In the spirit of International Earth Day – and because one of my goals for 2007 is to be a lot more ‘green’ – here’s a few tips for the environmentally friendly clayer:
- Batch your baking. Use less electricity, save energy AND money.
- Resist buying supplies you probably won’t use. I know, crafters HAVE to have the latest but if you stick to a list or budget it or plan it a little, you’ll save money AND all the packaging and shipping the company uses.
- Use printed one side papers. For notes, baking your clay on, and leaching your clay (make sure not to use the print side though!).
- Use clean, empty milk jugs or stiff plastic packaging for stencil and template making.
- Give old denim a new life by using it for making buffing wheels.
- Reuse attractive jars or chipped dishes as bases for clay projects.
- Reuse plastic bags as stuffing for your shipping.
- Recycle the old craft magazines and books or sell them to other enthusiasts.
- Give your old but sturdy beads and projects to your local school, daycare or other group that may use them. Declutter AND less garbage.
- Use the least harmful glues, paints and finishes you can. Dispose of remaining chemicals safely.
Reduce, reuse and recycle can be applied to a lot of crafty things I notice.
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