Tea Strainers into Unique Looking Mini-Lamps

On: Thursday, February 23, 2012

If you love experimenting with lightning, you should be definitely checking out our previous projects, like this dictionary lamp, beer can lamp, decanters lamps and many others!

Today's new idea is the solid one to add to the arsenal: tea strainer lamp create some unique light play and also look really trendy! Something to surprise your guests with! They could also create a cool interior decor element too!

Tea Strainers lamps

Old Toys into a Cool Chair

On: Friday, February 17, 2012

I have a three-year old daughter and her toys are everyone: on and under the bed, on almost all shelves in the wardrobe, in the attic, all around the floor (especially each evening). She doesn't play with most old ones but still doesn't want them to go.

When I stumbled upon this cool Hello Kitty chair on Flickr, I thought "Would she love that chair?" What are your thoughts?

Old Toys into a Cool Chair

More Awesome Ways to Upcycle Junk into Bird Houses

On: Monday, February 13, 2012

Kids love crafts and making stuff with them is also a valuable time you spend together with your dearest.

We  featured a few cool upcycled bird houses last year but here are a few more awesome ideas to get you inspired for this spring!

Here's a long instruction on turning a plastic bottle into a very pretty bird house:

plastic bird house 

Here's another one that involves more painting:

Cute plastic bird house 

Here's a bird feeder made of recycled milk carton:

recycled milk carton bird house

And even more milk (or juice) carton bird houses here:

Recycled bird houses

Good luck! have fun with your kids and get prepared for spring!

By Annie, author of these kids' party ideas.

Yes, Sometimes Crafting is Tough

On: Sunday, February 12, 2012

This is not to discourage you from crafting. This is just for you to know that crafting is tough. Sometimes it will take you quite some time and effort to create something awesome, but it will always be fun!

DIY fun

A Mason Jar + a Shelf = "Fresh Cut Flower" Shelf

On: Monday, January 16, 2012

A Mason Jar Fresh Cut Flower Shelf

We love having lots fresh herbs, plants and flowers at home. They freshen up our interior and make us feel comfortable and uplifted.

We have already shared a few unique upcycling ideas on indoor plants: here's a cool upside-down planting hack and here's an awesome light bulb mini-greenhouse.

Today we share another cool idea: "Fresh Cut Flower" Shelf. Here's a detailed instruction to print out.

It is a great way to turn your boring wooden shelf into something unique and fun!

Enjoy!

A Mason Jar Fresh Cut Flower Shelf

Three of the Strangest Things Inspired By... Printer Ink Cartridges

On: Saturday, December 17, 2011

Note from editor: we have had one fun idea on reusing cartridges into a lamp. Now here a few more of creative examples of getting inspired with cartridges!

Almost everyone uses printer ink cartridges all the time, whether you’re at the office, at home, or constructing an elaborate set-up of dominos for your Rube Goldberg machine and ran out halfway through. In fact, they’re so omnipresent they almost seem invisible. I know I barely register them, even as I’m tossing out the old ones and slotting the new ones home.

Some people see differently though. Very differently. These three strange and wonderful things, in no particular order, are a tribute to that creative impulse that drives those strange and wonderful people to make things like...

Cartridge Lamps And Lightboxes

Used Ink Cartridge Lamps

Since some bright spark noticed that ink cartridges are translucent, images of these fun and creative decorations have suffused the internet. The wide range of bright colours that adorn the fronts of ink cartridges makes them pretty handy for home decorating, but what really sells them is how eco-friendly they are. Not only does the maker recycle old printer ink cartridges to make the lamps and lightboxes, but they also use very energy-efficient bulbs to generate the light.

Etsy is well-known for the, ahem, quirky charm of many of its products, so it’s not much of a surprise that the website that inspired the comedic parody site Regretsy.com is responsible for these crafty little designs. What is surprising is how genuinely appealing the things look, although some might baulk at the price and decide they’d rather make some themselves.

What happened next?

The people behind boxlightbox on Etsy have since moved their online store to Lowell and Louise, but are staying on Etsy for now. Although their store is empty at the time of writing, it looks as though we might see more from them in the near future.

A Metalcore Band

Ink Cartridge Funeral

Yep, you heard right. Metalcore. The heavy metal sub-genre of metalcore has been deeply fashionable with a certain type of metal fan (the younger ones) for a few years now, and is distinguished from other metal genres by its melding of metal, hardcore punk, and post-hardcore influences.

The band certainly ticked all the right metalcore boxes, with quirkily aggressive song titles such as If Your Laugh Was Your Life, I’d Hate To Have Your Life, depressing and self-conscious song lyrics, and a promising deal with a record label. However, with a name like Ink Cartridge Funeral, you have to wonder if these guys were ever bound for success.

Their album is now out of print, but you can still listen to their tunes on last.fm and on their MySpace page.

Ink Cartridge Funeral didn’t use ink cartridges as inspiration for any of their songs – at least, not explicitly or directly – but their name will last forever as a footnote in the twinned histories of weird metalcore band names, and ink cartridges.

What happened next?

If your interest in Ink Cartridge Funeral and their music was piqued by any of those links, don’t worry – three of their members continue to play in internationally-touring post-hardcore band Silent Drive.

Sci-Fi Art

Sci-Fi Art
Sci-Fi Art

Printer ink cartridges already have a certain amount of geek credibility. When boxlightbox first posted their lamps on Etsy, it was the geeky tech blogs that were first to leap on the news. Artist Faith Pearson seized on this geek cred and took it up to eleven; she re-created a series of iconic sci-fi and pop cultural figures and landmarks using printer ink cartridges as her material.

Faith recreated scenes and props from such classics as Star Trek, Godzilla and King Kong. She also recreated a night out at the theatre, but don't worry; geeky superhero movie Kick Ass (more like ass kick) is playing on the screen, and the audience is made up of such comic book luminaries as the Incredible Hulk, the Joker, Penguin and oft-derided superhero Aquaman.

What happened next?

Faith Pearson lives in Birmingham, England, where among other things she helps kids to make toy theatres and giant dinosaurs. Whether this is a wise course of action is unknown – it depends, of course, on the type of dinosaur being created – but it is certainly a very cool course of action.

Patrick Robson is a freelance journalist and regular blogger. Patrick blogs for Cartridge Shop, an online provider of a wide range of printer cartridges from respected brands, such as Canon ink.

Wine Corks into the Bulletin Board

On: Sunday, August 21, 2011

If I ever knew you could do so many useful and awesome things using wine corks, I would have never thrown away a single one!

Today's idea is fun and useful: create a Bulletin Board for your in-family communication or for your to-do list using wine corks!

You will need is glue, canvas to keep the whole thing today and about 40 wine corks! Super easy DIY!

Wine Corks into the Bulletin Board

Here are more fun DIY ideas with wine corks:  bath mat out of wine corks, wine cork serving tray, wine bottle corks armchair as well as one of these 3 eco-friendly DIY Christmas wreaths. Also, read about being an eco-friendly parent here. Get greener and more creative!