In keeping with today’s recycled gift giving theme, I thought I’d bring you some more handcrafted gift ideas made from recycled materials.

Acorn Studios creates geeky gifts from old computer parts. Unwanted circuit boards are transformed into holiday ornaments, clocks, necklaces, earrings, and keychains. Keyboards are rescued and resurrected as cufflinks, necklaces, pins, magnets, keychains, and rings. Outdated storage devices become floppy disk notebooks or CD clocks.

With prices averaging between $5 and $30, there are plenty of affordable gifts here for teachers, computer geeks, brothers, boyfriends and everyone in between. Plus, through November 30th Acorn Studios is offering free shipping within the US and Canada for all orders over $20. Not only that, you’ll also get a free keychain with every order. So now is the perfect time for eco-friendly holiday shopping!

My fellow New Orleans Craft Mafia members also offer some great recycled gifts.

Art by Mags features original stencil designs spraypainted on recycled shirts and clocks made from unwanted vinyl records. The new “Scoot!” design is one of my favorites.

You can find clocks, signs and t-shirts on her own website and through the NOCM webshop. Some Art by Mags originals will also be available at Craftland in Providence, Rhode Island, as well as various holiday markets in Louisville, Kentucky and right here in New Orleans (she’ll be at Festivus along with me and other NOCM members!).

NOCM members Heather Macfarlane and Mark Kirk of Unique Products are recyclers through and through. They create everything from lamps made from recycled detergent bottles to nightlights made from old Mardi Gras beads. They’re also pretty famous around these parts for their blue tarp messenger bags & checkbook covers and purses made from recycled MREs (the “Meals Ready to Eat” issued to locals by the National Guard following Hurricane Katrina).

Some of their work, including nightlights and blue tarp products, is available through the NOCM webshop. If you’re in New Orleans, you can find them at many of the art markets around town, or you can stop by their shop at 2038 Magazine Street (UPstairs from Winky’s).

Posted by MissMalaprop on Monday, November 20th, 2006 at 1:46 pm.