can cuff, the snap, the pink button and the 2 floral cabs.  The center pink daisy, was created by decoupaging a paper doily cut out over the  pink soda can daisy.  This also is my new style of cuff, I had previously had the one with elastic on the back, but now I have attached a snap so it is easier to put on and more versatile size wise.  Too cute!! :)

This cuff will be at my shows (depending if/when it sells) this weekend.  Friday from 4 pm - 8 pm at the Winthrop American Legion and Saturday from 9 am - 3 pm at the New Testament Church in Massena.

See you there!

"We are the music makers and We are the dreamers of dreams" - Roald Dahl - Vintage Sheet Music Recycled Cuff

I would still consider this cuff to be a work in progress but it was too cute not to share.  It was started using a pre-made aluminum cuff that i decoupaged with vintage sheet music then added a soda can daisy, that had also been decoupaged with sheet music and attached a turquoise button to the center.   I think it needs just a touch more bling and to be lined and I will be happy with it!  Enjoy!

Don't forget 2 crafts shows this weekend, first Friday from 4 pm - 8 pm at the Winthrop American Legion for the Easter Holiday Shopping Kickoff Fair, and then Saturday from 9 am - 3pm at the New Testament Church in Massena!  I will have a variety of my recycled bracelets as well as bedspring wreaths, butterflies and decoration sets!