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As you may know from
reading my other reviews, I'm a big fan of the craft books published by
Leisure Arts. I especially enjoy the books in the Gifts
of Good Taste series and those in the Trash to Treasure series.
This book is a part of the Trash to
Treasure series. Published in 2000, it is filled with
innovative ways to use items commonly found around your
home, like boxes, bags, cans, bottles, old greeting cards, odd socks and more.
As with all
publications in the series, these books are very easy to use, even for the
beginning crafter. They include large photos of each project,
a complete material list and detailed, step-by-step
instructions. The photos are so enticing that you will want to start
crafting as soon as you have perused the book!
The book is divided
into these chapters:
Can-Do Crafts
Brown Bagging It
Spin the Bottle
Card Tricks
Simply
“Sock-Sational
All Boxed
Up
Patterns
General
Instructions
Can-Do Crafts
This
section includes
22 projects utilizing cardboard, aluminum and metal cans of various
sizes. You will find directions for
making an umbrella stand from three large coffee cans, an
antiqued flower curtain tieback made from aluminum beverage cans, an
adorable art supply holder (that looks like a large crayon) made from
chip canister, a lamp
that looks like a lighthouse made from powdered cocoa canisters and a a tot-sized
foot stool made from 46 oz. juice cans.
Brown Bagging It
This
section shows eight clever ways to use ordinary paper grocery and lunch
bags. My favorites include an 'antique' album that looks like old
leather, the whimsical gift labels, and the ‘play backpack” for toting
small treasures.
Spin the Bottle
In
this chapter you will discover how to reclaim gallon sized plastic bottles, glass soda pop
bottles, juice containers and more.
Some of the projects include a spoon caddy that looks like a
chicken (from a gallon bleach bottle); a treat holder that looks like an
apple (made from two-liter plastic soda bottles); and patio lanterns
from from single serving beverage bottles. I
learned how to use my stash of seashells and a plastic soda bottle to
make a lamp for my family room. The playful “recycling Queen” would be an adorable centerpiece for
the birthday party of an ecology-minded friend or family member!
This section includes nine projects.
Card Tricks
Don't
throw out those old greeting cards! Instead, check out this
chapter, which includes 16 projects built around greeting cards.
Use them to embellish soaps, create bookmarks, fashion decoupage dinnerware,
decorate your lampshades, or make sachets. Check out
the unique phone directory made with old shutters and motifs cut from
old greeting cards; it's one of the neatest projects in the book!
Simply
Sock-sational
Do
you have
a collection of orphan socks that never seem to find their mate?
Instead of tossing them, turn them into dolls, beaded ponytail holders,
a hobby horse, or a tiny purse. Or use them to create a fun-loving
'doggie' window treatment for your child's room. This chapter shows you
14 different ways to use those odd socks.
All Boxed Up
Paper
and cardboard boxes are definitely one of the most versatile craft
supplies, and this final chapter proves it. Inside you will find
26 imaginative uses for those boxes, including children's toys and
games, a curio shelf, nightstand storage boxes, bulletin boards, a
clock, and accessories organizers. My favorite projects include a
house-shaped key keeper made from a cigar box, a headboard made from
fabric bolt cylinders and a large cardboard box, and a child's activity
center fashioned from a
computer box (complete with pockets for holding favorite stuffed toys,
balls, dolls and more). There's even a wonderful frontier
fortress that will fascinate your special preschooler!
Patterns
The
back of the book includes 22 pages of
patterns that can be used to make the projects. The
patterns are simple line drawings, making them easy to trace, photocopy
or scan into your computer.
General
Instructions
All
of the books in the Trash to Treasure series include this
four-page section. It gives you more detailed directions on creating
some of the special effects in the book. In it, you will learn how
to dye fabric with coffee and tea, make appliques, select the correct
glues and adhesives, cover a book and a lampshade, and embroider basic
stitches.
My
overall thoughts on the book
If
you like to transform discarded boxes, cans and bottles into beautiful
new home accessories and gifts, I highly recommend this book. You will
pick up some very clever ideas in Trash to Treasure 2000!
For more information
or to purchase this book, click below:
 
Trash to Treasure, Vol. 5
Click
here
for a review on another book in the Trash to Treasure
series. If you are looking for more ways to use old greeting cards,
click here.
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