80. Altoid iPod Speakers

For those makers among us, here's a cool use of an altoids tin and an old set of headphones (not to mention that cool little switch).

79. Going Green T-Shirt Shopping Bags

Turning an old T-shirt into a reusable shopping or grocery bag is a simple, clever craft to help everyone be "green." It's a Good Thing that will help protect the environment.

56. Gifts for Bird Lovers: Soda Bottle Bird Feeder

This nifty idea uses a recycled 2-liter soda bottle to make an upcycled bird feeder.

MATERIALS

Two-litre soda bottle with a screw-top cap (you can also use larger plastic juice bottles)
Wire (or heavy duty cord)
Drill
Wooden dowels
Clear caulking Adhesive, duct tape, or hot glue
Bird seed

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove the label from your soda bottle, and rinse it with the cap in hot water to remove any stickiness.
2. When they are completely dry, drill two holes into the bottom of the bottle and thread wire or cord through the two holes to make a loop for hanging the feeder. Make sure you cover the holes with duct tape or fill them with clear caulk (or hot glue) to ensure no water can get inside.
3. Turn the bottle upside down (the cap will be at the bottom).
4. Drill two holes on opposite sides of the bottle, making sure that they are no larger than the thickness of the dowel you have.
5. Slip the dowel through the bottle for an instant perch.
6. Drill holes 1 to 2 inches (2.6 or 5.6 centimeters) higher than the perches, so the birds can easily access the holes — but don't make the holes too big, or the birdseed will fall out.

   Hint: Fill the bottle with water and freeze it over night - this will make drilling the holes much easier.

   
   
   Seed:
   The best overall seed is the black oil sunflower: "High in oil, this seed is eaten by most birds. We find it less messy than striped sunflower seeds, as well,"

Alternate Ideas

Instead of dowels, use wooden spoons. (And clearly, it doesn't matter which end is up for these feeders. If you use it cap side up, just screw an eye-hook into the cap and use your caulking adhesive to make sure it stays in place.)

For Finch's, cut an 1/8th inch wide slit above the dowel that lets them access the Finch food.

Original source: Microsoft Magazine

[Edit 12/16]—This no longer appears on the Microsoft Magazine website (b/c there isn't one anymore).

Combine this with a bird watching guide, and a bag of bird seed for a wonderful present.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds Western Region
by Audubon (Flexible)

34. Felted Wool Mittens

Felting wool means shrinking it—on purpose! While results will vary from one type of wool to another, most will shrink quite dramatically and take on a tighter feeling, felt-like finish. The key is, you must use 100% WOOL fabric. Grab a few old all-wool sweaters from your closet or a second-hand store—the kind with holes in the elbows, or stretched out edges. With just a little effort, you can transform an "undesirable" into a pair of funky (and functional!) mittens. Here's how.


MATERIALS

At least one old 100% wool sweater (as long as you're going to the effort, you might as well felt a few - up to four or five will fit in the washing machine)

A bit of dishwasher detergent (not dish soap!)

Pattern tracing material

J & P Coats embroidery floss or Red Heart Yarn

INSTRUCTIONS

Before You Sew:

Loosely arrange the sweaters in the washing machine. Add a small amount (maybe 1/8 - 1/4 cup) of dishwashing detergent, then fill the machine using a "hot water wash/cold water rinse" cycle.

Machine dry the sweaters on the hottest temperature setting.

Ready, Set, Sew:

Make a mitten pattern by tracing your own hand (or someone else's) onto pattern tracing material.

Lay out the pattern on your felted sweater, playing with placement until you find just the right look. Sweaters with multi-colored designs or special stitches, like cable knits, offer lots of possibilities—enjoy! You can also utilize the ribbing on a sweater's lower edge, though don't expect it to be particularly functional. Once the sweater is felted, much of the stretch is long gone. So you'll find these mittens aren't snug fitting. But they are very cool—and warm at the same time!

Cut two mittens on a double-layer of fabric. Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch each set together along the outer edge using a straight running stitch, whipstitch or blanket stitch. Perfect stitches NOT required. You can also machine stitch using a long stitch length (5.0mm).

To do the running stitch, use yarn or heavy thread like embroidery floss—all strands in the skein—and a large-eyed needle. Then just run the needle in and out of the fabric.





If desired, add a final row of the running stitches around the "cuff" area, gathering slightly and finishing with a bow. Or add button embellishments—whatever your pleasure.

Original source: SYSF

New source: Dabbled

[Edit 12/16] The original source for this project appears to no longer be on the Web, although the instructions are pretty easy to follow. You can also find similar instructions (with pictures) at Dabbled.org.

If you like green / eco-conscious gifts, you might want to check out:

Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts (Leisure Arts #4802)
by House, Allan Ed. and Leisure Arts and Leisure ArtsTrade Paperback

30. Button Clock

MATERIALS

Round cookie-tin lid
Awl
Nail set
Dial template
12 buttons in various sizes, shapes, and colors
Multipurpose cement
Clock movement

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Poke a hole through the center of the lid with an awl. Using a nail set, widen the hole to accommodate the shaft.
2. Refer to the dial template to position the button hour markers. Affix buttons with multipurpose cement. To assemble mechanism, follow manufacturer’s instructions.

Source MarthaStewart.com

Want more Martha Stewart crafts? Why not check out her encyclopedia of crafts:

Martha Stewarts Encyclopedia of Crafts An A To Z Guide with Detailed Instructions & Endless Inspiration
by Luke Brock (Hardcover)