Trashy Wallet Project

Here is a fun project that turns an old paperback into a wallet.

I don't usually suggest ideas that involve tearing up books but in this case, it seems the cheaper the book, the better the look. Try a bargain bin somewhere or local charity shop for a trashy novel with an interesting cover.

Also, it seems to be easily transferable to other paper media like magazines or prints so it doesn't have to be books, that's if you feel the way I do about ripping them up.

Trashy Novel Wallets

Image: ReFabulous

Bookmark Project

Whenever I'm reading a book I tend to use whatever is the nearest 'paper-like' object around as my bookmark.

I've used photos, bus tickets, shopping receipts, my driving licence, sweet wrappers, newspaper clippings, foreign currency, a piece of tree bark, an actual book (although it was slim) and once, strangely, an unfried slice of bacon.

The problem is, when I finish a book, I often forget to transfer the bookmark that I've been using and so over the years, I've  misplaced many of my cherished photos and lost my driving licence on more than one occasion. I know I could 'just bend the page' but I'm just not that kind of person.

Then I saw this wonderful idea over on d.Sharp journal about making your own bookmark from an old envelope.

Image: d.Sharp journal

There are plenty of ideas out there to recycle old envelopes (and I've probably even used a few as bookmarks) but this is such a clever idea.

Simply cut the corner off an old envelope that you were going to throw in the recycling bin anyway.

Image: d.Sharp journal

Then slip it onto the corner of the page.

Image: d.Sharp journal

If you happen to be one of the those people who give books as gifts, you could make a personalised one and scribble a little note on it about why you love that book.

It's a nice little fun idea that couldn't be simpler and I'm pretty sure they would prefer to use it as opposed to a slice of unfried bacon.

Back to School Project

Well it's that time of year again. The kids are back in school.

Image: littlepinkstudio

What does that mean?

For some, it's an exciting time as their kids go off to school for the first time. For others it's a chance for their kids to be reunited with their friends. It can mean new clothes, new teachers and lots of stories about summer holidays.

But for the seasoned parent, back to school means hours and hours of covering your child's school books with leftover wallpaper from your home. It's funny how we all knew what someones house looked like having never stepped through the front door?

But you can use anything really.
How about a brown paper bag?

Over on WikiHow there is a series of instructions on the 'how to'.
I'm not going to tell you 'how' to cover a book...Lets face it, I'm sure you know how to do that

I'm just suggesting options.

While you are on WikiHow, check out the article on covering schoolbooks with biodegradeable material.

Instead of using plastic products, think about covering your school books in biodegradable material.
This could mean magazines, comic books, old menus, scraps of wrapping paper, old calenders or how about an old map?

And it wasn't just the books we covered. Every one of us covered our bags in band names and badges, doodles and scribbles. A collage of coolness (or so we thought!)

If you are collecting old magazines to cover books, think about creating a collage of images on your books.
I covered my copybooks with images cut from movie magazines. From Frankenstein to Marlon Brando.

Alternatively, don't cover your books. Just take care of them.
Over one million used college and school books are not re-used in Ireland every year. Log onto schoolbookexchange to sell/ buy or donate school books.

As I'm on the subject, jump over to planetgreen for some great green tips for going back to school.

Image: planetgreen