It IS easy being green! (and a hidden freebie!)

Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without! Those words are hard to live for a crafter who is constantly bombarded with the latest and greatest products hitting the store shelves every day but with with the environment in the state that it is in, not to mention the economy, we need to look for greener ways to craft. And don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice a bit of style!

A card made from junk, er...I mean recycled materails.

This card is almost 100% recycled. Let me explain, when I print a digital stamp I always fill the sheet with stamps I’m sure to use later. I had printed this and colored the Doodle Tulip but it didn’t work with the card I was making so I tacked it up on my inspiration board. When I went to make my recycled card I grabbed that so I wouldn’t need to print a new image (I admit laziness had a part to play 😉 ) I used thin chipboard that came as packing in a paper pack and trimmed it for the card base and added a piece of corrugated cardboard (from the recycling pile) on top. I peeled off the top cardboard layer, brushed on a bit of pink acrylic paint and sprinkled fine glitter on it while it was still wet. The tag was die cut (Ellison) from a piece of plastic packaging that I saved from one of the kids toys at Christmas and I stamped a sentiment (stampin up) on that with black Staz-on ink. I grabbed a scrap of leftover pink grosgrain ribbon slid it through the hole and stapled it down, oh and I painted the back of the tag with the pink paint too. The only non recycled element, rhinestones, were from my stash and I used my Bic Markits to color them to match my card. All in all I’m pleased with the results, just think, This could have all ended up in a landfill somewhere, at least now I can send it to someone before it gets thrown away LOL! Here are some other recycled embellishment ideas, If you don’t have a die cut machine no problem, hand cut for a unique charming (and very trendy by the way) look.

Some recycling ideas. All items were cut using the Ellison Big Shot with Ellison and Sizzix dies.

You could also cut embellishments from textured shelf liner, window screening, soda cans (iron them first so they dont curl), cork, drywall mesh, magnet sheets, leather and mis-matched playing cards. Look around and be inspired!

OK I know you have been reading my drivel looking for the hidden freebie, well keeping with the “green” theme this week I have designed a stamp that will be free for one week before going into the shop, it is available on one of my Design team’s blogs. So what are you waiting for? Check out these crafty chicas and go find that freebie! PS There will be a new hidden freebie each week! Fun!

One more thing, for every purchase you make in the Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff Store 25 square feet of rain forest are protected, and since I email you the goods no resources are used to get my stamps to you. Feels good doesn’t it. And getting a free card kit with ever $10 you spend doesn’t hurt either.

And now check out the Designers:

Tracey

Tamara

Lisa

Margie

Katt

Row

Melissa

Janet

Olena

Michelle H.

Kim

Enjoy the DT’s work and don’t forget to leave them some love, until next time happy crafting