Upcycling - Old Card Reinvented

Hi there

So, I'm back with another card made earlier today where I recycled something not purposely bought for crafting.

This time I used a card I'd received previously for my birthday.  It had a really delicate die cut image of an evening gown on the front so I knew one day I could do something with it.

Here's the card I made using it, but completely reinvented, with the detail reversed...

Here is the original card showing the beautifully intricate die cut...

I originally planned to use the die cut as a stencil and create an ombre effect with ink using ink daubers.  But some of the cut areas were tiny and the daubers just wouldn't reach through effectively so I decided to mix the inks with some pearlescent embossing paste and create an ombre effect that way instead, and the paste picked up all the detail brilliantly.  I used the paste un-inked for the hanger.  Here's a better photo of the pearlescent effect...

As the gown on the original card was quite large I needed to make this into a tall card.  I stamped the sentiment at the top.  I then matted the panel onto some teal cardstock and then adhered to the card base.

Special thanks go out to Michelle at The Card Grotto for this sentiment stamp set which was part of my fabulous prize for her 10k YouTube Subscribers Giveaway, I feel so lucky right now!  :)

Materials used:

• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver - Pearlescent
• Ink: Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Message Me
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #73 - Upcycling

Just Add Ink - Challenge #328 - Just add 'P' (Pearlescent Paste!)

I've kept hold the gown die cut just in case it can survive another pasting! lol

Thanks so much for visiting today, I appreciate each and every one of you.  Bye for now.

Upcycling - Notebook Cover to Tag

Hi guys

This morning I came across the new challenge over at AAA Cards where they want us to recycle something not bought for crafting, and use it on our creations.

Firstly I kicked myself as recently, in an effort to tidy and re-organise my craft cupboard, I disposed of a few bits and pieces I had collected over time thinking they might 'come in handy' one day!  But I still did have a couple of things I thought could work.

So, earlier today I made two cards, here is the first.

This pretty little tag started it's life as a plastic semi-transparent notebook cover...

I started by die cutting part of the cover using a stitched tag die which I ran through my Big Shot a few times.  I stamped a sentiment onto a panel of white cardstock and then embossed with a wave embossing folder.  I die cut the flower and adhered this to the tag. The tag die didn't include the hole so I used a single hand-held holepunch to make this (lots of brute force was needed to get through the plastic!), threaded through some ribbon and tied with some twine.  With the tag being plastic I wanted to make sure it would adhere firmly so I used Glossy Accents behind the flower die and ribbon so it wouldn't show through.  There's plenty of the plastic left and I still have the other cover too so I can make more with this :)

Materials used:

• Stamp: Altenew - Hennah Elements
• Ink: Altenew - Cotton Candy
• Embossing Folder: We R Memory Keepers - Next Level Wave
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Traditional Tag Stax; Wplus9 - Flower Doodles
• Ribbon: American Crafts - Grosgrain
• Twine: Hemptique - Ruby Collection

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #73 - Upcycling

Sunday Stamps - Challenge #135 - Happy Colours

Happy Little Stampers - September Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #28 - All Kinds of Everything (Butterflies)

I'm glad I've finally got the chance to put my thinking cap on and use this.  The post about the second card I made will follow shortly.

Thanks so much for visiting today, I'd love to hear your comments.