Just a little recycling...

Hello all, and a warm welcome to Words and Pictures.  It's the start of a new challenge over at Fun With ATCs, and we'd like to see some Recycling on your tiny creations - ATCs of 2.5 x 3.5 inches, please, and no more!

There's lots of inspiration from my brilliant team-mates, so I hope you'll have time to hop over and check it all out... but here's my starter for ten.

BIG surprise, I chose to use some corrugated cardboard for my make!  

But not only is the background made of it, but the butterfly is made out of the paper that I peeled off it, and the flowers are stencilled onto the same stuff, so it's a double use of the materials!

The beautiful flower stencil is one of Ellie Knol's wonderful new designs for Magenta - there's a matching stamp too... well worth a look.  

The cardboard was salvaged from a crafty package (yes, one of many!).







Having ripped the paper layer off and set it to one side, I gave the card a rough and random coat of gesso, and then did a bit of stamping right on the ridges using the gorgeous script from the Tim Holtz Apothecary set.  I also added Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo distress inks for definition.

The butterfly is cut using the Movers and Shapers die, and also given the gesso and stamping treatment, before being stapled with one of the tiny attachers.





I used gesso with Ellie's template too, stencilling it on to the ripped-off paper.  The gesso gives a lovely texture to the image.  Then I sprinkled a very light dusting of Vintage Photo distress embossing powder across it, for a rusty look.  

The edges of the cardboard paper have been inked to show off the torn texture, and I stamped and then doodled over the words "new life" - a butterfly out of a caterpillar, an ATC out of an old cardboard box.

We'd love to see what old things you'll give fresh life to, so do come and play at Recycling with us... see you there!






(How short was that post?!  For me, I mean, at least...  I hope maybe that means you might have time to pop over and visit my Artistic Outpost offering today - sneak peek to the right, here - it would be lovely to "see you there" too!)

For now, happy crafting, and I hope to catch up with some of my visiting over the next couple of days... 

We are not to throw away those things which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they can be used for good: they are instruments for good, in the hands of those who use them properly.
Clement of Alexandria

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. 
New England proverb