Saturday, January 29, 2022

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)













Creative Inspirations--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)









Sweet Stampers #64--winter/snow
Penny's Challenge #513--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #624--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:














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:
Creatalicious #227--anything goes with the optional twist: winter
Crafty Gals #227--snow much fun
{Pin}spirational Challenge #285--inspirational photo










YNS #175--seasons









Creative Fingers #223--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #575--anything goes with the optional twist: use a sentiment


27 comments:

Susan Renshaw said...

Three great upcycled cards!
Thanks for sharing with Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge!

Sarn said...

Some great recycling of your Christmas cards going on here, together with using up some snippets! Yay! A lovely festive trio.

Ive put the heating in in the playground treehouse so it’s nice and cosy - find a comfy chair and I’ll make you a nice hot chocolate!

Hugs, Sarn xxx

meg said...

Three beautiful examples of upcycling,thank you for joining in with us at MMM

meg said...

Popped back to say thank you for joining in at the Alphabet Challenge too

ILEANA ARTUFFO said...

Wonderful creation! I love image and choice of colours!
Thank-you for joining us at the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge January "ATG".
Ileanaxx

Deanne Saunders said...

Your snowman card is adorable! I also love the other cards!!! Great job!! Thanks so much for participating in my PINSPIRATIONAL challenge!!! I appreciate that you play along and I enjoy visiting your blog!! Stay safe and healthy!!
Deanne at A Little Bit O’ Paper

Deanne Saunders said...

...and thanks so much for participating in our CHRISTMAS CRAFTS ALL YEAR ROUND challenge!!! I appreciate that you play along and I enjoy visiting your blog!! Stay safe and healthy!!
Deanne at A Little Bit O’ Paper

Deanne Saunders said...

...and thanks so much for participating in our USE YOUR STUFF (Embossing) challenge!!! I appreciate that you play along and I enjoy visiting your blog!! Stay safe and healthy!!
Deanne at A Little Bit O’ Paper

Cardsbykatefletcher said...

Really cute way to upcycle your Xmas cards. Thanks for sharing with us at Paperfundays Challenge. Kate

crafty-stamper said...

Love the cards and cute snowman-great recycling too
Carol x

Deborah Wheeler said...

That's very clever to make such good use of a Christmas card! Your red truck is perfect for our 'vehicle' theme. Thanks for joining us at the Alphabet Challenge

Liz said...

Great upcycling, Heather. Super cards. xx

Haven_mom4 said...

Clever use of the card you received and a great pairing with a nontraditional color background to emboss. thanks for sharing with us at Use Your Stuff

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Jane Savage said...

Such lovely cards!
Thank you for joining us at Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge! Jane S (DT) Paper, Pencils & Pretty Things! xxx

Helen said...

Great cards - love the red and kraft and the embossing folder you've used.

Thanks for joining us at the Sparkles Christmas Challenge.

Helen x

Heather said...

Gorgeous, Heather - love these projects! Great recycling of cards, this is the prettiest version I've ever seen, great choices! And your embossed Kraft backgrounds really pull them all together! Great colors! Thanks so much for playing at Sparkles!

Di said...

What a great trio of upcycled Christmas cards Heather! I bet you felt quite a sense of achievement giving those images a wonderful new lease of life! Well done.

Hugs

Di xx

Kelly Schelske said...

These are all so fabulous Heather and such great way to get some things used up!

Thank you for playing along with us at Creative Knockouts this week- good luck!

Judy McKay said...

Lovely Heather. Love the upcycle Christmas cards. Thank you for joining us at 613 Avenue Create this month. Judy DT

Judy McKay said...

I am back wearing another hate. Lovely designed Christmas cards. Thank you for joining us at Crafty Gals Corner this month. Hope to see you back w\here again soon. Judy DT

Jackie C said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jackie C said...

Fabulous that you recycled so well! All are great!
So glad you have shared this with us at 613 Avenue Create.
Please come back again!
The best of luck with your entry.
Jackie, DT member at 613 xx

FiestyCrafter (Tina) said...

Love these!! Great Christmas cards Heather, love the upcycle idea. I have kept cards thinking about doing the same thing and still have them laying around. Great seeing you again at MLCCB
tina dt

Helen said...

Wonderful cards!
Thanks for playing at the ABC Christmas Challenge!
Helen x

Dawn Phillips said...

Fabulous cards. Your vehicle has such a vintage feel. Thanks for joining us at The Alphabet Challenge. Love Dawn x

Helma said...

Beautiful card. Thanks for joining the challenge. Greetings Helma Dt Creative Sketchy Girlz