Etsy Holiday Boot Camp Pledge 09/24/2010
I, Kenna ( http://www.KennaKristine.com ), pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!
This is going to be a great holiday season! Thank you to all my fellow Etsians and SF Street Team members for your support.
This is going to be a great holiday season! Thank you to all my fellow Etsians and SF Street Team members for your support.
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How to Upcycled VHS Tape 09/23/2010
How To Upcycle Your Old VHS Tapes.
I am sure there are many of you out there. An old collection of VHS Tapes in the garage and no Idea what to do with them. This past week I have been coming up with some crafty solutions. See what you think and let me know some of your ideas as well.
What to do if you don’t want to craft with them?...
Donate
-Your Local Library: If your local Library still provides VHS to check out, see if they would take a donation. Some Library's have more than they want and are not accepting any more.
-Your Local Retirement Community: Some retirement community's have small library's of VHS tapes for their residents to check out. See if your local retirement community has one of these library's and is collecting VHS tape donations.
-Freecycle: Freecycle is an online community with chapters in each city. “The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,864 groups with 7,603,875 members around the world. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free.” -Freecycle website
I have gotten some great stuff of of this site. It is a lot more work than just running to the store but it is free, and you are helping keep good stuff out of landfills. Check it out.
Now on to creating...
So far I have just been able to come up with a few projects using the tape from the inside of the VHS tape. Getting the tape out is an easy process. Simply unscrew the plastic case and you are in. You will find inside two reels of tape and some small metal and plastic pieces.
I am sure there are many of you out there. An old collection of VHS Tapes in the garage and no Idea what to do with them. This past week I have been coming up with some crafty solutions. See what you think and let me know some of your ideas as well.
What to do if you don’t want to craft with them?...
Donate
-Your Local Library: If your local Library still provides VHS to check out, see if they would take a donation. Some Library's have more than they want and are not accepting any more.
-Your Local Retirement Community: Some retirement community's have small library's of VHS tapes for their residents to check out. See if your local retirement community has one of these library's and is collecting VHS tape donations.
-Freecycle: Freecycle is an online community with chapters in each city. “The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,864 groups with 7,603,875 members around the world. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free.” -Freecycle website
I have gotten some great stuff of of this site. It is a lot more work than just running to the store but it is free, and you are helping keep good stuff out of landfills. Check it out.
Now on to creating...
So far I have just been able to come up with a few projects using the tape from the inside of the VHS tape. Getting the tape out is an easy process. Simply unscrew the plastic case and you are in. You will find inside two reels of tape and some small metal and plastic pieces.
Ribbon
The VHS tape acts in the same way as gift wrap ribbon dose. You can curl it, tie it, you might even be able to shred it (I don’t have the tool for this so I am not sure if it can be done). So, for all those uncles out there still wrapping gifts with the funny section of the newspaper, take it one step further, and add a bow made of VHS tape. Don’t forget to curl the ends.
You could also use the curlled VHS ribbon to make cute hair ties for 80’s party's or as a child's birthday party craft project. Add glitter and rhinestones to make the bow extra special.
You can also use VHS tape as a filler for gift baskets or packing material. Maybe for a birthday that falls around Halloween or an “over the hill” party. You could even spread the curls out over the table in between serving platters, or hang them from the walls for a creepy affect.
note: when you curl the ribbon, use very light pressure. The VHS ribbon curls much easyer than tradition ribbon. The more pressure you use the tighter the curls.
The possibility's are endless.
The VHS tape acts in the same way as gift wrap ribbon dose. You can curl it, tie it, you might even be able to shred it (I don’t have the tool for this so I am not sure if it can be done). So, for all those uncles out there still wrapping gifts with the funny section of the newspaper, take it one step further, and add a bow made of VHS tape. Don’t forget to curl the ends.
You could also use the curlled VHS ribbon to make cute hair ties for 80’s party's or as a child's birthday party craft project. Add glitter and rhinestones to make the bow extra special.
You can also use VHS tape as a filler for gift baskets or packing material. Maybe for a birthday that falls around Halloween or an “over the hill” party. You could even spread the curls out over the table in between serving platters, or hang them from the walls for a creepy affect.
note: when you curl the ribbon, use very light pressure. The VHS ribbon curls much easyer than tradition ribbon. The more pressure you use the tighter the curls.
The possibility's are endless.
Jewelry
Think braided wrap leather bracelets. Any type of weave or braid you can do with leather you can to with VHS tape. Simply stretch the VHS tape before you begin your project. This makes the tape thinner stronger and gives your finished project a cleaner look. Add charms and clasps and you have a beautiful bracelet no one would know was made from VHS tape.
note: I recommend wearing gloves while braiding the tape. The friction between the tape and you skin can leave burns on your fingers.
Cat Toy
While figuring out what to do with this stuff I noticed my cats love to play with the stretched VHS tape. Cut several arm length pieces, stretch those, then wrap them all together with an additional piece of stretched VHS tape. The key is to leave little un-stretched pieces at the end these act like little shiny lures that grab you kitty's attention. This could be an upcycled alternative to a stick with feathers at the end.
Here is a list of other crafter's doing amazing things with VHS tape.
VHS Tape Wreath
VHS Tape Flowers
If you would like any of these projects to be shown in the form a tutorial, Let me know and I will post the instructions to my blog.
Now I have all these empty plastic VHS tapes. If you know what to do with them let me know.
Think braided wrap leather bracelets. Any type of weave or braid you can do with leather you can to with VHS tape. Simply stretch the VHS tape before you begin your project. This makes the tape thinner stronger and gives your finished project a cleaner look. Add charms and clasps and you have a beautiful bracelet no one would know was made from VHS tape.
note: I recommend wearing gloves while braiding the tape. The friction between the tape and you skin can leave burns on your fingers.
Cat Toy
While figuring out what to do with this stuff I noticed my cats love to play with the stretched VHS tape. Cut several arm length pieces, stretch those, then wrap them all together with an additional piece of stretched VHS tape. The key is to leave little un-stretched pieces at the end these act like little shiny lures that grab you kitty's attention. This could be an upcycled alternative to a stick with feathers at the end.
Here is a list of other crafter's doing amazing things with VHS tape.
VHS Tape Wreath
VHS Tape Flowers
If you would like any of these projects to be shown in the form a tutorial, Let me know and I will post the instructions to my blog.
Now I have all these empty plastic VHS tapes. If you know what to do with them let me know.
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