I recently took a hiatus from intentional creativity. After
months of watching friends excel in their creativity and being inspired by
other’s creative journey, I felt ready to take the plunge. As I set up a
painting station outside under my favorite tree I started thinking about how
sustainable crafting can or cannot be. I set up a plastic sheet to catch any
dripping paint, filled a plastic cup with water, pulled out my plastic bin
filled with plastic tubes of paint and unwrapped the plastic wrap from a new
canvas.
That’s a lot of plastic, right?
I purchased all of these craft supplies before my road to
sustainability took a more serious turn. I’m sure many who find themselves on a
journey to sustainability and zero waste find themselves in the same situation.
The wrong thing to do would be to throw away all of the supplies because they
are packaged in plastic. Instead, I give you 5 ways to create while being green
if you are starting or are on a green journey.
1.
Use What You Have
While this might seem obvious,
crafters often have hoarding like tendencies. I’m sure we’ve all seen the meme
that says someone walked into Target for some milk and walked out with 2 carts
full of stuff and forgot the milk. This can be said for crafters walking into
Michael’s or Joann’s. I admit I used to be one of these crafters. It wasn’t
until I started being more mindful of my purchases that I realized all of those
unused craft supplies (AKA spent dollars) weren’t serving a purpose. So, use
what you have, and if you have crafty friends, see what they might have.
Chances are they might not being using it and would be happy to contribute to
your project.
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| Photo by Folk Dreams Studio |
2.
Craft Swap
Sometimes as a maker you know that
the well thought out project you purchased all the supplies for is never going
to get done. What better way to clear room in your craft room than to swap for
craft supplies you may actually need or use? A few friends of mine got together
and did just that. I traded fabric, buttons, and tons of scrapbooking supplies
for watercolor paints, reusable plastic jars (for travelling!) and colored
pencils. The left over supplies from the craft swap were donated to a local
craft thrift store, which brings us to tip number 3.
3.
Used Craft Supplies
Someone’s trash is someone else’s
treasure – especially if you want to save money. This is such a great way to
get supplies for a new craft you might want to try, but aren’t 100% sure about.
By giving craft supplies a new life, you are keeping things like paints that
come in plastic out of the landfill for a little longer, while avoiding new
purchases.
4.
Thrifted and Vintage Supplies
My friend Joan is the host of
Break + Remake, a blog and you tube channel that focuses on useful crafts make
from thrifted and vintage supplies, giving the old a new life. I’ve had the
pleasure of co-hosting an episode with her and sometimes get to help film. She
has inspired me to find more sustainable vintage projects since I am a huge fan
of both vintage and thrifted items. I recently shared on Instagram that my old
man Oliver was having a tough time getting up on my bed. I repurposed a vintage
sewing stool into a step for him to jump onto to get on my bed by simply reupholstering
the seat. Quick, inexpensive projects can be found with a quick online search, at
Break + Remake, or use your imagination.
5.
Consume Consciously
If you are artistic, a maker or crafter,
there will come a time when something used, borrowed, thrifted or vintage isn’t
going to cut it. It is during those times that I encourage you to think about
what it is you are purchasing and if there is a better alternative. Do you sew?
How about organic fabric that comes from a trustworthy textile? If you use
paints, make sure the VOCs are low. Try to purchase supplies locally if
possible. By taking the time to reduce our carbon footprint, use of chemicals
and waste, we can create green, eco-friendly projects that allow us to flex our
creative muscle without compromising values.
For another great blog post on
green crafting visit The Rogue Ginger, who also struggles with how much waste
one of her favorite hobbies produces.
