ARLINGTON – Monica Guerrero doesn’t throw coffee grounds in the garbage.

Instead, she uses them for “trash” art.

“Trash art is when you take something people throw away and turn it into something beautiful,” she said. “You work with what you’ve got.”

Guerrero, an artist who calls herself “Monica Today,” recycles coffee grounds by compacting and then engraving them, eventually making them into necklaces. Some of her most popular engravings are Seahawk, mermaid, unicorn, orca, butterfly, turtle, peace tree and Bigfoot.

At a recent craft show in Arlington, she painted the necklaces in colors the customers wanted.

“You want to customize them at your show. I can paint it any color” and also use glitter, she said.

Guerrero also puts on classes through Java Glam Jam for people who want to make their own. “It’s empowering,” she said.

Guerrero has used all types of mediums but finds trash art most rewarding. She likes to “seek gratification that is harder to obtain.” It’s become a philosophy of life.

She loves when kids say, “Mom, can you believe she made that?”

Guerrero comes from a family of artists and inventors. They were poor so they had to use all types of things for their art.

“It was an inspiration to me,” she said.

Guerrero is an eco designer, author, speaker and creative empowerment coach. She can be found at www.GroundsforPeace.com.

She loves to share her creativity and passion with others. “I like to connect with people through the soul,” she said. I want to “help others to find deep peace through creativity.”