Feature in Rachael Magazine-Upcycled Craft and Thrifting Gensis

Posted by Mandy Stos on July 10, 2012 2 Comments

High five to Rachael Magazine for producing a fabulous article about us and showing off our hex nut wrist wrap tutorial. Here is a sneak peek of the article layout, but you can find all the information posted below.

Meet Mandy Stos, Upcycled Craft and Thrifting Gensis – By Abbie Stutzer

By rachael | Published July 3, 2012

By: Abbie Stutzer

For more from Abbie Stutzer, check ginchy! (To link: http://absblabs.wordpress.com/), her blog, or follow her on Twitter @AbbieStutzer 

Mandy Stos, Upcycled Craft and Thrifting Genius, on her DIY Company (Plus: Bonus DIY Project)

The DIY movement is officially more than a trend — it’s a way of life! People of all walks of life are recycling old items, and upcycling once disregarded knickknacks into awesome accessories. While almost anyone can patch a hole in an old shirt with attractive, colored lace, or add a few sequins to a drab headband, most of us are not natural crafters. Well, crafting virgins, you’re in luck. Rachael recently got in touch with Mandy Stos, owner of iamthemandy.com, a one-of-a-kind, DIY Web shop. We asked Stos how she became the expert crafter she is today, why she loves upcycling, and even got her to send us a fun (and easy) DIY project.

Rachael: What inspired you to start upcycling? Did you grow-up in a crafty home? When did you launch your Web store?

Stos: I’ve always been a crafty kid while I was growing up and enjoyed making art. I found myself in a tight budget while putting myself through college, and became inventive with my gifts. I began making fabric cuffs from old clothing, t-shirts, and blankets. After a while, the friends who received the cuffs told me I needed to start selling them because they had tons of people asking where they bought them. A few years after completing college, I started up iamthemandy.com. Since 2010 we have expanded into six retail locations across the nation as well as earned the title of “The best place to shop Green Online in Kansas City”.

You’re pretty keen on the environment. What inspired you to start an eco-friendly business? How do you keep your projects sustainable?

I have always believed in recycling and so when I discovered I could use existing materials to create something new, I honestly thought to myself, “Why the heck not?”. It doesn’t need to be thrown into a landfill, I can definitely find a use for everything. I’ll spray paint empty cat liter containers, drill holes in the bottom, and make planters from them. It allows you to use it, customize it, and well, not throw it away. With this upcycling mentality, I am always trying to keep my products in the green category. Of course, on specific items like earrings, I have to purchase the earring backs and hooks. I can’t recall anyone wanting to wear used earring parts. 

What are some of the problems that come with having an upcycled/sustainable business?

The only problem I have found with my upcycled business is limited access to certain items. I try to keep a few staple products in my line that I know I will always have access to, for example, items created with magazines. However, the way I work around this issue is I try to create limited or one of a kind (OOAK) items throughout the year. I might find five neckties at a garage sale and create five items with those. Once they sell, they are gone and I will move on to another item that I run across. I usually don’t have materials in mind, I just let the creative process take over when I see things.

What was your first upcycled project?

My first upcycled project was a fabric cuff. I wasn’t the greatest “beader” when it came to making jewelry. I usually dropped the beads or they would shoot out of my fingertips to never be found again. I thought to myself, how else can I make things without using beads. I discovered that with my sewing machine, t-shirts, and some time, I could make a comfortable cuff. I could make them any color and match them to any outfit. This process allowed me to make them for anyone, no matter what their favorite color was. 

Do you think your experience with crafting has helped you become more creative and resourceful at your day job?

I definitely think my crafting ability has added to my day job as well as everyday life. If something breaks, I’ll find a way to fix it. It might not be the way you would, but it works and well, that is all that matters. I definitely think outside of the box and many times have been told, “Whoa, that is a lot of hands on work to make it that cool”. However, I don’t mind. If I can spend a few extra hours doing something crafty to make a project or design better, you bet I’ll be there.

How do you come up with new projects?

I don’t plan to make any new projects, I usually browse auctions, garage sales or the curb for inspiration. If I spot something that I envision could be a new product, I totally go for it and then see how it goes. My products are mostly in the jewelry line but I am looking to expand more into home accessories and baby items in the future.

What’s your favorite part about bargain shopping, and where’s the best place to find a bargain (garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores, etc.)? And what’s your favorite thing to upcycle?

I love going to garage sales and auctions. I suppose this is because I love seeing what other people find as valuable or why they no longer want it. I’m not really shy, so I don’t mind sparking up a conversation in a drive way to find out a little bit of history about an item. I don’t necessarily have a favorite item to {upcycle} because I am always changing my product line and including new materials. However, if I had to choose one, I would say clothing, any type. The patterns and color schemes you can find in a pair of vintage pants, old t-shirt, or polyester skirt can made a few superbad cuffs or necklaces.

Do you often get custom orders?

I love getting custom orders! Usually it is for a specific color scheme for several of my items, but my favorite is when I am asked to take a passed loved one’s favorite shirt and make a fabric cuff out of it. I enjoy the feeling of being able to help someone keep a part of someone alive that they love, by simply making a piece of jewelry for them to wear. Sometimes they will even mail in a specific button along with the shirt and ask that I use it for the closure or go the route of a wire wrapped ring. 

How do you engage and inspire your readers and customers, and get them to embark in your upcycled projects, re-use everyday items?

I try to get my readers and followers to engage in upcycling whenever I get a chance. If they don’t have the desire to do so, I at least try to express the importance of recycling. If I am able to get one person a day or week to change their habits for the environment through my blog or a Facebook post, I feel good inside. I feel that many people use time as a scapegoat for not wanting to sort trash or wash something to use as another purpose. It does {take} time, only a little however, to make a huge difference on our plan.

Future business plans? Expansions?

I am hoping that iamthemandy will expand into several more retail stores over the next year. Our ideal goal would be 10 stores, as we are only currently found in six locations. We encourage readers and followers to suggest stores that they feel we could rock our products in and then reward them with a free item (up to $20 value, if we get accepted into that specific store). We are a small company, so it is hard for us to have our eyes on each awesome handmade store out there and appreciate our loyal fans. Once we attain this goal, we are going to begin expanding into the home jewelry party scene. We have participated in a few this past year and think it is a great way to expand our line and have some fun.

Want a DIY project of your own to tinker with? Try Stos’ Hex Nut Wrist Wrap.

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hex nut wrist wrap

Posted by Mandy Stos on June 11, 2012 0 Comments

Alright all it's time to start decorating those bare wrists and ankles for summer time fun. Open your tool box and sort through your rummage. Pull out your extra hex nuts and garden twine (any string will do) and lets get wrapping.

What you need:

Garden twine (any color) three 36" strands

16 used hex nuts (any color)

Take the three stands of garden twine and tie a knot at one end, leaving about 3" of twine.

Begin braiding the strands together for approximately 2".

Once you get that far, you will begin adding the nuts. Before you braid the left strand over the middle, thread on a nut. Be sure to keep it tight and cross the other strand over the nut. Our garden twine seemed to fray a bit so we took a lighter to the ends to prevent this. (BE SAFE!)

Keep your thumb at the base of the braid and continue to add another nut to the other side of the braid. You must keep your thumb on the applied nuts or they will wiggle around if too loose.

Repeat these steps by threading the remaining nuts on the otter strands of the braid.

Once all the nuts are threaded, continue to braid the strands for another 3" and tie a knot like you did at the beginning.

Trim the bracelet to the length you desire. It should wrap at least 2-3 times around your wrist.

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Earth Day Giveaway

Posted by Mandy Stos on April 18, 2012 49 Comments

Being green is easy and simple. It takes just a small amount of effort to change your current habits to better the environment. In spirits of Earth Day 2012, we are giving away a green swag bag filled with a few of our eco-friendly goodies.

There are 6 { YES 6  } ways to enter. Feel free to do them all or just a single entry. The lucky winner of the swag bag will be chosen by random.org.

1. Comment on this blog

2. Like us on facebook

3. Share this post on your facebook ( must comment on this blog again so I know this has been done)

4. Follow us on twitter

5. Add us to your Google + circle

6. Join our newsletter

The winner will be announced on April 23rd, 2012. 

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DIY repurposed compost bin

Posted by Mandy Stos on March 26, 2012 2 Comments

Spring is here and it's a perfect time to construct a compost bin to help out you and the environment. This compost bin is a basic container - a box, round container, or some sort of container that does not come apart nor is it meant to move. It doesn't have a bottom so you can turn the pile manually. 

Benefits of composting 
- Less trash. 
- Make your own soil amendments. 
- Improve the environment. 

Examples of some activators 
- Coffee grounds. 
- Tea leaves. 
- Manure (make sure it is sterilized in some manner.) 
- Green yard waste. 
- Some types of kitchen scraps (peels, cooked vegetables, spoiled fruite, etc.) 
- Different types of bone meals. 
- Finished compost. 

Here are the steps for building your own compost from scrap wood.

Items needed: 

scrap wood

circular saw

screws

tape measure

pencil

drill

2 hinges (if desired)

1. Measure the pieces of wood and scraps that you have and divide it by 4. This will give you the size of each side of your bin that you can build with your supplies. Keep in mind, you need a flat sheet of wood to make a lid. If you have wire, this can also be used for the walls, however we did not have any.

2. Our compost bin is going to be 28" L x 28" W x 48" H. (Each side with 6 boards will be 168"(14' of scrap wood). To build 4 compost walls, it wil take 672"(56' of scrap wood)) The entire compost will take 1052" (88' of scrap wood). See our drawing below to see how this is calculated. You can always use less or more slats of wood for your compost, but be sure animals cannot get into it. The aroma and food scraps can lure in unwanted creatures. (wire can be used for wide slats).

Once you have the size of your compost ready to go, it's time to begin measuring and cutting. Remember the rule, "Measure twice, cut once." The first and second images show our 48" corner posts assembled. The third image shows where we placed our screws. 

3. We then measured our boards and cut 24 pieces at 28" long. It doesn't really matter what width the boards are because you can make any pattern or design you like. Ours are different widths.

4. Once you have your boards cut, now it's time to lay out two corner posts (we did this on the ground) and create a pattern with your slats. 

Do this to 2 sides, because you will then have to attached those two sides to the same corner post to make your bin come to life.

5. Once you are done attaching all 4 sides and creating your bin, we need to attach a lid. You can simply lay a piece of plywood on the top or you can attach it with hinges as we did. We just used old door hinges we had.

Once you make your decision on lid style you are ready to start composting! Here is our final bin. 

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DIY Upcycled Snow Globe Tutorial

Posted by Mandy Stos on December 17, 2011 1 Comment

Making snow globes at home with old pickle, jam or mayonnaise jars is simple. No need to throw them away - you can make a holiday, or any day snow globe with items that can all be found in your home.

Here is what you need:

• Empty jar 

• Super glue / hot glue 

• Distilled water 

• Glitter 

• Knickknacks / figurines (I used dominoes, dice, scrabble tiles, stone and wooden beads) Try to get something that won't rust.

• Glycerin

• Sandpaper (any grain size)

• Spray paint

• Newspaper / paper bag / cardboard

• Scissors

STEP 1: 

Fill your choose jar with water and make sure it DOESN'T leak. (We learned from experience.)

STEP 2:

Select a jar and remove the lid. Grab your can of lid, spray paint, and newspaper scrap. Lay the lid on the newspaper (outdoors) and spray paint the outside of the lid. Let it dry. Once dry, flip the lid over. We do not want to get spray paint on the inside of the lid, so cut a circle (approximately) the size of the inner lid. Place the paper inside the lid, and spray paint the lip of the lid.

STEP 3:

Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. Next use your super or hot glue and begin gluing your knickknacks and figurines to the inside of the lid. Do not get them too close to the rim because you might not be able to screw your lid on.

STEP 4:

Grab your jar. Add your glitter (your choice how much and what color) and a few drops of glycerin. The Glycerin will help your glitter to fall more slowly so you don't have a blizzard going on inside your globe. Then fill you jar with distilled water. Leave about .5" from the top. This is so you items will fit in and leave a small bubble to allow the water and glitter to mix while the globe is being shaken.

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DIY Upcycled Pillowcase Tote

Posted by Mandy Stos on December 17, 2011 0 Comments

This is the perfect DIY if you have tons of old, outdated or extra pillowcases laying around doing nothing in you linen closet. You can now turn them into totes for groceries, gift bags and the beach.

Here is what you will need:

• 1 Clean pillowcase ( over 27" long if possible)
•  Iron
• Thread
• Scissors
• Pins • Sewing machine
• Ruler or tape measure
• Pencil / pen / sharpie
• 1” Snap  

STEP 1
Lay the pillowcase out flat on your work surface and/or cutting mat. Using your scissors, cut the hemmed end (the open one) off. You'll want to cut as close to the stitching as possible without running into it. Set this long loop of fabric aside; it will be used to make your handles.

STEP 2
Trim the rest of the pillowcase so that it measures roughly 27” x 15 “. DON'T CUT FABRIC FROM ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE PILLOWCASE! If you need to trim the length, just cut more off from the side you already trimmed when cutting off the hem, and if you need to trim the width, make sure you only cut one side. When finished, you should have two open sides and two closed sides.
If desired, fold both of the two smaller end in 1” and pin them. Stitch across the 15”. This will help your edges not ravel and these seems will be hidden inside the bag.

STEP 3
Fold the fabric in half to make a 13.5 x 15 inch rectangle. Sew the two raw-edged sides shut with a 1/4-inch stitch. You should now have an inside-out bag with three closed sides and one open side.

STEP 4
With the bag inside-out, and using both hands, pull the center point of the opening on each side of the bag away from each other. Before you do this, the bag will lay flat on the table with the seams running down the left and right sides of the bag. After you do this, the bag will have a strange, triangular shape, and the left and right seams will now be on top of each other right down the middle. Press the new shape with your hands to make it lie flat.

There are now two triangular points on your bag and they lie right on top of each other. On each point, measure 2 inches from the tip and sew a short, straight line across the triangle. Make sure you sew each triangle separately; you do not want to sew them together! These new stitches should run parallel to the top of the bag. It probably seems like you aren't doing anything important, but when you turn your bag right-side out, it is now gusseted instead of being a big, flat envelope. Set the bag aside. 

STEP 5
Pick up the hem you cut off in the first step. Turn the strip inside out and lay it flat on your cutting surface. You should have a seam running down one of the short sides. Cut that seam off. Cut the remaining fabric in half so that you have two short, fat pieces (as opposed to two long, thin pieces). Sew both sides leaving on end open so you can turn them inside out. We will next fold those thin strips in half and pin them. Measure 5” from the bottom of each side. We will stop sewing so the handles look like image 4 below.

           

STEP 6
Once you have both handles stitched correctly, we will next pin them on the inside of the bag. Grab both ends of one strip and lay it on the bag before pinning (This will make sure the straps aren’t twisted). Measure 2.5” from each side seam. This will ensure the handles are centered correctly. Pin the straps. We will then stitch a box stitch on each of the 4 ends.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
If you have any additional scraps left, cut a piece that is 16” x 3”. Hold it in half, inside out (design on inside). Stitch all sides, leaving a 2” opening on one side. (This will be so we can turn it inside out) Turn the piece inside out by pulling the fabric through the 2“ gap you left. Next Stitch this slit shut. The final sewn piece will be 8” x 2.5”.

Grab your 1” snap. We will now hand stitch on one end of the snap on one end of the your strip. Once on, flip your strip over and sew the other end on that side, OPPOSITE end. Make sure you have on male and one female snap on.

Grab your bag. Measure approximately 3” from the bottom when the bag is flat. Center it as well as you can. It won’t be 100% accurate but anything close will work. Pin your strip here with snap facing up on the bag. ( The other snap should be on the back side, bottom of the strip) Stitch a square around your strip to hold it in place.

Once done, we will fold the bag up. There is no right or wrong way. I suggest folding both long sides in, then folding the handles down onto the tucked sides, roll and wrap your strip around the bag and snap! Viola! You have a roll up tote!

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Voted Best Place to Shop Green in Kansas City by The Pitch

Posted by Mandy Stos on November 02, 2011 0 Comments

iamthemandy was recently voted the best place to shop green, in the Best of KC 2011 by the Pitch. You can find the article here : The Pitch. Each year the Pitch puts out a survey where you can vote for your favorite shops, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. Winners were selected based on the amount of votes given.

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Winners of the $100 merch { GIVEAWAY }

Posted by Mandy Stos on August 05, 2011 1 Comment

We want to thank everyone who entered and helped spread the word of the iamthemandy { GIVEAWAY }. We have reviewed all entries and used random.org to select the three package winners!

Package 1 { WINNER } is Amber Sexton! Receives the upcycled coffee bean bag tote AND the recycled rock block journal!

Package 2 { WINNER } is Toni Ripper! Receives the upcycled material cuff and upcycled crocheted t-shirt necklace.

Package 3 { WINNER } is Lisa Bagby! Receives the upcycled crocheted t-shirt ipod/iphone case and upcycled tape measure earrings.

Please email info@iamthemandy.com your address and we will mail your swag out!

Holla!

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