The 3 "R's" of Scrapbooking

Is there anyone else out there who likes to recycle items for scrapbooking?

For my chipboard ~ I use cereal, cracker, cookie. . . boxes or any other sturdy piece of cardstock I can find. Corrugated cardboard too can give a nice effect.

I also like to use clothing tags. You can find some really cool and unique ones from jeans. I've found little dog tags, with a beaded chain, large tags with words like "Contrast" written across them with a gorgeous red cotton ribbon and fabric swatches you can stamp on. I use cellophane windows from tea boxes or envelopes to highlight a sentiment, word or embelli. . . I also like to use vintage/cotton laces or buttons found on old clothing that is going to be thrown out. For the laces you can hand wash them add a lil starch and iron them or use tea/coffee to stain them to give them more of an aged look - they look amazing.

These are only a few of the ideas. . . I have recently found toilet paper rolls to make wonderful picture slides ~ what about you?

What do you use?

Recycled Toilet Paper Roll Picture Slide

Here's a cute idea for kids to make for their mom for Mother's Day ~ it's a recycled toilet paper roll made into a picture slide. I found the idea on Youtube and thought I would put my own spin on it. Isn't cool what you can find on Youtube ~ who woulda ever thought eh? Next I will have to try the Paper Towel roll picture slide - LOL!

Blessings & Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there!

Canada's Earth Day. . .

In honour of Canada's Earth Day, to help you discover the greener way to craft, I made this simple lil card from recycled paper.

Under the fancy papers in my mini albums you will find cereal, cracker, cookie. . . boxes. On the pages you will find tags, pins, strings, fringes from jeans and clothing. There is so much more to discover out there, even the tabs from pop cans can be used for ribbon buckles and cotton laces, buttons and fabric swatches make great embellishments. Use your imagination to see what you can recycle, reuse and re-invent.

"Cherish Family" Purse Mini Album

Here it is, my version of the "Purse Album" created from cereal boxes. . . and a lot of help from ABOVE.
I created this especially for my niece's 13th birthday. She has been such a blessing to me and continues to make her Auntie feel so very special. She is a very caring and compassionate young lady and I absolutely adore her!
First I created the design on graph paper, then made a cardboard template, traced the pattern onto cereal boxes (I had to eat lots of cereal) and cut out each page, rounding the bottom corners. Sanding the edges helped give a nice finished edge. There is lots of "BLING" throughout the album ~ that's one of her favourite embellishments. I also created a pocket in the album to house some of her favourite family pictures. I can hardly wait to give it to her!

"Something Within"

I'm so excited about my new stamp set from the Unity Stamp Company. . . I could hardly wait to use them.
Here is my first attempt - at a 4" x 8" card using the "Something Within" stamp set from Unity Stamps; Ribbon is from Maya Road; Green Flower Bling is from Jesse James Beads; Background is embossed with my Cuddlebug using "d'vine swirl" folder, I then inked the embossing using a dry brush method and sanded lightly; I also got to use my new EK Success Punch - Dotted Scallop to make the fringe under the ribbon; Ink is by Anna Griffith (they are my absolute favourite inks) in color "Green". Of course I inked everything ~ I love inking, sanding, distressing. . . There is also a 1/8" border paper pierced around the sentiment and I stamped another cross, cut it out and popped it for a lil extra dimension. I hope you like it?