Welcome to Episode 6! As you can tell in the first screen shot, we are in a little different setting to open the show! Well, it’s only fitting because this week’s episode is all about repurposing items in a fun, crafty-kind of way! Join us as you learn how to make a sling purse from a wool sweater, as well as an easy craft that will
will get the kids involved!
Today’s episode is brought to you by American Express and TakePart’s Members Project.
Members Project is philanthropic initiative that gives everyone a chance to “do-it-yourself” and help change the world for the better, one small step at a time.
American Express is donating $200,000 in funding to five charities every three months!
You can help by casting one small vote for big change. Vote for the change you want to see in the world .
Voting is open to everyone, and you can vote every week, so be sure to keep coming back to help. Some of the charities you can vote for include Habitat for Humanity International, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The Nature Conservancy, and more. There are so many charities to choose from – be sure to view all of them and cast your vote!
In Episode 6, we show how we took a wool sweater and turned it into a very sleek, sling purse! It’s such an easy project and would be a great one not only for you to make, (tonight!) but even one to get the teens and tweens involved in! You’re going to love how this all comes together as a one-piece purse — including the handles!
If you’d like to make the flowers you see on the purse, be sure to check out this blog post and video we did in February.
Here are a few more photos for inspiration! This was such a fun project to make, I made 3 in one night! It’s a bit addicting! 
If your kids love to play in the dirt, capitalize on it! You’ll love this week’s 2-minute craft countdown!
Click here to download the accompanying PDF to Episode 6. You’ll receive the gift tag, as well as some additional photo steps of how that purse comes together.
Are you ready for another fun week of giveaways!?! Details of each product are in the video, but take a look at what you could win! 18 people will win something this week!
- The Hanes Company is giving one of our viewers a $100 gift certificate to Hanes.com! Learn how Hanes is helping the environment, and share your own “green tips” at their new website, www.HanesGreen.com. Three more people will also win an “Earth” T-shirt!
- Four people will win Betz White’s new book, Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed & Organic Materials. We absolutely love this book! Betz is a designer, author, and crafter who loves to take everyday items and repurpose them into some amazing projects! Be sure to watch our video above to find out more about Betz and this awesome book!
- Ten more people will win Volume 1 or 2 of Green Craft Magazine. If you love how-to projects delivered right to your mailbox each quarter, then you are going to really enjoy this magazine! It is filled with eco-friendly projects and ideas!
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So here’s how you can enter to win one of those fantastic prizes! Complete any or all of the following items and be sure to post here on the blog to let us know! It really is that easy!
#1 – Make a comment! All you have to do is watch Episode 6, leave a comment about it, and you’re entered!
#2 – Visit the American Express and Take Part’s Member Project and view all of the charities you can vote for! Come back and let us know where you’d like to see the funds go to. We hope you’ll also find a bit of time to read, vote, and volunteer!
#3 – Share one way you are “goin’ green!” Tell us on the blog so we’ll be inspired to do the same!
I love the bags, the repurposing and I love your show. Thanks so much . I’ve been served.
I would like to see the money go to Save the Children. They are a wonderful organization. I have donated to them in the past.
THe purse is perfect! Especially for fall. Love it!
St. Jude’s Children’s Research is my first choice always! Thanks for suggesting the Amex Project site.
Recycling at home… and of course by making a bag to take to the store. I am finally using it enough that I am remembering to bring it in. It is an adjustment, but well worth it. Thanks!
Love your craft ideas.
Love the great “Green” projects in today’s show. Can’t wait for the mother’s day show next week. Your show has become a highlight to my week. Thx!
This is such a cute, quick idea, WTG.
Perfect for Earth Day. Our women’s group at church is focusing our May meeting on re-purposing and your purse is a great idea for the contest we’re having =) Thanks so much!
What I really liked about this craft project was that it was a quick and easy way to basically use up a whole sweater to make two purses. It was simple plus I liked the fact that it takes you back to a project that was on earlier and it gives us a chance to remember to use that idea. There are so many ideas that
come across the internet but when you build upon other projects that have been taught from other episodes it reinforces the idea and we can remember them for projects we create ourselves.
One of the ways we are going green is to remember to take our bags in the stores so we don’t use the plastic ones. I know this is not a new idea but believe me, we have had to really work on making this a habit. I even walk back out to the car to get the bags so I will remember the next time I shop and it has really worked.
Great Ideas ladies…. Kim I tried to find the word skeewampus but couldn’t find it… must be my spelling…
love the sweeter bag idea.
I’d vote for habitat for community international.
I go green everyday…. recycling containers for planters or craft storage. Corrugated cardboard boxes for storage, scrapbook album covers, scrapbook pages/embellishments. Unwanted Cotton fabric tops/dresses/bedspreads/pillowcases for quilting fabric (I quilt for babies that are from less fortunate families). The ideas are endless really.
Perfect timing! I’ve been putting away my winter clothes and had a few sweaters I was going to toss. Thanks for another great project.
I would like to see the funds go to the American Cancer Society.
Great Ideas….once again…love love love your 2 min countdown crafts!! Thanks for your green episode today!!
I love these crazy girls. Did anyone else notice Kim’s profusely sweating left arm while they were talking in the grass? Breathe, Kim, it’s okay [giggle giggle]. That was a LOT of perspiration. Think I’m going to make the wheelbarrow with my twin grandies for their mom for MD.
Kim get some new scissors!!!! LOL. Seriously, girls you are such a delight to watch. I know I’ll never attempt to create what you gals are doing but sooo enjoy watching you two in action. Love when you gals get into the show and start relaxing and teasin’ each other. U two are on fire! The facial expressions – the thought bubbles – they’re awesome. You gals make what your doing look doable and “fun!”
xoxox,
A Fan
Cute little bag, now I will have to look at that sweater rack at the vintage store a bit more carefully! Thanks!
I really love the adorable felted purses. You two make it look pretty easy to make them. I have just the thing to use for material. Thanks for the idea.
I loved this 6th episode. I have a few wool sweaters… I have been saving. Now I know why!!!!! I can think of a few girlfriends who would love such a cutie Felted Bag.
I also went to the members project and voted for Share Our Strength – NO KID HUNGRY. I think this is a great program and commend American Express for their commitment to donating to these charities.
Thanks for the creative inspiration, you both share with us!!!!
love the bags may have to dig up some old sweaters. thank you for all the inspiration
Great show on repurposing sweaters for purses. I love the look of the rolled sweater flowers!
“Its not broken, its art.” I am working to use broken glass and chipped plates into making mosaic/concrete garden pavers. I am teaching the kids in my art class next week. I am also taking all the worn out T-shirts and polos and cutting them into quilt strips to make some cuddly throws. Over the years I have patched and hand me down jeans for my kids. When done they went into a box. This Christmas I taught my 11 youngest (11 yo) how to sew by cutting up the old jeans into quilt squares, stitching the together, then top stitching the seams. She pieced two twin quilts for her older brothers.
I didn’t see “A Place to Bark”, a totally deserving animal rescue located in Tennessee, so I voted for the ASPCA on the American Express site.
I’ve gone “green” in my own home by using items in my altered artwork that I would have normally thrown away. I save every cereal box and tissue box to be reused as the base for Artist Trading Cards, Inchies, and Chunky Pages. I also create “paper” by ironing plastic grocery bags together, as well as making actual paper by shredding junk mail, then pulverizing it in a blender with water and a little white glue.
You girls really make me smile! Love the projects. I’ve been using the paper covers from old CD, DVD and Video covers and making them into notebooks. I’m voting for Save the Children.
Love the show! I recycle glass, plastic, metal, and paper. I have sewn my own totes for shopping. And today I am sewing my own pantyliners from cotton flannel!!
I would love the money to go to Save the Children. So many good choices!
The purse was really fun and easy. It’s great to be able to include your kids on projects like this! Thanks!
I shrank a wool sweater when I went to college, but it was because I didn’t know it would shrink! In Hawaii we don’t need to wear wool sweaters. Thanks for the great ideas.
Oh, one way I am going green is to take my own bags to the store when I go shopping. We also grow our own sweet potatoes and green onions, along with recycling our bottles and newspapers. Oh, I almost forgot, I have worms that eat my garbage (fruit and veggie scraps). : )
The purses are so cute and quick and easy to make. I’ll probably make a few of these for family members.
I voted and would love to see it go to the Natural Trust for Historic Preservation. Something dear to my heart since we are remodeling an old 1888 Victorian Stone Country Farmhouse.
Our family is always looking for new ways to go green. We are trying our best on our remodel project for the Stone House and are looking into putting in solar for heating water.
Another great project! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Hi from Lancaster uk just loved the green ideas – our tiny school -24 children is a ‘green flag ‘school we are always looking for green reuseable ideas thankyou
thank you for encouraging everyone to help with a charitable organization. I’d like to recommend the Ronald McDonald House organization too.
Loved the project idea as always. Kris, I have a great idea for the zipper you are saving from the sweater…how about cutting it off the sweater and make it into a flower (rose) to embellish your sweater bag! Love you guys. Can’t wait to make one.
Kris and Kim, thank you so much for this wonderful episode! It came at the perfect time, as I’ve just gotten into felting and have done quite a few sweaters already and have been waiting for “inspiration!” Well, you’ve definitely inspired me and I can’t wait to get started. Can you please, please show us how to make those beautiful felted flowers that you used to embellish the gray purse??? Thanks also for all of the AMAZING giveaways!!!
Just visited the American Express website and checked out all of their great charities. Rails To Trails is near and dear to my heart, as not only is it a great way to re-use the old railroads but it improves communities, encourages fitness and exercise, and it’s a wonderful way to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature!
Just remembered something else I wanted to mention…I like to use my pinking shears when cutting the felt. It still leaves the raw edges but it adds a little texture and looks nice I think. Kim…get some new scissors, or better yet….sharpen the ones you have! LOL : ) You two are so cute. As someone mentioned above, I too was giggling to myself as I noticed the fountain in the background underneath Kim’s “armpit!” LOL : )
love, love, love the DIY DISH. can not wait to recycle a felted sweater into a sling bag. the two minute crafts are sooo cute and the instructions are easy to follow. thanks for your goin’ green episode.
Love it! Your felted bag looks so cute and easy! I always wondered how to felt wool. I’m going over to check out the TakePart Members Project.
you 2 gals are goof-balls. i was LOL during your video!
I’ve voted for Kiva.org, a wonderful organization where you can “lend” money to individuals to help grow their small business. The individuals then pay back their loans when they can so that the money can be donated to others. A great way to keep the cycle going.
Loved this episode. I teach sewing to kids so I will be sharing this project with them. Thanks.
oh, boy, 3 chances to win. love your projects. thanks for the directions. i would vote for meals on wheels. we have been making flower headbands for my girls from my boys’ old pants and shirts. it’s super fun and feels much better than throwing them out.
great idea using those old sweaters.
thanks so much for your great ideas! i will head to the thrift store today!!
I love the concept of sewing Green and I love the challenge of taking one thing and using it in an entirely different way! I am going to use the plant idea as a teacher’s gift to both my daughters’ teacher thank you so much!
Love it! Oh boy do we have some sweaters around here that will be perfect! Thanks again for sharing your creativity and talent!!!
Loved the episode!!! Sweet purses!!
I have always tried to reuse and repurpose things around me. It helps our earth and our budgets. I am always looking for more ideas. Thanks for the show.
Love the bags….thanks
Great episode this week. Thank you.
Oh, yes, I shrunk a wool sweater once… but ONLY once! Now I’ll have to do it again, and for a good reason this time… your cute bag! And I voted for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Thanks for everything!
I’m going to do the project with the kids over the summer. What a good idea.
Thanks for all the great green ideas. I love them. Keep on sharing such great creativity.
You guys rock! I love your show and the purse is adorable. I’m currently in the planting and gardening mode so the two minute project was perfect! Thanks!
Love the instructions for the slingpurse. I have to try one for myself. Please enter my name in your giveaway.
Thanks
Sandi
The sweater purses are a great easy green project–little wheel barrow using the plastic dispenser is a clever way to let young children see recycling using a fun project.
I use used coffee filters for not only crafting, but for lining the bottom of flower pots for drainage. I also use the coffee filters for collecting my veggie scraps when preparing a meal. When I am done with the prep work, I throw the filter and scraps in my compost bin.
Sandi
Loved the show! Y’all are so cute! I love all of the giggling!!!
I love the idea of repurposing! We should focus on reusing items every day of the year and not just earth day! Thanks for the great idea!
I am trying to get in the going green habit…my boys are in first grade and they are keeping us straight! We were not brought up recycling but they are constantly hounding us to do it. We are proud! I use my crock-pot at least once a week…it uses way LESS electricity than the oven. And it is much less work for me too!
Fun felted purse girls! My girls and I recycle all the time. One of my daughters most recent projects was a jumprope woven from her old socks. It was really fun to use your fingers to weave it together!
I voted for the Alzheimer’s Association. I think that is one of the saddest things to see an older person that was very “with it” all throughout life and because of this horrible disease they can’t even remember their own children. Very sad. Thanks for all y’all do!
Your purses are quick & easy, very cute, and green! I am making one of Betz White’s sweater purses from her book “Warm Fuzzies” as we speak. That book is all recycled sweater projects. Very inspiring – just like your program! Keep the great ideas coming!
What a neat idea those purses are!! I know I’ll have to try making some of those. And the little planter idea, perfect for Teacher Appreciation Week!! I know teachers are tired of candles & lotions so this will be something different for my kids to make for their teachers… thanks for the help!!
)
Another great episode and thank you for introducing the Take Part Social Network to us all. Great prizes today. Now you need to get Fiskers or Gingher to sponsor a show and get Kim some scissors. Or maybe a project would be a craft carryall and Kris will bring her’s to the show. lol
I think you gave many teachers an idea for a Mother’s Day craft with that wheel barrow project.
I love the both projects but just adore the wheel barrel for kids. That is the perfect type of prject to do with the kids I babysit. They could give it to their moms for Mother’s Day. Love it! Thanks for all the fabulous ideas.
Thanks for another way to use “felted” sweaters. This week’s episode is most interesting. I have been looking for several ideas on repurposing items and save just about anything that might be reused. Would love the sewing green book since it’s right up my alley.
Sandi! I throw my coffee filters (with the coffee grinds) into my compost bin, too!
Great episode! I am scouring thrift stores for wool sweaters alot lately…love all the possibilities and the fact that it is an earth-friendly craft!
I plan on repurposing old t-shirts by cutting them into strips and then knit with the strips.
Great use of a wool sweater that mistakenly got in the wash! Ahem, not that I have ever done that! Another great episode! My daughter will love to make the wheelbarrow planter!
love the purse – Wish I hadn’t given away the wool sweater that I accidentally felted! I’ll have to do some sweater hunting!
Thanks again. Like the Green ideas, hope to see more.
I’d like to see the money go to the Wildlife Conservation Society
I’ve cut up hubby’s old undershirts and turned them into cleaning rags. And I’ve cut up his old pants and used them to patch the holes in my son’s pants.
I really love your show- all of them. As a grandmother teaching grandgirls to sew this felting project is just perfect for the tween ones to make as presents for friends and family. Thank you so much for your ideas and helping us all to go green.
What a great project to use all those wool sweaters I have in my closet. Great episode.
I love to re-use items, it just seems so innovative. I have some old jeans leg, I want to make a skirt for my daughter, not sure how to put it together though. Once I complete it I’ll post it. This was a great episode and I can’t wait for next weeks. You gals rock, you have wonderful ideas and help me unlock my creativity.
such a great idea using those old sweaters.
Loved it!!! I really liked the 2 minute craft. I teach a bible class on Wed. and what a wonderful thing we could do with them for Mother’s Day. Or i could let my kids make them and give them to there Bible Class teachers or there teachers at school. I just love it. I will be asking all my friends for thier milk caps and laundry things. Thanks!!!
You have the cutest ideas. I would love to win any of the items shown.
Thanks for fixing the video. It works great now. I love watching your cute creative ideas.
love the pop up balloons! too funny!
Kim, I would have called it an armpit too
You ladies are an absolute HOOT! I had tears rolling down my cheeks I was laughing so much. What a neat relationship you have. Thanks for the ideas, my kids will be making the wheelbarrows for their Sunday school teachers. I can’t wait for the next episode!
I think the charities project is wonderful!
I would love to see habitat for humanity receive more funding!
I’m goin’ green with cleaning products!
I bought Norwex cleaning cloths and use only water to clean my home!
I can really see the clean and yet it’s without chemicals!
Going to look for a sweater today!
Hi Kim and Kris,
Love the cute bag made with the sweaters. My 3 granddaughters will love them. Can’t wait to get started.
Joyce
Oooooo…i really want to try the purse! I have saved shrunken sweaters with the idea that i can find something to use them for. This is perfect! Thanks!
Great episode. I love watching every week. Thank you for the gentle reminder that I need to do my part and try to be more “green”.
The ideas were GREAT and you make it so fun and easy. Can’t wait to help my grandkids make the wheelbarrows!!!And at my age, I should have plenty of old sweaters!
I would like to see $ go to the Altzheimer’s Association. I’ve had friends and family impacted by this devastating disease that we know so little about. I would love to see progress made towards treatments, or better yet, a cure.
I love that little Wheelbarrow Planter! I plan to help my grandkids make some for their Moms. Cute!
I loved this episode. Going to dig through my old clothes that I never wear and make something out of them.
Love the bags!! I have a sweater all ready to go!
Loved sewing how to transform an everyday sweater into a cute purse. I love the idea of taking something you no longer use and make it into something creative. The book and magazine look like a lot of fun!!
I voted for Meals on Wheels. I am really impressed with these large companies that are working to make a difference.
I have been washing all of our laundry in cold water for years. I am now recycling cardboard rolls for different projects – pincushions and holiday crafts.
Again another great episode. Being green drives me to think of different projects and reuse different things! I have made a bunch of grocery bags and girls dresses out of the old shirts and such around the house. It’s great to know more crafter’s are thinking the same. Excellent job ladies!
Share our strength/No Kids Hungry is my charity of choice!
It’s the hardest thing for me to remember (why?? I don’t know), but I’m working really hard at remembering my reusable bags for shopping. All those plastic bags are choking the earth!
My charity of choice is The National Military Family Association, Inc. Being a military family that one hits right at home.
You two must have gotten into the “giddy juice”! What fun you were having and I loved your spontaneity! Keep up the good work and ideas…….
I’m always up for a new and different bag. I need to go hit up some thrift stores and see if I can find some wool sweaters. What a fun project!
I love the purse, what a great idea and seems easy to do!
never heard of Green Craft magazine…where did you find it?
I like to repurpose the legs of our outgrown/worn out jeans into small handle bags for us to carry all our toys, snacks, etc around. They are easy to cut, put together and are sturdy enough for the kids to use!!
I love the purse! I have been using sweaters to make purses for some time, but I love your approach!
My latest “green” project is cutting used t-shirts into strips to make yarn (tarn). I am going to crochet a rug with the yarn. It may take a little while to collect enough shirts, but I am well on my way..
My latest efforts in going green is repurposing shirts and sweaters my husband no longer wears. Last winter I “stole” an unused sweater from his closet and turned it into a dress for my toddler. To girly it up I added some decorative stitches. I also used the rose crochet pattern from the Yarn Can Make This newsletter to make a rose for the front of the sweater and a couple more I attached to a clip for her hair.
I have a dog with a bad skin condition. If he keeps a shirt on he doesn’t scratch. Old t-shirts of my husband’s (he’s a clothing packrat) come in handy in making doggy t-shirts.
I have been collecting wool sweaters, thanks for the ideas
I just visited the Members Project site. I voted for the Alzheimers Association. My father had this disease and any research that will help unravel the mystery of it and support their caregivers is greatly needed. Thanks for making us aware of this project.
I voted for no kid goes hungry. I can not imagine
how horrible it would be to go to bed hungry, day after
day.
It use to be that when one used used things you were cheap.
I love it now! I am finally in the now. Let’s use less chemicals,
in cleaning-and in our gardens!
Great idea with the sweaters. I loved getting a small view of your mountains!
Great ideas! My kids will love the little planter.
I’d like to see money to go the Susan G Komen for the cure.
Great sweater purse ladies.
Our city has given us huge recycling cans so I try to get the family to totally fill it up each week. Our regular trash is usually only filled with one trash bag for the week due to that!
So many great charities! I’d vote for Mercy Corps.
I LOVED this show…I’m all about “going green” and repurposing items. I collect old jeans and cut them up for purses, tote bags, placemats…I also make picnic quilts out of repurposed denim. Just sew patches of denim cut from old jeans together in a crazy quilt fashion leaving the raw edges exposed and snip the seam allowance every 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Once it has been laundered the edges get raggedy and are so fun. These picnic quilts are so durable–wonderful for outdoors. My daughters keep theirs in the car for all kinds of uses. The more faded they get, the better they look! Thanks for your ideas…I love your show!
I just made a big garden plot and planted 7 fruit trees so our family will have organic fruits & veggies. We also have switched to fabric shopping & lunch bags and use the clothes line when the weather’s dry.
What a fun idea! I have the cutest sweater that I did that do a while back that I have been trying to figure out what to do with. Now I know!
I have done the shrinking sweater routine and then given it to someone smaller or sent it to charity!
This is a great idea and one to add along with it is to make a pillow out of the body of the sweater!
My vote went to helping with the 9/11 memorial. We need to remember what happened.
Such cute purses! I wish I hadn’t thrown away my old sweater now.
You guys are SO funny! I love that your videos are live. It makes it so much more enjoyable to watch. (I do get a chuckle out of the bubbles added later – “underarm vs. armpit”!) I loved the felted sweater purses. I’ve washed a wool sweater too!
I love the recycled sweater purses! For going green, I do my part by not using chemicals in my vegetable and flower gardens, and save my coffee grounds and egg shells for compost.
I’m already in the habit of taking too short pants and making shorts or capris for my girls and embellishing them with ruffles or flowers made from the cuttings. I’m constantly trying to find new uses for things before I even consider getting rid of them!
I would love to see money donated to the Susan G Komen foundation.
Shaklee products are a great way to be green and they have been ‘green’ ever since they started in 1956! Way before green meant something more than color
I love their H2 household cleaner that makes window cleaner that works with only 1or 2 drops in a 16 oz bottle of water! Then have another spray bottle and add 1 1/2 tsp of H2 and have a wonderful household cleaner that cleans almost anything you can think of. I also use this product for spots on my clothes! Great product that completely biodegrades in less than 10days! That’s green !!!
Love the purse………going to hit the resale shops and make some for my granddaughters! All of your projects are soooooooooooooooooo cute and easy. I look forward to your weekly episodes!
Great ideas for green crafting! Off to see what I’ve save that can be re-purposed.
I watched this with my 3-year old and he pointed to Kim and said “She’s leaking!” Sure enough, there’s a whole spout of water coming out of your shoulder in the opening segment! Made me laugh out loud.
Thanks so much for such fabulous projects and information about the take part members project!
I loved this episode!! My mother-in-law is the one who shrunk my wool sweater!!! She felt soooo bad. And it was thrown away too! Oh well, we live and learn. The purses are so cute. I am going to go check out our local thrift stores. Thanks for the ideas!
Blessings,
Becky
Okay so I love the little wheel barrow idea! For years I’ve been trying to figure out what those scoops could be used for. I should have figured that you two would be able to come up with something. Darling idea!!!
I loved the purse. How creative! I passed the info on the wheelbarrow planter to my daughter for the kids to make. I went to the Takepart site and voted for Meals on Wheels. I think the older people often get forgotten when it comes to charities because we are focusing on the young for the future. Both are important. Keep up the good work. Your approach is fresh and fun.
A great way to recycle a sweater. I love the purple one. I heard about your web programme via Betz White’s blog and am pleased I popped over for a look.
I’ve hear of felting a sweater , thanks for explained how it was done. never new that one mistake had a name.can’t wait for the granddaughters come in to make the wheelbarrels, I picked up a few packs of forget me nots seed packs at a wedding last Saturday
I don’t have any more wool sweaters so I’ll have to check out the second hand store for one. It would be fun to make a purse.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Love the projects! The wheel barrel idea is a great idea to make for a grandchild as a “thank you” for doing something special, or a Birthday…” I’ve enjoyed watching you grow”.
Great way to reuse a sweater! The little planters are adorable, too!
Wow, now I know what to do with those old funky outgrown sweaters. Thanks! The “Wheel Barrow” flower pot is so cute–great project for the younger Scouts. Hugs, Dj
Great charities! I’d vote for Mercy Corps.
We plant a garden to grow organic fruits & veggies, use cloth bags for shopping and lunches and a clothes line to dry clothes.
Cute purse idea I plan on having my niece come over to make one soon.
Amazing Charities to choose from. I would pick St Judes as that is dear to my heart after my niece got Cancer.
OUr going green fun thing we are doing started two years ago with Christmas time. With my family each gift has to fall under these four categories make it, bake it, grow it, or sew it. Then this year with my in laws the theme is repurpose. Each gift has to be a used item repurposed. The book and Magazine you are giving away would be a huge help as I try to come up with ideas.
Love it! And Yes, I too have shrunk a sweater….It was my brother-in-laws and the story has never been forgotten! Tee-Hee……Can’t wait to make this purse! Keep up the creativity!
#1 Loved the Goin’ Green episode. Yes, I have shrunk those wool sweaters myself. What a great idea to repurpose into bags. And shopping at the thrift store for sweaters, another great idea. That way I wouldn’t have to wait around until I shrunk another one myself.
#2 Habitat for Humanity International is one of my favorite charities. It is amazing that you can build a home for a deserving family in so little time with alot of help.
#3 We go green by having our church bulletin emailed to us rather than have it sent in the mail. As well as getting all those nasty bills by email, an EcoBill if you will, instead of getting them in the mail and killing another tree.
Love the purse idea. ‘Sew’ simple that I know it will be a fun project I can do with my Tweeners.
Let’s see – how are we going green? I love repurposing clothes so my goal will be to not buy new clothes for 6 months and repurpose thrift or vintage clothes for my kids.
Keep up the fun videos ladies.
Love the wheelbarrow seed starter — maybe they’ll be sprouting in time for Mother’s Day!
Really enjoyed episode 6. My daughter will love the purse. Thank you.
Love GREEN!!!! What a great show! Thanks for the felted purse idea! There are so many things oy can do with a felted sweater!
Love to see the AMex money go to Save the Children!
Since you posted a link to “You Can Make it” I have spent money I don’t have for instructions and patterns. I love it – my new passion to look at for inspiration. But then so are the two of you with the great projects you keep coming up with. – Thank You Also the way the videos are put together keep getting more and more creative and funner to watch again – Thank You
Patricia – Lake Tapps, WA
As always, another great episode!
Goin’ green? I use the reusable shopping bags! They are so great and so cute! I don’t only use them for groceries, but for all kinds of things! They are great tote bags!
Love the idea. Was about to send a bag full of sweaters to the thrift store, but now I’m going to pull a couple out and start crafting. My daughter wants to do this craft at her 10 yr. b-day party in a few months!
Seriously……..I have been wanting to felt sweaters for a long time. I go to garage sales just about every Saturday and of course can pick up on some fantastibargains. I will now be looking for wool sweaters to felt. Thanks……..you two are adorable!! Also at our house recycling is a big deal.
I want to win!
I think the charity of choice should be the Alzheimer’s Association. I have a grandpa with Alzheimers and his mother died from it. It’s sad to see someone you love lose their memory.
I go green evey day by using re-usable rags instead of sponges and paper towels that would just get thrown away.
The sweater purse is a great idea. What girl doesn’t love purses and to turn an old loved sweater into one is very lovely. Thanks.
I’ve just learned how to make felt….the purse will be my next project. Thanks for the video and I hope I win
I absolutely love these little videos!! Thank you again!
What a great idea for the wheelbarrow. My grandkids would love to make that and put something in it to grow for mommy. Love the sweater purse idea also. You guys are great. Always looking forward to your ideas.
I’m making washable fleece dusters to go on those “special” handles instead of using throw away refills. I made several to use for work since we clean once a week and dust EVERYTHING!!
I too was laughing my head off; you two are so great together and funny! The purse idea is fabulous! We recycle! I reuse clothing as well, for craft and sewing projects. Thanks for another awesome show!!
Share Our Strength….No Kid Hungry!
Loved the purse, My sister makes purses out of wool sweaters, but haven’t een one like this. Very easy! The Charuty I would vote for would be Alzhemiers reasearch, it ha effected my family.
My Grand daughter LOVES purses…Goodwill here I come-hope you have a PINK wool sweater for me to wash and cut up!
Enjoyed the green bag project. As a person who has shrunk my share of sweaters I really appreciated this.
Love new ideas to upcycle every day items! Thanks for all of the great craft ideas!
I love the sweater you cut up!
Great show today, ladies.
Felting is a love of mine…glad to see it highlighted.
oxo
I’ve started turning cast-off clothing into green yarn. It’s become very difficult to throw anything away around our house. This year I used toilet paper rolls as seed starter pots. They work great!
I love the idea of re using stuff around the house specially for something useful. I need to tell you that every time my twins (3 ) see me on the computer they want to watch the DIY Dish they call it BYUdish …. They spend alto of time around BYU ha ha. Thanks for your ideas
Love the purse idea…..in fact, I have a felted wool sweater ready to re-purpose as a result of my DH doing th wash!
I love it!! Next month I’ll be teaching in my church about re-using old clothing.
Thanks!
I love the purses. I am definatly going to make some. Thanks you guys.
I voted for American Cancer Society.
Still loving your show! I’m a HUGE proponent of giving everyday, unused or overused items new life! So, thanks for sharing your ideas!
Great show’s!! Can’t wait to make this one!
What a great project! I love that it’s just a couple of seams, quick and easy and makes it feasible for all of us to use those unfortunately felted sweaters. THANKS!
I’m an Artist and I like when I see others re-using old stuff and making something new.
I really liked that you used the “use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without” slogan in your video. i have little slips of paper all over my house with that on it to remind me to live by that. I started in my pantry. I unfortunately have a deep pantry and stuff gets lost. So I pulled everything out and did an inventory, then labeled the pantry to make sure we can use up what we have before buying more. It’s our attempt to use what is already in existance instead of buying more stuff we already have.
I love the purses. I’ve been making stuff with old sweaters for a while now, but it’s always fun to find something new.
I love the sweater purses!! Great way to use a sweater thats ben shrunk/
Can’t write much – I am on my way to the thrift store to buy some wool sweaters! Can’t wait to try this project!
Another great show
I’m still waiting for someone to pick you up for a half hour or full hour show on the tv! I was happy to see you upcycle old sweaters- I have been upcycling fabrics for years and it really is one of those smart things that our ancestors did that we should too. One of the favorite quilts that my children loved the best was made out of old plaid mens shirts 
I loved this episode. I have two of my husband’s old wool sweaters in my craft box waiting for a project just like this!
)
I love these bags and those flowers are great!
I voted for Share our strength – no kid hungry. I beleive all children should have food to help them grow heatlthy.
My husband and I are working on baby green steps around our home. Reusable shopping bags and produce bags. Reusable mugs. We reuse the samller paper bags with handles (like the ones you get from Starbucks) as our lunch bags. Next on the list an herb garden and a compost bin!
Love, Love, Love the little purse. I have done this before, but this has inspired me to do some more. The kid project this time is so cute, can’t wait for my grand daughter to visit to do this.
This idea I got on the Disney site. You take a egg carton paint each egg segment a different color and then go for a walk and find things that match that color. This is a really great project for kids. They can then make a picture or something from the items that they have found.
My wife loves watching your show! Thanks for helping her get back into her arts and craft.
Thanks so much for the ideas! I can’t wait to go shrink my old sweaters!
I’m always interested in learning how to find a purpose for what is on hand. Thanks for the ideas.
I have been making flowers, pillows covers, neck scarves, tote and shoe bags from materials I have available.
Love the idea of using old sweaters! How creative and cute!
What an interesting way to transform an old sweater into something new. Really love the felt flowers on both the gray and purple purses — they really add such a cute flair.
I checked out the American Express website. It is really hard to choose just one — so many great organizations that do so much good. I did decide to vote for the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital because their work has so much impact on those that are so young.
I am going green by using canvas shopping bags to bring my groceries home. I have been using them for over 10 years now and I really feel it has made a difference over time. I recently started taking them to other stores to cut down on the use of more bags. The bags that I do bring home get re-used as liners in bathroom garbage cans — why buy something when you can use something you got for free.
I would like to see the money that is donated go to Alzheimer Association.
Have had and do have family fighting it right now.
So many great organizations! I would like to see the money go to American Cancer Society.
I have had a lot of family die from cancer.
Love the show! The wheel barrow is too darn cute. I am becoming a hoarder with my upcycling of old clothes and fabrics. I take my owns bags for shopping and I have a wonderful compost going. The whole family is actively involved. Choosing just one charity is tough but I went with Rials to Trails this time.
I love repurposing, love your show!
Loved this show and Betz’ stuff. We always make castles and houses out of old boxes.
Cute purses! Love how you go green!
Hmm that is a toss up between the Big brother Big sister program and the Meals on Wheels. I love how they are helping people who can’t help them selves.
I am trying to go green by re-using clothes that would be given away. Using up old and grown out clothes for other projects. I also try to use plastic containers from mayo and other things for my kids’ small toys.
This episode had me rolling today! I couldn’t stop laughing about all the armpit pop ups! LOL!!!
With creativity most items can be recycled. Love our show and look forward to the next one.
Operation Smile gets my vote!
Save the children project gets my vote
Love the humor! For years now I have been using my husbands old worn out jeans to make really cute baby bibs. I also use old cotton skirts for quilting projects. Now I’m going to vote!
One way I’m goin’ green is by using less paper goods! It may make me tired by having full dishwasher loads and folding all those towels, but I feel better about creating less waste.
We’re also moving and I plan to repurpose all those boxes into something for my boys. I’ll let them decide if they want a fort, store, or castle and we’ll create together!
Are there written directions for the purse? The video
kept starting & stopping, making it hard to follow/
Thank you very much…
Susan B Korman/cancer
The 2-minute craft was really sweet…made me think of my grandkids! If they lived nearby I would make this craft with them for sure! Thanks for all of the ideas and the fun show.
Since both my mother and my sister have had mastectomies, my vote is for the Susan G Komen foundation.
I am a quilter and I love to use the scraps from other projects to make another quilt or to use in applique projects or to use in my fabric jewelry projects.
I have several sweaters I can repurpose. The bag is darling. Easy way to recycle. Nancy
My daughter is really looking forward to trying this. Thanks for a great episode!
I take my own bags to the grocery store and I buy second hand when I can.
Habitat for Humanity gets my vote.
We are goin green by using only cloth napkins! Thanks for the chance to win a great prize!
Loved the episode! I am running up to check my closet for a wool sweater I don’t wear to make one of these fun purses!!!
Operation Smile gets my vote! Love that charity!
I love this episode! Both are cute crafts I’ll have to put on my to-do list! xoxoxox
love ur show!yall are so fun and i get tons of ideas!thanx so much!
Happy to find you and your webcast!
Such a cute purse! I love it!
Girls,
I’ve been green for eons…I’ve used only cloth napkins since my first apartment, and I still have and USE the originals 24 years later! I shop thrifts stores first for everything, and think it is so much more fun…and my house and people are cute & chic.
Definitely St. Jude Children’s Research!
I have been saving a felted sweater-now I know what I will use it for. Thanks for the video.
That was an awesome episode! My six year old daughter sat and watched it with me and wants to go grab one of my old sweaters now to turn into a messenger bag!
I am so glad that I have found your site! I am learning so much and having such a fun
time creating. Many thanks, Cindi
Another great episode!
I have a charcoal gray wool sweater waiting for the perfect inspiration and now I have it =)
I’d have to vote for the Susan G. Komen.. so many great charities!
I like all of the charities, but one I fell very strongly about is the “Share Our Kid/No Kid Hungry!”
To me, there should not be a starving child anywhere in this world…..
Thanks, Cindi
My six year old daughter is so on board with the going green! She is constantly watching that we recycle and picks up trash! We re-use old jars and cans and have transformed some into crafty containers. We love finding new ideas for old things!
I loved episode 6! Lots of cute and fun ideas. We now live at the beach and have no reason to wear all the sweaters we have, so they will make lots and lots of fun Christmas gifts for all of my granddaughters and nieces. thanks!
One way our family is going green is turning down our water heater and taking at the most,
5 minute showers! Thanks, Cindi
I am a newbie to the whole going green, well, I thought I was. I’ve used cloth diapers on all four of my children when they were babies (just as the disposable diapers were coming on the scene), I do participate in our community recycle program, and I’ve cut back on all of our paper goods, using glasses and “real” plates, cloth napkins and dish towels instead of paper.
Love the kids project, alot more stable then using the egg containers.
So many decisions but I will pick Reading Is Fundamental.
Cute bags, I love sweater crafts, and its nice to see you had so much fun with it too!
We are going greener by avoiding disposable products such as paper towel, shopping bags, and ziploc bags, and by reusing as much as possible, such as using scrap paper and fabric for gift wrap.
My heart wanted to vote for all the charities! I was torn between many of them and am grateful we can vote each week. I voted for First Book.
I loved this episode and can’t wait to go on a hunt for old sweaters. The little wheelbarrows are so cute and I will be making these with my grandchildren. Keep up the good work and Ideas!
Hi Kris and Kim, As usual, love your great ideas. Love the sweater purse. I think I will get my 8 yr old grandaughter and help her make one. I think she will really like it. Keep up the good work.
Great Job gals!!! It came together perfect as usual. Kim, I know what I can get you for your birthday
Thanks for the fun idea.
One great charity would be the Boys and Girls clubs. This helps so many children who need somewhere to go so they aren’t home alone.
Love it. Love it. Love it!
Fun projects thanks!
Loved the purses you made out of the wool sweaters. The little wheelbarrow made out of the detergent measuring cup is adorable and would be perfect for a birthday party kids project or for a preschool project too.
Gail
Love this episode about going green, will have to make the wheel barrel with my granddaughter.
Great idea about sweater purses.
Thanks for the show.
Linda
HI Kim and Kris what a neat idea for the felted purses, they are so cute and less time then knitting with wool a piece and then felting it although I just did 3 this past Christmas for our adult daughters, from a book I had purchased. Good idea and I think save the children should get some of the money, they are so innocent. See you next week.
I love you guys! You’re so cute and down-to-earth….no stuffiness there! And I LOVE this week’s project! So cute, and I adore the flowers. They really make it. Teens could make it with appliques too. Just another thing to look for when I’m out yard-sale-ing. Keep up the good ideas. I’m getting inspired to try this. And thanks so much for all the great giveaways this week! I would love to have any of them. Here’s looking forward to Episode #7.
This is my first visit! I love your videos! I am a fellow teacher and I’m so enamored by your work! Great job ladies!
I need to make a trip to the local second hand store. How fun!
I love, love, love this idea. Repurposing a sweater into a purse is fabulous. You guys are great!
Love the green ideas. Its so fun to see how creative you can be with recycling!
Love your ideas. You two are awesome and fun to watch! Keep it up.
Love Both purses – what a great easy recycling craft and the planter idea is simple enough for my 3 year old grand neice too. Thanks for all the great ideas. Happy Earth Day Everyone!
I love watching your show every week! These purses are adorable and I have the perfect sweater to use for this project!
What a nice tribute to Earth Day. I was in high school when this celebration began and I am so happy to see the many different ways people recycle, reuse and repurpose things. …YES, haven’t we all washed a wool sweater or two. You made the project look so easy, thank you… My vote went to the “Rails to Trails Conservancy”, there were sooooo many good ones to choose from. I am an avid paper crafter and continually strive to re-use/purpose common everday items.
I was wondering if you use soap when you are felting the sweaters? My church is have their rummage sale soon. I think I will buy a sweater and try it.
My vote goes to Children’s Health Fund.
This video came at a great time. I just picked up a bunch of wool sweaters at a rummage sale (25 cents each!!) for this purpose!
I love the green projects. The purses are adorable!
I voted for the Alzheimer’s Association as we have relatives suffering from this disease.
I love you gals so much. Laughed really hard watching this episode …”Armpits!!”
Thanks for all you do to serve us with your amazing creativity!
XO
Daria
I’ve been doing many “green” things for years so it is hard to pick just one but I will pick using your own bags to go shopping since that is new for me.
This is a great project to make for preteen kids. Keep up the good work ladies. Brenda
this episode had me itching to find a woolly sweater!
i love to reuse recycle #6 plastic to make shrinky dinks with my kids
i love to scrounge through my family and friends “d.i. bags” and reuse clothing to make dresses, pillows, and pants.
OMGosh! What another wonderful show! Love the purse! Also, I was thinking (and this has probably been mentioned before), but the little wheelbarrow would make a great Teacher Appreciation gift also. Just thought I’d throw that out there in case it hasn’t.
Okay, so I voted for Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry. I have this thing for people not being able to eat because of lack of funds, especially children.
As for “going green”, I’m somewhat new to this concept ever since I became a stay-at-home mommy. Let’s just say I wish I would have tuned into the concept sooner because I LOVE repurposing things! For instance, on my blog, I turned an old metal spice rack into an organizer to hold my small embellishments!
You guys are having too much fun
Love the bags can’t wait to make with my daughter As always great episode
I love all of your DIY episodes, but this one cracked me up with the thought bubbles! The purses turned out great!
Tania
awesome purses, i recycling the old handbags to new, great idea, congrats!!!
This project was great.. I have more then one shrunken wool sweater lying around, I’m for sure going to try this! I also love the two min craft countdown.. My daughter loves to help in the garden.. it will be a perfect project to do with her on mother’s day! Thank you so much.
I try and re-purpose all my children’s clothing..especially my daughters, you can get away with it a lot easier with a girl. I turn her jeans into Capri’s, and her dresses into baby doll shirts..etc
We also always grow all our own vegetables in the summer. Our kids just love to garden.. great family time, and good for the environment! Thanks.
Awesome project. I’m digging out my wool sweaters tonight and going to give the purse a try. Thanks for sharing this quick and useful item with us.
” Armpit ” You guys are a blast.. I thought this episode was great!
The money would have to go to Save The Children…or any children’s charity in my opinion.
Thanks so much guys Happy Earth Day!!
I love the little wheelbarrow pot! It combines creativity and re-using everyday materials. Way to go!!
great show, the wheelbarrow was really cute.Great craft idea
You girls gave me the giggles. Loved the purse! I always look forward to what you will do next! Thanks for the smile!
Thanks for going green! It would be great for everybody to do a green project! I reuse all my kids/husband’s clothes that cant be given to Goodwill and make quilts, bags and other projects. I have not used wool yet, but will definately be making a purse! Thanks!
I would like to see First Book be a charity that gets the vote. It would be great for all children every where to have a book and be able to read it.
And finally, I have gone green. I no longer use a dryer, I hang my clothes on the line to dry. And I wash my dishes the old fashioned way…by hand and have them dry in a dish drainer. These are just a few things I have tried to do.
The charity I voted for is Children to Children.
I work at a bank and we have several old federal coin bags that are made of canvas. I was needing a bag for my clothespins/clothesline. So, I opened up the bottom of the bag and sewed in layers of leftover toule and used a canvas strap from something else and presto I had a clothepin bag! It turned out great. I felt good knowing that I recycled everything in it.
What a great show! I found my way here from Betz White’s blog– I’m going to watch the other episodes now.
I vote for American Cancer Society. Several members of my family are cancer survivors!
I’m going green by having a compost pile and bringing my own bags to the store. And crafting from recycled and repurposed materials.
Wow!!!! I think that you have some really cool ideas/projects!!! Will definitely be watching to see what other great ideas you have!!!! (And winning a prize would be fun, too!)
thanks!
mooki
Love the purse – very cute!! Time to head out and look for some wool sweaters!
Leigh Ann
Charity: Water is where I’d like to see the money go
I like to repurpose old clothes. I used a very cute, but very small, top for my daughter to make a clothespin bag for my washline! It’s so fun and colorful that I smile as I hang out my laundry
We try to be a little green on a daily basis — low-flow shower heads, recycling, turning off lights as soon as we leave a room, reusable bags, hand-me-down clothes (clothes get passed from older to younger daughter, then on to friends), etc. Small things, but they add up!
Love the chance to win one of your prizes. Betz White is amazing.
I loved the little wheelbarrow ideas. I’ve always wondered what to do with all of those detergent scoops- now I know!
I love your website and emails! I teach Sunday School and use your project ideas. Thanks for sharing your talents.
I plan to use the wheelbarrow project this Mother’s Day.
What a cute idea for an oops! We have all done that shrinking sweater trick. Just never kept the mistake (was to embarassed to tell anyone). I need to hit the thrift store and find a sweater to try this with. I really like the cute neckline on the purple one too.
I love your show- great fun always even if I don’t want to do the project always- I adore Betz White as well such clever ideas-
I like the green idea of using the cuff of the sweater and turning it in to a glass cozy to keep your fingers safe and dry. Use it on hot coffee cups and those ice tea glasses that sweat in the summer. Cute idea to even personalize each one.
Wow what alot of different charitys that the american express is trying to help. i think i will vote for the aspca.
I reuse the juice bottles when empty and fill with water to make ice. We use them in the cooler and when they melt we drink the cold water too!
Wow what a cool project this week ! i will have to try one of those ! I vote for the alzheimers association as i lost a grandmother with this heartbreaking illness. I try and re use all kinds of products in my art work from clothing to envelopes and i use the cloth bags to take to the grocery store. Thanks again girls for another wonderful idea !
I love this little purse….I see some gifts here.=0)
I voted for the ASPCA. I am a firm believer in all they do. As for going green at home, I keep reuseable bags in my car at all times for grocery shopping, among other things.
Love the new episode! Love the casual outdoorsiness too!
My vote goes to Susan G. Komen. My family and friends have been touched so much by this issue that it was an easy pick for me!
I rarely buy garbage bags anymore as I reuse the ones my groceries are packed in….when I don’t take my home made reusable bags. Instead of throwing everything away that I don’t want, I evaluate it first to see if it can be used in a different way. Next I see if anyone else wants it!
I just found your website! I watched every show and the 2nd helpings in one sitting!
You girls are very fun and very creative!
I will vote for St. Jude’s, as I lost my only child 4 years ago to a chromosome abnormality. When one doesn’t have the money to pay for medical bills, St. Jude’s would take you anyway! They have earned my respect and admiration. Uh… a hard thing to do I am afraid.
Thank you again for a great show!
I’m so excited to have discovered your website! What a fun online show you two produce.
Thank you!
I love the little purse! It’s so cute! The little wheelbarrel is cute too:) You two are a joy to watch. Keep it up.
I am “going green” by not using plastic silverware at work anymore
I recently made a wrap for silverware out of Michelle Engel Bencsko’s Happy Garden fabric!
Boys and Girls Club is my choice! Another great show!
I appreciate the chance to make a difference just by a mouse click. Thanks and great show this week.
Loved this episode. I too have shrunk sweaters and then thrown then out, Ouch! But I especially liked the little wheelbarrels. They will make a great table centerpieces for Mother’s day. Thanks for all the work you do for the webisodes they are great.
I LOVE this idea! Love your show! I LOVE American Express!
Wow Ladies,
I need to go hunt down a wool sweater.
I want money to go to
Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, Inc.
I’ve creted a fun green project as well.
http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/lets-recycle-for-earth-day-2010-with.html
TFL
Maggie
Wish we’d known this 45 years ago when my father shrank my sister’s brand-new wool sweater!
As for the vote, I’d like the contribution to go to the ASPCA.
If only I had thought of recycling when I shrunk the wool sweater I had just knitted for my sister, Pat
Love that you’re going green with projects ~ always a good thing.
The purses are cute and those little planter wheelbarrows are a great idea!
I look forward to each episode …
Green is in!
Love the bag but you really do need to get some new scissors.
Ask Friskars…I am sure they would sponsor you ?
Keep up the great work!
Liz
P.S: My vote goes to “First Book” …I think every child should learn to read..it opens doors to education, fantasy and crafts like no other.
Love the show and I made small “Lunch Bags” totes for a ladie’s group to bring their own coffee cups to the meetings so we don’t need to use styrofoam cups. The ladies loved them and many are encouraged to use the Green bags now for shopping!
Way cute purses! My son can’t wait to plant seeds! Great show today
Love this site! came to you through Betz White’s site and would love to be entered in your giveaway! I am so inspired…must run shrink a sweater!
I love repurposed sweaters- these bags are cute!
I’m looking forward to doing both of these projects with my daughters! Thank you!!!
Such cute purses! Do you have to find ones that are 100% wool?
I would love for the funds to go to the Susan G Komen foundation
I’m going green by recycling and using cloth rags instead of paper towels
I LOVED this episode as I have a pile of wool sweaters that have been waiting for a project like this! Thanks!
I love your ideas! I think re-purposing things is a wonderful idea and I would love more ideas on things to do. Thanks for your hard work and creative ideas. Keep it up!
I checked out the Member’s Project and came across Kiva.com. I love the opportunity this company gives to entrepreneurs!
I have been going green by cloth diapering my last 3 boys! It feels good knowing I’m not throwing more diapers into the landfill!
What a cute project. I always love to use something over for a new project.
I have made these before
For the Member’s Project, I would choose the Alzheimer’s Association. My grandma had Alzheimers, and it is such a nasty disease that changes a person’s whole personality.
Loved the show you gals are a hoot! We recycle just about everything! If I can’t find a reuse for something I keep it a while and love that you have suggested a great project like the purses! Thanks
I pick Save The Children for the AX Members Project!
Our family practices a “green” lifestyle in many ways….recycling…reusing….cloth shopping bags…conserving energy, gas….but one of our favorites, cloth diapers! We have a small cloth diaper business to share the fluff, http://www.zooniquebaby.com/
Thanks for the fun!!! Would LOVE to win that Sewing Green book!!!
I love the little wheelbarrow project. It is so cute!
Love this episode, the bags are beautiful.
I love watching you two ! I love the ideaof using the felted wool to make a purse. You know the zipper front you were wearing as a hat ?? How about making a zippered change purse???
Love the felted bags, very cute! Will give this one a try since i have a stack of already felted sweaters waiting for a project to use them in!!
I made the wheelbarrow project as a Mother’s Day craft at my kids school several years ago, we planted little marigolds plants in ours one year and petunias the next year instead of seeds. Decorated with heart stickers, they were a big hit with the Moms!!!
I like to repurpose old jeans and other denim into purses. I also repurpose old t shirts into totes and shopping bags.
Money should go to No Kid Goes Hungry!
Love the felted purse idea!! I’ll be visiting the local GoodWill store soon! Thanks for the idea:) I would love the Sewing Green book!
Oh you girls are just full of the neatest ideas. I would love to win any of those awesome sponsors gifts.
Thanks so much for all the web videos also.
Girls, you both are just precious !!!! God Bless
Great purse idea for upcycling a sweater. The plant wheelbarrel is just so adorable! Love it!
Felted purse…that was a darling idea! Can’t wait to try it!
What a great way to use an otherwise unusable felted sweater. My husband is ‘creating’ a model train layout so every little piece of cardboard, bottle tops, etc is recycled into card buildings etc. His stash of recycled stuff is taking over the room. (lol)
Great episode! I love the repurposing ideas. Going green is the thing! Can’t wait to see more.
Super cute purse and I love the plant wheelbarrel! I am going to suggest it to my son’s kindergarden teacher. My kids and I enjoy crafts using recycled items. Go green!
Great show, great ideas!
[...] am very excited to celebrate Earth Day with you by presenting Kim and Kris from The DIY Dish Web Show that brings you the latest and greatest projects, reviews, and how-to’s with everything DIY! They [...]
I love all of the recycling ideas. I have made purses out of old blue jeans for my grand children. I also embroidery designs on them and add iron on crystals. They love the purses and I recycled old jeans and men’s button down shirts. I really like any way to reuse, recycle & renew!
The purses were really cute. I think I have a sweater that would work really well for this project.
I would vote for Alzheimer’s Association.
I recycle the front of cards as long as there is no writting on the back.
Love the show today. I have a wool skirt that I felted and now know what to do with it! My two girls are going to love them.
We are also going to do the plant idea for teacher gifts this year. The sentiment is perfect for a preschool teacher.
I voted for the Phoenix House. Those who have been affected by a loved one having a substance abuse problem know the damage it does to families and communities. We need more organizations such as Phoenix house to assist our at risk teens to heal and move forward.
Going green in our house includes recycling my husbands and my old clothes into cute new creations for our little girls. It is amazing what cute things you can make from a mens button down shirt or old tshirts!
Love this! I can’t wait to go to a second hand shop to try this out.
I love the repurposing. I can only make so many shorts out of jeans with holes in the knees..
Love the episode. i can’t wait to get a wool sweater and shrink it! lol.
For the charities, I’m partial to St. Jude’s Children’s research hospital.
I would vote for jumpstart for young children. I was a special education teacher before I had kids and early intervention is key for all children, disability or not.
I will go green by reusing glass jars for my freezer jam! also recycling products I can.
We are waiting to turn on the AC as long as we can. We switched as many bulbs as we could to compact flourescents. We use cloth diapers and try to use towels and rags instead of paper towels. I wash on cold for everything except for diapers.
Haven’t read all the comments, but you are doing great green projects!
Are you members of the Osmond family? You look like you could be Marie Osmond’s daughters.
Loved your “Green” webisode! Keep up the great work.
Love the episode! Cute purse and idea for planting seeds. Thank-you thank-you for sharing your ideas and talents!
I think that it is a great idea to teach kids that they don’t have to send money on gifts for mom (grandma) and that it means more when they make it. Thank you the cute idea.
My almost seven year old daughter as she likes to be called is a big fan and this week’s episode has her ready to go. Her first statement was let me go wash and shrink my sweaters and I was like “uh, no!” and went on to explain that we would need to make a trip to the thrift store first. She is now in the laundry room looking for the detergent scoops so she can make the wheelbarrow. We really love watching your show together each week. Lots of great memories for the both of us. Although, I think my favorite part was her asking her five year old sister to come in and watch and then trying to explain how you shrunk the sweater then threw it in the trash (giggle) but then got it back out cut it up and made this. So cool! So, after this episode she thinks it’s okay to dig in the trash and shrink and cut up her sweaters.
I’m SOOO glad I was watching it with her. LOL Keep up the good work! As my daughter says “she thinks you both are lots of fun”!
I think its great that you have such wonderful sponsors. I voted for St. Jude.
LOVE all your projects!!! Hope we (me and my 7 year old!) win!!!
How awesome are those purses? I have been reading Betz White’s blog for a long time and she has so many great ideas for felted sweaters. Your bags are adorable!
Great giveaway! Count me in!!! I love tutorials that repurpose things like sweaters. what a great green craft activity!
I voted for Habitat for Humanity because I am passionate about finding people safe affordable housing.
great technique for reusing those shrunk sweaters!!!
Love your show and really enjoy watching and learning new ideas. Wonderful job ladies, I can tell you enjoy it as well. I can’t wait to make a bag.
i am obsessed with repurposing wool sweaters! so fun to see some new ideas.
thanks gals!
i have to vote for the alzheimer’s association. this disease has taken several of my family members.
we don’t use any paper napkins or paper towels in our home. i knit our dish cloths and make our cloth napkins. so fun!
Cute! Cute!! I love the little swing purse out of the felted sweater. I’ve also shrunken a sweater or too in my time and now I know what to do with them if it happens again. Thanks for your cute projects.
#2 post
I would like the money to go to Save The Children. They are a wonderful organization and helping children is a project dear to my own heart.
Post #3
I’ve gone green with my grocery bags. I had originally purchased some of the store bags but didn’t really like using them cause they weren’t cute! So I went through some clothes that I was going to toss out and re-purposed a couple of the cuter shirts into my own bags. I used webbing for the handles to make them be able to carry more weight. They really make the bags a lot stronger.
Watched the webisode! Loved green crafts!
Voted for Rails to Trails Conservancy! We love trails!
We have gone green with recycling and using reusable grocery bags! We are loving doing our part!
I think the kids and I might need to make some of those wheelbarrows.
Sweet! Love any chance to repurpose a sweater. So many sweaters, so little time (sigh)
Hi Ladies! I LOVE LOVE LOVE what you did with those wool sweaters! I would’ve never thought! I can’t wait to go ‘thrifting’ so I can find some wood to shrink and make everyone I know one of those GORGEOUS bags! Looking forward to your special Mother’s Day Episode! Thanks to you and your sponsors for the chance to win such fabulous prizes! I also want to tell you both that you are GREAT on camera! I love that you keep it REAL and don’t edit out goofs! It makes your show that much more fun!
Hi Ladies! I LOVE LOVE LOVE what you did with those wool sweaters! I would’ve never thought! I can’t wait to go ‘thrifting’ so I can find some wool to shrink and make everyone I know one of those GORGEOUS bags! Looking forward to your special Mother’s Day Episode! Thanks to you and your sponsors for the chance to win such fabulous prizes! I also want to tell you both that you are GREAT on camera! I love that you keep it REAL and don’t edit out goofs! It makes your show that much more fun!
Who doesn’t have a sweater sitting around? I can’t wait to try the purse except I think I will make mine larger. Keep up the fun episodes.
I voted for the children for children org because I believe strongly in education for children. Thanks again ladies for the fabulous show and bringing awareness!
Loved the sweater purse! Hopefully I did not get rid of a moth damaged sweater. I think it would work after I felted it…I have been thinking of many other potential purses from my cast off sweaters! I think my granddaughters would love these! Thanks for your great ideas. Love your show!
You did great like always. Those purses are adorable. I can’t wait to go to my second hand store and look for wool sweaters. My daughters would love making those with me.
Another great show! I have a bag of wool sweaters waiting for a project – thanks for the inspiration!
I voted for Reading Is Fundamental!!! My high school students used to get involved in club RIF and worked at the elementary to help with tutoring and reading skills. Well worth the effort!
the idea of this bags are so cute
thanks for the show!
i voted for “Children’s Health Fund”
i think thats the base for everything
thanks!
i go green by buying used in good condetion stuff
recycling plastic bottels, cans
thanks!
Awesome recycling project!
My 7 yr old is addicted to your webisodes. We’ve been watching them together after school. Thanks!
Thanks for all the fun ideas ! Wonderful !
I love that purse, I always wonder where you guys got the ideas.
I like this go green project, can I ask you to make more go green project?
Thank You
Miktha
Awesome! Your videos are great. I love the recycled sweater idea-Another project I am eager to try.
Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Brenda
I voted for the Jane Goodall Institute. People can take care of themselves. It’s the animals that need our help.
I am going green by taking my lunch to school so we don’t have to use the foam trays and disposable plasticware
Oh I have shrunk more sweaters than I care to admit and the sad thing is I even shrunk my favorite hand knit wool sock I made for myself. I love this episode thanks
I have a really heavy felted sweater I’m going ot try this with! Great idea & easy
I love re-purposing making old things into new. Thanks for the great episode and the giveaway!!!
My 5 year old daughter loves this purse and we found a great old sweater to make one for her!!!
On earth day I made a tote bag for my husband out of old used items :
three place mats, old curtains, corduroy pants and, a dog leash.
I too visit thrift shops and head for the sweaters. Fun stuff can come from things others don’t want. ( That is until they see what you do with it.)
What a wonderful way for American Express to give back. So many deserving charities. Its so hard to choose just one. Guess I’ll have to go back every week and choose a different one each week. This week I would like to see a donation go to The Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Habitat for Humainity gets my vote. I also love their ReStores, another great way to recycle.
Love Episode 6 and repurposing wool sweaters. And yes, I’m one of those lucky gals who shrunk a favorite wool sweater right after getting married. Oh, we learn so much over the years!
I have the perfect sweater, I got from a resale shop, for this purse.
And for going green, like so many moms over the years, I covered all my kids’ school books with paper grocery bags. When they were young, they loved to decorate them and make them their own — stickers, crayons, markers, paints, you name it! Oh, and you can even take used clothes — a favorite old t-shirt is perfect — to cover those books too. The clother covers can be embellished too!
I enjoyed episode 6 about felting and reusing wool sweaters. Recycling is essential. Thanks for celebrating Earth day.
My vote for the AM EX money went for Habitat for Humanity.
For going green, I have not only practiced recycling plastics and newspapers and plastic bags, but also I have saved all the jeans that my husband and son have worn-out and make denim quilts and purses. The pockets from jeans are especially useful.
Cute purses! This makes felting look easy.
Children for Children
I like to take items that I no longer need and repurpose them. If I can’t find another use, I donate it so that someone else can enjoy it.
you guys were HILARIOUS!!! it was like you were drunk or something!!
so cute!! love it and I can’t wait to try!! 
I love your show and it is fun to work with shrunken sweaters!
I loved the wheelbarrows! I think my son may be making one for grandma!
Cute purses! This makes felting look easy.
Another great show.
I look forward to watching your webisodes. I absolutely love how simple you make everything, and your shrinky dink pins have given my 5 year old daughter and I hours of quality time together. I love the idea of re-using items that would otherwise be thrown away. Do you have any ideas for re-purposing baby food jars? I seem to be going through plenty, and feel so bad throwing them away. And it was awesome to see you in person at the expo!
The kid project wheelbarrow planter is such an adorable idea. Thanks. That would be a great project to do when my granddaughter comes to visit so she can take a gift back home to Mommy.
[...] Episode 6: We're Goin 'Green! "The DIY Dish You ladies are absolute Hoot year! I had tears rolling down my cheeks I laughed so much. What a nice relationship that you have. Thanks for the ideas, my kids their preparation for Sunday the wheelbarrow teacher. I can not wait for the next episode! …. It used to be that used in the use of One Things You Were cheap. I love it now! I'm finally in the now. Let's use less chemicals, cleaning and in our gardens! Amy Ozuna. 20th April 2010 at 14.39 clock … [...]
Yes I’ve shrunk sweaters & I have repurposed them into hats & mitts, they are very warm. Now I need to find more to make purses! sometimes you really have to look before you find a good wool one, so much is acrylic these days. Pity.
I love the purses. Have tons of sweaters here I wan’t sure what to do with
As far as Going green — One of the major things we have done is started cloth diapering.
One way my family has gone green is to make reusable grocery bags out of old t-shirts. Thanks for the inspiration for the felted wool purses!! I can’t wait to try making one!
I really love the way you brought green back with wool felt purses, the fabulous book and magazine in what they are doing to be green, and the darling Mother’s Day gift for mother’s and grandma’s! I have been served!
I voted for Operation Smile, because I really feel that is the best charity for this time for me. Also, my mother in law takes those big ice cream buckets and recycles them to hold rice, toys, or when she goes to a family get together she puts potatoe salad or other dishes in there to take incase she has to leave. I like to use old pants to make levi blankets to give as gifts. Also pillow cases to make pillowcase dresses or dollies for nieces.
Gonna have to dig and find some old sweaters – or hit Goodwill for one! That project looks fun, cute and practical too. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
And
Thanks for the chance to win!
You girls always do something fun, cute, and simple!
I would love to win something, especially Betz White’s book!
One way I have been going green is to take my husband’s old shirts that don’t fit him anymore and make them into cute shirts for my 2 year old boy!
I too visit thrift shop…. will be heading toward the sweater section just to do a purse! I always look forward to watch a new episode of DYIDish.
very cute idea. Here in the south it is very hard to come upon Wool anything however when I do this is a great use of those accidental on purpose felted sweaters
What a great show! I have a piece of felted sweater that could make a small clutch. Can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks Sarah in Houston
[...] to a video on DIY Dish that shows how to make a wool felted shoulder bag from an old wool sweater.http://www.thediydish.com/2010/04/episode-6-were-goin-green/ Vodka in your laundry, beer in your hair, cornstarch deodorant, banana shoe shine… Shed the [...]
Thank you the fabulous “upcycling” ideas! I can’t wait to get some wool sweaters and try this! One thing I do is save ALL of my family’s worn out jeans and use them for various projects (fabric flowers, mini purses, etc). I have a BIG stash of old jeans – I have 7 kids! One day, when I have more time on my hands, I am planning on making a denim picnic quilt.
Sorry about the typos – typing one handed with a sleeping baby on my lap….
)
This was a great episode. Always trying to do the green thing! Thanks for your ideas.
Making recycled art is one of my favorite things to do, and it’s amazing how much you can do with a sweater. I felted one and cut it apart to make a birthday crown for my son, then needle felted embellishments on it. Great ideas, as usual ladies.
I’d love to donate to the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.
i think these bags are what every young girl will want their the best and easy to make nana and granddaughter project thanks so much
Loved it! I also have shrunk my share of wool sweaters … Now I know exactly what I’ll do with ‘em! As for the charity, I picked St. Judes. My four year old nephew was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age two. It’s been a long road, but he’s a fighter! I have nothing but respect and admiration for those little kids and their families. Every penny we can give to cancer research is money well spent!
What a great way to do a green and a felting project at the same time! I loved the design. I also liked the wheelbarrel plant idea. I’m thinking used coffee filters may be a way to make this plant biodegradable.
The charity I chose is the Habitat for Humanity.
I love to use someone else’s “trash” and make it into my “treasure.” Repurposing antique and salvage items from the trash is the best!
Great show – my neice would love one!
FOUNDATION FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION – an excellent cause!
I’ve been hanging on to just such a sweater with really cool clasps! I am envisioning a cute purse but made differently than you did here, but I liked the how to’s for the actual felting…knowing to rewash if it unravels…good tip!
My vote goes to Mercy Corp. Wish so many disasters hitting around the world lately, they are in dire need of funding! thanks!
I’ve used the plastic containers my lettuce/spinach comes in to make little garden beds for seed starting. With it’s lid, it acts like a mini greenhouse. Also, reuse shopping bags as trash can liners; and the nylon netting that comes around onions, oranges and other fruits/veg as scrubbies for the dishes. Just roll, jelly roll style, then as you would a rosette and hold fast with a rubber band. When it gets grungy, make another!
I love the idea of turning laundry scoops into planters! I make my own laundry detergent, but I am going to be asking family and friends to save me their scoops!
My vote goes to The American Cancer Society. I’ve lost many family members to cancer.
I’m trying to take small steps to leave a smaller footprint. I recycle what i can, I use fabric shopping bags and if I forget them I use those plastic bags to line my bathroom garbage cans, and of course I am always trying to find ways to recycle/upcycle/re-purpose items in my craft projects!
Cute handbags! Such a good idea!
We also recycle in our home.
I vote for American Cancer Society.
Great episode!
I love the purse ideas! Great info! Thanks a ton!!!!!
I voted for the american cancer society…many of my family members have been diagnosed with some type of cancer, and out of the 9, three of them have survived their battle with this terrible monster.
I am doing my part in the green lifestyle by reusing everything that I can, and recycling what I can’t. I make my own fabric shopping bags to use in place of those ugly plastic ones you get at the store.
love the show. its nice to sit down and relax as I watch!
I would love the donation to be St. Judes Hospital. I really love the service that it brings towards those beautiful children that need it so desperatly!
I have really been trying to recycle with all or our trash. The big thing is to try and influence the rest of my family in to doing the same with the same zeal as I have.
Love the show and thanks for the inspiration to recycle those old wool sweaters.
Loved the show, what a great way to use old sweaters.
I chose Charity:water on the american express site. Clean water is the first step to a better life for so many developing areas.
We use cloth napkins at our house. I just serged the edges of 14″x14″ squares of flannel. SO easy to make and we’ve been using ours for 2 years now. You can also coordinate with holidays.
Recycling is the way to go. There is so many simple ways to recycle and some we dont even think about until somebody goes I didnt even think about doing it that way. Keep showing the great ideas. I am going to give my husband some scrap material strips so he can tie my clematis vine up so it climbs up.
Love the idea for the sweaters!!! I love to use old things to make new.
Girls at work bring in clothes they don’t want. I now have a new idea!! Thanks!
1) What a great episode! I love to work with fiber and this idea for the felted baggie is so smart.
2) One way I’m planning to be a little more green around our house is by saving our plastic shopping bags and I intend to knit some re-useable shopping bags out of them!
Thanks for the sharing the excellent ideas!
I have seen a similar project using old T-shirts (doubled up for strength)- but this one is even better (and easier)!
Thanks!
Great Project! I love the idea of going green and repurposing things that are just lying around but I need more ideas. This is a great one… keep ‘em coming!
AWESOME! love to recyle clothes, did it last winter with a sweater that I turned into a skirt! Such a succes! Nobody believed it had been a sweater..
These are awesomly cute!
love miranda
Super easy and fun! I made two!!
I’m inspired!!! Unfortunately non of my old jumpers are shrinking. Aw well i’ll grow out of one soon.:)
I do not see how to cut the sweater..might be missing it. I saw the PDF directions and it said after cutting sweater like in episode 6 but I do not get a picture or video when I open that episode. What do I need to do to prep the sweater or do u start out with the whole sweater and follow PDF directions?
Thank you Kathy
I love this handbag, and I can’t wait to make it.