Upcycling floppy discs

Is this a bit bonkers? Or incredibly sweet? Floppy discs (who still has those?) into planters. From recycle Uk Facebook page - recommended!

Want more crafty projects?

Have a look at what these talented folk have done over in the arty crafty part of this blog and visit my PINTEREST board for funky ideas. The people over there are so clever aren’t they?

Find many other ways to reuse and recycle plastic here  

Boycott Plastic

Recycling is only part of the answer – a small part. Our favourite solution is to REFUSE plastics. Check these plastic-free products. Use them then compost them.

Hot Food Warms the Soul

Reblogged from :

Super sleek. Stainless steel. Reusable. What’s not to love?! We have to admit, we’ve fallen pretty hard for the thermo-pot from black + blum. But how could any foodie resist the style and functionality of this stainless vacuum food flask? The thermo pot is topped off with a lid made of cork, comes with its own stainless steel spoon that magnetizes to the side, promises to keep your food hot for 5 hours, and comes with a 10 year guarantee!

Read more… 44 more words

So lovely, so useful,so want one!

18 Plastic Lighters

18 Plastic Lighters  originally uploaded by Beamtwenty3

Why we use matches ….

this fantastic photo and lots more can be found in the Flickr  Plastic Is Rubbish photo pool

More images of PLASTIC POLLUTION  can be found on this blog  but there are far more to be had over at:

Facebook  Planet Trash.  Also visit our Pinterest for great anti-plastic images and interesting other plastic related stuff.

Want to see plastic crap in action? – try our You Tube Channel here. I’ll be honest, this one needs work,

Seen the crap, inspired to give up plastic? I should say so.  Check out these plastic free products as sourced as part of our boycott – the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index

Tip 1 – take a towel

Travelling plastic free in Iran…

We don’t usually stay in the kind of hotels that provide luxurious extras like towels. Our hotels are basic. The kind where you see something brown on your pillow case you can be sure its not a chocolate. That means we have to bring our own towels .

As backpackers we try to keep our bags small so rather than carry towels we use multipurpose wraps (sarongs). These double (triple?) as towels, beachwear and dressing gowns. While they make excellent dressing gowns they lack the absorbency of proper fleecy bath sheets. Basically you use them to wipe off the excess water but not much more. This is fine in warmer climates where the hot air can finish the job but in colder places they tend to leave you clammy in your clefts and moist between your toes. Not how you want to be.

Another consideration is drying them after use. Again not a problem when its warm, infinitely harder when its cold. Traveling with wet towels is unpleasant. After a couple of days everything in your pack smells horribly of damp and there is mildew on your knickers. Our immediate solution to cold weather drying problems is not to shower.

Being British, and Northern, I can go for days on one quick wipe round with a flannel. Village Boy has higher standards and soon starts winging. Eventually we have to book a couple of days in a reasonably nice hotel that supplies hot water, towels and ideally a laundry service.

The North of Iran has been wet and cold so shivering and whiffy we have been searching out decent places to clean up. For reasons I cannot begin to imagine some hotels in Iran have started heat sealing their towels in plastic bags. Yes plastic wrapped towels. We asked for unwrapped towels but apparently they return from the laundry like that.

We opened them and used the towels but it quite spoilt our shower.

We have taken the plastic bags with us to reuse.

Want to find more travel related plastic free tips? Check out the plastic- free backpack 

 Stay at home type? Find plastic-free products with the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index

Bunny Boiler

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So many glues, so many man-made polymers.

Plastic? In glue? Oh don’t get me started! Yes lots of it, and not just the packaging. Find out more about plastic   HERE

So imagine my joy when watching Kev build his hut in the woods, he actually used a  glue made from urine soaked rabbit skins.

Kevin McCloud is a British designer, writer and television presenter. he’s the one that does Grand Designs…. and now he is putting up  a uber shed in a bosky glade.

I always thought he was a bit slick, but life in woods is having its toll.

He is becoming more moleskin trousers by the minute!

Here’s a bit more about last week’s episode – that of the rabbit glue. Not quite sure what they are implying….

Sadly there isn’t a fact sheet for this particular product, but if you want to make your own – here’s a recipe from t’internet.

Not tried it myself being rather short on bunnies. However for other urban types, and yes living in Huddersfield does make me an urbanite, you can buy it ready-made from DIY Tools.

And here’s the write-up:

“Liberon Rabbit Skin Glue is traditional glue which is mainly used in gesso and size preparations for gilding purposes.

Performance
- Natural animal skin glue.
- Traditional pearl used for making Gesso and for gilding.

How to use
Dissolve in warm water mixing 1 part glue to 4 parts water. Heat this solution in a double pot until all the glue has melted. If the glue is too thick add some more water to the solution. Do not allow to boil.

Precautions
The glue may be reheated two or three times. Old or dirty glue must be discarded and a fresh solution made.”

I haven’t tried it myself having no immediate sticking need, but next time I do some gessoing (?), this will be my first port of call.

Of course it comes in plastic packet, and may well contain some plastic polymers, but it is an interesting concept worth investigating.

So there you have it … She wasn’t a psycho your honour, she was just making glue!

Find out about the boycott and us here

Find plastic free products in the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index.

Related articles

• Bunny rabbit loves balloon to death – video (theweek.co.uk)

iPod or iPhone Case Stand

It’s hard to find plastic free cases so you could try making your own. Thankfully, I bought my Kindle case before finding this so you are spared my cak handed efforts….

Still is a thought eh?

iPod or iPhone Case Stand | AllFreeSewing.com.

Feeling crafty after reading that?

Try our other home made projects. Everything from mincepies to lampshades.

Want to reduce your plastic rubbish? Check out these plastic free products sourced as part of our boycott  -  The plastic free A-Z

How to…..wash up plastic free…..

Washing up liquid - Ecover – in a refillable plastic bottle – check out where you can find a refill service here in the blog.

I know the bottle is plastic but kitchen? glass? tiles? idiots? C’mon. This is a case for reusable plastic – and I have been using mine for YEARS now. If you wanted to be a purist you could use a metal bottle I guess.

Cotton dishcloth – check out local shops

Bristle brush useful for all kinds of scrubbing type chores  and  burnt on gunk   – can  bought on-line here or from the delightful kitchen ware shops at Saltaire Mill.

Scouring pads – natural – a loufa – useful for gentle scouring and wiping. You can grow them you know

pan scrubs metal - for rather worse burnt on stuff .

Wire wool  is also the bad cooks friend – try  hardware stores

Cotton tea towel – check the shops

washing up gloves. – biodegradable fairtrade rubber gloves – guaranteed to compost down.

You can find out HOW TO …do all sorts of other things… plastic free right here

Want to cut down on more your plastic rubbish? Find plastic free products with the A-Z plastic free index

Unbreakable beer glasses – party on

Plastic glasses for beer? – yuckity yuck! Lets have these instead…… steel pint mugs from Klean Kanteen. There is a uk supplier – check the link.
Klean Kanteen STEEL PINT 4 PACK

Stay at home type? Check out this list of plastic free products -the >>>A-Z<<<  index

How to …suck…plastic free

We are having so much trouble with straws, we keep saying “no straw”, drinks keep coming with straws. Next time I go out I am going to bring my own reusable straw and insist drink purveyers use that.

I will choose one of the following

reusable stainless steel

or  glass straws

to  cornstarch disposable /compostable straws.

That’ll teach ‘em.

You can find out HOW TO …do all sorts of other things… plastic free right here

Buy plastic free drinking stuff on HERE

Or check out my range of Uk based plastic free products with the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index

Chopped Sticks

The curse of the plastic chopstick wrapper means that eating plastic-free South East Asian style  can be hard work.

So too can carrying full size chopsticks – they are too long and pointy for comfort.

So it’s a big cheer for the clever Chinese for these folding chopsticks.

Open them up slide them together and they are full size sticks. Telescope them back together and seal them in the handy carrying pouch and they are easily transportable little things of beauty. Made of stainless steel and wood they look and feel good.

We got ours in Beijing but maybe by now some clever importer has brought them to a town near you. Get googling, chow mien chums.

Here’s a list of U.K. suppliers on Amazon to get you started…

 Want to find more travel related plastic free tips? Check out the travel category

Stay at home type? Check out my range of Uk based plastic free products with the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index