web metrics
Browse by:
Get daily news round-up
Green Tips

Hippyshopper guide to the repurposed home: lighting

revamp lamp.jpgThere's a big buzz around repurposing and upcycling at the moment, and it's easy to see why: preventing waste is one area where frugal and green living come together, and if you're not already worrying about the state of the planet, the odds are you'll have given some thought to your financial predicament.

Over the next few weeks we'll be looking into all sorts of creative ways you can re-use objects around the home and turn them into unique objects that are even better than new. This week, the theme is lighting: follow the jump for some great ideas for lighting up your home in style using free or inexpensive materials that would otherwise go to waste.

Continue reading >>

Posted by Abi Silvester on November 19, 2008 11:46 AM | Comments (2) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!
Gallery

Dreaming of a green Christmas, but can't afford it?

Making Christmas a green event is already fraught with difficulties, but what about doing it on a budget? We're used to shelling out massively at this time of year, but as our guide will show you, it's quite possible to make it a green and affordable occasion.

Click on the image below for some smart strategies for a sustainable celebration.

grow your own xmas tree
Posted by Abi Silvester on November 17, 2008 4:31 PM | Comments (1) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!

Advertisement

Do It Yourself

Junk mail art: turning rubbish into gold

junk mail art.jpgAfter wading through a most unwelcome mountain of junk mail as I attempted to leave the house this morning, I was very much cheered to stumble on this piece of artwork, made by creating a collage entirely out of 'direct marketing' leaflets. The process to create this eyecatching piece of contemporary art is astonishingly simple, and has been documented stage by stage here.

It certainly made me want to get out my scissors and have a go, but if you'd like to rid your life of unwanted mail without going to quite so much effort, remember you can always sign up with the Mail Preference Service.

[Via Re-nest]

Posted by Abi Silvester on November 11, 2008 11:42 AM | Comments (0) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!
Green Tips

Hippyshopper guide to: the eco friendly office

recycling bin.jpgOffices, like all communal spaces, are notorius for descending into messy chaos if people don't take responsibility for keeping them clean, and when it comes to ensuring a tidy carbon footprint, it's exactly the same deal.

The first thing to remember when trying to green up your office is to talk to everyone in it and make sure they don't have any funny ideas about what this might entail. Do they, for example, think it's impossible to recycle plastic, or that buying in bottled water is a good idea? Clear up any myths, assign roles and draw up a rota for recycling, composting, charity shop collecting and any other great ideas you might have. Then make sure you've got the following solutions in place...


Follow the jump to find out what else you can do to make your office a greener place

Continue reading >>

Posted by Abi Silvester on November 6, 2008 11:07 AM | Comments (0) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!
Green Tips

Back to school the eco-friendly way

back_to_school.jpgI may be in my thirties, but to me, September still feels like 'back to school' time every time it rolls around: it's the time of year to get organised, re-jig your wardrobe, get down to wok and most importantly...buy stationery!

How can you ensure that all that buying and stocking up has as small an impact on the planet as possible? Here are a few tips in our green 'back to school' guide, whether you're really going back into education, or just like to pretend you're still 12.

Read on after the jump for our suggestions

Continue reading >>

Posted by Abi Silvester on September 3, 2008 2:25 PM | Comments (0) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!
Green Tips

GREEN TIPS: Top 10 eco-friendly uses for coffee

cafedirect.jpgHaving thought I'd 'got the set' when it came to kitchen cupboard ingredients with hidden uses, I was amazed at the number of suggestions I received for other handy and green ways to tackle household chores using safe substances. And thanks to Cafedirect, I've now discovered a whole load of uses for coffee I never knew about, from you pest control to beauty needs.

Read on to find out about coffee's hidden uses!

Continue reading >>

Posted by Abi Silvester on August 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Comments (3) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!
Green Tips

Top eco-friendly uses for soda water

soda.jpgSince I've been editing hippyshopper, I've been amazed to discover how many safe and non-toxic everyday substances work wonders around the house, and are more than sufficient for the jobs we tend to give use harsh chemicals for.

I thought I'd already got the set, but then I discovered another un-sung wonder substance: soda water. Read on after the jump to discover its hidden powers...

Related: Top 10 eco-friendly uses for olive oil | Top 10 eco-friendly uses for salt | Top 10 eco-friendly things to do with lemons

Continue reading >>

Posted by Abi Silvester on August 18, 2008 10:32 AM | Comments (0) | digg.gif digg this | del.icio.us this | stumble.gifStumble It!