Upcycling Classes--Now Available

This is so cool!!!

I taught the above upcycling of paperback books classes at the library last spring, now they are officially listed as a workshop you can request through the library's Borrow a Librarian program :)

Orem Public Library Borrow a Librarian

Scroll down to . . . # 11 where you will see the following:

 

11. Upcycling Paper Art    

Have a few too many books taking up room on your shelves? Borrow a librarian and learn how to bring some of those books back to life, albeit in an ‘altered state.” Part origami and part inspiration,  this creative paper art is loads of fun.

 I had so much fun that I also made a few other items - -

 Mini Books

 Book Purses

 Cut-out Cover Art

Making Mini Book Charms, more Upcycling

Love the Little Things -- 

Another Upcycling installment


*Upcycling--for me--is all about taking something of no value, or extremely little value and turning it into something to treasure. These little things, due to their unique quirks, oddities and individual flaws, are precious to me . . . I hope you too can find the joy in making little treasure of your own--and maybe saving a little bit of space in that landfill . . .

Making Miniature Leather Charm-Sized Books

SUPPLIES:

PVA Book Glue
Small paint brush
Water and paper towels for clean-up
Weight
Rotary Cutter and self-heal mat and ruler, or a steady hand a good pair of scissors

Leather scraps



Some salvaged headbands (look closely at an old bound book, you'll see them. I saved these from last month's Upcycled Flowers and Folded Dresses)



A stack of old magazines, glue-bound--NOT staple-bound!





And a big paper cutter -- very big -- this is the hardest thing to come by for us ordinary folks. A lot of copy places have access, but at $1.00 per cut, it gets a bit spendy, particularly when (contrary to the picture) you can only really cut one magazine at a time--otherwise they squish out and produce odd shaped mini textblocks.




1- I found it easiest to chop the ENDS off (spine in). I highly recommend only doing ONE magazine at a time. Brace the end so it doesn't squish out if you can. I used a weight (you will see it later)

2- Cut the long tall skinny cut first--about 3/4" wide, then chop into about 1" tall magazine textblocks

Chopped up magazines =  mini text blocks that are oh-so-cute!

Cutting the Leather Covers

Purses from Books -- Upcycling in the Library

Upcycled Book Purse! 

* Just a note: There are several ways of getting to the end product, and I will be demonstrating several of those ways at the upcoming Upcycling program this Saturday, 
but for now, I only have the pictures I have. If you find a better way, then feel free to modify and do it your way.

One Way of Making a Book

into a Cute Little Purse

Prepping the Cover

Measure the fabric

Pulling the pattern for the wedge pieces

Cutting the wedges

Fairy-Tale Princess by Blackwell

Guess what the library just got . . .



The Fairy-Tale Princess: Seven Classic Stories from the Enchanted Forest by Su Blackwell
OPL Link

 I am struggling with feelings of being terribly inferior, immensely impressed, and truly wonderfully inspired.

Wow. Just wow.

 

Guess what I've been up to . . .

Okay, so we aren't making ALL the items pictured here, but we are making trees, flowers, and the dresses if we have time. Just consider the additional items as inspiration.

Also, just got word that we are doing an additional Upcycling program!

 May 18, 

Saturday at noon

incorporating fabrics and leather 

-- yes, you heard me, leather.

Both programs are free of charge, no supplies necessary, and everyone who wants to will go home with projects they have made.


I'm so excited!!!

Quick Reference Links:
(hotlinking as I post. Inactive links = I've not posted yet)
 
Trees
Flowers
Dresses
Hearts
Mini Leather Books
Purses

Upcoming presentation . . .

Due to popular demand, I will be presenting an Upcycling Program at the Orem Library . . .

Saturday April 20, 2013

Noon

None of the things I am teaching will be anything you can't find online already --I've even posted most of them here on this blog-- but if you are anything like me, you will find yourself never making them (with the excuse of I'll get to it eventually), or you just prefer to learn in person while someone is there to help you and answer questions. That is what I am providing, an opportunity to get together in a fun group, learn together and go home with finished items you made yourself. 

Bonus: You don't have to run around finding supplies, or researching the best adhesives, or even clear a working space in your home.

It's all here, it's all provided and I've got some make-it-easier-tips you won't find anywhere else.

Learn how to make the paper flowers . . .

 the paper dresses . . .

and paperback cover art.

p.s. I will be showing big screen how-to pictures as well as other inspiring ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

WATCH FOR ANOTHER WORKSHOP IN MAY

 -- this one will incorporate leather and fabric to our creative upcycled projects.

(ultra mini books and--if I can get the supplies--purses from covers)

Upcycled Books / Folded Dresses

On a roll here . . .

Folded Paper Dresses

from Upcycled Paper Back Books
...as taught to me in this video

 Instructions

 

 

 

Upcycling Paperback Books

It's no secret that I work at the Orem Public Library.
Nor is it unheard of to learn that I am a bit of a crafter.
Neither is a real stretch to find out that I'm a dedicated life-long learner.

What does it all mean?

At long last, it's Project Time

You see, recently, as part of my quest to learn and master all that I can, I have been planning and creating with my library co-workers. And yes, I would absolutely love to have a store in the library, a store like you've probably not seen before, a store that (among it's many myriad things) would sell items like these
 . . .

PAPER FLOWERS

from

UPCYCLED PAPERBACK BOOKS

 
Here is how to do it, step by (hopefully easy to understand) step:

 

 

  

p.s. Using Double-sided tape can be difficult. Ditto with trying various crafting tape runners. I use my Framer's Tape Gun and it works very well.

And in the end, you get a little something like this:

p.s. Use old colored edges for a hint of color!

Favorite Friday Find

I love my new bag! 

With the newspaper all sewn up inside clear plastic, I have a sturdy upcycled/recycled carry-all that works great for transporting my miscellaneous bits and baubles to and from work.

Sweet!

Wish I could claim this as one of mine, but alas, I only found it--in the clearance section, no less--whoo hoo!