Plastic bottle portrait

Mary Ellen Croteau created this 8 by 7 foot portrait out of bottle caps and plastic bottle parts! The design is modeled after Chuck Close's portrait style and makes for an interesting critique on consumerism. Croteau's work focuses on the effect of plastic garbage on the environment, and asks that we look at our trash in a new light.

"I firmly believe in the power of the visual, and my work is my voice: a social critique and a visual challenge to all the cultural detritus we are force-fed every day. My art is about looking at things in a slightly different way, and is intended to undermine the status quo with wit and humor."

To see more of Croteau's colorful and inventive artwork from plastic bags and bottles, see: http://www.newdream.org/resources/2011-09-artist-critiques-consumer-culture

(close up of her nose!)

ReMake your holiday shopping at Union Square in NYC!

As we're entering the holiday shopping season, think about giving the gift of ReMaking this year. Our ReMake it kits are on sale at the Karma Kiss booth at the Union Square Holiday Fair. You can pick up a wine cork trivet, bottle lamp, stationery kit, and more. The gift of ReMaking never goes out of style. And neither does the gift of wine, for that matter. So consider picking up a wine cork trivet for your fave adult. If you can't make it to the holiday market, you can always score ReMake It kits online at Karma Kiss and Greenfeet. And don't forget to pick up my new book at Barnes and Noble! Happy holiday ReMaking!

Call for Skraptacular volunteers!

Call for volunteers!

The Skraptacular Eco Gift-Making Workshop will be held Saturday Dec. 3 from 1-5PM at the Muscota New School in Manhattan. This is an afternoon where kids and adults come together to create unique holiday gifts from reused and upcycled materials. Proceeds from this event will benefit Skraptacular and the Muscota Parents' Association.

Lots of creative adults are needed to help at the various stations. There's a creative child in all of us, so come have a ball to help kids make it all!

To volunteer, call Michelle Del Guercio at 917-699-8136

You can find more information at http://www.skraptacular.org/

Fortune Cookie Coaster

We came up with a fun way to recycle fortune cookie wisdom! Check out our fortune cookie coaster project on Instructables here to see detailed instructions. Show off your wise, yet crafty side with this easy paper project!

A minty fresh Halloween!

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween out there! As usual, I remade mine from scrap I had at my studio. I was an upcycled tooth fairy complete with a pleated skirt made from toothpaste tubes, a wand made from toothbrushes, toothbrush jewelry, and sparkly wings, tank top, and tights.

Want to make your own upcycled tooth fairy skirt? Head on over to Make:Projects for my step-by-step instructions. You can get a head start on next year's costume and try this pleated, upcycled skirt. It'll take a little while to collect all of those toothpaste tubes. But don't fear, after all of that candy this year, you'll be needing an extra dose of toothpaste.

What were you for Halloween? If you made (or remade) your own costume, you have 2 more days to enter it into Make's Halloween contest. I hear there are some scary-good prizes!