Contrariwise ramblings

Once again it's my weekly download. A collection of wonderful stuff I found on the web this past week.

Crafts, Tutorials...

How to make CD cases from paper
If you're like me, you have tons of CDs lying around, littering the desk and in drawers. The kids use them for school, we have CDs that we burn stuff on, and then the sprinkling of audio CDs. (Mom still buys those, although they're like dinosaurs, doomed to eventual extinction.) Most of them without any covers. I've bought cute little plastic covers, but I run out of them quickly. Plus they're p-l-a-s-t-i-c.

Well, here's a way of keeping our CDs unscratched, giving ourselves an opportunity to use our creativity, and staying GREEN, all at the same time!

You can EASILY make your own CD covers with paper!
How To Make A CD Cover Using A4 Paper - The top video clips of the week are here

I mean, how simple is this and why haven't I thought of it before!

You can add personal touches and your creativity to them. For example, design, print or xerox any arty label you want... glue them on - or use rubber stamps, silkscreen, linoluem cut print... whatever.

You can also use different paper - scrapbooking papers, pieces of wallpaper, handouts you received in class (or work) that you would otherwise throw away.

Marlie's Creative Universe suggests using magazine ads. These create a really nice graphic look. Plus it's a really good re-use of something on hand, that would either be going to recycling or possibly -gasp!- the trash.

Additional info on how to make them is here.

Empty House makes his out of brown paper lunchbags. They're even easier to make than those from sheets of paper and I really like the almost industrial look. They have a lot of potential for personalization, too.


If you want to print the contents of the CD on the cover, you can use this website to create a PDF file which can be printed on a regular piece of paper, then folded to create a paper CD case.










How to bind your own books

Binding books can seem intimidating because it usually requires specialized tools and costly supplies. But Craftynest has a tutorial that's an easy and inexpensive way to bind books—and it requires minimal specialized tools. Plus you can make these books any size you want and the supplies are recycled things from around the house, cereal boxes and scraps of paper.

What can you do with them? Write notes, jot down ideas for crafting, or give them as gifts.

I even found a site that had instructions on how to turn an e-book into a paperback-sized book! With a little creativity you can create books with glossy color covers that are hard to distinguish from a store-bought books.

There are lots of websites that have books in the public domain that can be downloaded for free! (For one, try Project Gutenberg .) Download one of these and bind with a special cover - what a fun gift that could be!

You don't just have to limit yourself to printing e-books. If you have a manuscript you have written, it is easy to set the page formatting in your word processor and print our your own book.



...And More!
Fingerprint Wedding bands

Jeweler Andrew English has designed wedding bands which are hand-engraved with the fingerprint of the partner so that they're completely unique to each couple. They're only available by commission and come in 9, 14 and 18ct white/yellow/rose gold and platinum.

The bands are available in a number of styles with the fingerprint hand-engraved on either the inside or outside of the band. (Somehow I just find the idea of having your partner's fingerprint engraved on the inside of the wedding band terribly romantic and beautifully understated.)



Taking your obsession for cake making to the next higher level

All you see below are cakes that can be eaten without any part of it left. No plastics or any other artificial stuff is being used - everything is eatable. All this cakes by Zhanna from St. Petersburg.I just chose a few examples. For more incredible cakes, go here.

I have to admit, I’m a little disturbed by this last cake with beer, fish and newspapers in the decoration. I'm just hopin the frosting fish still doesn't tastes like what it looks like.

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Crafts, Tutorials....

DIY Shrinky Dinks

I was a deprived child and never had Shrinky Dinks to play with. (Too dangerous. I might have blown myself up with the gas oven. )

So I was really excited when I found a tutorial by Claire from Poopscape on how to make shrinky dinks from #6 plastic disposable containers you get at grocery stores. What a great way of recycling them!

Starting with plastic boxes from strawberries....


....you cut out shapes and sand them lightly...

then pop them into the oven to create cute litle bits like this.

I think I need to make myself a shrinky dinks bracelet! All the details on how to make them are at her site: Clicky clicky.
(BTW, she also has an awesome Etsy shop, TyrannyOfTheHandbags. Check it out.)

...And More!

Definite proof that brocolli is evil

(Did we really need proof? I say that all brocolli in the country should be drowned - preferably in cheese sauce.)

It looks like an innocent box of frozen brocolli, right?

But just take a closer look:

What the...????

AWK! LITTLE TERRIFYING ECSTATIC FACES, HIDING IN THE TEENY TINY BROCCOLI BITS.

via

Things that amuse me: internal organs made of knit fabrics

I found these interesting...uh....works of art on a German website. I don't know anything about them since I don't read German, but thought that they wouldn't look out of place on Etsy.

They're almost, but not nearly as good as the knitted and dissected frog.

via

And now, presented for your approval, THE SLINKY CAT

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And, once again, here's my regular Friday feature.
Crafts, Tutorials....

Gradient Button Necklace

I think these are the classiest button necklaces I've ever seen. I found

the tutorial at Craftlog.

Materials

• buttons of varying sizes
• embroidery thread
• chain if desired

Instructions

• Arrange the buttons in order of size.
• Match buttons of the same size to make it symmetric.
• Cut a 2 foot length of contrasting or matching embroidery thread as desired.
• Stagger buttons with one layer on the bottom and another layer on top.
• Thread through the buttons, alternating top and bottom.
• Arrange the buttons along the thread until they are distributed in a nice silhouette.
• Knot the thread at each end to keep the buttons from slipping.
• Cut off excess thread and tuck ends under.

Necklace can be worn as is by tying the embroidery thread around neck
Lengths of chain can also be tied to each side of the necklace if desired.

Advent Calendar

Bubbly funk has instructions on how to make this advent calendar using old matchboxes!

It's incredibly clever and I think it has many other uses.

For example, I'm sure my daughter would love one of these, in pink, to hold her jewelry.

And what can you do with those ubiquitous styrofoam peanuts?

This interesting diy idea comes from mollie dash and her boyfriend, Bryan. Bryan decided to make this chandelier from packing peanuts- something some of us accumulate more often than we’d like.

Rather than throw them away (only if they’re non-recyclable, of course), why not turn them into something like this?

Click here for the instructions

.....And More!!!

How much is your blog worth.
Dane Carlson from Business Opportunities Weblog created this little applet which computes and displays your blog's worth based on Tristan Louis's research into the value of each link to Weblogs Inc.

???

!!!!

All I have to say is, "Do I have any takers?"

Click here to see how much your blog is worth.

And now, because I have nothing else to show you, here is a kitten in a box

via

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Crafts, Tutorials...
Blade Runner
I found this great idea from Ready Made.

Instead of buying an expensive knife holder, you can make a really cool one from recycled or renewable source materials. Easy, useful, and rather elegant, too!


Diretions
1. Drink all the liquid out of a 2 liter bottle or pull one out of your trash.
2. Clean and dry said bottle.
3. Remove the bottle’s label.
4. Using a utility knife, cut off the top of the bottle of so that it now measures 10 1/2” tall.
5. Fill the bottle’s bottom with about two cups of salt, sugar, or sand.
6. Start packing the bamboo skewers (sharp ends down) until the bottle is full and tight.
7. Gently stab your finest chef’s knives into the bamboo.




Or if you'd prefer, you can buy a similar model from Martin Robitsch, of Austria for only $125!

Do it yourself Wedding (and other) invitations.

They're definitely cheaper than professional printers, but some still seem pretty pricy to me.

Well , at least here's one invitation we better not need for her. -------->

Wedding fanatic has a video that shows you how to make really inexpensive invitations and provides a free template too! It can easily be modified to be used for other occasions. (You should check out her blog. It's not just full of amazing tips but it's also just a feast for the eyes.

...and more!!!

http://view.break.com/591376 - Watch more free videos

And now from the Contrariwise homefront:
A kitchen peeler, potatoes, and a 13 year old girl. What do you get?

Crafts, Tutorials...
There was an amazing response from last week's recycling/green tutorial on repurposing trash bags into useful items like totebags or throw rugs. So I thought I would focus on a couple more GREEN tutorials this week.

Autumn Bouquet made from Maple Leaves

I think it's close to the peak for the fall foliage season, so this craft is very timely. Doesn't this look amazing.

I've summarized the instructions below. Yes, there's a lot of steps, but they're really easy to follow and you won't even need the instructions after your 1st couple of roses. (Just remember to use leaves that are not too dry.)






via

Don't you think single or small groups of roses would look great incorporated into a fall wreath.


Fairy Lights

These lights are made from recycled cardboard cups. They can be enhanced with feathers, paper, cardboard cones or...egg carton cups! You can hang your fairy lights in a dark area, over a mirror or above a bed for a cozy, warm effect.


They're made from egg cartons - which are made from recycled paper already! For the entire tutorial, visit Esprit Cabane.


....And more

How Many of Me?

I think this is absolutely fascinating. To find out how many people have your name, click here.

(I found out that there are only 94 people in the US with the same exact name as mine.)

Some suggestions based upon what other people are searching for:

Your name: The first suggestion is right in the site name. How many people have your name?
Relatives: Search through your family tree. Search the names of your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or anyone else related to you.
Nicknames: Does your name not have many (or any) results? If you're using a shortened form of your name (like Will, or Bill), you may get fewer results than you expect. Try using your full name (such as William).
Baby Names: Is little Junior on the way and you want to make sure he (or she) isn't stuck with the same name as 5 other kids when he gets to preschool? Try the names out here, see how many results you get.


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When wedding vows go horribly wrong
I don't need to say anything. Just watch the video.

Crafts, Tutorials.....

Green Living
Save the planet one day at a time - All you need is a crochet hook

OK, you know the pile of plastic grocery and shopping bags that we all accumulate? (Ever wonder if they actually start breeding after a while? I do.) Here is just the cleverist project for making tote bags from recycled plastic bags:

via
(I have got to try this. It is just too stinkin' cute not to at least give it a try. )

Don't have enough plastic bags? Most grocery and department stores have collection bins for used grocery bags. Don't be shy. This is a great way to increase your color stock of plastic bags.

Also, these sites have got tons of ideas of what else you can do with plastic bags:
Crochet a beach bag
Plastic bag handbag
Throw rug instructions
Another plastic bag rug
Plastic knit tote bag
Plastic Bag Raincoat - clever stuff!
Crochet a Recycled Clothes Pin Bag
Recycled Plastic Bag Purse
Pot Scrubber Crocheted from Plastic Bags
Dog Leash from Braided Plastic BagsMessenger bag (video)
Water bottle holder
Making plastic beads and wallets
Plastic bag sandals -

The above links are via Green Living Tips

Project Alphabet
PROJECTalphabet™ lets you make your own calendars, alphabet and counting books with digital pictures, then print them out yourself.

And it's all FREE. So make one for your kid, class, dog, town or family vacation.

Here's how it works:

Check out this page of cute examples of alphabets and counting books. One that I thought would make a special gift is a bridal ABC. A lot of thought and effort went to make it.

via




....And More!

Dust Bunnies

I have enough dust bunnies. Here, take this one that I found under the bed:
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9 Amazingly Simple Home DIY Solutions

1. If you’re choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. presto! the blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. then you’ll be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life - wd-40 and duct tape. if it doesn’t move and should, use the wd-40. if it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember - everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

9. If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.



Think you work hard to make your family a nutricious meal?

You got nuthin'.

Japanese women spend a good part of their mornings preparing box lunches, called obento, for their families – there is even a sense of competition among mothers to see who can produce the most cute, appetizing, and healthy lunch for their children. Here are among the most amazing obento lunches I've ever seen:

Crafts, Tutorials...
I'm back blogging, and it's Friday again! Whoo hoo! The weekend is just about to start and I get to post my collection of links I found this week. Lets begin with...

Candle and Soap Making Techniques: Water Balloon Luminaries

Aren't these wonderful! All you need are balloons, high-melt paraffin Wax, candle dye, a double boiler, and a cookie sheet. The instructions from Peak Candle Supplies are super easy.

They look like they would be a lot of fun to make, especially with slighly older children as I would be concerned about the hot wax with little kids around.



I think white or red ones would be especially great around the holidays - inside the house or outside, lining a driveway.

Fall craft project for kids: Fleece Scarves