Coffee Lid Necklace Tutorial

Hi everyone- it's Tanya here!!

 To make this necklace I used a clean coffee lid, my Sizzix, some old fabric, my Crop-a-dile, an eyelet, Mod Podge, Staz-On ink, my Sharpie, Diamond Glaze and a thin ribbon.

When Cyndi challenged us to make a project with a coffee cup lid, my mind went blank. What could I possibly make that would make a lid look different! Then I realized that my Sizzix could help- I cut around nearly all of the raised edges of the lid so it could fit into the machine. Then using my Small Flower die I cut a flower out of the lid.

Then I lightly sandpapered both sides and wiped the grit from the flower.  

Using some old fabric, I used the same die to cut a fabric flower.

This fabric is from a dress I loved & wore nearly 15 years ago.

Using Mod Podge, I attached the fabric to the flower and waited for it to dry. Then I trimmed the extra strands of fabric, applied ink to the edges and the back (only to have most of the ink come off on my fingers) I let what was left of the ink dry a little longer.

Then using my Crop-a dile, I added an eyelet. 

Then I doodled on the back of the necklace with my Sharpie. When the ink was dry, I applied Diamond Glaze to the front, waited for it to dry then applied it to the back and waited for it to dry.

Once dry to the touch, I let it dry overnight before I laced the ribbon through the eyelet . Here's the front:

And here's the back:

And here's my girl -first thing in the morning- in her new necklace:

We may be making a few more of these as Valentines for Penelope's best friends.

On a side note-I could use your help! My altered costume rack has made the semifinals in the Friends of Purple Cows Design Contest!! The top 10 finalists will be decided by public vote over the next five days and I would really appreciate your vote! It’s the last one (#25). Just stop by Purple Cows and cast your vote (the poll is in the side column). 
Have a great day!

Coming Soon! Valentine Blog Hop!

Our Re-purpose with Love, Valentine Blog Hop, will be Saturday, February, 6th, 2010. It will start at noon , EST and showcase Blogs of our Contributors, Design Team, Followers and Friends!

There will also be other games and prizes!

For anyone interested in having their blog featured in the Hop Line-up, Please drop me an email at cyndilouwho@bellsouth.net . The projects, tutorials and creations will be upcycling oriented and use recycled items in the instructions! The projects, descriptions and teaser pics are due by January 31st, 2010.

Heavy Metal Band

SUPER EXCITING news...publishedin Stampington and Company, Art Doll Quarterly Magazine Feb/Mar/April Issue! Yipee..and it's made using an old typewriter!

Bubbling Over...Weekend Challenge Winner

Donna(donnarws) is our Winner of the Bubbling Over...Weekend Challenge on the Yahoo Group and Facebook. Here is what she had to say about her project:
This card was made with paper donated from a printer, bits of used bubble wrap and a few wee bits of tissue from a present. I did run it through the computer for the words.
TFL! Donna,
http://www.facebook.com/recreate.org
http://www.recreate.org/
http://donnasangwin.blogspot.com/
Thanks for submitting!
Also... Check out Donna's websites! They are great!
For any late entries...please feel free to go to either of the Albums(Yahoo or FB) and upload your work...don't forget to tell us what recycled items were used!
Cyndi

I'm Bubbling Over... Weekend Challenge

Here is a weekend challenge for you! Hope it gets you thinking about the Valentine's Blog Hop!

CHALLENGE:

Create a project--- a card, layout or any other utility item that illustrates the phrase---

"I'm BUBBLING Over With Affection..."

Use recycled items to make the project Green. More words may be added to complete the verse or leave the verse as is!It will be fun to see how many themes go with this wording! Put your pic into the photo album titled Bubbling Over, by Tuesday, January 19th, 2010. The album is on the Photo Page of the CreateItGreen Yahoo Group.
Here is my Bubbling ATC. I used recycled cardboard for the card and I used newspaper for the pillow and window.
Have Fun!
Cyndi

Our FIRST Design Team REVEAL!!!

Wahoo, it's Jan 15th!!!
Are ya ready to see what the Create It-Green Gals did?

The altered team was asked to create something using a recycled item and real stitching on it.

JEAN MARIE PENNINGTON
Jean said, "The recycled Items I used are large fridge advertisement magnets from my phone book and last years calendar magnet from the doctors office. I created felt magnets for valentines day."

ALI MacDONALD
Ali said, "I altered old jeans and made embellishments for Los or cards. Here is the info.
Pic 1 is a set of 6 different types of "SCRUFFY POSIES" (as I have decided to call them, ) LOL!
1. Slightly Gathered, Zigzag Posey
2. Flat "Sun Rays" Flower
3. Heavy Denim, Frayed Flower
4. Flat Zigzag Posey
5. Flat & Funky Floss Flower

6. Extra-Scruffy, (slightly gathered) Ink-Grunged Posey

All six Posies are stitched at LEAST in the centres. Several are machine stitched and one is stitched by hand.

Pic 2: Denim Circle Edging

I simply cut circles freehand from old jeans and then zigzagged them right-side up and wrong-side up, in no particular order, to a piece of paper ribbon. Pressed lightly. Ready to use!"

And she created a layout using those scruffy flowers and denim edging.

JAN HENNINGS
Jan made an altered frame. She said," I reused a frame and some scraps of cardstock and lace to make my altered frame. I used my sewing machine to stitch around the Stampin' Up! rub-on and then glued it to the patterned paper. Add a button and you have a super simple, inexpensive gift or home decor item."

Wonderful creations ,ladies!!!

Now, on to the layout sketch.

The layout team was asked to create a layout using the sketch as inspiration, and to use a recycled item on their layout.

ALEXA GILL
Alexa said, "The green items I used were corregated cardboard from a wine box and I also punched a cork place mat to make some buttons."

JOAN LIDDLE
Joan said said she used "Prima packaging for the photo mat and the journaling card, old buttons and the heart is punched from a coffee sleeve."
 

FAYE PERATA
Faye said, "On this page, the recycled item is the flower on the page. These are blossoms that I like to make. I use images from magazines and old book pages and repurpose them into a flower blossom. I love using magazines to make these blossoms because of their glossy look. I also add tulle into the layered look. The center brad is a traditional gold brad you find in an office supply store that I have covered with glue and glitter. I also used notebook paper for my journal spot... i rescued this notebook from my friends garbage can. She was throwing it away cause it got wet so I just cut that part off. I don't know if that counts though :)"

KANDI PHILLIPS
Kandi said, "The recycled item used on my layout is the brown paper packaging. I got a lot of it during December when lots of online purchases showed up at my house! ;)"

TANYA SMITH
Tanya said, " I reused packaging (black paper from Heidi Swapp & a grungeboard tag from ranger)."

I also did one. I used a sheet of a notebook.

It's amazing how you can use recycled materials in a layout! Wasn't that fun seeing all the creations!!!

The card sketch team was asked to use this sketch as inspiration, and to use a recycled item on their card.

VICTORIA WARREN-MEARS
Victiroa used "Prima say it with crystals backing board - it is the turquoise piece on the front of the card. Much too pretty not to use!"

JEANNA PAOLA FERNANDEZ
Jeanna said , "as for the recycled material that I used in my card, I used an old box and get the corrugated part of it.. I distressed it with a blank ink to put some weathery effect on it."

JENNIFER SCULL
Jennifer said, "for the newspaper one - obviously the newspaper is recycled (circles crinkled and then distressed with ink), but also the card base is some of my coffee paper: coffee ground sprinkled on cs, allowed to dry, and then sept into the garden or compost. twine for buttons is more of my dog food bag twine! :) papers are Basic Grey Indian Summer and digi is from Squigglefly if you need that info.


for the little girl one - the pink paper is actually manilla type paper that a candle or something was wrapped in from the store for protection. (like they would tissue paper before putting it in the shopping bag). I sprayed it with 2 coats of rose tea glimmer mist prior to using punches. I want you to know that I did actually sew on this card - a major thing for me because I DO NOT sew!! only for you, babe! :) paper is Basic Grey Euphoria and image is again from Squigglefly. "

Thank-you so much ladies!!!

Would you like to try one of the challenges (or all of them if you like!!) Simply create something NEW for this challenge and post the link to it here. Just before the next challenge is posted on Feb 15th, a random name will be drawn and they will win a RAK from me.

Happy recycling, my friends!!!  Post a comment and let us know what you think of our first DT reveals and challenges!!!

Egg Carton Sweet Treats

About.com: Family Crafts was having a challenge to use and egg carton, in whole or in part and submit your idea. I recycled an egg carton, painted it with acrylic paint and once dry, stamped on it. It's a lot of fun and makes a cute gift of some sweet treats. I made 18 mini cupcakes and set them in the carton. Added an image and ribbon and it's ready to give to a friend.
HERE'S a link to the article.

Recycling...

I made this little gift box by nabbing one of those FREE McD gift card holders that look like their fries boxes. I carefully took it apart and used it as a template. Voila, a gift box!

This idea is not really "recycling" as such but re-using, maybe! Aren't notebooks just so plain and blahhhh? Well, I took one apart carefully (just by bending the wire a little, it simply comes out easy by twisting it out). I glued some pretty patterned paper onto the front and fancied it up. And, now the notebook is wayyyyyyy more fun!!! Ready to give away, or keep for yourself! haha!

Oh, our FIRST DT reveal will take place on January 15th!!! So be watching for it!!!

Hello everyone! It's my first posting here.....

Hello! My name is Jennifer and this is my first post as a member of the card DT here at Create it Green! I was over the top thrilled when Deanne let me know that I was allowed to come play in the proverbial sandbox with y'all. I had already decided that I wanted to do more recycling, re-purposing, & re-using of things in regards to my crafting. So what an ideal opportunity! Thank you, Deanne, and I hope I don't disappoint.

I have several cards that I would like to show you, so let's get on with the show! :)

My first card uses a coffee sleeve that I had saved from a trip to my local coffee house. I never know when inspiration is going to hit and in what way, but in this case, I decided to punch leaves. I also save the drawstring twine from the huge 20# dog food bags we buy every week for our 2 labs. I use this twine to tie buttons, etc. on my projects. It is the perfect size, as you can see here.

The second card uses some saved packing material. As soon as the package arrived in the mail, I knew I had to save this wonderful stuff! It was even pre-crinkled for me! how cool is THAT??!?!? I think I was more excited about the packing than whatever came in the box, as I don't even remember what was inside....... grins! anyhow, I snipped off a few bits, tied them up with this cute turquoise baker's twine, added a button, and it made the cutest little embellie! it has received quite a few comments already and spurred people to try this out themselves! now that is what recycling is all about, kiddos! wink wink wink!

My final project goes to show you that just because you repurpose something, it does not have to look plain or all 'naturey'. I am really fond of the vintage/shabby look. that is probably what most people would say would be my true style of crafting if given the choice to go crazy. On this card I used a tea tag that I had saved. I love saving these little babies! if I don't use the tags, then the twine is great because it is already tea stained! perfect for vintage crafting!!! I also love to use vintage buttons. this is another wonderful example of re-purposing something that might not otherwise be used.

I look forward to sharing more with you in the future! Everyone here has such fun ideas! Enjoy your weekend!

love ya! Jennifer

Recycled Pepper Tin

I used a recycled pepper tin to make my altered tin. It would be perfect to hold some flavored coffee or some flavored coffee creamer...maybe even a sweet treat!
The stamps are Crafty Secrets Clear Stamps.

Wallpaper Sample Book Cards

Recycling Christmas cards on layouts

Hi Everyone & a happy new year to you all! If the weather is cold & snowy where you are, I hope you are keeping safe & warm.

I was inspired by Jan's post below to re-use Christmas cards on my layouts.


To mat the photo on this layout I used a Christmas card I received this year, it's actually the inside of the card! The transparency at the bottom was also from another card.


Here I've used a card again for the title & I also used the reverse of the back of the card for my journalling space, I just stamped a label design and used my own handwritting.

Don't forget you can also re-use your Christmas gift tags, packaging & wrapping paper for your crafting!

~Alexa

Coffee Lid, Cup and Wrap Recycling

Cyndi wondered if anyone had an idea to recycle coffee cup lids so I put on my thinking cap and used part of the coffee cup, the lid and the wrap to make this card. I stamped "Thanks A Latte" on the wrap! These would also make cute invites for tea or coffee!

Got Cards???????

Hello everyone! I just wanted to pass this along for those who have an abundance of Christmas cards! The ones you received, the ones you have left over, any!!! I thought you might want to know that St. Jude's Ranch encourages people to send their left over and old Christmas cards for the children to use to make decorations and recycle the cards to sell in future years as a fundraiser. Please pass this onto everyone you know.

Please send left over or old cards to:

St. Jude's Card Recycling

100 St. Jude Street

PO Box 60100

Bolder City, NV 89006

 

What a great way to give to a great cause AND recycle!!!!!

XoX0- Sammye Jo

Wedding Invitations!

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR (a couple days late)!!!!! I am super excited to be a design team member for Create It-GREEN and I look forward to sharing this new decade with all of you out there.

I was working on a layout with pictures from my friend, Roxy's wedding and pulled out the invitation she had sent. Of course I forgot to take a picture of it before I so lovingly ripped it apart... I promise to remember next time :)

She made the invitations herself so I took off some of the embellishments she created to add flair to my own layout. I took the red box (I matted it on the black) with love written in multiple languages, the two red flowers and brads, and the bride and groom that I put on the O of LOVE. The ribbon is from one of my Christmas gifts this year!

So next time you get a wedding invitation (or any invitation really) make sure to hold on to it... you might be able to add some of it to your own layout!

Peace out!
Faye Marie

Recycle for Winter Decor--- Make a Snowman!

Before I put all my Christmas decorations away, I had to make another gift!

So here is a cute little vignette snowman made from a Laughing-Cow round cheese box! It also utilizes a baked egg souffle cup from Panera Bread as the base, used dryer sheets for snow on top of the base and batting scraps from a quilting project. Hope my friend, Kathryn -likes it!

Click the pic for a larger view!

Recycle those Christmas Cards!

I decided to recycle my Birthday and Christmas cards right away before the dust had a chance to settle! I left the inside blank so I can use them for different occasions.