Recycled DIY I-pod Speakers

I love music. I love my ipod, I can't begin a long train journey or a walk without it and I love being creative and customising things. I am also all for a bit of recycling where ever possible, its good for the planet after all. Therefore, I'm wanting to get my hands on these cute little recycled DIY speakers. They are available in either cardboard or plastic.

In the set you get 6 pencils and 2 speakers that are made from 70% recycled material. The great thing about these cardboard speakers is that they can be folded up and easy stored and transported.

Recyled Card DIY Speakers - £16 from Urban Outfitters

In this set are 6 pens, 2 speakers made from 80% recycled material. The best thing about these speakers as opposed to the cardboard ones is that with non-permanent marker the pen will wipe off. Meaning that the doodling and decorating potential is endless!

Recycled Plastic DIY Speakers - £16 from Urban Outfitters

Simple Shoes... simply brilliant!

Sometime before Christmas I won a Simple Shoes competition, and I won a free pair of shoes from their website of my choice. Since my shoes arrived I have been wearing them almost everyday, for around 6 months... and I can honestly say that they are the comfiest shoes I have ever worn! Also, for them to survive 6 months of solid wear is impressive - by now any other shoe of mine would have split or worn away inside leading to pain, blisters and misery. But they still feel just as comfortable as the day the delightful shoes arrived with the postman.
The great thing about Simple Shoes is that they only use recycled or sustainable materials to make their shoes. They make buttons out of coconut shells, recycled carpet padding to make the shoes extra squishy and soft inside, they use recycled plastic bottles, and recycled car tyres for the outer soles to name but a few of the materials. So, really there are no reasons why you shouldn't be a Simple Shoes convert: the shoes are comfy, made from eco-friendly materials and processes, hard-wearing, and look great! I have got my next pair of Simple Shoes lined up and ready to go (shoes below) for when the ones I've got at the moment decide to give out... but they have already survived over 6 months of wear so I might be waiting a long time before I get to wear the new ones!

Recycling newspaper doesn't have to be a chore

On my little commute into central London this morning I noticed the Metro newspapers scattered in every train carriage and on the station and it made me think... how many thousands of Metro's are thrown away every day? There must be a better was of using all this paper than simply throwing it away. My boyfriend recycled some of his old NME magazines he had lying around by revamping his guitar. So, instead of throwing your newspaper away or sorting it into recycling bins, recycle it a little closer to home.

It can be as simple or as complicated as you like, and almost anything can be transformed with a few pages of newspaper and a little sprinkling of creativity. Here are some of the ideas other people have come up with to recycle newspapers and put them to good use on Etsy.com to get your creative juices flowing...

EsmeDodsworthDesign makes pendants with decoupaged newspaper letters.

SewDanish makes newspaper woven baskets.

RushofWings makes biodegradable newspaper seedling pots.

JustLiv made this cute newspaper bow alice band.

ThailandCraft makes these brilliant little models out of the newspapers.