This is a great recycling project for scout troops, 4-H clubs, folks in nursing homes, etc.

Items needed include:
Clean used jar flats
Used cards, Easter, Mother's Day, Birthday, Christmas or other items like photographs
Glue, glitter, yarm, rick-rack, ribbons, or anything else you can find that will glue on to the flat

Cut the pictures to fit the size of the jar flat. Glue them to the flat. Let the glue dry and then start decorating with the ribbons, glitter, flat craft jewels, etc.

You can glue two of the flats together so you have decorations on both sides. Glue on a piece of ribbon or yarn to use as a hanger. A hot glue gun works great for this project if safety rules are followed. Several of these decorated photo flats can be glued on a wide ribbon and used as a photo gallery for grandparents or other relatives.

If you have some nice sized shells and some leftover scented candle odds and ends, you can make soemthing beautiful for your bathroom or bedroom at practically no cost.

To begin, you will need to purchase some wicking at the craft store. Around here, it's about $2 for 10 feet...that's a lot of candles! I don't use the little metal wick holders. I just tie the wicking around a washer from my junk drawer...does the same thing and it's free!

At any rate, melt the wax in a clean old tin can in a double boiler. Put the wick tied to the washer in the center and add some melted wax. Let it set up and then add a little more wax. You may have to hold the wick up. I tie the wicking onto a pencil and suspend it between a couple of small drinking glasses. It's a little unorthodox, but it works.

These also make a nice addition to a bridal shower gift. Purchase some towels on sale and add a few of these candles for extra pizzazz.

One of my favorite gifts to give small...or not so small boys and girls, is a Blue Jeans Quilt. They wear like iron, and when made from recycled jeans, can be quite cost effective. There are several different ways to make them and time usually dictates how they are made in this house.

I cut the squares (about 5") from the good parts of the jeans over the year as they wear out too much to patch...or someone gives me a pile of old jeans they've discarded. To assemble the quilt, I usually just stitch the squares together to get the size I need, add a backing and tie in the middle of the squares with scrap yarn or crochet cotton. I then zig-zag around the outer edges to reinforce it.

My jean quilts are usually sized so they can be carried in the vehicle in the winter...or tossed on the floor and flopped on. In fact, I call 'em Floor Flops. I have learned though not to put anything in the middle for a batting. I usually use an old blanket for the backing and with anything extra in the middle, they are simply too heavy.

My expense for these quilts is next-to-nothing, usually no more than the cost of the thread and the time it takes to put them together. My quilts are usually made for kids, but they can be made in larger sizes for bigger beds or to use for impromptu picnics. They also work quite well under a sleeping bag as an extra padding.

Ragged blue jeans are easy to obtain. Simply "put out the word", chances are you will get more than you bargained for.

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