31 Bits is an inspirational do-good company that sells jewelry made from 100% recycled paper by internally displaced women in Northern Uganda.

31 Bits was formed in 2008 when 5 Southern California college students traveled to Uganda and met some of the local women. The students saw there was a need for change: the women needed shelter, food, medication, school fees for their children, etc. The women attempted to provide for their families by creating hand-made jewelry, but due to the lack of market, their income was hardly sustainable.

And that’s when 31 Bits was born!

31 Bits works directly with the women in Uganda, providing access to the international market for their fashion forward jewelry. This allows the woman to earn an instant income, and provide homes, food, and education for their families.

31 Bits offers bracelets, necklaces, headbands, and more. Buy yours today! Not only will you look super stylish, you’ll also be helping families in Uganda, and keeping trash from going into the landfill.

Check out this super sweet little girls blouse that Teri Dimalanta from Giddy Giddy created using a thrift store find drab purple dress and a few odds & ends she had laying around her house.

Teri first began by removing the lace on the neckline and chopping off the long sleeves, plus 4 inches of skirt. Next, she finished off the sleeves and the skirt hem. Then, she added detail to the front by hand sewing a navy floral fabric, 3 mismatched buttons and lavender lace trim. To complete the look, she added a cute dark purple apron.

A special thanks to Teri for sharing her upcycling skills with us! Teri, your little lady is the cutest in this recycled girls dress turned blouse.

Here’s a quick DIY project – upcycle old mason jars into fun funky bathroom or kitchen liquid soap dispensers.

Supplies Needed:

• Old mason jar with lid
• Drill
• Ruler
• Marker
• Soap dispenser pump
• Liquid soap

Step 1:
Measure and mark the center of the jar’s lid.

Step 2:
Drill a hole approximately half an inch wide, at the marked spot, and to fit the width of the pump.

Step 3:
Fill the jar with liquid soap, insert the pump (trim, if needed), and start washing.

EARTHTECH is an environmentally responsible lifestyle apparel brand located in New Hampshire, USA. They create quality apparel from recycled plastic bottles.

EARTHTEC takes PET & HDPE plastics (like water bottles, food containers such as ketchup and non-food containers for items like cleaning products) and puts them through a process which cleans, shreds, and melts the bottles. They then create recycled fiber from the plastic that rivals virgin polyester. From this recycled fiber, EARTHTEC has created a whole apparel collection. Each garment prevents approximately 12 plastic bottles from ending up in a landfill.

EARTHTEC fleece clothes are super soft, very cozy and just a great layer to wear on those colder days. Buy yours today!

I love this crocheted rug created from upcycled plastic bags by RecycleCindy over at My Recycled Bags. It totally reminds me of the ones my grandma used to make out of scrap fabric and would have all over her house.

Cindy used recycled bags from bread, hotdog & hamburger buns, paper towel & TP packaging, etc. to create this rug. She first makes her plastic yarn (or “plarn”), then uses an N (9) crochet hook and does a single crochet throughout.

I think these rugs are just a super fun throwback and a great way to recycle your plastic trash.

A special thanks to RecycleCindy for sharing her DIY crafts with us.

Got an old shirt that doesn’t fit you anymore? Instead of tossing it out, up-cycle it into a new cute beret for you, a friend, or a little one!

MJ over at eco crafts shows us how to do this with her step-by -step tutorial.

Supplies Needed:

• Old shirt
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Thread
• Optional: elastic

Step 1:
Cut out the fabric pieces shown in the image above: a circle with a diameter of 40 cm; another identical circle but with a 27 cm hole cut out of the middle; and a band 15 cm high by about 56 cm wide (you should measure your own head for this number; leave room for a seam but not too much room or else the hat won’t be snug enough. If you want to use elastic, cut a longer rectangle.)

Step 2:
Sew the donut-shaped piece to the circle, right sides together (the right side is the outside)

Step 3:
After you sew these together, you will have a seam on the inside of the hat. Go through and cut little triangles out of it, making sure not to hit the seam line. This helps the hat bend properly.

Step 4:
Sew the head band piece (the rectangular one) into a loop, making sure you sew the right sides together with a 6 mm stitch. Now, fold the band in half, right sides out, so that it is 7.5 cm high.

Step 5:
Sew the band to the rest of the hat, right sides together; the circumference of the donut will be longer than the circumference of the head band, so you will have to gather the donut piece; you can either gather as you stitch it onto the band, or baste the donut-shaped piece and gather it that way, proceeding to sew the band on afterward.

A special thanks to MJ & eco crafts for sharing their up-cycling crafts with us!

I just love this super funky lamp made out of recycled soda pop can tabs by Tasha Duckman over at Craftster.

Tasha created this tree lamp for a class project. She started by weaving her tabs together with ribbon first, then she used wire to mold and keep the desired tree shape. She then finished it up with wiring and a CFL bulb.

Tasha’s whimsical tree is just so creative and really demonstrates that one person’s trash is really another person’s treasure.

On a soda can DIY up-cycling kick…Check out these stunning brooches created from recycled soda cans.

Supplies Needed:

• Soda Cans
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Marker
• Clear Tape
• Pin
• Game Card or Other Image

Step 1 -
Cut empty soda can with scissors into a rectangle shape.

Step 2 -
Mark with lines to fold and cut.

Step 3 -
Cut away what is not needed.

Step 4 -
Fold.

Step 5 -
Cut out a part of a game card or use another image.

Step 6 -
Put image into frame and add your pin to the back.

Step 7 -
Fold the whole thing together.

Step 8 -
Secure edges with clear tape.

Step 9 -
Done. Now you have a super cool new pin to sport with any fun image or slogan in it.
Each brooch is 3x3cm.

Special thanks to cocinero for sharing your super fun eco-crafts with us.

I love this purse made from recycled soda cans. It is so cute and of course eco-friendly.

Supplies Needed:

• Soda Cans
• Stapler & Staples
• Purse Template
• Knife & Scissors
• Ruler
• Copier
• Naugahyde or Similar Fabric
• Glue
• Wire
• Nail or Hole Punch

Step 1 -
Trace out a purse shape (including the handles) onto paper, you just need the two large sides. Then, on the template draw squares & rectangles within the purse outline using your ruler.

Step 2 -
Next, number each square & rectangle shape and make a copy of the paper. Cut one of the drawings up, so now you have a bunch of numbered shapes. The other sheet will serve  as a master copy of how the shapes went together.

Step 3 -
Then, take a bunch of soda cans, clean them and cut the tops & bottoms out of them with a knife and then regular scissors. When complete you will end up with sheets of the aluminum can.

Step 4 -
Trace the cut out shapes onto the cans. Then cut out the shapes leaving about quarter on an inch (maybe 5-7 millimeters) edge. To make it easy, write the corresponding number on each piece. If you are using a variety of sodas, make sure to think about the color combination and layout when you are cutting out pieces. Then folded the edges under, to hide the sharp edge of the can. You can use a ruler to help you.

Step 5 -
Next, arrange the shapes back into the purse template and use a stapler with regular staples to join the can pieces. You want to make sure the stapler can reach each piece to connect it, so be sure to begin joining the cans together from the middle and work your way out. Remember, the can pieces are not overlapped but side by side.

Step 6 -
For the bottom and sides of the purse, created one long strip of soda can pieces.

Step 7 -
After you have all three pieces of your purse, trace out the purse shapes onto naugahyde, or some sort of vinyl or pleather would probably work fine, just as long as its durable. Then, glue the material onto the soda can purse shapes.

Step 8 -
Then take a small nail and punch holes at regular intervals around the edges of the purse forms. Then take wire and lace all three pieces together.

Now, you’re ready for a night out on the town!

Thanks, RaraAvis for sharing your up-cycling eco-crafts with us.

Hey Ladies….You know that bra that never quite fit right or the nursing bras you never plan to use again. Instead of letting them take up room in the back of the drawer, recycle them for a good cause!

The Bra Recyclers is a textile recycling company in Arizona, that started the The Bosom Buddy Program. This program gives donated bras to women who need them, whether through shelters or other programs that help women gain self-sufficiency.

It’s really easy, just follow these 4 simple steps:

1. Wash It. All bras must be washed.
2. Tag It. Fill out Bra Recycling Form.
3. Box It. Place your bras in a box or large envelope.
4. Drop It Off or Mail It. Mail your bra(s) to:

The Bra Recyclers
Attention: Elaine Birks-Mitchell
3317 S. HIgley Rd, Ste 114-441
Gilbert, AZ 85297