What would you do with???

[Letswapart]

Ok here is the deal...I start it off with naming an item and the next person writes what he/she would do with it(something artrelated)
A Simple Example: I say matchbox...and the next person says she would alter it or build a tower of matchboxes or whatever.

So I start off by saying:

A used postagestamp from India

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

I would make it the eye of an elephant in a collage.

(Cool thread, Marthe!)

Glittery blue Crayon?

[Letswapart]

I would use it on a color drawing of the sea...as the spots when the sun hits the water and it glitters.

a silver snowflake punchout?

[littlest-bee]

I would punch holes in parcel tags and tie ribbon through the holes and then use them as gift tags for Christmas presents.

What would you do with a handful of corks from wine bottles?

[cdonley]

I would paint them, add glitter, sparklies, etc... THen I would glue a thumbtack to it and make cool pushpins!!




HOw about - - baby food jars?

[Letswapart]

I would decorate the outside using decopage technique (victorian theme) and stuff it with art/papersupplies and send it as a RAK to someone.

Empty cd cover?

[kittymao]

you mean the whole plastic part?
Make up a fake band and do CD art, complete with lyrics and a booklet.

a plain-jane blank book, with a black cover and white pages.

[bluecrayon]

I would empty my dreams into it -- gel pens, water colors, collaging, words, love stuff -- I would pass it around maybe among friends -- I would honor it!

What would you do with a lock of hair from your beloved???

[Letswapart]

I would seal it on a little piece of painted canvas, and frame it with a handmade painted frame.

What would you do with an antique looking key?

[Christine_0701]

make a hollow book with a fake painted on antique looking box, and wire the key to the cover.

What would you do with an empty pringles can?

[gwensmom]

Put dried beans in it and give it to a baby to shake.


What would you do with the round cardboard thing that comes under your frozen pizza?

[Letswapart]

I would cut it up in pizza slices, send a piece to each of my friends, tell them to alter it and send back to me, and I put it back together, having a piece of socalled colloborative art.

What would you do with a piece of magic mesh?

[Christine_0701]

what's magic mesh?

[gwensmom]

I would cut it up in pizza slices, send a piece to each of my friends, tell them to alter it and send back to me, and I put it back together, having a piece of socalled colloborative art.

OMG what a great idea! I could do it and send it to the zeitgeist show. Thanks Marthe- you are brilliant! who cares if your scrapbook pages suck? (I bet they don't really :) )



Ok back to the thread:

What would you do with a piece of magic mesh? what's magic mesh?

[bluecrayon]

I'm jumping in, too, because I wanted to tell Letswapart how much I like her answer to the lock of hair query -- maybe that's exactly what I will do! :)

Okay, back to Magic Mesh

[Christine_0701]

I would use green magic mesh (http://www.magicmesh.com/) to cut out the letters of my sister's name, and white magice mesh, colored gold with a sharpie, to cut out "1982-2003" to put on her picture frame i'm making for her x-mas present.

what would you do with an empty single serving yogurt container...one that doesn't have a lid?

[hammerquill]

If there were a kid around to appreciate it, I'd make a giant, striped popsicle, then send the kid outside so it wouldn't melt all over the carpet.

What would you do with about twenty pieces of bright red bookcloth, two feet by ten inches (including selvage), many with slight water damage or stains?

[Christine_0701]

i'm not being all too creative right now, so ummm.....make a bunch of bookmarks? maybe quilt them with a design?


what would you do with a broken necklace chain?

If there were a kid around to appreciate it, I'd make a giant, striped popsicle, then send the kid outside so it wouldn't melt all over the carpet

lol who says you have to be a kid to appreciate a popsicle???


i like this thread. i think of stuff i have lying around, and get some cool ideas about what to make with it!

[hammerquill]

mend it. But then, I have the metalworking tools & experience. I'd consider cutting it down into pieces which could be used to attach small things to ATCs or other pieces of artwork.

what would you do with a stack of thin cardboard sheets they send you to keep stamps flat when you order stamps by mail from USPS (6x9" to 8x12", natural cardboard on one side, glossy white with the USPS logo in a corner on the other).

p.s. no doubt it's the cute kid pic in your avatar that made me think of the popsicle idea...anyway, popsicles and homemade, hand-cranked icecream, and all that kind of thing, are so much better with a kid to appreciate them (who says guys don't have a biological clock?!).

[Christine_0701]

make boxes to put x-mas presents in!!! I'm always looking for cardboard. like that. i've been using stuff from my frozen dinners and cracker boxes lol

and re cute kids, here's (http://www.geocities.com/christine_pics_0701/3.jpg) a much cuter one lol.

[Christine_0701]

lol forgot to leave an item

ok...what would you do with broken wood beads?

[littlest-bee]

use them to decorate picture frames

what would you do with a blank roll of receipt paper? (you know, the long paper rolls they put in tills to print your receipt on)

[Letswapart]

I would first paint a 10 inches long selfportait on it, start a lmao and send the roll into the world for people to do the same (10 inches long selfportrait)when I got it back I would cloth my bedroom with it.

What would you do with yesterdays newspaper?

[Cuilanië]

hehe - I have TONS of old newspapers choking up my room... I cut them up for collage materials!


What would you do with paper-thin, printer-safe sheets of wood?

[Christine_0701]

ooh!! those sound sooo cool!!! I'd print my poems on them, and then decoupage around the poems with stuff to go with the poem :D

what would you do with an empty wooden tea box?

[Letswapart]

paint it using stencils!! then I would stuff it with goodies and send to you;)

What would you do with an old outdated creditcard??

[Christine_0701]

cut it up and use it in collages/on atc's

what would you do with the dust cover from a book (that you don't want on the book because the hard cover is much prettier?)

[auntieemu]

cut it up and use it in collages/atc's/deco's

What would you do with a dozen pine cones?

[Christine_0701]

spray them with glitter, and glue then around the outer edge of an ice cream pail lid, then put some fake ferns/pine garland in the middle, and glue some others in there, and put some other christmas-y stuff in it, and you have a christmas centerpiece :D

what would you do with an empty heart-shaped chocolate box?

[gwensmom]

aack double post

[janeboston]

put little trinkets in it.

what would you do with loose hair?
haha

[auntieemu]

Define "loose"

Are we talking as in cat hairs on the couch or "I can't do a thing with my hair?"

[yardenxanthe]

Glue it to an ATC and paint it and make a design around it... (ha ha, I did this with thread cuttings the other day).

What would you do with an old t-shirt that you swear you'll never wear again (or never let your husband wear again, is more like it.)?

[Christine_0701]

turn it into a pair of underwear lol


what would you do with a border of material (like, from some paneling...it has a sea scene on it)

[ibiddy_boo]

Hmmm....maybe make a little book cover with it?

What would you do with some funky coloured telephone wire?

[Christine_0701]

make jewellery with it. it's mentioned on a diff thread (http://nervousness.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=6344), too ;)

what would you do with an empty wine bottle that has a cork?

[ibiddy_boo]

Run to the store for a full bottle! :D

No, i'd make a doll using the cork for a head & face.

What would you do with holey socks?


*thanks for the wire tip :)


cindy

[Christine_0701]

lol. i don't drink...so your first option doesn't apply to me...i got it full of jelly belly jelly beans :D


for holey socks....make a sock monkey? lol

[ibiddy_boo]

lol....i rarely drink....makes me too sick (yep, even just one).

Sock monkey....i never did have one as a kid....could be a fun project to make and give away!

You forgot to post a Q Christine!

:)
cindy

[Christine_0701]

lol!! second time i've done that lol

you should try the official sock monkey site (http://www.sockmonkey.com/) i dunno if they instructions there or not.....

and i've never drank b4...except for a sip of beer when i was 5

anyhoo....what would you do with an empty kinder surprise container thinggy (the plastic orange thing the surprise comes in)

[ibiddy_boo]

sippin beer when you're 5?.... :D :D

Found a sock monkey instruction page (cool!). It's here (http://lennytaylor.freeyellow.com/Monkey.htm)

Hmmm....kinder surprise egg. Well, about the only thing i can think of is to put a few beans (dried, of course) inside, close it up, and knit, crochet or sew a neat toy with grabbie parts, then stuff the egg inside. i used to make some of those when my kids were babies.

My brain is too tired from a full day of doing nothing, and i can't seem to come up with anything extrodinarily creative. :unsure:

cindy

[Christine_0701]

so what's your object? lol

[ibiddy_boo]

hahahaa! It's catchy i guess!

Ok, object.....what would you do with a LARGE container of muliti-coloured paperclips (i'm talking several hundred!!)


cindy

[Christine_0701]

oh, sooo easy!!!

project a: make one big huge paperclip chain and have a funky garland for your s-mas tree

project b: make several chains, long enough to reach from floor to doorway top, and one chain the width of the doorwai (to attach the other chains to) and you have a "beaded curtain" so to speak

what would you do with a metal hoopish earring (not full hoop...and fairly thick) that has the word CRAZY on it, each letter a diff color?

[ibiddy_boo]

Ok, i would consider those to be funky, and here's what i did with some funky stuff i had no other use for at the time....
Painted up an old chair (i've also done this with a tall, tapering plant stand), and added some of those little screw hooks (the small, closed ones) to the undersides of the chair back sections (and undersides of the plant stand). Then i strung beads, and assorted funky items, and hung them from the little hooks. Was pretty neat until one of the cats made it a toy!

What would you do with.....old A drive floppies?

[Christine_0701]

well, i only have one of the earrings lol

floppy disks...do you mean literally the floppy ones? or the 3.5 disks?

either way, you can make them into some really neat picture frame magnets.

[ibiddy_boo]

Yea, i meant the hard ones....3.5, but i've always called them floppies anyway (why?? i dunno!). And hey...good suggestion!

So what's your Q?

[Christine_0701]

yea, i call them floppies too..that's why i asked to be sure


umm..what would you do with the little squares you get from plastic canvas, when you cut it?

[auntieemu]

Use them in a deco or on an atc (with or without a little thread attached)

What would you do with a plain broken terra cotta flower pot?

[Christine_0701]

paint scenes on the different parts of it, and arrange it in some appealing way

what would you do with the plastic card thinggy that earrings come on when you buy them?

[auntieemu]

Plastic - cut it up to use on an atc, in a deco, etc. If it is one of those velvet pillow ones, use it in an altered book or as a cushion in a doll house.

What would you do with a cast iron skillet with a crack in it?

[ibiddy_boo]

Paint a pretty scenic picture on it, coat it well with varathane and hang it on the porch for all to see!

What would you do with a mop handle (no mop)?

[Christine_0701]

i would use it as a bar, like in a closet...outside in the summer, inside in the winter, to hang blankets on after they're washed ;) not very crafty, i know...but


what would you do with a yeast jar (fleischmann's brand....kinda like a babyfood jar, but the glass is brown)

[kittymao]

Uhm-
Fill it with lots of assorted beads * many glow in the dark ones*, close it up and keep it under a light so when the light goes out you have this meekly glowing jar that looks faintly like fireflies!

what would you do with one of those wicker picknic paper-plate holder? ( you put your plate in one so it doesn't flop all over.)

[yardenxanthe]

Turn it into a kitschy clock.

What would you do with a bunch of nails?

[Christine_0701]

make some wind chimes.

what would you do with a bunch of fake nails? (that aren't suitable for wearing)

[yardenxanthe]

Glue them onto some sunglasses frames...

What would you do with a pile of junk mail?

[medeous]

use the shiny/glossy bits to make tiny little envelopes just the right size for ATCs. shred the rest and put it in a basket for kitties to burrow in.

what would you do with oodles of vinyl stickerish scrap from a sign makers shop?

[yardenxanthe]

Use Sharpies to draw on it and make hand-drawn stickers.

What would you do with 10 tie-dyed shirts?

[Christine_0701]

i'm assuming you dont want to wear them.....

i'd sew them into sitapons

what would you do with an empty pop bottle?

[medeous]

Originally posted by Christine_0701@Oct 26 2003, 11:27 PM
i'd sew them into sitapons


aha! you were a girl scout, weren't ya?

[auntieemu]

t-shirts - shread the lower half and the arms, bead them and sell them.

pop bottles - paint and turn into a vase.

edited to add the question:

What would you do with an old brown plastic check book cover?

[Christine_0701]

paint it and seal it and use it as a bill (money) holder

and no, i wasn't a girl scout i was a brownie, then a girl guie (i'm canadian lol)

what would you do with an empty film canister?

[yardenxanthe]

Fill it up with beads, tacks, or anything small that I needed to keep track of. Alternatively: use it for a finger-puppet case.

What would you do with a water-damaged book?

[Christine_0701]

make it into an altered book

what would you do wool scraps?

[gwensmom]

make a purse if there were enough.

(Also, for empty film cannister, you can glue an interesting shaped eraser to the top and voila - you have made a rubber stamp!)

What would you do with a large oatmeal cannister? (a cylinder)

[yardenxanthe]

Make it into a really big rubber stamp?

What would you do with little round mirrors?

[Christine_0701]

fill it up with stuff to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and give it to someone for x-mas

for the little round mirrors, if they're small enough, you can get some really good glue and glue them to the bottoms of your jeans for a cool decoration


what would you do with a little mini-briefcase for business cards?

[auntieemu]

um, actually I collect business cards, so I would probably use it for that - or, if it fit in the theme, use it in an altered book.

What would you do with a broken ceiling tile - 1.5 foot square, triangular rough break.

[siafu]

collage it and hang it on the wall.

what would you do with a plastic name badge holder?

[littlest-bee]

Make myself a name badge saying "Hi, my name is Thelma"

What would you do with a pile of random lengths and scraps of string?

[Christine_0701]

use them in a collage..maybe make a collage out of nothing but string

what would you do with 2 black pompoms, about an inch in diameter, that came off of a pair of socks? (i also have yellow ones to macth lol)

[gwensmom]

Paint a face on some old sneakers and use them for noses, eyes or hair.


What would you do with the cardboard tube leftover from the wrapping paper roll?

[Cuilanië]

I don't know yet, I'm pondering the same about empty toilet paper rolls! lol

Same question for the next person, please...

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

I would cut it in half and decorate the outsides, and stick the electrical cords from our entertainment unit through them. (Those cords look awful if you peek back there.)

What would you do with a big green 5-gallon plastic bucket that used to hold pickles (and still smells like them if you open it)?

[Christine_0701]

ummm....hehe, you prolly won't wanna do this, because peeling them is such a pain in the rear....but...

buy a LOT of baby onions, and pickle them!!! the end result is VERY tasty

what would you do with a broken plastic hanger?

[sarahkate]

maybe melt the pieces down somehow & mold it into a nifty bracelet!


what would you do with a bunch of little plastic army guys?

[Christine_0701]

i'd give them to my nephew...he loves them!! lol


what would you do with a bunch of plastic bags you have no use for, but can't bring yourself to throw out?

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

If they are the kind from the grocery store, I would donate them to the library. People are always asking for bags to carry their books in, and usually the library doesn't have a steady supply.

What would you do with a brand new package of bright green pipe cleaners?

[sarahkate]

Make paper mache bugs (cute ones of course) and use the pipe cleaners for legs and antennae!


What would you do with an old wooden door off of it's hinges?

[auntieemu]

Strip it, stain it and turn it into a coffee table.

What would you do with a pallet of 20 different water based eyeshadows - the kind you apply with a wet brush - that are too old to use on your eyes. I mean, they were from the 60's......

[siafu]

i would probably use them for paints. sealed with mod podge. it would be good.

how about some styrofoam peanuts?

[kittymao]

Hm.
You have to ask a nervousness kid about what to do with PACKING PEANUTS?!
Package something!
No, not really.
If they're the colorful kind, integrate them in projects. Pictureframes, artwork- OH! sew them for christmas tree garlands, like REAL POPCORN!

gah, that was fun.
What would you do with an empty ash tray? Clear glass.

[Christine_0701]

paint it cool, and use it for candy :D

what would you do with some really crappy pictures you took? I don't want to collage them, b/c they're too personal for a collage to send out, and too crappy for a personal collage lol

[gwensmom]

If they are pictures of you, you could join the ugly picture lmao.

What would you do with some duct tape?

[Christine_0701]

make anything

shoes, purse, wallet, cape...for more ideas, go here (http://www.geocities.com/duct_tape_clothes/) there might even be some pics of me on there lol...hehe what do you know, there is.


and for an object:

what would you do with a ring that is too big for you?

[glitterfly]

get the stone put in a dif ring or get the ring resized! (i THINK they can do that)

what would you do with...

the ugliest plaid taffeta bridesmaid dress you've ever seen?

[gwensmom]

Have a party where everyone wears old bridesmaid dresses. Everyone can model theirs and tell about the dress or a story about the wedding they were in. Most weddings yeild at least one funny story. Then everyone can vote on which dress is the ugliest or most out of date or most unflattering or whatever.

I saw a really funny book full of pictures of a girl at different locations wearing her old bridesmaids dress. The bride promised that she would pick dresses they could still wear after the wedding, so this girl had her picture taken wearing the dress at weird places like a football stadium.

What would you do with a bunch of magazine pictures of GW Bush?

[Christine_0701]

burn em lol...or make a "tribute against bush" collage lol

what would you do with a bunch of class notes that you no longer need? (is there anything to do with them, besides turf em?)

[sarahkate]

Sell 'em to underclassmen ;)

Or maybe you could send your notebooks around for everyone to alter & make interesting!



what would you do with about a million paper clips??? (ok...maybe not a million...but I sure do have a hell of a lot of them...way more than I need!)

[speedo]

i would stick it to my forehead and be mail for halloween :lol: :huh:

[gwensmom]

Paperclips-

make some chains and hang them in a doorway like a bead curtain.
Straighten them out and go pick some locks
Make jewelry out of them.
Make wire sculptures. You can use them on ATC's or hang them in a window.
Bend them into letters and spell words.

What would you do with a package of thin red rickrack you can't even remember buying?

[medeous]

bundle it up with some cool yarn, thread and floss and offer it up in PIF.

what would you do with a huge roll of metallic, fusible plastic donated to you by a medical office?

[Cuilanië]

Use some kind of safe heat source, and make ATCs.


What would you do with a nearly full, yet dried-up ink jet printer colour cartridge?

[auntieemu]

Oops, Cuilanië got in before me.

On the tape - If it is what I think it is..... use it in atc's, decos and colleges.

On the cartridge - obviously it is defective so I would return to the manufacturer with a letter complaining and asking for either a replacement or a refund.

What would you do with 12 broken digital watches?

[Christine_0701]

take the straps off, and save them (and the pins) for if a strap breaks on a new watch....

and the rest of the watch, take it apart, and use it for collaging, AB's, decos, ATC's, whatever

what would you do with a hand made journal you put alot of work into making, and it just didn't turn out right?

[siafu]

give it to someone who loves me, because they will love it too

a cd...like internet connection

[auntieemu]

Add it to the collection I am saving for a cd deco.....

What would you do with half a jigsaw puzzel?

[medeous]

put them in a little plastic bag and throw it into a collagable asst on PIF.

what would you do with laminating film still on the roll but there is too little to go through the machine anymore so the office staff threw it in the trash, but you, oh you had to go and dig it out, didn't you and now they always give it to you and you have about 12 rolls of it accumulated?

[cdonley]

Well --> I'm not sure if it'll work... but can you still use it to laminate with the heat of a hair dryer..? Then I would laminate those ATCs!

otherwise.......I would color pictures on the laminating sheet, cut them out, and use them as funky collageables!


** What can you do with empty sewing machine thread spools? (the plastic ones)

[cindi1023]

If they're the little ones, I'd use them to store those 2-3 inch fiber leftovers that are sitting in a basket on my desk, becoming hopelessly tangled each time I rifle through them...

What would you do with a ton of old crappy picture frames (empty)?

[sarahkate]

I would cut out magazine clippings and decoupage them onto the frames or maybe glue game pieces (like checkers or dominoes) around the frame!



What would you do with a bunch of colorful feathers?

[Christine_0701]

make a dream catcher

what would you do with empty ink cartridges?

[yardenxanthe]

Make your computer room a nifty mobile.

What would you do with a whole bunch of cardboard boxes, all sizes & shapes, some that don't close.

[verycuriousgirl]

For the one side open boxes... fill until overflowing and then wrap with cellophane and ribbon for gift packages...

what would you do with:

1footx1foot squares of thin vinyl (smurf blue)

fabric samples in amazing patterns (no sewing machine!)

vcg

[Christine_0701]

borrow someone's sewing machine and make stuff!! lol

or use them for atcs/collages/etc.

what would you do with a jewelled bobby pin (that you never wear)

[auntieemu]

Of course we all visualize those differently. Probably give it to my neice who would wear it. However, what about on a deco spine?

What would you do with a couple dozen "lids" to frozen orange juice? You know, where you peel off the cardboard and there is a lovely round piece left.

[verycuriousgirl]

Ah!

Make very cool shade:

paint lids (spray paint) cool colours -- maybe 60s?
punch four holes in each (drill or metal punch)
join in grid fashion using large jump rings

what would you do with...

plastic door screen?

[Christine_0701]

use them to make pom poms...instructions are on makingfriends.com i do believe ;)

plastic door screen: use it for making paper...or for panting neat designs


what would you do with a broken hair elastic?

[yardenxanthe]

Put one of your pompoms on the end to make a bouncy friend.

What would you do with a ton of razor samples?

[lallyc2003]

I'd make a crazy funky frame in the shape of a sunburst for a round mirror!

What would you do with 100 assorted knobs and dials from radios, stoves, tvs...?

[Christine_0701]

paint them and make a mobile (or mobiles)

what would you do with the keys off of an old keyboard?

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

Drill holes in the tops and use them to make necklaces. I would paint something on the key... maybe music-related, maybe not.


What would you do with the bell from a bicycle?

[Christine_0701]

hehehe annoy the hell out of someone lol anyhoo....i'll let someone else answer this with a CRAFTY idear

[sarahkate]

This is obviously a stumper since no one has posted an answer by now,

so...I'm going to go out on a limb and say.......

I would take the bell from a bicycle and attach it to my pocketbook so when I'm in a crowded store I can reach down & ring it to get annoying people out of the way. Don't you just hate those old ladies that stand there in the middle of the aisle with their cart so no one can get through?!


What would you do with a bunch of ruined CDs (besides make a coaster out of them!)?

[siafu]

i would try to break them into squarish pieces, draw on the pieces with sharpies or paint and attach them to atc's.

what would you do with neon pink polymer clay? is neon pink a secondary color? i don't think so! why did it come in my secondary colors pack????

[yardenxanthe]

I would mix it with yellow and blue (neon?) to make a brown color. Or I would use it to make 80s themed charms?

What would you do with used dryer sheets?

[Christine_0701]

reuse them. you can use 2 used dryer sheets to equal 1 new one...after that...use them on atc's, collages, whatever

what would you with partially used carbon strips (like, from money orders)

[medeous]

Originally posted by sarahkate@Nov 21 2003, 01:14 PM
I would take the bell from a bicycle and attach it to my pocketbook so when I'm in a crowded store I can reach down & ring it to get annoying people out of the way. Don't you just hate those old ladies that stand there in the middle of the aisle with their cart so no one can get through?!

i love this idea :D


we now return you to your regular question:

what would you with partially used carbon strips (like, from money orders)

[yardenxanthe]

Do you think it would be fun to have a "What would you do with??" LMAO?

NOW back to your regularly scheduled chain game:

what would you with partially used carbon strips (like, from money orders)

[medeous]

i would attach them randomly to a sheet of paper with double sided tape. then i would lay that sheet of paper on top of a sheet of ivory cardstock. then i would use my best cursive handwriting to copy wonderful poems onto that sheet of paper. i would then discard the sheet of paper with the carbon strips stuck to the back and cut the cardstock to ATC size, add a line of the original poem written on vellum to the cardstock base and further embellish....i guess.

what would you do with the red plastic netting that your grapefruit came bagged in?

[Christine_0701]

buy some roe, and use it to make fishing bait.....oh wait, crafty stuff :P next please ;)

[gwensmom]

Originally posted by medeous@Nov 25 2003, 10:09 PM
what would you do with the red plastic netting that your grapefruit came bagged in?
If it's a small bag, stick cloves in an apple or orange, put it in the bag and hang it somewhere that needs a good scent.

If the bag is big I would try to find some way to use it for gift wrap. Or, cut it up so it is flat and use it on ATC's. 1. stick it on over your painting or drawing 2.put it on the paper, paint over it and then remove the netting leaving a pattern.

There is probably a way to make a purse using a large bag too. I'm gonna go think about it........


What would you do with a husband/SO who thinks your nervousness projects are weird even though he doesn't come out and say it?

[cindi1023]

Since I have this problem, I'll answer.... The best thing to do is just let him keep thinking it's weird! Kiss him/her on the forehead and smile about the fact that you get it, and they don't! It's you're own little in-joke! :D


OK - It's MacGuyver time! What would you do with a broken rubber band, several old coins and a funky colored bubble-gum wrapper? Anyone? :D

[cindi1023]

Ok -- so we don't have any MacGuyver types... I can understand! :D I'll change the offering so maybe we can get this moving again....

What would you do with some irridescent/clear plastic sheeting (thicker than tissue paper, but thinner than cardstock)?

[pooshouse]

Find a spare window in my house and cover it in a stained glass style.
Roll little balls out of it, thread them on a peice of cotton and tease my cat with it

What would you do with a vinyl floor tile (self adhesive and bendy)?

[gwensmom]

Paint or decorate it somehow and stick it on a wall.

What would you do with an emu's toe bone? Auntieemu has one up for exchange.

[Meika]

I would drill small holes in it and make it into a necklace with some pretty beads around it.

What would you do with a piece of brown fake fur that's 3inches square?

[pooshouse]

Roll it up and make a mouse? (beads for eyes, felt and thread for ears and tail). I'd keep it in my pocket as a constant friend.

What would you do with the chunks of polysterene my scanner was packed in?

[gwensmom]

Put your scanner back in it and mail it to me! I want a scanner!

You could carve it into small statues and paint or decoupage them. Or make holiday ornaments the same way.

Someone donated these things to the agency where I work and I don't know what to do with them:

~One size 50 plastic knitting needle
~one knitting needle (different size) that has been made from a wooden broom handle. (Actually I could use this one on vampires)

[Dalmaney]

Use them to stake your office plants.

Um... crafty... make an anti-vampire wall hanging with the stick and some garlic and a plastic rosary. Send it to one of the vampire fanatics wandering around here.

An entire roll of white contact paper I bought by accident and can't return?

[Ishba]

if it's glossy-ish you could make dry-erase boards with it... just slap it on some cardboard and make a boarder of some sort...
if not you could print/draw images on it to make stickers or address labels.
I don't really have anything to continue the thread with (unless somebody has an idea for what to do with a single brown leather baby shoe! :huh: [found item])
so somebody else can answer Dalmaney's as well

[nymphette]

i'd paint the baby shoe gold and then decorate it up with little red and green ribbons and beads and send it to julie as her first baby christmas tree ornament!!!

what would you do with some old 1950's magazines??? (other than making postcards and atc's, i've already used them for that!!!)

[siafu]

then there's envelopes and gift boxes.

ornaments

journal covers

collage, of course, but over an old painting that you don't like anymore.

what would you do with a bunch of pony beads, different colors?

[nymphette]

make those little keychain animals to give to my nieces and nephews for christmas... since i still haven't finished ANYONE's gifts!!!

what would you do with some transparent page protectors???

[Seusomon]

Anne-Marie says she would make a card holder.

What would you do with tissue?

[pooshouse]

Blow my nose. I think I have a cold coming.

I think I'd make a bunch of flowers (those carnationy ones).


What would you do with a large cardboard box of appox 250 (12.5kg) of bone-shaped dog biscuits, with a best before date of 23rd April 2003? :blink:

ps. I don't have, and never have had, a dog.

[Rebecca]

take them to the local animal shelter, they are still good. Ask them to recycle the box. Or, give them to a neighbor with a dog. Ask them to recycle the box.

What would you do with magnetic paper scraps?

[Dalmaney]

I would stick stickers to them, cut them out, and have the funkiest magnets ever.

Oh wait. I did. I have X-Men, Spiderman, and homemade magnetic poetry and I love them all to bits. Especially the X-Men. I play X-Men on my fridge.

aluminum foil?

[pooshouse]

:lol: <---- At you for playing x-men on your 'fridge! It sounds like fun.

As for foil, I'd cut it into thin strips and take up quilling (paper filigree - do a google)

What would you do with toilet roll inner tubes?

[Meika]

Paint them and then slice them into thin rings. Then I would decorate them with little beads and such and attach them all together to make a room curtain out of them. (sort of like a bead curtain)

What would you do with 60 miniature scenic postcards and a large square of melamine board?

[venus28976]

:P
double post

[venus28976]

I would tile them on the board quilt style, add fringe to the sides of the board and have a scenic postcard wall quilt (I do this with my photos too)

What would you do with two long old cinnamon sticks that are no longer edible?

[nymphette]

i would break them into smaller sticks, and then paint them gold and then tie them with burgundy ribbon to make them into stars to hang on my christmas tree next year... if i have one.... hm

[pooshouse]

Did you get sidetracked at the Christmas tree, nym.?

I'll provide the next item...

What would you do with the innards of numerous party poppers? (thin, tissue-like streamers). The rest of the popper counts, too.

[Christine_0701]

paint the poppers in interesting colors...maybe make a design on them, and then use the streamers to hang them from something, and make them into a mobile

what would you do with a bunch of miniature curling ribbon, already curled?

[nymphette]

depending on how big of a bunch, tie them on a circle of heavy wire (remember those garbage bag wreaths we used to make- tie the strips on a bent hanger andmake wreath?? ayuh, like that) and tie foil wrapped candies on too, to make a pretty sparkly wreath!!!! you'll be ready to go next christmas!!!

5 yards of unbleached muslin (i've had for years and still hven't done anything with.. the price was right, cost me $2 for all of it!!!! however... time to get rid of anything i dont' use, so give me a reason to keep it!!!! :)

[gwensmom]

Send me a yard of it and I will make you some rice bags! I will sew up some bags for you to fill with white rice. You heat them in the microwave and put them on sore muscles or cold toes. I will send some dried lavendar for you to put in as well.

What would you do with empty pill bottles with stickers all over them that just won't come off?

[Christine_0701]

put beads in them. they make great storage containers....and then I just write on the lid in a sharpie what color beads are in them

what would you do with a bunch of hair elastics that you no longer use?

[nymphette]

as another queen of the empty pill bottles, i would first use isopropyl alcohol and try to get the sticky stuff off, then TKO, and if it didn't work, i would collage them with fun stuff and modpodge over it all and stuff them full of tiny treasures to send away!!! or put my bead in them, that would be another idea that would take care of the mess that is my bead drawer!!!! ;)

what would you do with a 1 metre length of 3 inch wide ribbon (gold trimmed, goldenrod colored.....

(watch your mailbox sarah, how can i refuse that offer!!! i just used a big sock and fille d it with rice, when i was pregnant... i like pretty things that smell nice.. :) )

WOOPS, double post... but i will leave christine's item because i was thinking about that too, after inheriting from my best friend a bunch of hair stuff i'll never use, but will never chuck out.. ;)

[Christine_0701]

with your ribbon, i would make ribbon stars...they're really fun, and look great as christmas ornaments!!

back to my hair elastics...what would you do with them?

[gwensmom]

Send them to Robyn. You won't need them because you are going bald and she does need them because she is growing her hair out so she can donate it.

What would you do with a grey (hi insipid) fleece hat you sewed and it looks boring?

[nymphette]

i would sew funky buttons on it, and maybe a patch or two or some of that fancy-dancy fringe you can buy for making your pants/skirt hems more exciting!!! :)

what would you do with clear plastic, colored cd cases???

[freckledcutie]

I'd store my unmounted rubber stamps in them...or, I would let them build up and clutter a counter in my studio space :P

What would you do with an empty pringles can?

[Christine_0701]

turn it into a piggy bank

what would you do with an empty nail polish remover bottle?

[auntieemu]

Slice it into 3 pieces horizontaly, fill the pieces with broken crayons (no paper) and pop them in the oven on broil. Let my nephew watch them melt for amusement, then add embellishments and a pin back. Viola - junk jewelry!

What would you do with an old loofa that is really worn out from use.

[Christine_0701]

as long as it still has some holes...use it as a stamp

what would you do with an old calling card?

[auntieemu]

Victorian calling card? Or telephone calling card?

Victorian is a collecters item, but I would be tempted to use it in an AB. Telephone can be sanded, painted and used in decos or AB's like tag art.

What would you do with some monagramed junk jewelry that did not have your initials? Specifically, we are talking about a necklace with a pretty, lazer engraved monagram on the disc.

[Christine_0701]

Give it to someone who has those initials?

What would you do with an old broken pocket watch?

[nymphette]

i would turn it into a mini shrine....

what would you do with a giant screw??? it's like an inch around almost!!!! and dont' tell me to build a house... ;)

[Christine_0701]

paint it green, with little blobs of color....and voila! you have a christmas tree ;)

what would you do with a bunch of cardboard boxes (like, granola bar boxes, and other ones about that size)

[medeous]

paint 'em, pack them full of stuff and send them off to unsuspecting people.

what would you do with huge spools of 2 inch bias tape that you've rescued from a factory dumpster?

[paganfrog]

i would dye it or decorate it and weave it to make a bag or a cool wall drape.

what would you do with a peice of ridged thick plastic sheet taken from a 3d animated card

[Christine_0701]

paint it with some glass paint, and hang it up for a sun catcher

what would you do with a bunch of old school papers, with notes on them?

[Christine_0701]

anybody?

[freckledcutie]

I'd spritz em, wad em up, iron em out, and collage em to a stretched canvas on a frame as a background for a collage.

What would you do with one of those little noise makers that you turn over and it moos?

[gwensmom]

Oh, I know! Make a creepy/cute stuffed cow and sew the "moo" inside it.

Shoot- I don't have anything I don't know what to do with right now! Anyone else?

[Christine_0701]

what can i do with an extra link to a charm link bracelet

[freckledcutie]

Okay, I've got something sitting on one of the desks in my studio that I'll post for your what would you do, Sarah.

What would you do with a 2in X 5in piece of brown felt that is furry on one side with some hints of gold from a krylon pen?

[freckledcutie]

oops...sorry...forget my last post

[auntieemu]

Well, this is weird. I have not visited this chain in a while and when I do, I have two questions related to a deco I just did. So - HEY - I can ANSWER BOTH!!!!

Use the extra link to the chain to attach charms/embellishments to a deco.

Use the felt as part of the collage in an autumn deco.

Now, what would you do with McDonalds Heidi doll - specifically the Betty Spaghetty No. 4 which has blue hair in a pony tail, a yellow "shirt", green skirt, and blue & white shoes. She is about 5 inches tall and still in the original wrapper.

[freckledcutie]

I'd make a niche in an altered book and put her in there...then I'd add a little CD with some music or something she said from the movie or soundtrack


What would you do with the little letter ledge holder thingies that come with the rummikub or ginnykub games? They are different from the scrabble letter holders.

edited to fix a gross spelling mistake

[yardenxanthe]

Alter some Rummikub tiles (a la altered dominoes?) and make a collage -- you could either stand it up or hang it on a wall (or frame it, even).

What would you do with those little used scraps of notepad from games in which you draw pictures for clues (Pictionary or Cranium)?

[Meika]

I would make little serendipity squares out of them for use in future projects.

Maybe this is gross but I keep thinking I should do something with the four panel picture they gave me from my gall bladder surgery. I want to keep it but I don't think it belongs in a photo album. I can't help thinking there is probably something really neat I could do with it to sort of mark this time in my life. It's the size of half a sheet of letter size paper. What would you do with it?

[medeous]

this reminds me of alice neel's portrait of andy warhol for some reason. maybe you could make yourself a little shoebox sized shrine dedicated to your health.

what can i do with small (1/2 x 2 inch) scraps of canvas paper?

[mpurr]

soak them in some kind of staining agent and make them part of a collage.


What would you do with a pile of old business cards?

[stargal1998]

Make a cute little flipbook!

What would you do with old tape circles (from the dispensers)...you know, you use the tape and boom, plastic circles all over the place?

[mpurr]

tie them to strings and dangle them in front of a cat.


what can I make out of old worn out/broken rubber bands?

[paganfrog]

sandwich a load of them between 2 bits of greaseproof paper, then flatten them with a hot iron, cut to size and shape you want.
you have some interesting non slip placemats.


what would you do with several packets of tobacco papers? (a brand i dont like)

[medeous]

stamp on them and pass them on in a PIF? i dunno...what would you do with several packets of tobacco papers? (a brand i dont like)

[Christine_0701]

write words on them, in a nice cursive type, and hang them in a mobile....or glue them to a frame, so it's like a stained glass of words.

what theme would you like on a recovered journal?

[Meika]

Vintage ads and newspapers.

What would you do with the little leftover metal rounds from votive candles?

[gwensmom]

take all the wax and wick out. Make vertical cuts all around the sides. then flatten out and you have a flower! I saw this online somewhere but can't find it again.

What would you do with really funny cartoons you cut out of the paper?

[Christine_0701]

cover one of my journals with it haha

what would you do with an empty pop bottle?

[Lilac]

Truthfully....put it in my recycling bin. I havent been very creative lately. :'(


A love letter sent to your Grandmother when she was young?

[Meika]

Collage around it with things that remind me of love and romanceand then mat it and frame it.

What would you do with a jute basmati rice bag that has a zipper and a nice handle?

[lobstergirl]

what wouldn't i do? :) use it as a purse! if it's too big...take the zipper out and use it as a package bag for the post office and if it's too awkward for that, cut it up in a few pieces and stitch envelopes out of it for nifty mailings! :P

what would you do with a carrying case for those defunct "crazy bones" things? the case is really ugly and briefcased size in shape but the width is 3" and it's fully equipped with 60 square slots....and a cutout on the top covered in clear plastic so you can view whatever you put in it...but the squares aren't nifty enough to uyse as storage for beads or anything....(phew! LONG description but i got this at a 99cent store and i couldn't pass it up but it's been 3 years now!!! :P )

[auntieemu]

I would probably try to alter it for use as a thimble display case or funky shadow box - you know, hang it on the wall with stuff on display in it. If possible, I'd use a dremal tool to enlarge some of the areas for visual interest.

What would you do with 12 combs, black in color and about 6 inches long.

[Meika]

Epoxy them together and embellish them to make some sort of an art doll.

What do you do with leftover plastic rings when you run out of scotch tape?

[bluecrayon]

I use them in my art classes with my 3rd graders. We make chains out of them. We paint them and attach them together with ribbons or string and dangle them from the ceiling. I have also used them to make wheels for cars I make and bracelets for my daughter's dolls...

What would you do with the collection of baby teeth accrued with 2 kids?

[gwensmom]

There is a lady here who will make you a necklace out of your kids baby teeth. I just keep Gwen's in a porcelain box for now.

What would you do with a small cylindrical quaker oats container?

[moonweaver]

Line it and cover it with fabric, attach a cord, embellish with ribbons, lace, beads, etc. and give it to a little girl for a purse.

Or cover it with embellished paper or collage, and use it in the studio to store bits and pieces of collage materials.

What would you do with packing material that looks like egg crates?

Pat

[Meika]

I'd probably shred it up real fine and use it in handmade paper.

[Rebecca]

What would you do with worn out jeans if you hate sewing?

[jackiethestamper2]

Cut the legs off and make shorts.

What would you do with a macrame belt that doesn't make it around your waist?

[siafu]

use it to play with the cat. also, you could probably tie back your hair.

what would you do with pony beads?

[Larrissa]

make a tieback thing to hold this purse im making closed. but they would have to not be neon.

a pile of crumpled tissue paper?

[Meika]

If it's white tissue paper I would dye it in random patterns and colors and then decoupage it onto a box or use pieces of it for cards and postcards etc.


A plain white macrame plant hanger?

[Christine_0701]

use it to put stuffies in ;) that's what I'm doing with mine hehe

and pony beads? go to Beadie Critters (http://www.beadiecritters.com/) and make something ;)

what would you do with a string of orange beads?

[Kelly]

I'd make a southwest-themed ATC

What would you do with spare electronic pieces?

[moonweaver]

Use them in a found-art melange/collage.

What would you do with red Georgia clay?

[Meika]

I'd make some sort of garden sculpture.

What would you do with about 20 odd shaped wood blocks?

[moonweaver]

I would paint them different colors, and glue or nail them to a background to make a wall sculpture.

What would you do with a palm bloom (inflorescence)?

[Meika]

I haven't a clue what that is. Got a picture?

[auntieemu]

Originally posted by moonweaver@Jul 10 2004, 09:22 PM
What would you do with a palm bloom (inflorescence)?
Give it to a friend that weaves baskets.

What would you do with a pound of broken emu eggshell?

[Obsidian_Cat]

I'd mix it in some gesso to make a textured canvas.


What would you do with 100 old buttons?

[Meika]

Id put them in a mason jar, put a bow on it, and give it to Liz. She has this obssesion with wanting a button jar.
If I was doing something crafty with them, I'd make them into dolls. The buttons would be sewn together for arms and legs and I'd use some for eyes too.

[Obsidian_Cat]

Meika, where's your item??? That's ok... I'll just add another.

What would you do with a bunch of ribbon bits, no more than 4 or 5 inches in length?

[Meika]

I'd attach them randomly to an art doll or glue them to a small votive holder.

What would you do with a bunch of colored posicle sticks?

[siafu]

i'd make a birdhouse.

a green glass bottle

[nymphette]

decorate it using wire and glass beads!!!

a large piece of heavy brocade material (about 4x5 feet)

[Obsidian_Cat]

I'd cut it into a good size for a winter wrap, and maybe add some beaded fringe to the ends. I'd use the leftovers to make a fancy tea cozy!

What would you do with a small, broken porcelain doll head?

[Meika]

I'd use fimo or sculpey to make the head complete. The new part would be some kind of freaky alien looking thing so it would be half normal and half twisted freak. Then I'd attach it to some sort of body and make it into a freaky creepy art doll.

[Meika]

What would you do with a bunch of rubber O-rings?

[auntieemu]

A bunch? If they would fit my car or the truck, turn the over to my DH for future use. If not, and they were still packaged up and good, I'd try to return them to auto zone for a refund and spend the money on art supplies. If they were not returnable, did not fit anything we owned or friends owned, I would try to use them in some sort of art or handicraft. They could be crocheted around for Christmas ornaments, used in an altered book, deco or even an atc if the subject was right.

What would you do with a bushel of pecans?

[Meika]

Bake my happy ass off! :lol:

What would you do with six empty tiny plastic planters? Theyre about 3 inches high each.

[Obsidian_Cat]

Paint them red and make them into tiny Devo doll hats for Barbie and Ken...


What would you do with an extremely ugly green shirt with giant navel oranges all over it?

[Meika]

Cut it up and make it the liner for a little tote bag or make it into a creepy cute creature for my fundraising lmao. (hint hint) :)

I dont have anything to add for a question.

[Obsidian_Cat]

Now there's an interesting challenge... that would be one creepy creature! I'm not sure about the cute part, but let me see what I might come up with. :lol:

Ummmm.... what would you do with a bunch of cardboard corners (the kind made for protecting picture frames in transit?)

[Meika]

I like to glue cardboard stack together and then carve them into shapes for the hel of it. I make them into little spindle legs for tiny boxes and stuff like that.

What would you do with a bunch of round plastic lids from gumball machine prize balls? (like the kind homies and other mini figurines come in)

[Gingersmack]

Just the lids? No bottoms?

Make space ducks with 'em!!! Great little helmets, don'tcha think?



What would you do with empty baby food jars, no lids?

[Death_Or_Aldona]

decorate them and use them as lil candle holders

lalala

what would you do with old earrings that have long lost their mates?

[whimsey]

well, if I were my friend Lissette, I'd wear them ... she never wears matching earrings. ever. Me... I'd use them in a collage, especially if they were cool dangly ones.

What would you do with a bag full of the bubble wrap that has huge (1.5") bubbles?

[Catski]

Pop the bubbles! Failing that, make a little hole in the back of each bubble and fill them with different things - a wrapped sweet here, some glittery stars there - then cut it square and hang it on the wall :)

What would you do with a handful of ring-pulls from cans?

[Meika]

I'd use Testors model paint on them and then make them into bracelets. They turn out really neat. :)

What would you do with a few hundred upholstery fabroc swatches that have thick difficult to remove paper backing on them?

[Christine_0701]

i would find some interesting way to sew them all together....maybe even make a pillow (maybe not the most comfortable pillow :P)

what would you do with a bunch of old reciepts?

[Lilac]

put them in a pot and boil them.

What would you do with the handle from a broken mug?

[Meika]

I'd probably just throw it away. If it was really neat looking I'd make a new mug and attach it to that.

What would you do with an empty cigar box other than make a purse?

[Lilac]

I'd cover it with tree bark and braided twig shapes and make a "nature box."

What would you do with some furry pussy willow buds?

[Christine_0701]

hmm, I've been thinking about this one a lot, and i can think of....make a neat arrangment for your living room/dining room? make a pictur frame? (if it's bloomed, pick off the white stuff and glue it down to make clouds/snow/anything really)

what would you do with a bunch of small left over pieces of shrink-it?

[Lilac]

I'd color then, cut them in little squares, triangles and things, swrink them and use them to create a mosaic ATC or something.

What whould you do with a pound of confetti?

[Christine_0701]

a pound? oh my! send out parts of it as RAOK's, i guess haha!! or save it for a wedding :P

what would you do with a couple yards of scrap fabric?

[Meika]

Art dolls. Lots of art dolls. :)
I have no question sorry.

[nymphette]

what would you do with flat marbles, other than magnets or mosaic type of art????

[Meika]

Colored flat marbles look great on altered Cds and the catch the light beautifully if you hang them in windows. You could also make them into thumbtacks or wire wrap them and use them for jewelry and other dangly bits and bobs.

[mpurr]

What would you do with a bunch of used dryer sheets?

[Cellissimo]

Use them to stuff soft, plush animals or art dolls or door snakes you've made or use them for dusting. I also hear they make great mosquito repellants, but I think they have to be unused.

What are some good uses for hot glue (besides the obvious gluing)?

[luciente]

i saw instructions for a hot glue choker on hgtv.com today.

what about crayons?

[Christine_0701]

melt them and make sand candles. so much fun

what would you do with an old broken watch?

[luciente]

take it apart and use the little pieces for collage or something.

little boxes, various sizes

[mpurr]

Decopage, alter, and make into little shrines.


What would you do with:
a crapload of plastic take-away containers?

[mpurr]

come on.

[carpe_noctem]

Oh oh oh-do you mean...like the ones from chinese restaurants?

*thinks*

I would find a way to make them stronger (glue thick cardboard to the insides?) and use them for sending packages.

[Christine_0701]

since you didn't leave one....what would you do with 50 million pages of paper!!!!

[circlegirln]

I think my three kids bring that much paper home in their backpacks during the school year. I recycle it promptly. I hate clutter.

with a hot new sports car for only a day?

[velma]

drive it really really really fast, then wreck it! :D

What would you do with one day where you could do anything you wanted to?

[Christine_0701]

go hoooome!!! and isn't this thread supposed to be a wwydw (insert random object you have and can't think of something artistic to do with it)?


what would you do with an old keyboard that doesnt work anymore>

[auntieemu]

Take that puppy apart and use the different parts for colleges, shrines, etc.

What would you do with some old Dominos pizza referigerator magnets with the no longer any good phone number of the closed Dominos on it?

[carpe_noctem]

Why, alter them with construction paper, pain, glue, feathers, sequins and/or glitter, sillly!

What would you do with the damn CDs you destroyed because your burner is not particularly worthy of your time? *grin*

[nymphette]

make little round books with cd covers.... or alter one to make a rear view mirror hangy art piece... can they be melted and made into "CD bowls" like the record bowls that were so popular once upon a time????

what would you do with a bunch of burnt out lightbulbs???