Archive for the ‘Paperie’ Category

Easy, Eco-Friendly Calendar You Can DIY In An Hour!

Thursday, January 26th, 2012
lauras blog pics 054 460x345 Easy, Eco Friendly Calendar You Can DIY In An Hour!

Image from The Embellished Nest.

There are so many items that most of us buy and own that we don’t even think about. Shoes, books, cellphones…How many people stop to think about where those items come from and how they’re produced, or if they’re sustainable? Seriously, when was the last thought you gave the calendar hanging on your wall any thought green-wise?

Simple things, such as calendars, may not seem like a big deal on the environmental scale, but they’re made from precious resources, in  potentially harmful ways (paper manufacturing is a common source of pollution), and you can bet that nearly every single house in America has at least one. So this year, if you’re still shopping around for the perfect calendar to hang in your kitchen or office, try making one instead! The above pictured calendar is a handmade version by Laura from The Embellished Nest. Using a simple background which she painted herself, Laura simply printed her own calendar pages at home and sewed them onto the decorated platform.

Not only is this idea simple and easy (you can even get the calendar template free from her website), but it also gives you the control over the specific design aesthetic as well as the greenness of it. You can use recycled paper, re-purposed paper, and even eco-friendly inks and paints! It’s the perfect combination of craftiness and environmental responsibility.

For more eco-friendly calendar ideas, head on over the TLC website to find some inspiration!

Last-Minute, Eco-Friendly, DIY Gifts for All Skill-Levels!

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

It may feel like time is flying by as the holidays approach. Maybe it’s flying by because you’re having such a blast and you’ve had all of your gifts bought and wrapped since Thanksgiving. Or, if you’re like many of the rest of us, maybe it’s flying by because you just looked at your list and realized you’re only half done with four days to go.

However, fret not! There’s a simple solution to this dilemma: handmade gifts. Not only can many DIY gifts be made from things you already have on hand, but it’s also a thoughtful and green way to say you care during the holidays. There are tons of options out there, ranging from simple to complex, and from minimal to fancy. Below are a few last minute gift ideas that will leave the recipient smiling, both at your commitment to being eco-friendly and at your daring know-how!

allboxes 460x305 Last Minute, Eco Friendly, DIY Gifts for All Skill Levels!

Image from Design*Sponge.

These simple and beautiful boxes are super easy to make and can be used as the gift itself, or to put other gifts in. Plus, they’re reusable, so you can rest assured knowing that less perfectly-good wrapping paper will be going into the garbage this year! Simply follow these instructions to turn some ordinary boxes and spare ribbon into a gift that will continue to get use after the holidays are done.

rby at home spa oatmeal honey mix iStock de Last Minute, Eco Friendly, DIY Gifts for All Skill Levels!

Image from RealBeauty.com

What better gift than that of a little bit of relaxation? Well, maybe some organic and homemade relaxation! By whipping up some simple and chemical-free spa treatments, you can help your nearest and dearest de-stress and detox after the holiday scramble is over. Some examples of stellar spa treatments found at Design*Sponge include the Mush Ado About Nothing face cream, the Air Supply aromatherapy diffuser, and the Well Oiled Machine bath soak.

cracker step11 460x447 Last Minute, Eco Friendly, DIY Gifts for All Skill Levels!

Image from Design*Sponge.

These cute little crackers hold a variety of surprises inside. The first surprise is that they’re very easy to make and can be whipped up within a few minutes, and the second surprise comes when they’re opened, revealing all kinds of goodies, from candy to confetti! They’re also a great gift for New Year’s Eve and birthday parties!

Meet Ecojot, Maker of Recycled Paperie Products

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

big 460x460 Meet Ecojot, Maker of Recycled Paperie Products

Meet eco-friendly company Ecojot. Based in Canada, Ecojot is a brother and sister team producing fun, chic creations made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper products. The Ecojot paper mill takes in absolutely no new trees to make the products, and is powered by gas emission breakdowns from a nearby landfill. Acid-and-chlorine-free paper and board is processed and inked with designs made from vegetable-based glues and dyes, and the packaging is corn-based.

EJ PocketJournal Solid1 15013 72dpi 460x460 Meet Ecojot, Maker of Recycled Paperie ProductsProducts include  eco-friendly, tote-worthy Recycled Paper Mini Notebooks and JournalsRecycled Pocket Journals (pictured directly above), Sketchbooks (pictured below), and cheerful stationary notecards (pictured far above). All make perfect gifts, or are great to keep for your own musings, lists, thanks you’s, and inspirations.

EJ flowerpatchmugsketchbook 15019 72dpi 460x460 Meet Ecojot, Maker of Recycled Paperie Products

Eco-Friendly Gifts Under $30

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

PER HobKnobs 77122 123 124 125 72dpi 4 460x460 Eco Friendly Gifts Under $30Giving green doesn’t mean spending more green. Recycled, repurposed, eco-friendly gifts are created at a lower environmental cost, and many carry price tags under $30, making green gift-giving eco-friendly and wallet-friendly!

A few green gifts under $30:

-Multi-functional vase, vessel or cup Hob Knobs with non-toxic finish (pictured) by Perch!

-100% Organic Bamboo Oval Nesting Bowls by Bambu

-Recycled Cotton Tote Bags made from 100% reclaimed cotton by Eco Bags (Also a great buy for you, making for greener shopping trips!)

-Tapered Reclaimed Wood Picture Frames, made from reclaimed lumber by Wood From the Hood

-Low-fire ceramic, non-toxic glaze Tiny Basket by Perch!

Keep up on more eco-friendly gift ideas sprouting on the blog, from Green Gifts Under $60, to Green Gifts for Her, Green Gifts for Him, deals, and a green game giveaway this month!

Eco-Friendly + Green Gifts for the Holidays

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

green gift.s600x600 Eco Friendly + Green Gifts for the Holidays

Candy consumed and pumpkins composted, fall is over, and the unofficial fifth season, Holidays, begins. Planning and preparing for the holidays consume November and December days, and gift giving takes center stage.

There are many ways to incorporate some eco-friendly gifts as you shop and buy.  And why? A few reasons green gifts rock, in our and PureZing.com’s opinions:

-If the recipient throws it away, at least it’s biodegradable.

-Because friends don’t give friends icky chemicals.

-If the gift reflects what you think of the recipient, a green gift means you think they’re non-toxic, authentic, and socially responsible.

-Every gift we give comes with an environmental price tag, and green gifts wear the lowest-marked ones. We all love low prices, right?

-From pure and fragrant 100 % soy Kobo Candles, baby-soft organic cotton stuffed animals by Lana, handmade and low-fire ceramic vases and vessels by Perch and 100% organic Bamboo dining and kitchenware by Bambu, eco-friendly gift options abound.

As you pen your lists and plan your purchases, check back with Olive and Myrtle for budget-conscious recycled, repurposed, sustainable green gifts. Also coming up: green gift options the way you shop for them: For Her, For Him, For Pets, For Kids, Hostess Gifts, and more.

Happy online shopping! (Which is not only a greener way to shop, but a saner way, too—no malls, crowds, parking lots, or lines. Just you and your computer, maybe some pajamas and hot chocolate….)

Benefits of Recycled Paper Notebooks, Sketchbooks and Notecards

Friday, August 20th, 2010

EJ Nature 15007 72dpi 460x460 Benefits of Recycled Paper Notebooks, Sketchbooks and Notecards

Americans use 50 million tons of paper per year, consuming over 850 million trees.  The facts are: making recycled paper from waste paper- rather than making new paper- saves trees, uses 30-70 percent less energy, 50 percent less water, and reduces water related air pollution by 95 percent and water pollution by 35 percent.

Individuals participating in a recycling program provides savings to the environment and to the public.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, using recycled paper to make 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, 360 gallons of water and 60 pounds of air pollutants.  If everyone in the United States recycled 10 percent of their newspapers, 25 million trees would be saved each year.

Olive & Myrtle features 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper products from Ecojot.  Ecojot uses acid- and chlorine-free paper and board.  All inks and glues are vegetable based and therefore biodegradable.

Shop recycled paper notebooks, recycled paper sketchbooks and recycled paper notecards in the Ecojot boutique at Olive & Myrtle.

EcoJot = Eco-Friendly

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

chair with coffee 400x600 EcoJot = Eco Friendly

We just love featuring designers and companies that make quality sustainable products. What we love even more? An environmental company that makes eco-friendly products and gives back to mother nature. Ecojot does just that! Ecojot makes recycled paper journals, recycled paper notebooks and recycled paper sketchbooks from 100% post consumer recycled paper. Everything about Ecojot’s milling process is green. They use acid-free, processed chlorine-free paper and board. All inks and glues are vegetable based and therefore biodegradable. The papermill is even powered by biogas harnessed from a nearby landfill. In addition, the Canadian company contributes to Evergreen, a not-for-profit organization making cities more livable by deepening the connection between people and nature. To check out more of Ecojot’s products, visit the paperie section of the Olive & Myrtle online boutique.