Primarily being a collage artist, this type of flotsam and jetsam has held my interest for a long time, but it is only recently that I have thought about applying these same principals to my scrapbooking. I absolutely adore all the wonderful ready-made scrapbooking supplies that are out there. However, if you want a totally unique look to your pages, try a couple of these recycling ideas to combine with supplies you already have and lose yourself in creative abandon while helping to save the earth.
Case in point: I have created two scrapbook pages using elements that someone else may have thought was destined for the trash can. Also, a small storage unit was created from previous packaging to keep all those lovely punch-outs and cardstock embellishments organized without a trip to the nearest Target to buy yet another plastic keeper.
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I often save designer clothing tags because there are so many out there that have awesome graphics and/or shapes that I think I could use for something! For this layout, not having the time to create an entire scrapbook showcasing the photos taken when my daughter came to visit me, I wanted a way to include five of my favorite photos from the vast amount of pictures taken.
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Tag before altering.
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Tag cover after altering.
I also knew that I wanted to enlarge the last photo of my girls with me. That’s where this unique clothing tag that was designed to look like a Paris journal came to play for showcasing four of the photos. By resizing my photos in a photo editing program to fit on the tag pages, adding an embellishment sticker to the cover and some rub-ons with journaling to the inside, I was able to create a mini album that I included on my page by making a sleeve to slip the ‘journal’ into. This same treatment could have been adapted to just a two sided tag by putting a photo on both sides. You see where this is going.
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And what do you do with that phone book every year! Why not make a great background for a special layout or card. I really wanted something special for pictures taken in Sedona that looked like postcards and knew that this idea would not compete with the wonderful photography.
 | Recycled Telephone Pages Photo Mats Beginner Project Zoom in to view this project closer Make this project: |
Although I used paint transferred from freezer paper and cut mine for my ‘postcards’, you could just as easily adhere the torn phone book pages to cardstock and gesso or paint over it to match the embellishments or photos that you want to use for your layout. By using gel medium to glue the pages down to the cardstock, you are providing a protective coating over the print so that the ink will not run when you mask it with paint or gesso.
Box before altering
Box after altering
Storage is always a problem, no matter what type of art you do. For me, because I love small cardstock embellishments, keeping them organized can become an art unto itself. Right after I was given this assignment, I received some absolutely wonderful cardstock embellishments, but I had no where to keep them where they would stay pristine and so I could get to them quickly. I thought I was going to have to make yet another trip for more storage containers when I just happened to notice that my cosmetic sponges were almost gone. So, in keeping with the recycling theme and to make something utilitarian artsy, I cut some leftover cardstock to fit inside the plastic box, cut off a ‘mistake’ I had stamped on a card and added a new self-adhesive embellishment along with a label on front and, voila, trash to treasure: Or, at least, trash to pretty storage container.
Look around your space. I bet there are all kinds of things that one would probably throw away. However, with a little imagination, some leftovers (hey, that’s recycling too) and, maybe, even something new, you can turn some trash into something that will be unique and save you money in the long run. It’s almost like getting something for free!
ART RECYCLING TIPS:
• A telephone book can also be used as your gluing surface. Keeping one handy on your art table or where you can get at easily, can save a lot of time for people who make art on the go or even for someone who doesn’t want to have to do a lot of cleanup afterwards. Every time that you have something that you want to glue, turn to a clean page in the telephone book, place your item on the page and slather with your glue, then, simply close the book. No mess, no big cleanup. This same idea can be used if you need to coat something small with a bit of paint or gesso; just turn to a clean page and you won’t have to ready your table. An added advantage is that you can use these painted pages as backgrounds later.
• Ever wonder what to do with those small scraps or pieces that are too cute or useful to throw away. Supply a three ring binder with top loading page protectors. Designate each protector with a color, then, every time you have a leftover too small to save elsewhere, slip it into it’s designated color page protector. Just think, next time you need just a little something in a certain color, all you have to do is open your binder to the correct color page protector and pick the piece that suits your project the best. Think of how much time that could save!
• Pieces of brown paper bags don’t always have to go to the garbage can. Not only can a piece be adhered to your workspace with masking tape to protect your table, but you can also make backgrounds for layouts by adhering to cardstock or other pieces of art. Simply crunch the paper up into a ball, flatten out, then, using pastels, chalk, crayons or Shiva Paint Sticks, rub over the wrinkles and see what a lovely textural background you can use. You can further embellish by rubbing embossing inks over the peaks or in other areas to emboss or how about dabbing glue onto a makeup sponge and swiping areas that you would like to add some glitz by shaking glitter over the area. Who said brown paper bags had to be plain.
• Speaking of textural backgrounds, a piece of plastic bag crumpled up and adhered to cardstock with gel medium will also give a great surface: you can either use the unprinted side to add your own color or go ahead and just adhere the whole thing, print and all.
• Baby food now comes in more packaging than just the glass jars. The square plastic containers make great keepers for beads and other tiny tidbits.
• Any cereal box or other cardboard packaging can be used for a photo mat. Simply size, then, ink the edges with a dye ink pad and place your photo in the center.
• Make a coordinating collection of storage canisters for your workspace by covering chipboard oatmeal containers with your favorite scrapbook papers. Just think of all the embellishing you could do!
• Make a statement in one of your layouts by incorporating a raised platform to show off your focal photo. Simply cover a molded plastic square or rectangle such as one that might have been used to package embellishments with coordinating scrapbook paper. Or turn it over and make a niche.
• Glue together scrapbooking paper scraps and make envelopes. Just think of the smiles from the people who receive your bills in those!
I am a self-taught artist. When folk art, decorative art and t-shirt painting were all the rage, I owned a folk art supply/teaching shop. When I became obsessed with collage and the paper arts, I began working exclusively in this genre until I started designing my own fabric creations and art quilts. I have taught workshops both locally and on the national level and have exhibited my collage artwork in various galleries, including a show in Dallas, Texas. My publications include projects and articles for many Somerset Studio publications. I was also a featured artist in Making Wreaths in Minutes for Sterling’s Red Lips for Courage book line and have been published in smaller venues, which include other local arts, stamping and scrapbook publications, including the fabulous Pasticcio Quartz ‘Zine. Check out my etsy store to view more of my work http://artboxstudio.etsy.com.
