DIY Gifts For The Junk Collector On Your Holiday List

There are two types of junk collectors:

1. The collector who is constantly acquiring stuff, and the junk accumulates in every nook and cranny of their life. It forms the deadliest of all junk - clutter. 2. The collector who is constantly acquiring stuff and finding creative reuses for it. These folks are the ultimate recyclers as they repair and repurpose the trash to make treasures.

Pete Seeger said it best in his song, "If It Can't Be Reduced"

"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production."

Collecting stuff seems to be a human instinct. What would be the best gift to give a collector to help them get a handle on all their junk?...Organization.

Here are 10 Out Of Sight Out Of Mind DIY Boxes to deal with the organized mess, and here’s how to help identify what’s in the box:

DIY Chalkboard Labels

Materials:

Eco-friendly colored chalkboard paint – I like Hudson Paint because there are over 20 beautiful colors to choose from, it’s a low-VOC paint and it is a small local company.

Paintbrush

Old greeting cards

Scissors

Chalk

What to do:

1. Cut greeting cards to size. 2. Paint blank side of card with chalkboard paint. 3. Let dry. 4. Attach to box with glue.

Photos: unknown, Hudson Paint

DIY Gifts For The Eco-Fashionista On Your Holiday List

As I continue to dive into this A-Z Holiday DIY Eco-Gift Guide, I am reminded once again, that I have yin/yang relationship with shopping. I love stylish clothes (reading Vogue since I was 12), and I have been known to love to shop. But, as I filter everything through a green lens and embrace a simpler lifestyle, I am consciously aware of my consumption.

I recently wrote about two exciting things to hit the fashion industry – Zero Waste Fashion and The Common Treads Initiative. It's uplifting to know that some conscientious clothing designers and companies are creating sustainable fashion.

What to get an eco-fashionista? Green is the new black. Her commitment to the environment is as strong as her love of a good sale, and she's got the style to back up her ethics. This is an easy gift type to DIY for because there are two things that eco-fashionista's can never have enough of...shopping totes and hangers. Recycled Sweater Shopping Totes Repurpose sweaters that are either old, torn or no longer fit. Wool sweaters from thrift and secondhand shops can be made into felted functional objects.

What you need:

wool sweaters

chalk for marking

ruler

scissors

What to do:

1. Here are the directions for felting a sweater.

2. Lay the felted sweater flat. With chalk and ruler, mark line from armhole to armhole, parallel to bottom edge, for top edge of tote.

3. Mark handles as shown above.

4. Cut along chalk lines as indicated, then set aside sleeve and neck sections. Turn right side out, then open and refold so side seams are at center front and back. Topstitch or machine-zigzag bottom edges together, approx ½ inch up from hem.

5. Topstitch single layer of top and handle edges. Fold each handle in half with wrong side together and cut edges even and stitch down.

6. If desired, cut patch pocket from neck section, so curved neck edge is top edge. Center on tote front; topstitch in place along side and bottom edges.

Natural Wire and Branch Hangers

Hangers are long overdo for a fashion makeover. One of my most popular posts addressed the issue of how many hangers end up in our landfills. Read HERE to find the answer to that, and how to make 3 types of natural hangers.

Here is the original Planet Green post.

Bag Photos: Canadian Living

DIY Gifts for The Environmentalist on Your Holiday List: Podcasts and Videos

Have you ever met an ex-environmentalist? I haven't. Once you are one, you stay one.

Since you found econesting, I'd venture to say that you probably are an environmentalist that knows a few treehuggers. Right? Savvy environmentalists would say that they want nothing this holiday season. But, gifts are sometimes about need, not want. What does everyone need more of? OK, just take a guess...

The correct answer is...Education! (Did I mention that I was a teacher?)

Green technology and ecological news are constantly changing. For the uber-environmentalist on your list, give the latest and greatest environmental podcasts and videos.

Environmental Podcasts

The iTunes Store (Did I also mention I was an Apple fanatic?) has zillions of free podcasts that highlight every angle of environmental issues and inspiring green living ideas. Here are the Sierra Club's podcast picks.

Environmental Videos

The TED talks are chockfull of environmentally-themed topics. The videos are "Riveting talks by remarkable people." Outside magazine named the five best environmental movies of all time here.

DIY Gift For The Driver On Your List: Repurposed Driving/Biking Gloves

We'd probably all like to green up our driving practices by using public transportation more, but for many of us (myself included) driving a car remains the mode of getting from point A to point B. Do you have someone on your holiday list who loves to drive? Or, maybe they've ditched their car for a bike. Whether they drive a rechargeable hybrid, or a clean diesel (like me), or commute with two wheels and a pedal, reward them with a pair of repurposed driving gloves.

I just love this tutorial because in a few snips, you can transform an old pair of leather gloves.

DIY Repurposed Driving/Biking Gloves Materials:

• Soft leather gloves or gloves with non-slip palms
• Piece of chalk for marking
• Scissors

What to do: 1. Slip on gloves. With the chalk, draw circles around each knuckle. Draw a large circle on the back of each hand. 2. Mark off right below the finger joints where you'll need to cut to expose the fingers. 3. Take the gloves off. Cut out the holes for your knuckles and fingers.

Top off the gift by including a list of green driving tips with the gloves.

Photo: Stylehive

DIY Gift For The Chocolate Lover On Your Holiday List: Chocolate Lip Balm

Ah, what could be better than slathering chocolate on your lips? Not much, and I bet if we dug around in the Environmental Working Group's, Skin Deep website and checked out what's in lipstick (lead, yikes!), we'd skip the lipstick and make our own. Why chocolate lip balm? Chocolate contains flavonoids. These act as antioxidants (like in dark vegetables). Antioxidants protect the body from aging. Anything that curbs aging and tastes good gets my vote.

Holiday Chocolate Lip Balm

What you need: 1 teaspoon beeswax 2 teaspoons pure Fair Trade organic cocoa butter 3 teaspoons organic coconut or olive oil 5-10 drops peppermint essential oil recycled containers

What to do: Slowly melt ingredients in a double boiler or in 30-second spurts in microwave. Cool slightly and fill recycled containers. You may need to adjust the ratio of ingredients to suit your liking.