Floral Fun: Altered Clipboard

Scraps gain new life: Ali's cheery altered clipboard!

Just wanted to show you a fun clipboard that I altered WITH SCRAPS!!!

* First, I sanded the clipboard with 150 grit sandpaper to make sure that the papers adhered well.

* I used larger scraps of paper for the background which I simply Mod-Podged in place. They came from my scrap bin!

* Then, while those were still wet, I overlaid them with scraps of floral patterned paper, having cut out a selection of various flowers from my scrap bin beforehand.

* I also raided my flower bin and added a few prima flowers, for interest. There were many different styles of flower but they made a cheerful montage on the clipboard!

* Once the background was dry, I mod-podged over the flowers. Allowed that to dry.

* I podged the whole surface of the clipboard once or twice more with drying time in between to seal everything well.

IMPORTANT: As you create your decorated clipboard, be sure the altered surface is flat so that when you have paper on your clipboard, you can write properly with no "bumps!" I always simply place 2-3 sheets of paper under my main sheet to be extra sure the surface I'm writing on is as smooth as possible. Computer misprints (we ALL have those!) or scrap paper works fine as a "buffer" if you need one!

*At the top right of my clipboard, I gave new life to an epoxy-centered flower that had been salvaged from another project. I added a pink flower to accent it.

*I tied some fun and fuzzy coloured yarn thru the metal loop of my clipboard and Voila! A pretty clipboard to display near my desk!!

Have YOU made any altered clipboards?? This was my first one, and I'd LOVE to see yours! Leave us a link! I'll definitely be visiting to see what you've created!

Have a wonderful day, everyone! Remember to "Create-it GREEN!"

~

A card I made recently

with a recycled item on it:
THANX- The back piece is part of a package from some chipboard letters. I scrunched it up a bit and inked it to give it a bit of a distressed look.

Dual use!

This month, my Mom-in-law sent Pete and I a gorgeous Christmas card. When I opened it, I noticed a beautiful image on the back of the envelope! I couldn't bear to throw that part of it into the recycler, so I cut it out. Here it is:

Isn't that pretty?

Here's what I made with it!
Isn't it fun to give new life to something that would have been discarded?

To all who are celebrating tomorrow: Merry Christmas!

Remember to keep creating GREEN!

~

The new Card and Layout DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS are...

CARD
~Jeanna
~Victoria
~Jennifer

LAYOUT
~Alexa
~Joan
~Faye
~Kandi
~Tanya

CONGRATS ladies!!! Can't wait to get going in January!!!!

Sweet Repeats :)

If you get packages like I do, you have enough cardboard Priority Mail Boxes around to house a small army! In an attempt to reuse some of that old packaging, I decided to make these cute embellishments from them! After cutting them, I ran them through my crimper to give the corrugated look, painted, and held all layers together with a brad. A great embellie for any scrap page, card, or altered item!! Thanks for looking!!

New DT members will be announced in a day or two...

I've been sooooooooooooo busy with other things (scrappy and non-scrappy things) that I haven't had a chance to take a look at all the applications yet. Sorry...

Save those OLD JEANS!

At my place, old jeans are fun and handy!
We save them all, big and little, all colours and sizes!

Here are some ideas for "greening" those old jeans:
1. Cut a patch from an old pair of jeans and make a repair... thus extending the life of your nine year-old's favourite and still-wearable denims!

GREEN TIP: If you save many different colours of denim jeans, they can be extra handy as patches -- you can match the patch to the jeans needing it!

2. Make-believe: Create a pair of pretend suspenders for the dress-up bin! (LOL)

Daniel (9) as Super-Mario wearing his "jean" suspenders!!

3. Embellish a layout! Stitch strips of denim to your layout's edge- thus creating a GREAT border for kid layouts!

4. Ease the journaling job! Use a pocket from the back of the old jeans on a LO to make it "interactive." It can hold a "secret" note or pull-out journaling, even a "library card!!"

5. Cut a triangle of denim and embellish with scraps. Then apply to a Kraft gift bag... an instant bohemian-style bag!!

Crooked tree in denim: A bohemian-style gift bag

6. Stitch a pocket! Make tough little utensil pockets for camping or hiking. My daughter took hers on a trip to Toronto with a group of youth, and found it handy in the hotel room kitchenette and when they went on sightseeing tours- no sandwiches for that girl! She brought salad with her for lunch! LOL

TIP: Remember that a utensil pocket w/ utensils inside cannot go in your carry-on luggage if you are flying. Put it in your suitcase! :)

Utensil Pocket with Nova Scotia tartan bias tape as tie closure

Closed Denim Utensil Pocket

I hope this post has sparked some "green-jean" ideas for you!

Be sure to post a link for us so that we can visit your blog and see YOUR jean projects! Have a GREAT day! ~Ali

Altered Thrift Store Basket

A Great Pattern from Ann Wood's Blog

Ann Wood is a delightful artist & I receive her newsletter email. This time she left her readers a wonderful Christmas present...a paper mache boat that is made with a cereal box. I love her work & thought I would share it with you since I am right in the middle of my own gift making and needed a break! Also, - check out her stuffed birds...they are so sweet!

http://annwood.net/blog/2009/12/11/paper-mache-boat-pattern/

DT call extended for LO and CARD team members

*PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE POSTS ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL BLOG HOP THAT'S GOING ON NOW!!! You don't wanna miss it! There are some prizes being offered on some of the blogs, so check 'em all out!!

I'm looking for 6 members to be on a design team (3 card and 3 layout). I will be posting a monthly card and layout sketch and would like to have some inspiring GREEN projects to post with the sketches.

If you'd like to apply...
~create a GREEN layout or card using one of these sketches and email to me and tell me the GREEN material/s you used in your creation. If you are applying for the altered project, simply make a new project for the call and let me know what GREEN item/s you used.

LAYOUT SKETCH
CARD SKETCH
~send me your blog address

~If you'd like to post your creations on your blog, please feel free to do so.But please let them know our blog address where you found the sketch or let them know you created the project for the DT call. Thanks!! :O)
~Send your creation and blog address to me at deanneburton@gmail.com.

I'm sorry but I can't compensate you with any kits or supplies as I'm not a store.

I'm sure you'll have fun coming up with all kinds of GREEN ideas to incorporate into your cards, layouts and altered projects!

I'll keep this open until DEC 15th and will announce the new DT on DEC 18th.

Can't wait to see what you do for the call!

Oh, and if you'd like to use these sketches without applying for the design team, go right ahead! Leave us a link to your creation so we can go check it out!!! Remember to use something GREEN (that is, a recycled,repurposed or reused item!) on your creation

Catalog Recycling: White Out Christmas

A Mini Album made using pages of a manufacturer catalog. (We R Memory Keepers). I also used K & Company Die Cuts and my Bind-It-All.

Catalog Recycling: Grandma's Kitchen Mini Album

I love that piece of FOIL that comes...

on top of your coffee tin!!! I save every one of them!!! They are great! Here are 2 cards I made using that foil! On this one I punched out snowflakes and covered them with glue and glitter!

LET IT SNOW

On this one I punched out stars and embellished them with a bit of Stickles!

So, be sure to keep the foil pieces of your coffee tins! They are awesome to play with!!!

ReUse those Containers!!!

I love stamping and I have several sets from a very well known stamp company :) Well, some of the individual ones come in those clear boxes, and to me it doesn't make sense to store that container for one stamp! So, I decided to repurpose them! Here I decorated one of those containers with bright papers, ribbon, some cut outs and a stamped tag, filled with small wrapped chocolates and took it to the hostess of a cookout we attedned. It was well received, recycled, and put to good use! (Stamped Sentiment: Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages Set) Thanks for stopping by!!!

Blog Hop Winner at Scrap and Share...

The Create it-GREEN Blog Hop was so much fun on the weekend! We now have a corner-stamp set winner at Scrap and Share. Please check it out... don't forget to become a follower! And--> remember to CREATE it-GREEN! Have a super day all you crafty people! ~ Ali

Home Improvement Center Samples!

This mini album was recently published in Scrapbooking.com Magazine. I made this for my Daughter's Graduation in May. On the inside I wrote, "From Crayola crayons to a Cap and Gown. Where did the years go?"
Another sample available at the Home Improvement Center in the Paint Department

Key Chain

Are you in need of some quick and inexpensive gifts for co-workers, friends and teachers? How about checking out your local Home Improvement Center.
We recently put in new counter-tops annd I was amazed at all the samples they had available. I picked up a few I liked and because I reuse and recycle, I kept them! Here's a key chain that can be made quickly! I used Crafty Secrets Cuts for an image but you could use any image. (Are you thinking Old greeting cards. cute images in Magazines or a photo?
I didn't put a protective coating on mine but I suppose they could be laminated or layered with Glossy Accents to protect the surface. I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a package of rings...a BUNCH in a package for $3.99!

Jean's Star Wreath

If you don't have a wreath on your door or would like to give someone an awesome gift please go visit Jean at Welcome to my Craft World.

She will show you how to create this beautiful wreath as well as the little moss covered packages.

When you visit her make sure you leave her a comment to be entered to win her awesome prizes of 2 stamp sets and a border punch.

Deanne's Coffee Card!

Check out Deanne's blog as she shows you how she used a paper coffee mug and created a CARD!!!
Also she shows us how to create a coffee tin to give as a gift.

If you post a comment on Deanne's blog, your name will be added in a draw for this prize!!

Thanks for participating so far in our blog hop!!!

Ali's Kraft Gift Bag decor ideas!

If you like to package up your gifts in creative, GREEN ways, come by Ali's Scrap and Share Blog for a peek at what you can do with a plain Kraft gift bag! Ali has 2 ideas to share with you, along with samples. There is also a prize offered: a set of 3 corner stamps- so "HOP" on by and be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win! See you there!

Cyndi's Thrift Shop Book turned Family Album

This is an easy project to make that doesn't have to be done in one sitting. Add on to this album year after year or compile it from Holidays past! Start with a hard cover book with pictures from the thrift store or clearance rack! Use all the scraps and end up wit a funky fun book with holiday personality. The tutorial shows ideas for the collage cover, painted pages, slide outs, tabs, a jumping jack and plenty of lay outs.

Come and see the step by step photos and leave a comment for a prize: it's a Fake Girl Scout Cookie Ornament, Faux Samo!

So hop on over to CyndiLou's Graphic Crafts to see the complete tutorial on how to make this Christmas Keepsake.

Sue's Green Christmas Ornaments

Come visit Sue at Sue Stampin Daly to see what she used to make these Christmas bells and how to make them.

She also has another idea for them, that she will share with you.

Please leave Sue a comment on her blog to enter to win a pad of Amy Butler's recycled Specialty paper.

Jan's Altered Christmas cookie box

Please go visit Jan at Paper Craft Pleasures to see how she made this beautiful Christmas cookie box. It would be wonderful for cookies, candy or even a gift and instead of throwing it out the receiver of the gift will want to keep this box.

When you visit Jan , leave her a comment to be entered to win a Bind It All.

Sue's Coffee Filter Flowers

These flowers are made with Coffee Filters and vintage buttons.
Please go visit Sue at Sue Stampin Daly to learn how to make them. They are great for on cards, scrapbook pages and altered items.

Leave Sue a comment when you go to visit her and be entered to win a Stampin Up! stamp set.

"Green" Christmas blog hop

Good Morning and Welcome to Create It Green's first blog hop. We will be having many tutorials today along with prizes from our individual design team members and contributors. To be eligible for a prize please leave a comment on the tutorial.

Our blog hop starts now . This card was made with handmade paper, vintage lace and the flourish frame is made out of a soda can.

Please hop to the next blog to see more creative projects.

Deanne

Sue

Cyndi
Jean
Jan
Ali
Tanya

We will be having tutorials throughout the day. This is our list of tutorials and times.

At 1pm EST- Sue from Sue Stampin Daly will start off with a tutorial on how to make coffee filter flowers. She will be raffling off a Stampin Up! stamp set.

At 2pm EST- Jan from Paper Craft Pleasures will show us how to alter/create a Christmas candy/cookie box. She will be raffling off a Bind It All.

At 4pm EST- Sue from Sue Stampin Daly will show us how to make some green Christmas ornaments. She will be raffling off a pad of Amy Butler's Specialty Paper.

At 6pm EST- Cyndi from Cyndi Lou's Graphic Crafts will be showing us how to take a thrift shop book and turn it into an album. She is raffling off one of her handmade girl scout cookie ornaments.

At 7pm EST- Ali from Scrap and Share will be showing us how to take an old gift bag and make it into a new one. She will be raffling off three corner stamps.

At 8pm EST- Deanne from Am I a Scrap Addict will show us how to create a card from a paper coffee mug image.

At 10pm EST- Jean from Welcome to My Craft World will show us how to make a beautiful Rustic Star. She will be raffling off 2 sets of clear stamps from Autumn Leaves, Doodle Tagged and Stampology plus a Martha Stewart Doily Lace Scalloped Edge border punch.

Turn Craft Packaging into a Gift!

Hello everyone. Just wanted to share a project I made using by reusing craft packaging. You know those simple packages Chipboard Cuts, Ribbon, Brads, and more come in? Why not turn them into a gift?! Here I have added some great designer paper, chipboard element decor, ribbon, letter stickers, and candy to make a super simple, but super cute gift! To make your own, first wash packaging well and let dry. Then, simply measure the inside of the packaging and cut your DP to size. Add candy, place paper on the back, and use tape to help secure the back. Add your ribbon, embellishments, and a gift tag if desired and WAH LAH! Done! Thanks for looking!

-Sammye Jo