Tag archive for ‘reuse’
Holiday Recycling – Shrinking the Mountain of Merry Waste
Out of bed at the crack of dawn, my brother and I would eagerly creep our way towards the living room where Santa had left his mark, the stockings were stuffed full and the space beneath the tree was piled high with presents. We were always astounded by the sight.
Santa’s gifts were almost always unwrapped [...]
Homemade Holidays – Easy Recycled Ornaments
As the holidays begin to descend upon us, the tiny person and I are very seriously focused on learning about traditions, honoring our own and creating some new ones this year.
We’re also working hard at keeping with the whole idea of creating more and consuming less. And that has lead to great projects in the last [...]
Green Learning – Reinvent by Reusing
Editor’s Note: Good afternoon. If you missed us this morning, you can check out Pauline Rae’s informative story on Montessori education HERE. Now we have Gayle Bates with some highly creative tips on reinventing old household items. Here she is:
Aaaah November – the month between the crazy consumption potential of Halloween and the even crazier [...]
Product Review – Local Cloth Sandwich Bags
Editor’s Note: If you are in some serious need of inspiration to leave the house today after a fabulously hot weekend jamming at MusicFest (I was so tired I went to bed at 8 p.m. last night), I have one – cheese, of the French kind.
Natural Pastures Cheese Co. is having its second cheese tour [...]
Foodie Crafts – Homemade Stickers
Editor’s Note: Good morning. Today is kind of chill in the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge universe. So, if you are thinking local, make some plans for a leisurely lunch or dinner at Anderton Bistro-Pub, The Great Escape, Bisque (I think we are headed that direction) or Locals.
A lovely meal is the [...]
Bambu Disposable Plates
Editor’s Note: Oh, Summer rains. They are so refreshing. While Mother Nature is giving us little cool down today, it’s the perfect time to hit two of the hottest event on the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge.
Natural Pastures Cheese Company kicks off its Featured Producer events with the first of its Taste The [...]
Summer Crafts – DIY Canada Day Magnets
Ah, Canada Day.
I love this country and give it a solid go every year when it comes to busting out the patriotic gear. But, getting the tiny person plugged in to something more than the candy from the Canada parade is, well, challenging.
She’s at the age of dis-interest – too young for a bigger history [...]
Green-e-ology – Thrifting is the New Pink
Some say junk collecting. Some say thrifting. Whatever it may be, I say bring it on. Bring on the super finds and the price tags that leave you feeling like a thief. Bring on the history and the uniqueness. Bring on the craftsmanship and the savings. Bring on the eco-goodness.
The whole wide world of thrift [...]
Eco Crafts – Egg Carton Shadow Boxes & Rock Gardens
So, I have to say that it’s a good thing that the only people who have been subjected to the condition of our house lately are my sweet friend Kathy and her family. While she might think “Oh my God, don’t touch anything!” and her lovely little girl did actually ask if she could help [...]
Earth Day Craft – Recycled Paper Bag Puppets
Editor’s Note: For the next few Tuesdays, we’ll be featuring art projects that you can come out and do with us at Earth Day events that Our Big Earth is taking part in.
Today’s project – recycled paper bag puppets – will be one of the fun projects your kids can try out when you head [...]
SPROUTS – Composting, Family-Style
Editor’s Note: Good Morning. SPROUTS gardening goddess Kendra Quince is here to kick off our Earth Month goodness with a quick lesson in composting.
While I’ve got you thinking gardening, this gives me the chance to announce some big news here at Our Big Earth.
On Monday morning (April 6), if you wake up bright and early [...]
Crafty Imagination – Cardboard Cameras
If there’s one thing our daughter could spot a mile away, it would be a camera lens. For the last 3.75 years, she’s had that thing in her face nearly non-stop without much complaint at all.
In fact, for most of that time, she barely noticed the thing constantly hanging around mommy’s neck. Unlike most kids [...]
Crafts for Boys – Marble Mech
Just call him the gadget man. If there is one thing Ken has always loved, it’s figuring something out. He’s not a guy who gets under the hood of a car or hides out in the garage building things. But, he digs figuring the science of things out – especially when it looks a little [...]
Crafts for Boys – Recycled Space Robot
Need I say more? The Dad in our house is here to share. He’s all imagination, goofiness, a love of recess and the reality that Star Wars will never die.
Have fun with our first project…
…and take the Craftizmos ROBOT CHALLENGE! Make your own version of this creature from the Planet Recycle and win the Clone [...]
Paper or Plastic? Cloth Bags are the Only Eco Option
Editor’s Note: 2009 in the Comox Valley is, when it comes to basic steps for greening your daily lives, poised to be the year of the reusable bag.
As the Comox Valley Chamber continues to gear up with its bag-less Comox Valley initiative (local businesses are being asked to only offer reusable bag options starting this [...]
Holiday Craft Tutorial – Homemade Wrapping Paper
It wasn’t an uncommon site – back in the day – for the moms in our lives to lock themselves in a back bedroom one December afternoon. I thought it was some sort of magic, how they went in and came out a few hours later rather refreshed (6 hours of peace and quiet will [...]
Farewell Disposable Drink Containers
This girl’s hooked on coffee. My love-affair with the drink started back in high school with study sessions at the local Husky, stretching into the early morning hours and during last minute essay writing, pushing the limits to mere hours before submission.
Slinging lattes and mochas as a barista further strengthened my bond with the bean. [...]
Presenting Our 2008 Holiday Green Guide
Good morning. As we are just about to head off to a very soggy Santa Claus Parade today I am getting more and more into the holiday spirit.
There’s lots of creating going on around our house – our first batch of almond toffee appeared a few days ago, sparkling walnut ornaments, homemade pompom bows made [...]
Stained Glass Twinkle Lights
Has pregnancy ever sent you into the cave of solitary confinement? It’s like I know I won’t be capable of making it through more than two or three hours in any given day without some narcoleptic moment so I don’t even try to plan to do anything more than the basics any more.
The tiny person [...]
Story Boxes for Kid Storytelling
Storytelling is big around our house. The tiny person is totally into making up her own universe filled with adventures, conversations, friends and a bit of drama to keep it interesting.
I’ve always been excited about her penchant for telling tales. But, there are definitely times when the stories veer off into the “We’ve obviously been [...]
Bottle-cap Christmas Trees
Welcome to the first installment of Homespun Holidays!
Once a week for the next six weeks we’ll be offering up ways for you to build in family time, have some fun and personalize your holiday season with family-friendly crafts, eats and adventures.
Today, we start it all off with a craft favourite that I am personally quite [...]
The Snack-O-Lantern
OK, so my guilt got the best of me (easy to do really). So, even though I attempted to skip out today, I decided to wow you with a super cool eco-minded idea from one of my very favourite family-friendly get-your-kiddos-outside sites Green Hour.
We carved five pumpkins this year. They kept showing up around our [...]
Grocery Sack Bunnies
I love this craft project – mostly because you are almost guaranteed to have everything you need already in your house, or can easily substitute something to make it all work.
It’s also fast, fun and a bit silly, offering all sorts of options for decorating, having fun and being creative with something as simple – [...]
Sandwich Bag Butterflies
If the rain continues to plague Spring Break week, you can bet your last buck that by Thursday the Dollar Store craft supply section will be packed with parents.
My pal Ange across the pond in Vancouver is a master at entertaining her 2- and 4-year-olds on soggy, cold days. So, it’s no surprise that she [...]
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