Potato Chips cans

I have been consuming potato chips with a vengence these days and I don't know why. I don't just eat those in small packets but in those tall cans.

So, I have 3 empty cans sitting at home which I do not know how to recycle. I checked the internet and got some suggestions from ehow and familycrafts but somehow, their ideas do not interest me at all.

So if there are anyone out there who can give me more suggestions, it will be much appreciated.

Can you tell?

Can you tell what is this lamp made up from? Yes? No?

If you take a closer look, you might be able to guess and think it looks familiar and it is...this lamp is made up plastic spoons? Now that I said it, can you see them now?

I like that the spoons are slight translucent and the light can still get projected out. The one above is designed by Japanese designer Daisuke Hiraiwa.

In actual fact, there are many such designs out there. Such as this one using plastic spoons and forks and once it is illuminated, you can actually see the cutlery clearly. This one below is a design of Luis Luna.

And this one by Studio Veríssimo that , a plastic chandelier which you can't really tell is made from plastic to be honest.

Compost update

Success! My mum told me that the plants which we deposited our compost on are growing very healthy and very fat haha.

I am currently preparing the 2nd batch of my compost with some different materials, wish me good luck!

Recycling your soap bits

Tips from Planet Green

1. Make into new soap

2. Mix the old soap with glycerin. Melt in the microwave. Use as hand soap.

3. Put the soap bits in an old sock or a cloth bag. Hang the cloth bag from the shower head. Wash yourself with it like soap on a rope.

4. Soap can be used as tailor's chalk.

5. Make laundry soap

Recycling your umbrella

Tips from Planet Green

1. If your first umbrella breaks down, use it for spare parts. Try to find a similar replacement umbrella. When the second umbrella needs a patch or a part, you'll have one on standby.

2. You can make clothing out of umbrellas.

3. Old umbrellas can easily become waterproof bags.

4. Make a backpack cover from an umbrella.

5. Turn that broken umbrella into a kite.

6. Or why not make a magazine rack out of old umbrellas?

Recycling your toilet paper roll

Tips from Planet Green.

1. Organize cords

I have to give credit for this one to my aunt who has been using TP tubes to keep her hairdryer and curling iron cords in order for a long time now. She simply folds the cord into about six- to eight-inch lengths, then slides the bundle through the tube and tucks it into the cupboard to keep everything neat and tidy.

2. Organize ornaments

A while ago a designer on a TV show recommended using polystyrene cups glued to a board for organizing and protecting holiday ornaments. I was pretty much turned off at the first mention of polystyrene, but the concept must have stuck in my mind because I recently realized TP tubes are the perfect alternative. Simply glue tubes side-by-side to a piece of cardboard pre-cut to fit in a storage box. When the glue is dry, set your new "organizer tray" in the box and your ornaments will stay safe and sound throughout the year. For smaller ornaments or a shallow box, just cut the tubes in half.

3. Gift tube

When you're giving small gifts to friends and family, why not package them in a TP tube? Small baubbles, earrings, little toys and even gift cards or cash are all the perfect size for a tube. To make it special, wrap the tube with a piece of fabric or make it into a memory collage. Added bonus: the tube will help protect the gift.

4. Packing material

When you're sending items by mail or simply packing for a move, nix the packing popcorn and bubble wrap for TP tubes! Just flatten them and then place them around the object you want protected. They'll try to expand back into a tube form which will provide stability for your breakables.

5. Tea Light Organizer

Do you ever get annoyed with bags and oddly shaped packages of tea lights? Then we have an organizing tip for you! Take TP tubes and arrange them in a drawer or storage box, then drop in stacks of tea lights. It's a great way to keep different (natural) scents organized without becoming a slave to awkwardly stacked packaging.

I heart green

The National Heart Centre in Singapore is going green....not yet but soon...they just break ground for their new building and it will adopt various green building features, technologies and innovations to achieve better performance in energy efficiency, water usage, use of recycled and reusable materials, indoor environmental quality and environmental management.

Examples include the passive solar strategy for the institutional front, which reduces heat emission and direct glare and sunlight into the building while introducing diffuse daylight condition and cutting overall energy consumption; and the use of environmental friendly building elements which are energy efficient in fabrication, self-cleansing and long-lasting.

Here's how it will look like.