Easy Reusable Bags - Trash 2 Treasure

Have you entered your pledge on the Olympic Torch Relay Site?
Here's mine.-

I will make and carry reusable bags and post directions on my blog DIY4Canada.blogspot.com for others to make their own bags too.

If you have a simple pattern for others to follow, drop me a comment on my blog.

Let's work together to keep plastic out of the landfills and reduce chemicals released as part of their decomposition process; organo-chlorine (highly toxic), methane, and nitrous oxide (greenhouse gases contributing to global warming).

From Tank to Tote - Easy Reusable Bag

Don't toss that too small / stained tank top - turn it into a tote!

1. Turn tank inside out.
2. Sew shirt together at the bottom (back-stitch if you don't have a sewing machine)
3. Turn right side out and decorate with permanent markers.

This really is a trash to treasure project. It won't take long for those nickels to add up that they're charging for bags at the grocery store.

Try this using other clothes that are headed for the scrap bin. A pair of toddler-sized coveralls could be really handy with all those extra pockets!

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DIY Air Conditioning

Ancient Romans had air conditioning. In the summer, they would seal all their windows and doors, but open a hole in the center of their house down into a tunnel that travelled under their house for 20 feet or so, to the outside, and opened in a shady spot. This underground tunnel contained air cooled by the earth.

To draw cold air into the house, the Romans had a black-painted, 3 foot chimney on their roof. When the sun heated the chimney, the hot air inside the chimney (and house) would rise, and pull the earth-cooled air into their home. Since air in underground caves is 65 F year-round, this process cooled their homes considerably.

You may be able to cool your home by blowing the cool air from your basement through your duct work, or by aiming a fan up you basement steps. Alternatively you can freeze water in water bottles, place them in a dish drainer (set atop a towel to absorb condensation), and direct a fan across the ice filled bottles.

If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, check out this air conditioner constructed by a student. This homemade air conditioner uses a fan, an ice water filled cooler and copper tubing. Note: you can pick up the zip ties used in this project at the dollar store to further reduce the cost of this project.

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DIY Cooling Scarf

A cooling idea from the folks in "The Land Down Under". The Watersorb site shows how to use polystyrene crystals to make cooling ties, vests, and helmets. Read testimonials on their site from service people in the armed forces who have found these useful even in the hottest of climates.

Although you can purchase the crystals from Watersorb, I wondered if there might be a cheaper source. I googled a few more sites, and...yup! You can use plant crystals. According to Debbie Colgrove at About.com Sewing , the crystals work great! (Debbie uses plant crystals from a gardening store.)

Hmm... I wonder if there are any reasons I couldn't use crystals from my local dollar store?

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