A safe & effective way to discard of prescription drugs

In my effort to declutter, I was cleaning out my medicine cabinet the other day & realized I had 2 expired prescriptions: hydrocodone and a muscle relaxer from my back spasms last year. Now, the last thing I want to do is dump them down the drain, so when I went to pick up my monthly pills, I asked the pharmacy clerk at Wal-Mart what to do with these 2 expired prescriptions.

The clerk turned me onto this site: http://www.smarxtdisposal.net/. This site gives you step-by-step instructions on how to properly dispose of your expired prescriptions in a safe, effective manner without damaging the environment. It's easy and takes 5 minutes. Check it out!

A 'green' cleaner for your rubber stamps!

Here's another great article I found. This is the first 'green' cleaner for die cuts and rubber stamps. Yeah!

www.sbwire.com/news/view/29407

Great idea!

Great mini article on Going Green with Scrapbooking

I stumbled across this article and wanted to share it with everyone. I found it at Examiner.com and it's written by Denise Bertacchi. I thought it was super and I love the arms hugging the tree!

Go green with your scrapbooking

Mykl Roventine

It seems that "going green" is all the rage with other parts of our lives...but can you really go green with a paper intensive hobby like scrapbooking?

Sure you can.

Recycle. Not the big green can in your garage, but recycle the scraps of paper from other projects. Save all the used bits of paper left over from today's layout to use again tomorrow. Don't throw out any paper that's big enough to use as a photo mat or journaling box.

Reuse. Turn scraps and leftovers from other parts of your life into scrapbooking material. Why buy buttons when you can reuse REAL buttons from an old shirt? Use interesting art from junk mail and magazines in your scrapbooks. Just remember to use archival safe paper for your backgrounds and anything that touches photographs. Better yet, only use copies of photos, not the original, for cropping.

Reduce. Simplify your scrapbooking supplies to avoid waste. Pick a few favorite colors and stick to them. Use up all your old supplies before buying new. Use digital mats to highlight photos you print yourself.

More Info: Here's some tips on environmentally friendly scrapbooking from the tree experts at Abundant Forests.

Great idea - go green with your magazines

I came across this article and thought it was a wonderful idea!

Vivien Hughston
SF Scrapbooking Examiner

Scrapbook Trends Magazine
offers online subscriptions, and the prices are hard to beat! An all access pass
to their 5 publications (Scrapbook Trends, Cards, Simply Handmade, Bead Trends,
and Idea Books) is just $9.99 a month, or $4.99 for individual publications. And
for an additional one time fee of $24.95, get access to all the back issues.
With this selection, any crafter will be more than satisfied.

Take
advantage of the benefits of digital: saving space, growing a digital library of
favorites only, and saving money (a six month subscription to all the
publications is $245). Though you may miss the flipping through pages, there is
the option to print and you can save the prints as pdf files to keep with the
green concept.

Some key features of the menu bar: DOWNLOAD
OFFLINE VERSION which allows access to the issue without the internet, VIEW
THUMBNAILS OF ALL PAGES to quickly scan through the issue, ADD A NOTE for note
taking, ADD A BOOKMARK, and ZOOM which allows a close up of the samples for
better viewing.

Try out a month’s subscription and gain access to 5
publications; there is nothing to lose but $9.99. Simply contact Scrapbook
Trends to cancel anytime to avoid future charges. If you choose to continue and
opted not to get access to back issues, try contacting Scrapbook Trends (within
a reasonable amount of time) to see if they will add the pass to your
subscription. They were kind enough to extend the courtesy to me and absolutely
love the access to previous issues, especially the Idea Books!

Go green
with online magazines, hope other publications follow in line with this digital
move.
- have fun with everything!

A quick tip: download the offline
versions and print (hardcopy or pdf file) to create your own personal favorites
library.


For more info: Visit Scrapbook Trends and subscribe now!
https://scrapbooktrends.securesites.net/subscribe_online1.html

For me, it would be very difficult to get rid of hard copy magazines. However, if I was ever to get rid of my magazines, I have several options:

1. Put them in my recycle bin

2. Donate them to the library

3. Donate them to my local hospital

4. Freecycle them

5. Donate to a thrift store

Just an option for those of you looking to save space and save some trees!

Cool site to check out!

Hey all you earth friendly scrappers!

I just discovered a very cool site to check out. It's a scrapbook store in Colorado (too bad I'm in FL) and everything they sell for scrapping is environmentally friendly! Here's the site:

www.creatively-green.com

Here's a little bit about them:

We specialize in creative, alternative, handmade art and craft supplies with a conscience. As a family owned business, it is our mission to bring you unique, non toxic, and safe alternatives without compromising on quality.

They have their own paper line and handmade embellishments too! Their prices are very fair as well. Pop on over when you have a chance - they need some DT members too!

Paper Piecing - A Great Way to Use Your Scraps

In keeping with the green theme, a great way to not only save money, but re-purpose your scraps is to start paper piecing. Don't throw your scraps in the landfill! Start saving them and then you can paper piece.

What is paper piecing? Paper piecing is using cardstock and patterned paper to create paper embellishments for your scrapbook pages and greeting cards. They can come from easy or intricate patterns. You can find some great patterns in children's coloring books. To get you started here is a pattern that was used to complete the piece shown above. Have fun!

Reusing a cereal box!

Of course, cereal is the big breakfast around here! I do recycle my cereal boxes in the containers, but since I have a ton of magazines that I'm unwilling to get rid of right now, so I thought, "how can I re-use them?". Here's a project I started & will finish today and post finished pictures later. I took one box of cereal (see above) & cut it at an angle, like a magazine holder. I have 1 magazine holder and used it as a template:

I then chose a color scheme for my 'new' magazine holder & traced my template:

Sorry for the blurry picture! I then cut it out for both sides, cut out the spine and started gluing!

Stay tuned for the rest!

GoGoGirlz Featured Etsy Seller!

Each week I am featuring an Etsy seller who either recycles or upcycles when producing their product. This week, I am featuring GoGoGirlz and you can see read about how this beautiful necklace was created by clicking here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20383198

A little bit about GoGoGirlz:

We are two CRAZY ladies that have been creating together on-the-go for
about 4 years. The G in the word "GO" is from my friends' last name and the O is
from mine. And, yes, we were young girls when Go-Go boots and mini-shirts were
latest trends in the 1960s. Today, we are still always on the go as chauffeur
moms to school and sports activities. Our favorite places to go are to the craft
shows, craft stores and to "craft paradise" -- that quiet place where we can
escape to, and create without interruptions of "Mom, take me here -- Mom, take
me there".

They also have some vintage items in their store and other handmade goodies. Please be sure to check them out!

Recycled Fish!

Ok, here's my latest eco-friendly embellishment:

A box of Rice Chex can go a long way! All I did was use one of my templates & trace the fish on the box. Then I traced the template on red & blue scraps of paper, cut everything out, adhered them using 3-in-1 Adhesive (that stuff is the best!), and voila! Two little fish to adhere to your card or scrapbook page. Plus, if you want, you can further embellish them. The edges of my fish are chalked for a little dimension. If I was using these instead of selling them, then I would add some of those little googly eyes. For now, these little buggers are for sale at my Etsy store:

RememberWhenCreation.etsy.com

What have you come up with using cereal boxes? I want to know!

Stay tuned for my 'new' magazine holder!

Gear up for presents!

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” -Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

When I talk about 'green' scrapbooking, I'm really doing the Earth an injustice. I'm limiting myself to just one little niche in my green endeavors - scrapbooking. What about the rest of the paper craft genre?

Even though it's only February, the holidays are here before you know it and everyone is scrambling around purchasing, buying, purchasing, buying, blah, blah, blah. So if you take some time now, you can be ready to MAKE some gifts come November. Here's what you can start saving:

• Cardboard - think of all the things that arrive in the mail or some type of cardboard packaging you get when you purchase something. Start breaking it down and putting it in a safe place. There are many projects we can do with this stuff.
• Tins and powder drink containers - we are big drinkers of Gatorade in this house. Every 10 days, I'm trying to do something clever with the container. Hold onto a few of these - I'll show you what we can do with them.
• Paper bags - some stores are going back to these instead of plastic. Throw a couple in the closet and we'll get creative with them.
• Shredded paper - are you shredding all of your confidential information? Good - you need to. Now bag some of that stuff and I have some ideas for it.

Stay tuned as next week I'll show you some project ideas with these materials.

I love all things recycled!

Here's a cool bag I found on Etsy.com:

This Etsy seller took a broken Coleman Lantern Chair and turned it into a fab tote bag! Here is a link to her store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=26639

I know this has nothing to do with scrapbooking, but I just love all things recycled and I want to promote our earth-friendly artisans!

New Uses for Toilet Paper Rolls!

Wow - this is an innovative idea from Paper Jewels blog. She is using the toilet tissue rolls to make little mini albums. Check it out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfiLIG0gd74

I feel the need to save some rolls and make a mini album for the blog. What a great way to reduce waste & reuse an item!

Have any you made? Send them to me and I'll post them here!

Recycling in Scrapbooking

The 3 R's used to be reading, writing and 'rithmetic. Now it's Recycle, Reuse & Reduce. Here are some ways you can recycle in your scrapbooking:

Recycling is the process of turning waste materials such as paper and plastics into a new resource.

• To recycle, save recyclable items and send or take them to a recycling facility. The facility will process the materials so it can be used in new materials.
• The craft of scrapbooking involves a lot of paper products, including cardstock, patterned paper, and packaging. Often scrapbook items are sold in plastic packaging as well. Learn what items can be recycled in your area.
• Set up a spot in your scrapbook area for placing items that can be recycled. In my scrapbook area I keep a trash bag for recycling papers and a trash can for non-recyclable items. Sort paper and other recyclable items as you are scrapping.
• When opening a new product, divide the paper and plastic aspects of the product. Sort and place any recyclable items in the appropriate recycling containers.
• Support recycled products. Write to the scrapbook manufacturers asking them to consider using recycling materials in their products.

We have a few manufacturers who are on board and are offering recycled papers and products while trying to reduce the waste in their packaging. If we collectively have a voice and let the manufacturers know that we want more enviro-friendly products, they will listen to us!

Use for yogurt cups!

“Because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us.” -Henrik Tikkanen

I know in most areas of the country, you can throw your yogurt containers (or sour cream containers) in the recycle bin. However, what do you do with them if you can't? Or, if you don't have a recycling program in your town?

I have an old cutting board that I have designated as my painting board for chipboard letters or for painting the edges of papers, etc.

You can see where I have squeezed out all colors of paint on the left side of the board. So, in an effort to try & keep it a bit neater and not have lumps of dried paint on it, I decided to put my yogurt cups to use. Our county does have a recycling program, and trust me, I fill up our bins as much as possible. The beauty of using the yogurt cups is I can use them and wash them out & still throw them in the recycle bin.

If you are in a part of the country that doesn't have a recycle program, then you can keep a bunch of them & use one for each color that you paint with. Stay tuned for more uses of yogurt cups!

Another Vendor Goes 'Green'!

The Queen Goes Green!

Queen & Co. has decided to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing their packaging. Check out these very cool little buckets that their product will come in - can you image the uses for that??

Click on this link to read more about it: http://www.scrapbook.com/blog/view/135575.html

They also have some very cute products coming out, which are featured at CHA this coming week. Of course, all of us 'green' scrappers are trying to reduce, reuse and repurpose, so we might not buy 1 of everything, but it doesn't hurt to support a company that is greening itself, now does it?

Repurpose your scraps!

Don't throw out your scraps!

There is always another use for your leftover pieces of paper, a.k.a. scraps. As I am finishing this Word Book for my niece, I noticed I had already used my Cricut to cut out some purple flowers for another project - FROM MY SCRAPS! They worked nicely with the letter 'L' I was working with.

All I had to do was outline them in a white pen, add a brad and adhere with a foam dot. One less little piece of paper floating in the landfill........

What have you done with your scraps?

New uses for bottlecaps

New Uses for Bottlecaps!

My husband loves his IBC Root Beer, and I love the bottlecaps! I am designing a Word Book for my niece, Allison, and I had a few bottlecaps lying around, so I decided to incorporate it into her book.

What can you do with a bottlecap? you ask. Turn it into an embellishment! A 1-inch circle punch is the perfect size for a piece of paper to fit inside the bottle cap (oh - wash the cap first as it can be a little sticky!). I also grabbed a rub-on word and stick for rubbing.

I used the word 'courage' because I feel Allison is taking a giant step next year in leaving home for college. I know when I was 18, I was not ready to leave the roost. I admire this quality in her.

After adding the rub-on, I simply adhered the circle punch to the bottle cap. You can use a glue dot or any other strong adhesive.

Finally, I used the remainder of my 3-in-1 adhesive in adhering the bottlecap to the Word Book:

Here's the full Word Book. It's not done yet, and if I find some other goodies to recycle and use on the book, I will post them as well!

And remember, if you are interested in a custom made Word Book, please visit my website at http://www.rwctc.com/! Thanks for stopping by today!

While on vacation this week....

....I'm going to post very short articles. Actually, they are more like tips. I'll return to "work" on the 19th with some pics of using recycled goodies on my pages.

Tip #1 - Donate your leftovers! It's very easy to start filling your scrap space with lots of papers, ribbons, flowers, embellishments, stickers, etc. etc. Try cleaning out your stash at least quarterly, find everything you absolutely don't love, put it in a bag, and take it to your local child care center, or even your child's school. These places LOVE free stuff, and it will definitely be put to good use!

Save Money on Your Scrapbooking - Go Recycled!

The human race will be the cancer of the planet. ~Julian Huxley, attributed

In our financial crisis, many of us are looking for ways to cut costs and curtail our spending. This is definitely a possibility in scrapbooking, if you think outside the box a bit. Let's talk about storage first. Here are some ideas for uses of household items to aid you in organizing your scrapbooking:



Jars - we all have empty jars of sauce, baby food, jelly, peanut butter, gravy -whatever you have eaten! Now, I know most of us wash them & throw them in the recycle bin, but what if you can use them for storage? See my post: http://scrapwithjan.blogspot.com/2008/12/scrapbookcraft-room-challenge-pt-ii.html
Wash them out with warm, soapy water and let them dry. Voila - pretty storage solution for flowers or ribbon!

Priority Mail Boxes: Instead of recycling them, they are very sturdy & make great paper holders! You can use them 'as is' or cut out a 'magazine-style' holder to see your paper. Use your scraps to make them pretty!

Nut & Bolt Organizer: Sometimes the man in your life may have something to repurpose. You know those cool metal or plastic boxes that have all the little drawers in them for different screws, nuts & bolts? Why not clean it out, maybe repaint it in a pretty color, and use it to organize your alphabet stickers or brads or buttons or other embellies? I'm on the lookout for a used one (hopefully for free) that I can use in my scraproom.

Silverware Tray: Do you have an extra one of these lurking in the attic? You can use it to organize your colored pencils and pens!

Cigar Boxes: How about these? Are they hanging around too? Use them to store scraps of paper or ribbons or other embellishments. You can also either decoupage them or paint them to match your room.

Yogurt containers: Eating yogurt is huge in my house. We each consume at least 1 a day. Of course, I wash them out & recycle them, but I had an abundance of glue sticks and didn't know what to do with them. So, I took a bunch of paper scraps, some modge podge & now I have a nifty holder for my glue sticks. I have also used another one for a set of alphabet stickers.

** I am on vacation & unable to download photos right now. Please stay tuned for pictures starting the week of Jan. 19th! Thanks for understanding! **

What ideas do you have? Share them with me! Together, all our small steps can make an impact on Mother Earth.

K & Co introduces 2 new eco lines!

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb

K & Company has introduced two eco-friendly paper lines and a tree donation program! I was very happy to stumble upon this on their website:

http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=90

This link will explain their 2 paper lines and their Plant A Tree program. Let's face it - scrapbooking, at its very core, starts with paper. And we use A LOT of it. By supporting these 2 paper lines from K and Company, we are reducing paper, packaging and fuel.

Even though I pledged not to purchase anything new this year, my fingers are itching to get my hands on some of this paper and try a layout. How about you? Have you used either paper line?