Recycled cards

 I got to have a little fun today and just play.  I decided to try upcycling Christmas cards that I received this year.  I've had the thought before, but never made it happen.  Today, I finally did it.  All three cards in this post use pieces from the same Christmas card.  On the first one, I die cut the main image with a rectangle die.  The plaid banner piece was a piece that actually ran down the side of the original card.

I embossed a piece of kraft card stock for the background panel and added a mat of light turquoise.  I added a sentiment strip and some snowflakes that had been punched a long time ago.  They were just sitting in a bag waiting to be used.

After cutting out the image, I had the sentiment and a cute little house left over.  They were perfect to pair together to create this second card.  I used the same red card base, and some embossed kraft strips.  I added some light turquoise and then added some red glitter paper die cut hearts.  The largest one was in my bits and pieces stash and was the inspiration for adding them to the card.

After finished the second card, I still had two small squares of the card left.  They had some pieces of trees on them and seemed to pretty to throw away.  So, I found a sketch to use to use them up.  Unfortunately, you don't really see the pattern with the ribbon covering them.  But at least I did use them

I also got a chance to use this adorable little snowman stamp that I have had for several years and never inked up.  He's super cute; so I will definitely be using him again.  I paper pieced his hat with the little bit of left over plaid from the first card.  Then I added a fun little pom pom to the top of the hat.  I stamped some light turquoise snowflakes around the top of the focal panel.  The ribbon was in my bits and pieces stash.

Card #1:

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Beyond Measure" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle; MFT "Blueprints 14" sentiment banner

Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Challenges:

Incy Wincy Designs--color combo and/or sketch (I chose the sketch)

Cards Galore Challenge #92--anything goes

Through The Purple Haze #188--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #42--anything goes

Dare 2 B Artzy--winter fun

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #164--inspiration photo (I went with the color scheme and snowflakes)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #153--anything goes

Sweet Stampers #64--winter/snow

Penny's Challenge #513--anything goes

C.R.A.F.T. #624--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Krafty Chicks #596--all occasions

Alphabet Challenge--V is for vehicle

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Card #2:

Supplies:

Dies: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps largest heart; MFT "Smartphone" two smaller hearts

Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:

Sparkles Christmas Challenge--a winter scene

Creative Sketchy Girls #68--sketch

ABC Christmas--anything Christmas goes

The Paper Funday Challenge #57--anything goes with the optional twist: winter landscapes

613 Avenue Create--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #528--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Snippets Playground #420--anything goes with snippets (one heart was left over from another project, the other two were cut from snippets.  The two main pieces were scraps from the recycled card, and the kraft and turquoise layers were all scraps)

Creative Knockouts #437--die cuts/punches

Card #3:

Stamps: Rubbernecker Stamps "Snowman with Arms"; Papertrey Ink " Fab Flakes" and sentiment

Dies: Verve "Elegant Ovals"

Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--snow people

Pattie's Creations #190--anything goes

Love To Scrap Challenge Blog #66--anything goes

Creatalicious #227--anything goes with the optional twist: winter

Craft Rockets #88--use dies

Crafty Gals #227--snow much fun

{Pin}spirational Challenge #285--inspirational photo

Crafting Happiness #119--anything goes

Make My Monday #166--winter

YNS #175--seasons

Creative Moments #230--sketch

Use Your Stuff #440--embossing

Creative Fingers #223--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #575--anything goes with the optional twist: use a sentiment