Happy Earth Day folks! Many of my favorite craft supplies are free and found right in my recycle bin or made out of scraps and leftovers. I decided to make a video today showing you how to make your own free art supplies and help the earth at the same time, we will also make this card:
I used rubber stamps from About Art Accents, watercolor crayons, dye based ink, gesso and watercolor paper for real supplies and for recycled supplies I used old credit cards, old tooth brush, cardboard boxes and magazines to name a few. Check out the video:
I mentioned using a pen that would tell me if something was acidic or not but I got flustered when my daughter crashed my video (gotta love school vacation:) so I’ll tell you about it now. It is called a PH tester pen and it is made by American Crafts, here is what it looks like.
There are many more ways I have a green craft room:
- Use CFL lights instead of incandescent, it saves 66% electricity for the same amount of light!
- Keep a recycle bin handy for paper/cardboard scraps when you cannot get any more use from them (I die cut small shapes from my scraps before tossing them in the recycle bin. Alternately you can use the scraps for paper making!
- Use rags made from old clothes and towels instead of paper towels, they work better and last longer! Remember to save buttons and trims off of old clothing to use as embellishments!
- Decorate/paint tin cans to store supplies.
- Make your own custom patterned chipboard by glueing pattern paper to cereal boxes and die cutting as shown on the video. This thin chipboard cuts well with a Cricut too!
- Save plastic packaging to make clear accents or for use as painting palettes for acrylic paint.
- Use the tall plastic tubes that drink mix comes in (like Crystal Light) to store colored pencils and pens.
- Use a cardboard box as a color catcher- place items inside before spraying with glimmer mist.
- Save old spray bottles for making your own stamp cleaners, ink sprays and glimmer mists.
- Decorate tins and nice boxes to package gifts in. the box will be a gift in and of itself!
I’m sure you have more crafty recycling ideas, if so please leave a comment and share them:) Together we can make a difference in the environment (and in out wallet) by crafting a little greener!
BTW this project qualifies for the following challenges: Aud Sentiments Challenge , Moving Along With The Times, The Outlawz POM, Paper Play, Pixie Dust Studio , Creative Card Crew, Paper Shelter Challenge, Simon Says Stamp, Creative Craft Challenges, Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge, Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenges, Top Tip Tuesday, and Try It On Tuesday
Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
A fabulous project and thank you for all the great tips on staying green. I could do a lot better I must admit. Thanks for joining in with us at MAWTT this week, good luck. Pami x
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Hi Lindsay!
Love your eco-tips! I’m going to post a link to your post on our facebook page and our Stampin’ Club! I loved that you worked with your daughter in the video–kids are great! 🙂 She looks like she is well on her way to being a “crafter” too!
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Thank you Melannie! Yes, I enjoyed working with my daughter although it was not planned, she is my little artist (much more so than my other two!)
Thanks for sharing my video!
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great recycling.. love the tips
Thanks for joining us at MAWTT this week
Lisa x
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Fabulous project. Thanks for joining in the LCI Challenge this week.
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I always enjoy watching your video’s. Great tips as always, Happy Earth Day!
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Fantastic video with lots of lovely and useful tips. Fab card and beautifully made.
Marie
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Fab card and a mega load of tips too! brilliant, Thanks for joining in with us on the Top Tip Tuesday challenge this time hugs Samantha :0)
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Thanks for joining us at CCCC and sharing all your creative tips with us.
Best wishes, Sharon
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Great tutorial…your projects are so pretty!
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love the video and thanks for joining in the fun over at CCC…love all the green tips too
Sylvia x
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Loved this video. I always look forward to your tips. Your posts have added so much to the SCS “going cold turkey” thread! I love that your daughter costarred on the video – reminded me of my now-18-year-old at that age. So much fun, and you are so generous with your ideas. Thank you.
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thanks Kathleen! I love that SCS thread, so many clever ladies!
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Great card and thanks for the recycling video, I never tried making my own chipboards… Thanks for playing with us at Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge!
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Super card, loved your recycling video. Thankyou for sharing it with us at Try it on Tuesdays.
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Very lovely creation! Look Fabby! Thanks for playing with us over at TPS Challenges this week.
Love n hugs
Marie
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Totally stunning!
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What a beautiful project. Thanks for joining us at Aud Sentiments and celebrating our 1st Birthday with us.
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Beautiful cards…such cute images…thanks for joining us this week at TPS……
Hugs
Judith
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Gorgeous project and fab ideas of upcycling, I love re-using magazines, old books, boxes, tins and whatever I can lay my hands on it. Thanks for the fab tutorial and thanks playing along with TioT
hugs
Ildiko
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Wonderful art card!! I love every aspect of it! AND I love your green list. Thanks for joining our challenge at Aud Sentiments. We hope to see you back for our next one!
Denise
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WOW super project and tips for us all, thanks for joining in on MAWTT With our Recycle Challenge this week, Love Hazelxox
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What a fabulous recycling project Lindsay, I love the colours you have used and the fact that you prevent so much being thrown away.
Glad you could recycle something for Earth Day and join in our challenge at MAWTT as well.
luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox
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