Crafters know, almost better than anyone, how one of the best ways to go green with projects is repurposing an existing object, garment or accessory. It’s not just economical, it’s environmentally friendly, and it’s no surprise that crafters excel at upcrafting. This week’s book excerpt is a great example of repurposing and refashioning to maximize your budget and minimize your environmental impact.
Mary Jane Baxter is a former BBC foreign reporter whose new ventures bring her to the world of crafting and fashion. In her new book, Chic on a Shoestring, she shares more than 40 fashion and accessory projects to help you customize your look.

Chic on a Shoestring teaches readers how to recycle almost anything in the closet– old clothes, shoes, scraps of fabric, broken necklaces, buttons–and convert them into stylish, vintage accessories. Readers will learn how to transform a colorful ribbon into a trendy belt, shoelaces into a stunning choker, a silk scarf into a seductive summer top, and much more.

Mary Jane is sharing her Pom-Pomless Earrings project from Chic on a Shoestring with CRAFT readers. Download the PDF below to see how to make these quick and cute accessories.

Download the Instructions and Template for making Pom-Pomless Earrings, by Mary Jane Baxter (excerpted from Chic on a Shoestring) Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs.