3
nifty makes with your
plastic bottle
Make Shift
5crafty hacks Meet ‘THE map lady’to transform
your home
aRE YOU A WASTER?
What do you think about upcycling? pg 7
2 About Us
e k Ma
Alex As a gaming hermit I follow cheesy, but very thought-provoking sayings. Like a wise pixel man once said, “Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.” I’m a sucker for all things sour, pass me the sourest sweet you can find and I will give it a go – nothing beats the burning sensation of a sore mouth! Red pandas are awesome!
t f i h S
Esther My favourite quote comes
from singer India Arie, “I am not my hair, I
am not my skin, I am the soul that lives within.” Deep stuff right?! I’m OBSESSED with sweets, so choosing a favourite is tragic. If I had to...gummy bears all the way. My fav wild animal has to be the giraffe.
Elinor My inspirational quote comes from Leo Burnett, “Curiosity about life in
all of its aspects is the secret of great creative people.” If I’m honest I’m not a
big fan of sweets but chocolate on the other hand... I love Pandas, they’re just adorable and will sleep up to 2 to 4 hours after every meal! The dream.
Alice
There are green owl-parrots in New Zealand called kakapos and they are my absolute favourite animal. They can’t fly and they regularly fall out of trees. Look it up, they’re amazing. I also love Jelly Babies and this quote from Maya Angelou,“You can’t
About
Old stuff is great .
It’s incredible to own items passed down from generation to generation, or gifts from your nana that you wish to treasure forever. But sometimes, items just don’t look or work like they used to. Even worse, people these days have too much junk. When it comes to plastic bottles, carrier bags and newspapers, there’s no need to be ruthless and bin straight away. You can do so much more. That’s where Makeshift comes in! This handy little mag is perfect for all you snazzy young buffs who cherish your precious keepsakes but also care deeply about the environment (and saving the polar bears of course). We hope to show you how you can take your old items and turn them into something brand spanking new and equally as valuable. Your old stuff deserves a fresh lease of life.
use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Contents
p.3 - City spotlight p.4 + p.5 - Makeshift Makes p.6 - 1 item 3 ways : Redefining plastic p.7 - Sara Jane, ‘The Map Lady’
Simple.
Sustainable Studio
Eco--sisters make upcycling a lifstyle pcycling is a great way to put the love back into your old items. Sustainable Studio does just that! Based in Cardiff, it provides a community co-working space for people to get together alongside other creatives. Focusing on reducing waste, the studio provide workshops together with Green City and WRAP Cymru. Creative directors Julia and Sarah aim to inspire people to “encourage small changes and
lifestyle choices to raise awareness of sustainability and environmental issues.” There are no rules and it’s always a great feeling when you make something new from things that would’ve been thrown away! From 10 November, the studio will be running workshops on how to create personalised Christmas gifts.
“We have learnt that there are no limits, if you have or see an idea then have a go.”
of rubbish every year! This is equivalent to...
32 bikes
“This doesn’t have to mean ditching all your home comforts and moving into the wild.” Becca and Green City aim to, “Inspire people rather than preach to them,” and offer advice to develop sustainable skills which have a positive impact environmentally. On 18 December they will be getting into the festive spirit with upcycled craft workshops at Chapter Arts Centre.
ats
If more of us made small changes, it would have a huge effect on our planet.
89 c
Becca Clark talks being crafty and living green
ardiff’s Green City Events work to help people living in an urban environment think and act more sustainably. Founder and director, Becca Clark, found her passion for all things green in primary school where she started a club called the ‘Green Team’ and hasn’t looked back since. Regularly running upcycled craft sessions, she says it’s important to look for new ways to recycle and reduce becca clark waste.
449kg
in the studio
Green CITY events
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The average person in the UK throws away
69 w
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4 sheep
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W we HAT wa ste
es 15 dining tabl
MADE B
Make Y
Shif t
Wooden it be nice? Take some planks, splash on a little green paint and dress it with some fairy lights!
G ol d l e a f g a r la n d Add some sparkle to your home with this simple creation. Head outside and gather some autumn leaves. Spray them gold and string ‘em up.
MAKESHIFT MAKES...
CHRISTMAS
Get crafty for your cosy night in It’s snow easy Take your paper snowflake to the next level with this 3D version. Cut 6 squares and fold each in half into a triangle, twice. Make 6 cuts from the fold but don’t quite go to the edge. Start in the centre and glue opposite sections together. Turn it over each time. Make 6 of these and staple together.
Follow us on instagram @makeshiftcardiff for more crafty ideas and video tutorials
Feature 5
Tin-tastic! Had beans for dinner? Keep the can for this super-cool craft. We used some decorative tape to jazz up our tin but you can use whatever you have handy. Then stick some flowers or a candle in there.You could even use it as a pen pot.
Tree-o of trees Dress up your coffee table with these Christmas trees made from recycled paper. Take an old mag or newspaper and pull the top edge to the centre fold. Repeat for every page.
6 DIY
Easy stationary holder
1 item 3 ways WAIT!
Before you throw your bottle away...
A simple make - The bigger the bottle, the bigger the container!
How to: Using a knife, remove the upper part of the bottle. Smooth the edges using either a nail file, scissors or even your iron (with caution!) – Simples!
Nature-loving bird feeder Save the planet and support wildlife with this garden craft!
Cute piggy bank
Want a personalised coin holder? Look no further! How to:
How to: Punch two holes opposite each other near the bottom of the bottle. Cut small holes at each puncture – insert a stick or wooden spoon to act as a perch. Create feeding holes for the birds above the perch – don’t cut these too large or the bird feed will fall out!
Cut the bottle into three pieces. Remove the middle section and reattach the bottom to the top. Create a small insertion along the top of the bottle, for your pennies! Finally, spray the bottle pink (or gold!), and the rest is up to you – oink oink!
Ask The Expert 7
Ever thought you could wear a map to a wedding? This creative made it possible for one lucky lady Two years ago, Sara Jane Murray took a giant leap of faith and left her job to work full-time as a designer-maker for her business Home Front Vintage. This quirky company takes silk escape and evasion maps given to British soldiers in the 1940s and 50s and turns them into mind blowing creations. She’s made cushion covers, bow-ties, lampshades and even a silk map wedding dress! Sara Jane adores her work. However, her entry into the business happened entirely by chance. After attending a vintage sale, she bought her first silk map and discovered its amazing backstory of British ingenuity. Sara Jane wanted to turn the maps into items that were relevant to people’s lives today, but which also captured their character and significance.
The Map Lady
She’s always made sure not to tamper with maps that would typically be recognised as valuable collector’s items. “It’s about taking something that in its current form is unwanted and making it into something desirable.” This is exactly what this creative been able to accomplish. Sara Jane also recognises the importance of her work in helping younger generations connect with their past. She often meets people who are in awe of her work and has inspired many to root out items from generations past and give upcycling a go.
We asked YOU for thoughts on upcycling old items. Here’s what you said.
FOR THOSE OF YOU who wish to take your old items and make them into brand-new keepsakes, Sara Jane has some brilliant advice: Don’t destroy things that have value Don’t have boundaries, try something new If you take something don’t lose the essence and the story of it, ensure that you keep it’s integrity.
Caroline, 22
Jacob, 28
Sara, 43
“Upcycling is great! You can renew something like your clothes and make them stylish and it feels like something new.”
“A hell of a lot more people should get involved with recycling like this because the waste that you see is crazy.“
“It’s brilliant. Actually, my husband gets mad with my upcycling, because I get it all over the house!”
Once you’re finished with this mag, why not... Pass it on to a friend Turn it into a Christmas tree Make a paper plane Read it to your nana
Or....frame it!
Thanks for reading! Love team Makeshift x