Stuck inside on a rainy, dreary day? Have a hankering to start a new, crafty project? Using random objects and materials from around your home, these fun and eco-friendly DIY projects will cost you little to nothing.

Scrap Paper Notebook
You have a scrap paper galore in the drawer next to your desk, but this clutter is starting to get out of control. No problem! Stack your scrap paper to make all of the edges …

Tags: craft , crafting , creative , decor , DIY , howto , reuse , upcycle

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The people in my neighborhood really get into Halloween whether they’ve got their own little ghouls and goblins or not, proving the most fun night of the year is for the kid in all of us. You know, that kid who is addicted to Halloween chocolate!

I’m big on using decor to lift my spirits each fall, ideally with the surfeit of tools and supplies stashed in my green storage bins rather than ready-made plastic junk on the shelves of stores.

I found inspiration in Etsy’s Voter Page for …

Tags: art , costumes , craft , DIY , felt , foam , Halloween , holiday , jewelry , rubber , stamps , upcycle

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It would be grand to just roll out of bed every morning looking glamorous and fresh, but it requires serious maintenance to stay sexy. Here are eight easy and eco-friendly tricks for dealing with some of the most frustrating beauty predicaments.

Tired Eyes
Everybody knows about sliced cucumbers, but I recently discovered a more effective method. Steep a couple of green tea bags, put them in the refrigerator until they’re cool and place them over your eyes.

Blemishes
Apply a touch of toothpaste overnight and dab blemishes with lemon juice before putting …

Tags: beauty , DIY , eco friendly , home remedies , natural , organic , wellness

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Nothing goes together like a recession and a paint brush.

If you can’t afford to remodel (and who can?) and are stuck with a peeling, fiberglass clawfoot tub, tap into some ingenuity and resource non-toxic paints and supplies, pure shower curtains, an organic floor mat and go to town.

If you’re opting to go the DIY tub redux route you will want to bone up on stripping off the old finish first. You can visit many good how-to tutorials at sites like ehow. Or,  if you have the …

Tags: 2009 , bathroom , clawfoot tubs , decor , design , DIY , low VOC , organic , paint , redux , refinishing , restoration , salvage , shower curtains , stripping , sustain , tubs , yellow

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When I was young, still living at home, I’d leave the house for a run and hide my key under the potted plant near the front door. I’d never try this trick today.

Instead, I might use one of these simple Wrist Cuff Wallets I found on Etsy. They couldn’t be cuter or cheaper ($5) or easier to DIY.

Find any old cotton tee or sweat shirt and a couple of cool stamps like this deco flower and old Woodie truck and your do-it-yourself is …

Tags: cotton , DIY , do-it-yourself crafts , Etsy , fashion , recycled

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The collapse of the economy has had a curious effect on our culture. Shuttered chain stores and denuded neighborhoods have made us realize how unstable and unsustainable a society predicated on constant growth and fueled by the twin demon drugs of easy credit and cheap consumer goods can be. When the Circuit Cities go away and the lesser Starbucks close, we realize we didn’t really need them anyway.

All over the country, people are reconnecting with their communities, saving money, working cooperatively, bartering and living a less consumption-dominated life. …

Tags: bartering , buy handmade , Community , consumption , DIY , extraction , gardening , genuine , grassroots , greenwashing , localwashing , original , slow money , sustainability

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Ever wish the florist’s shop were run more like a buffet? You could stand in line with a vase in hand and ask for six pink daisies, four orange roses and six yellow lilies. Welcome to the fun-filled world of flower arranging! But, before you break your dependence on professional florists and set out on your own, brush up on the basics of this fascinating art form to craft beautiful bouquets.

Brainstorming is the first essential step in every creative process. Decide whether you’d …

Tags: DIY , flower arrangements , guide , lifestyle , tips

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There is something about berries that screams summer to me. Where I live in England it’s the height of strawberry season right now and the berries are cheap and plentiful. They are also succulent and sweet with the summer sun -  unlike the watery tart versions you get from supermarkets out of season. For the next few months we will have a berry bonanza with raspberries, gooseberries, blueberries, red currants, white currants, black currants, and finally in the autumn, blackberries.

For my fifth birthday I begged my mother to make a …

Tags: berries , DIY , fruit , home , how to , jam , Recipe

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We all want fresh, radiant skin, but you don’t have to throw down big bucks for an expensive facial at the day spa to achieve this youthful glow. Using ingredients from around your home (and your garden, too), you can make an assortment of 100% natural facial masks to suite all skin types for a tiny fraction of the cost.

Oily Skin

Mash up a cup of fresh organic strawberries and mix in three teaspoons of honey, two egg whites and a teaspoon of …

Tags: DIY , eco friendly , natural , skincare , wellness

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