Contest: What can I do with all this string, yarn & ribbon?

Spring is just around the corner and there are lots of birds looking to line their nests. Take an empty toliet paper roll and poke holes in it and thread pieces of cut yarn/string/ribbon through the holes. Then you just hang it outside and let the birds help themselves. Granted one tp roll would not use up all the yarn that you have - but if you shared the idea with your local school you could donate the yarn and it would be a great project for elementary school children - who would be so excited about helping the baby birds that would be living in their nest.

Depending on the colors you have, you could get a foam wreath frame or use a cut up pool noodle shaped into a circle and then wrap it with the yarn and ribbon to make a very whimsical wreath.

I would cut out our last name initial out of wood or cardboard and then wrap the entire letter with the yarn and add a little decor to it.

Give kids the leftovers and then them cut, glue and craft - we need more crafty kids!

Make it into a garland aka bunting would be wonderful in a child's room or outside on a back porch area for summer parties.

Create a cute Monogram Letter to hang on a child's door. Use a bought cardboard or wooden letter from a crafts store as the base and get creative when wrapping different colored ribbon, yarn and rope around the letter. You will surprise yourself with your DIY skills.

My favorite mediums! I have ideas!

1. Crochet them together to make a unique, colorful and textured basket showpiece.

2. Create a frame loom with nails and a picture frame and weave the bits into a texture piece for the wall.

3. Use a large embroidery hoop to create a hanging windcatcher or boho chandelier.

4, Twist or braid together to make a garland. Maybe add fabric or flowers. Create streamers on a clothespin for helium balloons. Reusable for events

5. Get a piece of chicken wire or mesh and start weaving, or leave it as an open project for family and friends to participate in.

6. I have done this: Use an old basket, remove the horizontal sticks , slats, or whatever, then weave the random yarns and ribbons, etc through the remaining vertical framework to create a beautiful piece. A smaller basket looks like a little jewel.

7. Use twigs with your bits to create outdoor ornaments to hang here and there , like god's eyes. If you weave them loosely, the birds will help recycle them too.

8. My favorite - Make your own new fabric - using organza. Spread your bits out evenly on a piece of organza, cover with an equal size piece of organza, and cover that with parchment or ironing paper, then use an iron to bond the fabrics together. This creates a filmy collage fabric that can be used to make things like book covers, eyeglass and cell phone pockets, placemats, applique pieces, etc. OR, you can just frame or hang your panel in a window or on a wall, like a "crafter's stained glass".

That's my ten cents worth - love Jennifer's idea using a giant family letter!

I am enjoying weaving my first t-shirt loop rug on a frame loom - idea from: OF FIBER AND FUZZ. I LOVE HOMETALK!

The yarn might be good for string art but I like the idea of weaving the various ribbons into a large piece, you could then use iron-on pellon to stabilize and then cut out cool place mats from woven ribbon.

I have used leftover fuzzy yarn to decorate old wooden and new plastic thread spools. Makes beautiful tassel like ornaments for a small metal tree. I used leftover yard that was fuzzy and had ribbon mixed in with it to wrap around a foam cone, added crystals with straight pins to glam it up. Added crystal beads stacked on a corsage pin for a topper. I glued the cone onto a glass candle holder to make a stunning Christmas tree. And, last but not least I use left over strings, ribbons and the like as gift wrap embellishments. I use plain craft paper as the wrap and glam it up with the left over bits.

yarn dolls, spool furniture, yarn angles with lace or crystal wings

Tie different lengths to Christmas lights cover the wire . string just below the ceiling all around the room. how very boho.

Great ideas!! We'll be announcing the winners soon!

#1) wrap a wreath form. 2) braided plant hangers. 3) yarn dolls

A dream catcher, a small woven rug, a Birch stick with various lengths of ribbon and yarn hanging from it that you could hang pictures, messages or bling from (or all 3). Hang that on a wall for a statement piece.

I have been obsessed with lamp shades lately, and I would use the string and yarn to make a funky lampshade. It would be a fairly tall one, either triangular or box shaped, and I would just tie and decorate as the mood hit. With the new energy saver bulbs, heat is not an issue, so the sky is the limit.

Oh, wait a minute, now I am thinking rounded hanging lamp shades . . . I have to hurry home and try some of this inspiration out.

You could use an old tomato cage to weave the string/yard, etc., through and fashion the shade from that.