You know how we’ve been chatting about saving money on green goods lately? Well, one big way to save on green good is to do it yourself, make it yourself, and use recycled goods to do it with. For example, another big topic here as of late has been reusable, waste-free lunches. Now, while I doubt you’re gonna go out and somehow make a reusable bottle, you can make other components of an eco-friendly lunch kit all on your own. Make the items below. Add silverware and a water bottle and your kid will be good to go for the …read more

Kids love arts and crafts, puttering in the garden, and helping out in the kitchen – all of it, messy business for a little one. However, you can let your tot indulge his or her inner mess maker while keeping their clothing a bit cleaner with a great organic apron choice. As shown above Under the Nile makes extra cute natural 100% organic Egyptian cotton aprons in both Denim and an adorable gardening style.

If you’re looking for a fun summer project for the kiddos, you really can’t go wrong with Shains Recycled Fashion Accessories. Shains takes crafty fun to a whole new level with their line of recycled and recyclables bracelets, necklaces, pet collars, hair bands, key chains, and more. Each accessory is lead free certified, and designed to work with Shains colorful array of interchangeable icons and letters.

Over a year ago, my son, Cedar and me made a video review of Playmais for Tree Hugging Family, but after we made the video, Playmais, by that name, basically vanished off the face of the planet. I looked everywhere and found them very few places and they were going out of stock, so I didn’t write up a review here. Then this morning, I noticed HappyMais Building Blocks at Peek A Green. HappyMais are just Playmais by a different name. And your kid will love them.

What are HappyMais: Natural arts and crafts material made with GM-free certified cornstarch …read more

You don’t have to spend wads of cash on green summer toys. You can, in fact make a whole slew of eco-friendly toys all on your own, with low-cost materials. Following are ten eco-fun, summer toy projects you can make for the kiddos – in some cases they can help!

Make a recycled Cardboard Playhouse like the one shown above from Make Baby Stuff, then break out the non-toxic art supplies and let your little one decorate to her heart’s content.
Kool-Aid dyed play silks – kids love play silks. You can toss them up, use them as doll clothing, use them …read more

You can recycle magazines – even glossy mags, just toss them in your bins after checking with your local recycling center. However, since it takes energy and trees to make magazines and because it also uses energy to recycle them, you may as well get some good mileage out of them first. Following are some goods ways to reuse the magazines you’ve got…

Donate – many schools, community centers, homeless shelters, and other organizations would be happy to take your magazines. Don’t forget about your pals and family members too.
Make a nice full color cookbook on the cheap.
Help your kiddos to …read more

Ok, I swear that next up is the review of Moonpads – but I HAD to share this killer Peggy link being that it’s Valentine’s Day and flowers are oh so fitting.
She has the most adorable crafty flowers posted. You have to go see. You could do this yourself with the kiddos using recycled home materials (I’m not going to tell you what materials – you’ll have to go look).
Enjoy.

Seriously adorable right!? I love it. It looks so professional and so very in season, yet you could do this at home with recycled and scrape materials. BETTER YET you could so adapt this for any holiday or reason. Like I’m thinking a cool blue and green hanging globe ordeal for Earth Day. It would also be perfect in birthday colors for a pretty decor touch above the birthday table or cake.
Learn how to make this project from one very talented mama, Heather.
[image via Hello my name is Heather]

Remember my green New Year’s goals? One of them was to actually recycle those pesky toilet paper tubes. Well, I had a thought. Maybe I could track down some ways to actually put them to good use. And just maybe, these tips will help you too. I know we have a few other tube slackers here.
First I came up with some of my own ideas (using that old cerebral cortex)…
Baby safety: You probably know this one, but if it fits in a tube, it’s too small for a baby. This has got to be the cheapest child safety tool …read more

[Organic soy tea light from Dirt Candles]
I actually meant to get this post up in time for Christmas, however, things got crazy. Still, I decided to go ahead and post in case you’re planning a green New Year’s Eve bash (or you can bookmark this post for next year’s holiday season).
Here are some green candle holiday or party arrangement ideas…
First the candles:
You want clean burning candles of course. Great choices include soy candles or beeswax candles. If you’re looking for safe, green, and long term candle light, go with LED candle lights.
Arrange your candles: