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Casa Verde(?): Fabriano

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:00:35 -0700

Italian designers Riccardo Nannini, Domenico Orefice, and Emanuele Pizzolorusso created Fabriano, a waste basket made entirely out of recycled paper. The muffin-cup-shaped basket consists of 50 pleated-paper disposable bags nesting inside one another. Each can be extracted and used as trash bags themselves when the bin is full, leaving the layer below ready to collect more paper/trash. My first thought was that this is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic trash bags. But on second thought, I realized that it's a waste paper basket meant for paper, which would eventually be tossed in a recycling bin. So, it seems that the basket wastes more paper than necessary. But in the long run, a recycled paper bag, which can be recycled again, is more eco-friendly than, say, a standard waste basket, which would likely end up in a landfill when it's no longer needed. What do you think? Is this product eco-friendly?
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DIY: Paper Wedding Table Settings

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Preston Bailey is one of the world's premiere event designers, known for his elaborate tablescapes, whose theatric designs have festooned the events of Oprah Winfrey, Joan Rivers, and Donald Trump. You can catch a glimpse of some of those looks in his latest book, Celebrations ($37). But thanks to a new project by Bailey, his table settings needn't be something you can only read about in his book - or on Page Six. The Wedding Bell, one of the table settings in his book, which is also one of the most cost-effective, is made entirely out of paper. The look proves that you don't need an extravagant flower budget or a wedding planner to have stunning décor. Of course, you have to be crafty and prepared for a DIY. If you're up for the challenge, Bailey has put together a complete how-to guide and resource manual for you to create "the Wedding Bell." You can email Bailey to order a copy for yourself at a modest cost. But hurry, there are only 1,000 copies! Head here for more information, and check out more photos below.

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DIY: Paper-Covered Pens

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:30:57 -0800

I just came across this great tutorial for making paper-covered pens that would make a fun and affordable stocking stuffer for the holidays, so I thought I'd share. You most likely will have all of the supplies in your home, so this DIY is certainly budget beautiful! All you'll need is some clear ballpoint pens, scissors, a ruler or paper trimmer, pliers, double-sided tape, and some scraps of thin paper (try magazine or wrapping paper). To learn the steps, read more.

First things first: Pull the ink shaft out of the pen case by gently grabbing the tip with your pliers.
Cut a 4.5-by-5-inch strip of paper.
Wrap the entire ink shaft tightly with strips of your tape, pressing out any bubbles.
Wrap the paper over the tape, overlapping the edges of the paper and pinching the seams together.
Then, slide the ink shaft back into the pen case. Fini!

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How-To: Make a Popcorn Tray From a Netflix Envelope

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:30:06 -0700

If you're a Netflix member like Yours Truly, you've probably got a smattering of red envelopes lying around your house. And not the romantic, love-professing kind from your sexy valentine. Although, who knows, maybe you have both! In any case, there's a way you can put that tear-off slip of paper to good use without just sending it to the recycling bin, or heaven forbid, the trash!
Using ancient origami techniques, you can transform that petit papier into a tray to hold your popcorn while you're weeping over The Notebook (Netflix's ninth most popular film). All you'll need is your hands and the tear-off Netflix flap. To learn the steps, read more.

Here are the steps, from Netflix Origami:

Fold the flap in half the short way, then in half the other way, so the flap is folded in quarters.
Unfold it once and then fold the two corners of the folded edge towards the middle so that they meet at the center crease.
Unfold the flap entirely, and lay it so it peaks in the middle.
Push in the folds on the two longer sides towards the middle, so they're folded inward, making a triangular shape.
Fold the sides inward so that they meet at the middle crease. Turn it over and repeat on its other side.
Fold up the lower edge, meeting the horizontal edges of the flaps above it.
Fold it over again, and firmly crease it. Turn over and repeat.
Fold down the peak so it meets the bottom edge, then unfold it. This will define the bottom edges of the tray.
Grasp the side flaps and pull them in opposite directions to open up the tray. Fini!

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Check out Netflix Origami, geeksugar's recent Website of the Day, to learn how to make a dozen other origami shapes from your Netflix flap.
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Green Geek Tip: Print on Both Sides of the Paper

GeekSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:00:19 -0700

It's not complicated to learn how to print on both sides of paper, but I bet very few of us actually do it. There are few times when you need to have an actual blank page on the back of a printout, but doing so will save precious trees so let this be a reminder to you!

If you don't know how to print on both sides, simply go into your print settings. For Macs, click the arrow next to the printer and then select "Layout" and turn "Two-Sided" on. For PCs, it's usually known as "Duplex."

And a reminder: If you forget to print on both sides, you can always reinsert printed pages into the paper tray, right side down and print your new project.

Your colleagues and boss shouldn't mind the double-sided printing, since it's a green and money-saving, solution. Heck, you might even be promoted for your efficient idea!

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Casa Verde: Poo-Pourri and Sheep Poo Paper

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:32 -0700

Spotted on Re-Nest, Creative Paper Wales is a Wales-based craft paper mill that makes paper and air fresheners from sheep poo! No, you didn't misread that, from poo! Sheep Poo Paper is made by collecting the finest, freshest sheep poo in Snowdonia and "just about anything else [they] can think of that has good-length cellulose fibers in it," sterilizing it in a pressure cooker, washing it repeatedly, reducing it to a pulp, and then using traditional papermaking techniques to turn it into paper — without the use of any trees. Poo-Pourri ($2.93), made with this paper, is the world's first air freshener made with, um, poop, and uses an innovative Wave 'n' Waft folded fragrance technology that infuses the air with a scent (daffodil, fresh-cut grass) the more you wave it around. How about that? I'm truly impressed. What could be next? Recycled paper from trees is sooo last season, isn't it?

Before and After: Bistro Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:00:52 -0700

Inspired by this table, I decided to give my white bistro table a bit of a makeover. I liked the table as is, and liked my Saarinen Tulip-esque chairs as is, but the white on white was looking a bit bland (especially with the bare walls and floor). But clearly, I'd never think about covering my beautiful chairs in paper. So, I scooted over my to favorite local craft resource and picked up some decorative paper, along with some clear contact paper from the hardware store. To see the results, read more.

Since I needed just over two sheets of paper to cover the table, I chose a busy pattern so inconsistencies in the repeat would be less noticeable. I used a bit of double-sided tape to keep the paper in place on top of the table. Then, I folded over the edge of the table and used stronger, mounting double-sided tape to adhere it. Then, I covered the decorative paper with clear contact paper for durability.

I could have découpaged it, but that would have been permanent. It's not the most seamless or astounding makeover, but it's a small improvement for room that needs a lot of work, which took very little time. And, my fluorescent pink chandelier decal, which I bought ages ago at the Centre Pompidou, picks up the colors of the paper nicely.

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Before and After: Why Paper Companies Are Cool

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:00:31 -0700

At first glance, these images look like they might be a snapshot of Michael Scott's office, or perhaps any mundane office space across America. But, you'll soon see that this table of office supplies is actually a trompe l'oeil of sorts, and there's more fun to it than the boxes of printer paper reveal. Can you guess what's hiding behind them? To find out, read more

Beer! One man fooled his co-workers by hiding a beer-filled mini-fridge behind a cardboard box façade. Could have fooled me too! What are you hiding at home or in the office?

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Before and After: Pirouettes Redux

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:15:33 -0700

With a Pirouttes tin left over from my gingerbread house project, and decorative paper left over from my Ikea hack, as well as some scissors and rubber cement, I revived something with a brief shelf life. To see my cookie jar redux, read more.

Storage for my cooking utensils! Just like my Ikea hack, all it required was a few strokes of rubber cement and paper cut to size. And, I cut a strip of another piece of paper for the rim, to make it a little more interesting. Do you have any tins, containers, or furniture you can makeover with a little paper love?

Before and After: Bye Bye Aneboda

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:15:44 -0700

This Ikea Aneboda Chest ($49.99) is pretty basic and nondescript, and its transparent drawer fronts are borderline, if not definitely, tacky. But, its three drawers are the perfect size for my knick-knacks. I pulled off a transformation of the chest that's more my style in under 10 minutes, with only three supplies. To see and hear about the results, read more.

Scissors
Rubber cement
Paper from Paper Source

I cut decorative paper to size to cover up the Polypropylene drawer fronts, and glued it with a few strokes of rubber cement. Fini! I was considering replacing the drawer handles with some cute knobs, but I think this will do fine.