Happy Earth DAY!

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. People around the world are celebrating in many different ways. http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010

I have been trying to make my life and my business more earth friendly for years now. I guess I've always done some kind of recycling or re-purposing in one way or another. Not wanting to throw anything out 'just in case' I can find a reuse for it or make a decorative art piece or 'new' piece of clothing out of it.

For my business I rarely buy packaging, instead I reuse packaging that has been sent to me, unless it's too torn or dirty. I buy a few manila envelopes to ship in but the inside container most likely uses recycled components. But I've also been making my own shipping envelopes from old magazines. Some even contain recycled bubble wrap for extra protection. I want to cut down on the resources of the earth that I use as well as to make sure my products arrive in perfect shape for my customer. At times I've used recycled clear Cassette tape boxes to hold and protect my beads. I tape a business card on the inside lid, wrap my beads up individually in fresh tissue and close the lid. Then I have a strong, solid container to pop into one of my handmade envelopes to ship.

My local post office has two ladies who when my husband shows up with my shipping have to stop and look over each one. They are fascinated with my packaging and ingenuity. They have never given a problem with it as I've heard some Postal workers do. I even have recycled little labels my husband brought home from the office where they used only a portion of a sheet of printer labels and were throwing the rest away. These make handy stickers I can write anything I want on. I usually use them for labels such as: 'Handle with Care', 'Fragile', 'Please', or use them for directions for the postal worker to know where I want the postage put and where I'd like the customs slip placed. One time I did not include these and the poor woman didn't know what to do. She didn't want to ruin my beautiful art envelope and lamented to my husband, 'She didn't put the stickers where to put the postage and customs tag!". :) I make sure to do that from now on. :)

I hope you enjoy your Earth Day, in the following weeks I will be introducing you to some great new Earth friendly products I've been discovering. So stay tuned and go out and enjoy the Earth today! 611