Junk Makeover

We're moving all contents to a new site If you've come here through an old bookmark, please update accordingly. Looking forward to seeing you at the new  URL   😊   😘 Walking through the Lunar New Year decorations in the shopping mall yesterday, reminded me that we'll need to get hold of some Ang Pow packets (little red envelopes for new year money). We usually get them free with purchase from departmental stores and supermarkets, but you'll often end up with too many or too few of certain designs/sizes. I'm not entirely keen on making unnecessary purchases just for those red packets, let alone advertising for corporations who are already making money out of us. That's when these pretty backing papers springs to mind. I thought their fancy floral patterns and festive colours would definitely make great material for some DIY Ang Pow packets. After a few hours on a quiet Saturday mid morning (with a few TV programmes and cups of tea thrown in), I...

We're moving all contents to a new site If you've come here through an old bookmark, please update accordingly. Looking forward to seeing you at the new  URL   😊   😘 Open in new tab or window to view larger image. Angel with smiley face drawn on cut out cardboard It is small - under 6', and made out of used egg crates held up by rustic wood! Hanging on the tree are little angels with wings made from fan-fold recycled paper (old magazine pages, used wrapping paper, etc) and halos made from twist tie wires (probably from bread packaging), and smiley faces drawn on cut out cardboard! It is not grand like most of the big shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya, but it doesn't look pathetic like many either. And I think that the artists have put great effort in the thinking process and execution to keep consumption to the minimum and still came up with something this lovey. Whoever did this, well done!

We're moving all contents to a new site If you've come here through an old bookmark, please update accordingly. Looking forward to seeing you at the new  URL   😊   😘 I have just made 8 Christmas cards (one of them already sealed in the envelope) to send to our family and friends - exactly 8 families. They are all made according to whatever I can find in my craft box: old felt I collected from God-knows-where, pretty pictures cut out from old magazines, old greeting cards, old mince pies boxes, tissue wrapping paper saved from packaging, sequins from old bag/shoe trimmings, etc. So you can see that they all look completely different - absolutely no homogenisation! The only NEW stuff I have used - really - are the envelopes. At least these cards will be appreciated more when received, as they contained real effort and love put into the card making process.

We're moving all contents to a new site If you've come here through an old bookmark, please update accordingly. Looking forward to seeing you at the new  URL   😊   😘 The purple patterned wrapper in the foreground is from a Christmas present I received in 2008. The white tissue wrapper in the background came from a clothing packaging. The dark pink tissue wrapper underneath is from another gift I received some years ago (which will be used for wrapping the other present) . The gift cards are cut out from old birthday cards. The ribbons are taken from an old top I dismantled. Nothing is new here except for what's wrapped inside, which is the most important thing. But I think they still look quite sweet anyway.

We're moving all contents to a new site If you've come here through an old bookmark, please update accordingly.  Looking forward to seeing you at the new  Eco Christmas tree URL  😊 😘