I chatted with a fellow work-at-home mom today. Her name is Sheryl, a very young mom who has a knack for turning trash into beautiful things.

You don’t believe me? Just look at this!

Nice, right?

She sent that to me last week. Sheryl runs a business called Tanzan atbp where she releases all her creative energy making pretty and usable things out of what we would normally throw out with the garbage.

Curious about the brains behind Tanzan atbp, I bugged Sheryl to let me into her private world so I could get to know her a bit better.

Young mom at 17

Sheryl was the youngest and the only girl in the family. Her life took a challenging turn when she became a mom at the age of seventeen. She made a promise to herself that she was going to raise her child and provide for her on her own.

With a degree in Communication, Sheryl worked as an employee for a couple of years before deciding to take her chances on running a business of her own.

Inspired by her daughter, she launched Tanzan atbp, a one-stop shop for pretty accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, keychains, vp charms, magnets, pins and hair bows, in 2008.

Her investment? Sheer imagination and tons of heart work!

From hobbyist to entrepreneur

Sheryl couldn’t contain her passion for recycling. Every time she sees something that can be recycled, her imagination would go crazy that she won’t be able to sleep until she is able to turn it into something useful.

She would turn a match box into a gift box, tin cans into pencil holders, a plastic bottle into a coin bank and a bottle cap into this really cute key chain.

Hopes for Tanzan atbp

I asked Sheryl her hopes for Tanzan atbp, and she says she foresees reaching more people and moving us to take care of our natural resources.

She also wants to encourage children to be creative and to be passionate about nature.

Sheryl has already embarked on that vision. On December 6 and 7, she will be conducting a workshop for kids in General Trias, Cavite. She also plans to teach on summer 2015.

More workshops, please!

Joining a Tanzan atbp workshop is something I am now looking forward to. Cavite is a bit far from where we live, but Sheryl is working on conducting workshops around Bonifacio Global City and I’m definitely waiting for that.

I’m so excited about letting my kids join it. In fact, I discussed recycling and taking care of natural resources in our home school today. It would be such a great activity to reinforce the lesson.

I hope for my kids to realise that there are many different ways to contribute to the restoration of our beloved mother Earth.

Recycling is one way and it can be a lot of fun. I love pretty things, so if Sheryl would let me join the kids, I just might sign up for the class myself.

For orders and inquiries, you can get in touch with Sheryl of Tanzan atbp on Facebook or Instagram.  

52 responses to “Tanzan atbp: From old into new, from trash into treasures”

  1. Irish Avatar

    Kudos to Sheryl! I have seen this in Hodge Podge too. Good luck on the workshop too.

  2. Celerhina Aubrey Avatar

    Wooow! The tanzan is sooo cute. And I also hope they’d have a workshop somewhere near. Hehehehe! I’d love to go. Wala akong talent sa DIY na yan.

  3. Khushboo Avatar

    Sheryl is so creative and I loved her upcycled keychains! It was great knowing such a wonderful person :)

  4. Gillian ong Avatar

    such a good read! sheryl is so creative ;) it’s a good cause too !

  5. Tiffany Yong Avatar

    Teaching people how to upcycle is definitely a good way to help them be aware of the things around them. What can be thrown what can be reused? You start see more once you are aware!

  6. Loudthinkin Avatar

    Sheryl is a very creative person.. I love her innovative ideas and the unique things she is creating by using her imagination.

  7. Raymond Vasquez Avatar

    Creativity in action! Would be great way to save mother earth. One way of recycling… She could venture on more recyclable materials turned into greater fashion accessories or whatever… :-)

  8. Cindy G Avatar

    Wow this is an amazing DIY craft :) It looks really nice!

  9. Vanessa Avatar

    It is amazing what incredible creations human imagination can do when it is given the freedom to do so. I love the entrepreneur spirit of this young mom and the way she turned her passion into a business venture, she is a real inspiration for me!

  10. MollyMia Avatar

    omg, it’s so adorable! i love the one with the bambi design! and it’s heartwarming to hear that she’s doing her best to pass on her knowledge to the children and try to instill the passion within them!

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      Yes, I’m glad that she has that passion for it.

  11. Franchesca Cruz Avatar

    That’s really creative of hers! I remember how we used to have this contest in school wherein we had to create something out of random scraps we can find. She truly gave beauty to those little things.

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      That, she does. Thanks Franchesca!

  12. Vix Parungao Avatar

    the adage that goes “may pera sa sa basura” is really so true. it is a delight to read about stories of how creative people find equally creative ways to turn what other people might thought as trash into something beautiful + turn it into a lucrative endeavor.

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      I was really inspired by her story. :)

  13. Aiza C. Avatar

    Nice! Making money while saving Mother Earth! :) May Sheryl be blessed in her business. :) And kudos to you for helping her share her work.

  14. franckxethee Avatar

    This is a great use of bottle caps. She is really crafty and creative.

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      crafty, creative AND entrepreneurial! Lethal combo diba?

      1. franckxethee Avatar

        Yes, she’s a real inspiration. She motivated herself to provide for her child and she made it big.

  15. sriches Avatar
    sriches

    They are super cool! Sheryl is really creative and I am super envious! Hope the workshop goes well! :) Simone x

  16. Debarpan Avatar

    Wow!these are some real awesome and superb stuff.They looks beautiful as well as creative too.

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      Yes, they are beautiful and Sheryl is indeed very creative!

      1. Debarpan Avatar

        yup she definitely is.Thanks for the sharing her such amazing creativity with us mam.

  17. papaleng007 Avatar
    papaleng007

    Wow! awesome DIY stuff. Only a creative mind can think about this.

  18. Marc Teng Avatar

    Hello. :)) Awesome blog post! More power to you and see you soon.

  19. Louise Avatar

    I would like to attend since this is just two short jeepney rides from home however it’s for kids! heart breaks I will try to contact her if I could join too. I also want to blog about her event :) Thanks for sharing May!

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      Oh you’re from Cavite too?

  20. The Vanilla Housewife Avatar

    Wow! Awesome! Never thought a simple tanzan could be transformed into something so cute! And kudos to her for her courage and determination. Ako kelang kaya magkaka guts? LOL

    1. May De Jesus-Palacpac Avatar

      The quality of the keychain is really good, nag-enjoy nga ako kuhanan ng picture, haha. :)

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I’m May

Fifty-something storyteller, award-winning writer, long-time content creator, podcast host, artist, an advocate for alternative learning and a staunch supporter of the arts.

Email me at maypalstories@gmail.com