Steampunk jewelry has never been my style, but I still respect people making things in this currently popular style. So I often find myself searching for Steampunk stuffs on Etsy.

I recently found and can’t stop thinking about these awesome converted toy guns by River Wraith.

Can you believe this is a converted Nerf gun, made of plastic? It has been painted, aged, and sealed with a gloss. The gun no longer fires Nerf bullets. It is strictly a prop or costume gun. For just $28.00, this gun makes me want to write and film my own little space opera.

And look at this one!

Seriously, these are amazing. Check out River Wraith for even more.

I always joke that some upcycled products make me worry about a post-apocalyptic future. But these baby shoes made from trash by MoJo Trashion are going to give me nightmares.

They are actually really cute, but they make me think of a future when we all have wear shoes made from noodle wrappers.

The awesome thing about MoJo Trashion’s shop is that she not only sells the shoes for $20, but you can also buy the pattern for just $6.75. That way you can make your own shoes when you no longer have $20 to buy them or when the internet is gone and the cannibals steal your last pair of baby shoes.

Got old sweaters? Make some seahorses!

These lovely seahorses ($40 for the set) by Snaulkter are made from 99% recycled materials; old (washed) sweaters and plastic shopping bags in the fins to make them crinkle. Not only do I love these guys because they are upcycled, but they are totally kid friendly. I could see my kids spending hours making up stories about the Papa Seahorse and his babies. What an awesome use for an old sweater!

My favorite upcycled products are those that are made from actual trash picked up off the ground. That’s why these rings from Metals And Thread made out of used cigarette lighters are just awesome.

In the listing for this ring, they write:

A sustainable and artistic approach was used to make these pop art jewelry pieces. The lighters were found on the street and were carved, sanded, shaped and finally filled at the top with acrylic to finish the look. Colors vary depending on what Nate happens to find in the street.

These seem like lots of work and are only $17.50!

I have no nostalgia for listening to cassette tapes. All that rewinding. Fast forwarding, rewinding. But I do have an old picnic basket way back in my closet full of them. Mix tapes, Cindy Lauper, long lost lo-fi projects and me doing a radio show at age 6. What to do with all these tapes?

Librarian Barbarian in Glasgow, Scotland, makes unwanted tapes into the cutest little change purses ($20). These would be even more awesome with a strap to turn them into wristlets.

This one has a cute little strap, making it perfect for a small camera:

Here, Kate Black turns an old tape into a notebook ($20):

And this rad necklace ($155) from Goblingblinggo has a tape as it’s focal point.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at I Like Seamonsters.com.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Fisticuffs Leather specializes in cuffs and watchbands decorated with pieces of found art. Not only are the cuffs distinctive in their style, they make use of recycled and reclaimed leather. John Davis is the man behind these unique designs. Visit his booth this Saturday and wrap one around your wrist. It’ll make you feel strong. You might not be able to walk away without it!

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Bad Ass Leather!

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

Yep, I’m working on some new stock as we speak. I have a whole new Cuff to show off but you’ll have to wait until the show.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

It isn’t widespread. I have seen something similar but not in the craft community.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

It all came to fruition at the beginning of 2008. I had been building it up and doing more shows. I finally realized how much I disliked working the 9-5 and decided to just go for it.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

That would definitely be thrift stores. I love to thrift in general. Finding supplies at the same time makes it really convenient.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Actually the Green aspect is what inspired me to begin with. All my Cuffs are made from 100% re-loved leather. The only thing new is the fasteners holding them together. I also like to incorporate fun stuff I find in my travels such as washers and other interesting things.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

I will not have any take and make this year but I’ve been thinking about what that could be. Perhaps the September show? There are several places that offer kits. Stop by my tent and I’ll tell you about them.

You are invited to join the Craft Mutiny for a Supply Swap Happy Hour on Tuesday, June 24th from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Chloe in Adams Morgan, DC (2473 18th St NW). Drop all your unwanted arts and crafts supplies with us, have a drink, hang out and talk crafty.

The Craft Mutiny Arts and Crafts Collective is having a Supply Swap at Crafty Bastards Silver Spring on June 28th at Pyramid Atlantic. If you have left over arts and crafts supplies taking up space in your house, here is your chance to recycle them! Never got the hang of a certain craft, but still have all the supplies? Trade them in for something else. Just want to get rid of all those beads or fiber or fabric? Donate them to the swap and maybe someone else can do something with them! You will be able to recycle or rescue all kinds of things from yarn to fabric to paint to beads. Please leave house paint, toxic materials, and old clothing at home. Other than that, if you think someone can make something from it, bring it! Don’t have anything to swap? You can still pick up new-to-you-supplies crazy cheap even if you don’t donate/trade. Also plan to get in on the fun with demonstrations of Gocco printing and yarn spinning, plus zines and how-tos. Email Craft Mutiny if you have questions!

Measuring tape is totally precious in my house. My kids are always stealing it to pretend it is a jump rope or a pet leash or a kite string. I am always always searching for it. I guess this is why I am drawn to these cute upcycled items made with old measuring tape.

Both the wallets ($10) and bags ($20 to $35) by Undone Clothing bring out the true beauty of measuring tape:

This tape measure bracelet ($5.98) by Ideaka is so perfectly simple.

I also like this one ($15) by CNYResinCo.

This barrette ($3.50) made in New Zealand combines measuring tape and a rhino.

Wanna make your own measuring tape masterpiece? Pick some up here for just $2.65. I am pretty sure they are much cheaper in the store (like 50 cents or something), but here you get to pick from these awesome colors.

Who knew measuring take came in so many colors?

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at I Like Seamonsters.com. But you already knew that.

I have a wallet rule. I don’t buy a new one until the old one is dead and gone. This can be sad because these are so many awesome handmade wallets being made. It is a rule that I have to stick to, or I would be swimming in hardly used wallets.

This upcycled bike tire wallet ($24) by Belcher looks indestructible.

The maker writes:

Totally waterproof and super durable, even though the rubber is very thin. I use a similar one that I made for myself nearly a year ago, and it shows no signs of wear.

Will I never have to buy another wallet again?

A quick search for “bike tire” on Etsy shows me others making things like belts and rings from bike tires, too.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at I Like Seamonsters.com. She is waiting for her current wallet to die. Six months in, no wallet change is in sight.

Maybe I watch too much Sci-Fi TV. Maybe I’m just a little weird. But I sometimes worry about a post-apocalyptic future. Ok, I laughed out loud writing that, but deep down I do worry about it. That said, whether it is the end of oil or the rise of the zombie plague, some day we might have to upcycle. Some day we might only have used materials to make new things. It won’t likely be in our lifetimes, but some current upcycled products make me think about this. These products kind of scare me, actually. The following indie crafters are totally upcycling like it’s 2142.

Toothpaste Tube Pencil Case ($3.75) from Drygoods:

We are in serious trouble if we need to recycle toothpaste tubes into pencil cases. At least we will still have pencils, but still!

This awesome necklace is for when the only wood left in the world has to be cut from old furniture.

Mamoo UpCycled chair leg necklace ($24) by zoradelldesigns:

Plastic bags will replace all the sheep and we will have to make our scarves out of this plastic yarn from Ivy Tea Kettle:

In the future, precious (or semi-precious) stones will no longer come from the Earth. Instead, we will only have ancient Legos. These Upcycled Lego Man Earrings by Isis that cost $5 today will be worth 1 million dollars in 2142.

Makes you think about upcycling in a whole new way, doesn’t it?

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at I Like Seamonster.com. She has no time for the future.