Recycling at it's Best

This is the coolest recycling project ever! Arlette had this idea and posted the tutorial on her blog earlier this week. (Check out her blog, she has many, many, many great ideas for recycling - like "yarn" for rugs made from tshirts.) She took old blue jeans and cut off the hems and rolled them into a circle, adding pieces to get just the right size for a coaster or hot mat. Thanks Arlette for the cool ideas that you have. Last night I got out my stash of old jeans from the attic and proceeded to make several coasters. I really like the frayed look on these. I did make mine a little different, as I didn't cut off the leg seam, so I have areas that are a little thicker than others, but when they were done, I just squeezed them into the round shape. I haven't glued any felt to the bottom of them yet, I'll need to get some blue felt next time I'm at JoAnnes. They are perfect for our basement family room, we don't have any furniture down there that need coasters, but now we WILL be using coasters! I do have to admit to being a sap! As I was cutting the jeans apart I would hold up a pair and reminisce about that specific pair of jeans. I found pairs that were a little boy size 4 - now my boys are in sizes 10 & 12. I can't believe they were that little once. How fast they grow up on us. I love all the holes in the knees of the jeans - a blessing that I have 2 healthy active boys. Our daughter never blew any holes in her knees - guess she wasn't crawling around playing Legos and Imaginext like the boys.

Hope you too are enjoying warm weather, we left school today without any coats on - Yeah! ~Ann