Recycled Tealight Candles - Instructions

Ok, so it always drove me nuts on how those 3 and 4 wick candles would have this nice mound of wax left after the wicks completely burned out. And add that to not being able to recycle the plastic tealight cups since there's no recycling code on the bottom and my recycling center won't take them! So, I went to the craft store with the original intention of getting a mold for votive candles or something like that so I could use up the wax from several candles I had kept - for some unknown reason at the time! I was amazed at the price of $21.99 for a small little thin cheap looking metal mold!!! So, I changed my mind and thought about the tealights... and saw that they had the empty plastic cups for $2.99 for 6! Well, heck, I have empty ones at home anyways - AND FOR FREE!!. So, I just purchased some of the wicks (packages of 12 for 1.99) and thought I'd give it a try. The picture is of them still drying - I plan on trimming the wick to size once they are completely dry, and I'm thinking that there may be enough to trim off to leave enough wick to do another tealight - so bonus - it ends up being 24 wicks for the $1.99!

In case you wanted to give it a try, here's what I did:
1. I just saved the empty plastic tealight cups (which by the way, the candles were a 24-pack of Sonoma brand at the Dollar Store, and yup, for $1.00! - Super Deal!).
2. I saved the wax from some of those brick style or large round style candles when the wicks burned out.
3. I just found an old butter dish - in the event the wax ruined anything, I didn't want it to be in a good bowl.
4. I just cut the wax into smaller chunks and tossed it into the bowl and put in right in the microwave - as a hint though, I only filled the bowl up about 1/2 way with the wax so there wasn't too much in there. Just keep checking the melting every few minutes and take out of the microwave once it turns liquidy.
5. If you are using a cheap butter style bowl, you'll easily be able to "bend" the bowl so theres a pour spout - place your wicks in each of the tealight cups, pour the liquid wax into the cups, and then just let them dry.
6. Voila - brand new tealights!! And only for the mere cost of some wicks - although, I'm still looking at the wicks and seeing what I can come up with that will burn equally well so I can go without even buying them - I'll keep everyone updated if I find anything!

Enjoy!!!

My Works in Progress - To Do List

These are some of the things that I am currently working on, or trying to get started and finished! Some are things I have already done, but haven't wrote up the patterns for, so keep looking as I'll be posting all of these things as soon as I can get them done!!
Knitted Marn Scarf
Knitted Marn Fringe Rug
Jean Bags/Purses - Sew
Reverisble Tote and Hobo Bag - Sew
Reworked Jean Skirt - Sew
Crocheted Loopy Plarn Rug
Knitted Marn Coasters
Crocheted Cassette Tape or VCR Tape Bag
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Dishcloths
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Shadow Scarf
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Flowers (for accenting items)
Crocheted Scrap Yarn & Plarn Scrubbers
Crocheted Marn Loopy Rug
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Dusters
Scrap Material Flowers (for accenting items) - Sew
Crocheted Plarn Necklace
Crocheted Marn Headband
Crocheted Marn Hat
Knitted Marn Headband
Knitted Marn Hat
Crocheted Chip Bag Purse/Bag
Juice Pouch Bag - Sew
Reworked Design T-Shirt to Tank - No Sew
Reworked Design T-shirt to Halter - Sew

And the list definately goes on, but it all depends on when I look at the items and decide they may make something better than originally planned! Besides, I think this is enough on my plate for the time being - there just aren't enough hours in the day!!

Crocheted Plarn Flower Pot Scrubber/Coaster Pattern

This was created from my need of some new "pot scrubbers"... and from trying to find new uses for those plastic bags. I did find that these seem to work better using the bread style bags rather than the standard plastic shopping bags as the bread bags are a thicker and more sturdy style plastic.

After making several as pot scrubbers, I realized that these would make pretty good coasters too - so the choice is yours!

To get started all you need to do is to cut your bread bags the same way as you do the standard plastic shopping bags to create your "plarn" (plastic bag yarn).

Materials:

Ball of Plarn (it takes approximately 2 bread bags to make one of these)

Size N crochet hook

The Pattern:

Chain 2

1. 6 single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain from hook - DO NOT JOIN - you will be working in the round for this.

2. Continue working in the round, do 2 sc in each sc (12 sc total at this point). Do not join.

3. Continue working in the round, *sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc*, repeat from * to * around. (18 sc at this point).

4. Join with a slip stitch in next sc, *(half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc)) all in next sc, (dc, hdc all in next sc), slip stitch into next sc* (petal made), repeat from * to * around. End with a slip stitch into the 1st slip stitch made. End off and weave in your loose ends.

The really nice thing about these (besides being able to find a nice use for those bread bags) is that they are very durable and can be used over and over again. I've used mine to the point where I've lost count and it still isn't to a point of having to toss it away! To reuse - just toss in your washing machine, and lay flat to dry. I haven't tryed to actually put them into the dryer or anything yet - I'm just a little leary that the plastic may melt a little or it may change form. But, washing and laying flat works perfectly fine!

Crocheted Fringed Marn Rug Pattern

Here's an item that I recently came up with for two reasons - a mound of old shirts my daughter either stained or had holes in, and the need for a rug for by the back door!

This is nice for a couple of reasons - I couldn't use the shirts for anything else because of the stains, but with the rug and "crocheting", you can't even see any of the stains, plus it used up some of those shirts and turned out pretty cool!

I call it a "Marn" rug because I made a yarn out of the material. If you aren't sure how to do this, let me know and I'll be glad to direct you - basically it's the same concept as plastic bag yarn (plarn), which you will be seeing patterns for too! You lay the item flat, and cut it in strips - with Marn though, you want it a little thinner than Plarn because it is thicker and harder to work with - I went with approximately 1/2 inch. I don't use the straight across strip method though, I start at the bottom of the shirt, cut off the bottom ribbing, and then do it in the round - meaning that I go spirally around the item cutting until I am all the way up to the top - this leaves a LOT less loose ends to weave in!

So, here goes:

This was made using all t-shirt style shirts (the stretchy pull-over style tops). You could make this easily all in one color too! I also used a N size crochet hook.

**Special Note - this item is crocheted only working on the front side of the rug - there is no turning involved**

**Special Note 2 - the fringe is made at the beginning and end of each round. When you start a new row, you leave a "tail" for the fringe and when you end the row you leave another "tail" for the other side fringe**

1.Getting Started: Leaving a tail of approximately 3 inches (don't worry too much about exact size as you can trim them all to be even when you are done - also, if you want more or less fringe, use the length appropriate for you), Chain 36. *if you would like a larger or smaller rug, this would be where you could easily add or subtract any chain rows - this pattern is made to easily be adjusted to any size!*

2. Single Crochet (sc) in the 2nd Chain (ch) from hook and in each ch to the end. Cut Marn leaving a 3" tail.

3. Return back to the beginning sc stitch. Leaving a 3" tail, join your marn again, chain 1, sc in each sc across. End the row leaving a 3" tail.

4. Repeat this pattern until the rug is your desired size (approximately 25 rows).

5. Lay the rug down and trim any of the ends of the fringe that are not even.

6. Due to the stretching of the fabric and working with the rug for all the time, it may not lay flat instantly, but it definately will in time! If needed, wash the rug (or just get wet with water), lay it flat and lay a couple heavy items on top - it'll stay a nice flat rug for as long as you need!

This is such a nice, thick, and sturdy rug - I've actually had several people over to the house that saw it and wanted to know where I got it because they wanted one! I really like the way it turned out, and for those of us who have a short attention span, it worked up quick!

ReWorked Designs Beginning

Well, this is my first "blog" - EVER! People have been saying for a while that I should start a blog, so I guess I'll attempt it! Anyways, this Blog is more of the mixture of my love of crafts and the love of "recycling". I love to turn old items into new fun ones and it's great how every new item is unique because of the differences in items available, and of course, you can always add your own personal touches!
My craft room is just atrosious since I won't throw anything away... I always figure that the moment I do, I'll find some great use for it - and it usually happens that way!! But hey, it keeps me out of trouble (sort-of)!

So, I think I'll give a few hints here... my first hint would be to not throw away (except for actual garbage of course!). I'll be posting some patterns or ideas on how to change items to give them all a new life. Also, when I'm changing a clothing item persay, I don't throw away the scraps because you can always use them for small embelishment items such as flowers on something else.... and of course, save buttons and things like that - because hey, who can't find a use for them?

I'm so obsessed with this stuff that I even bug family and friends to not throw away things without letting me see it first. For instance, I recently snagged a few balls of twine from a friend who was getting rid of them, so I think I'll turn it into a nice rug.

I'm always open to new ideas too, so if anyone reading this has any ideas for items, I'd love to hear them.... or in the alternative, if you'd like me to see if I can make something in particular, let me know and I'll see what I can do. I am more than willing to either post patterns for things or sell them directly to you when done.