Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Instagram YouTube Pinterest Tumblr VK RSS
Close

Plarn Cell Phone Holder

Cindy3 Comments

Crochet yourself this cute and handy little cell phone holder from recycled materials. This holder can hold any type of phone, from iPhones to any of the latest 4g phones in most shapes and sizes. This cell phone holder was made from recycled disposal plastic diaper bags cut and assembled into plarn (plastic bag yarn.) This is another readers creation from Diane who asked me to share the free pattern here.

Free Plarn Cell Phone Holder Pattern
J (6 mm) crochet hook
14 diaper disposal bags (when making Plarn, use 2 loops together)

Note: The disposal diaper bags are small and thin, but are cut the same way as regular plastic bags and 2 loops are used together for each “strand”, so it was doubled up.
2 snaps, or Velcro or buttons

Ch 8. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each to end, 2 hdc in end ch, continue around other side to end. Do not join, but work in rounds. Hdc in each hdc for approximately 8 rounds, ending at side, sl st in next 3 sts. (strap that holds phone inside) Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 2 sts, ch 1, turn. Continue working on 3 sc for 10 rows. FO and weave in ends.


Belt Loop Strap: Attach plarn with sl st to st next to middle on rnd 2 on back of holder (same side as other strap), ch 1, sc in same st and next 2 sts, ch 1 turn. Continue working on 3 sts for 5 rows. FO weave in ends.

Attach snaps or Velcro or buttons on end of strap and in coordinating spot on holder.

Diane used these small plastic diaper bags for her project so it took quite a few to complete the project. I believe if you use a retail plastic bag that you could crochet this project with around 7 bags. Thanks to Diane for sharing this recycled bag project with everyone![…]

Cool Eco Promotional Products

Cindy3 Comments

Teresa and Jennifer over at FortePromo.com just shipped me a box of items from their new line of eco-friendly promotional products for me to test out and review. I am always delighted to see and use cool green eco products so I was excited to see what goodies they sent to me.

I received this handy Eco lunch tote made from 100% post-consumer recycled material such as discarded plastic water bottles and food containers. It’s a wonderful lunch bag with a velcro closure and folds flat when empty. I used it today to carry my lunch to work and it works well as a reusable lunch bag.

One of my favorite items I received was the Bamboo USB flash drive. It is made from renewable bamboo material and features a handy magnetic cap which keeps the cap securely on the flash drive.

Several ballpoint pens were sent to me. My favorite one is the Maize twist pen that is made of corn and 72% biodegradable. This eco pen is a cool-looking green color and features a soft grip. It writes nicely and has a comfortable feel to it when writing.

Next was a recycled cardboard journal notebook which is found here. The cover is made from 100% recycled cardboard and the paper inside the journal includes 100 sheets of lined recycled paper with a recycling symbol printed on each page. As with all these promotional products, you can have the cover of this journal embossed with your company name and logo. My husband really liked this item and took it to work to use for his daily notes.

Overall I found all the products that I received from FortePromo to be very useful and a good value. If you are looking to purchase any eco-friendly promotional items for your company or business, I would recommend you check out their new line of environmentally friendly promotional products they offer. They have exciting recycled, biodegradable and organic products, as well as solar and water-powered items. You’ll find all kinds of environmentally friendly promotional products that will help you promote your company and make the earth a little greener in the process!

Reason to Smile

Cindy21 Comments

I have great news and a reason to smile. I just completed another round of scans and an ultrasound. I am NED! If you aren’t familiar with the term NED, it means No Evidence of Disease when referring to someone who has had cancer. I am happy to report all my scans and tests are clear. It’s as one doctor said to me today, it’s all good — be assured there is no sign of cancer.

It’s been since March 2008, that I have been battling breast cancer. Once you’ve had cancer, you tend to think about it’s return. You try and not worry about a recurrence. At first it’s about all one can do but not think about it’s return. But as time goes on it does get better. The reassurances that it has not returned is empowering. Things haven’t always been easy and I still have a few aches and pains from surgery and radiation. But overall I am feeling pretty good and have basically gotten my life and activities back to normal now. So I smile and say that I love NED. I hope and pray I stay that way forever. Until the next scans and follow-ups, I am reminding myself to enjoy life today and to be happy I am beating cancer each and every precious day.

Readers Creations

Cindy8 Comments

I want to share some of my readers creations that have been emailed to me. Several of my crafty readers have sent me photos of their completed plarn (plastic bag yarn), VCR, and cassette tape recycled bags. I just love seeing everyone’s finished projects and hope you enjoy them too. Click on any of the photos to supersize them.

Libby’s Motif Tote Bag

Libby from Texas used my colorful granny square motif pattern to crochet her bag. She did put one more row of sc around the top before starting the handle. You can find the free pattern link for this recycled plastic tote bag here.

Libby’s Cassette Tape Beaded Bag

Libby’s brown evening purse was made with two strands of cassette tape and two strands of brown ribbon that came from a sweater she unraveled. How cool is that its double recycled! She wanted a purse with beads in the strap, so she added some beautiful beads and used a nifty knitter for the rest of the strap. A magnetic button closure was added with beads glued to cover the prongs on the outside.

Another reader Diane has been busy creating several of my recycled bag patterns. First she shared with me the hobo bag that she made using this recycled plastic bag pattern. She tweaked the pattern by adding a cell phone pocket, used a zipper instead of a magnetic snap and put other pockets in the lining.
Diane’s Blue Ribbon Hobo Purse

Diane also crocheted a plastic tote bag using my colorful motif pattern. She completed her tote bag by lining it with some pretty material that matched her motifs.

Then Diane used my green shopping bag pattern found here to crochet her yellow reusable grocery bag.


Next Bonnye shared some VCR tape bags she crocheted with fun fur added. As shown below she used recycled VCR video tape and fun fur together to create some very cool looking bags!

Thanks to all my readers who sent in photos sharing their recycled crafting projects. I really enjoyed all your beautiful work with upcycled materials. Keep those great green craft projects coming!

Flower Power Plarn Tote Bag

Cindy6 Comments

It’s a Flower Power Plarn Tote Bag!

As I have stated before, white plastic bags are about all I can get on a consistent basis so here is my latest idea to bring more color and charm to my recycled tote bags. I added several colorful flowers that have been crocheted from recycled plastic bags. Since each flower takes only about one plastic bag, it is easy to add some bright and pretty flowers to a otherwise plain tote bag. To view the finished details of the above tote, just click on the photo to supersize it. I also added some ribbon and a bow tie at the center front of my recycled tote to complete the project.

Below you will find another addition to my library of plarn patterns that I offer here free. Here is the link to see a complete list of all my free patterns.

Free Crocheted Flower Power Tote Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn approx. 40-45 bags
A few plastic bags of several different colors for flowers
Small amount of ribbon for bow tie if desired

Hooks:
Q USA size plastic hook
N USA size metal hook for handles and J hook for flowers
Description: Large Plarn Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 14 inches long

Directions:
Using Q hook, Ch 20.