"3 R's Living Green Seminar" Mini Style

How fun was it?  Very!  These ladies were so kind and supportive to attend the Camelot Park Ladies Night at my house in January.  Up until then we had gathered monthly for Bunco and the annual Christmas ornament exchange.  How many would be interested in learning how to brew a batch of Williams-Sonoma Signature 'store scent' or investigate how to reuse and refashion some common household recyclables? 

Thanks, Candy, for snapping this photo!  I think the smiles say it all. (Missing Valerie and Candy T.)

Here is a list of some of the things I demonstrated after our social hour:

1. Williams-Sonoma signature store scent on the stove top (with a take-away jar of the magical elixir for all who attended the evening's festivities)

2. How to upcycle cardboard boxes and plastic fruit/veggie baskets into gift boxes

3. Make your own refill for that hand soap foam pump

4. Refashioning a simple tin can into a whimsical container for holding smaller gifts

5. Turning junk mail envelopes and food carton cardboard into altered note books and note pads

6. Steeping citrus rinds with vinegar to make a DIY veggie and fruit cleaning spray

7. Converting 'salt tops' and 'milk container spouts' into 'easy pour' jars

Every time I share ideas with others, I learn, too.  Comments from several of these women lead to creative discussion and idea sharing.  After Debbie asked me if they could add essential oils to unscented Castile liquid soap to make the foam soap refills, I got to thinking what a grand suggestion this was.  And when talking about making 'fire starters' from cardboard egg cartons, dryer lint and paraffin wax, Candy G. commented that their family used toilet paper tubes stuffed with dryer lint and they work great.  I love it when people get together and bring something fun and new to the table.

And perhaps some of the best feedback ever was receiving these two photographs after our Ladies Night.  Connie shared this only one night later, saying she needed to wrap a gift for a friend's birthday and looked to her 'recycle bin' for ideas.

Such pretty coasters getting the full-on tissue paper/plastic fruit carton treatment.  Whoohoo!

And Candy T. shared this tip with her hubby, Ralph.  Good job, Candy and Ralph!  Isn't this the perfect foil to keeping those chia seeds under control while pouring?  I love it!  So proud!

  

Getting excited about the 3R's Living Green Seminar

It's so exciting!  I've been invited back to Alabama to give another of my workshops.  Thank you, Linda, for thinking that what I have to share is worthy of another platform (and thank you, Jan and James, for offering Casa Lisenby for my stay in your fair city).  This time the seminar will be hosted by the Wiregrass Master Gardeners in Dothan, Alabama.  The date and place are being negotiated this week and when it's all firmed up I will share with you here.  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, check in with me when time allows as I will be posting some ideas for upcycling and refashioning of some ordinary household containers.  This is what I do.  (She can't help herself.)

Part of my daily diet includes salads.  I have a magnet on my refrigerator that reads:  The Salad is the Main Dish! And since I have no luck with growing my own tomatoes (not enough full sun in my yard), I buy a lot of canned tomatoes (no salt added).  I also eat a lot of canned pineapple, I use canned tomato sauce and tomato paste and canned mushrooms.  And occasionally, when I haven't made time to cook beans in my crock pot, I buy canned black, pinto, kidney, navy and garbanzo beans.  Are you seeing the recurring theme here?  If not, it will soon become obvious. It's about cans and ending up with a plethora of them.

We could talk about my options and how to reduce the number of products I purchase in cans. Or, we can get creative and think of lovely ways to reuse this strong and versatile material.  Today I choose B.  I'm a Libra, what can I say?

Here's what I came up with and I've got lots more cans where these came from. Looks like a door prize for someone who attends the 3R's Living Green Seminar! Maybe we'll call out your number!

Plant your favorite seasonal flower in the top can (punch holes in the bottom for good drainage, using a nail and hammer). The decorated bottom can is the 'saucer' drain pan can. I punched holes on each side of the bottom can to attach a wire hanger so it's easily transported. I'm already thinking of giving this as a little gift to a sweet neighbor who is always doing kind things for others. Donna makes our neighborhood a better place to live, just by her presence in it!  

I got fancy with metal tin snips and curled back strips of the bottom can for more 'fru-fru' and 'ooh-aah' power.  Caution here!  This makes the cut edges sharp.  Decorate your cans any which way that makes you happy.  I painted some gesso on the bottom can, as a primer so the paper and adhesive would stick better. These also look great without any adornment or just one simple ribbon tied around the base of the can or the wire handle.  The plant and flowers are the 'stand outs' here.

Refashion a can.  Plant a flower in it.  Give it away.  Make someone happy.