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.

August PageMaps Sketch Challenge!

I love challenges! Especially those that come with a sketch - it makes scrapping a page so much easier! When PageMaps came up with this sketch for their monthly blog contest, I knew I had to participate:

Here's my version of the sketch:

The contest allows you to use the sketch how you see fit. In other words, you can rotate it, or use another size besides 12x12. I reused some little shells that I had picked up at a thrift store a long time ago, and that is really the only repurposed material on the page. I'm just trying to use up my supplies - I have way too much! I also broke out the sewing machine and sewed a border around the page, and I decided to journal as a border.

I had won a gift certificate to A Cherry On Top and bought some gold Glimmer Mist. I never used it before, so I decided to give it a go on this LO. The 3 black circles I cut from scraps and then sprayed them with the Glimmer Mist. Cool stuff - here's a close up:

I also like my pop dots, so I added a little dimension as well:

I hope you like this LO. If you have some time before 8/16, you can also join in on this challenge. Click here for the challenge.

Happy Scrappin'!

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!

Yeah! Another manufacturer goes Green

I am so happy to share this with everyone! Die Cuts With a View (DCWV) has an earth-friendly paper line - The Green Paper Stack! Here's what they say about their product:

It's easy to reduce, reuse, and recycle with our adorable
Green Woodland Stack! This eco-conscious collection comes with 24 designs, all
printed on 70% post-consumer recycled paper that is also acid- and lignin-free!
Our darling designs include a forest of playful woodland creatures including
a watchful owl, quizzical bear—even a mischievous skunk! This collection is
perfect for adults and children alike. Stack contains 48 sheets.

Unfortunately I cannot copy their image, so you'll have to check it out at www.scrapbook.com and visit their store.

Let's support this manufacturer for doing something right!

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.

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!

Recycling Ribbon

Don't we all just love ribbon? Maybe it makes us think of when we were little girls and our dresses would have ribbons on them or maybe our Mom adorned our pigtails with them.

Ribbon is a major embellishment in scrapbooking, and it can add up. So where can you find some ribbons to repurpose? How about this:

• Christmas or other gifts received throughout the year


• Clothes you no longer want


• Gift Baskets


• Thrift Stores!

I'm sure you can come up with some other ideas - share them with us by posting a comment!

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!

Use an old map!

Don't forget - I'm still on vacation!

Tip #2 - Do you have any old maps laying around? Or maybe you picked up a map from your last vacation. Don't throw it out - use it in the following ways:

• a background paper
• matting your vacation photos
• cut out the states or countries you visited & use it as an embellishment on your page!

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?

My Great Find

"Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find." ~Quoted in Time

We are given one planet to live on - all of us. We need to take care of it, protect it and nurture it. So in my never ending quest to reduce my carbon footprint, I looked on Craig's list for the first time in about a month. You never know what you may find on there. So, there was a woman, in Palm City, that was moving & selling the remainder of her scrapbooking stash for $100. I gave her a call, it was all still available and at 12:15 pm on Friday, I pulled up to her house to see what I would find. Well, let me show you!

As I unpacked this wonderful treasure trove, I couldn't believe it. She had unopened packages of paper, ribbons and embellies. Now they are mine - to create projects, phoquets and word books, that I can sell to you.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because scrapbooking is a fun hobby, and we are often in a rush to go out & buy the best of everything and the latest & greatest. Craigslist or Ebay are great sources of unused products that people have laying around. Right now, for some people who are in financial trouble, they are relying on me and you to buy their "stuff". What a way to save our money, help someone else out with their finances and, most importantly, save our one and only Earth.

So what's this Goin' Green all about?

For those of you who have been following me faithfully, I was selling supplies and hosting crops. But, I wasn't happy doing it. So why waste my life's energy on doing things that don't make me happy?

The question begs - what does make you happy? Or what makes you happy in the crafting world? Easy - creating! I was watching everyone else make things & never had time for me and my projects.

What else am I passionate about? The earth - saving it. We Americans (yes, it's mostly the Americans) that have caused alot of the problems the earth is experiencing. I will start another blog on everyday living green, but let's get back to scrapbooking. I am all for preserving memories and journaling our life's events. So, how can I (and you) do that without always buying, buying and buying, and throwing away packaging, and Styrofoam bubbles, etc. There has to be a better way, and that is what this blog is all about.

A few times each week, I will post my "greening" techniques and I want to learn from you too! Add an RSS Feed on your favorite homepage so we can interact and share ideas, techniques and thoughts on our green adventure.

On another note, I am developing a very cool product, which will contain a minimum of 25% earth-friendly components. Stay tuned for more details, but don't rush out to buy your Valentine's Day gifts yet, you may just want to see what I have in store for you!

Scrapbook/Craft Room Challenge, Pt II

As the new year quickly approaches, it's time to clean up and organize the craft room. As my new business is about to unfold, I have a LOT of stuff to get into order.

I'm saving pasta sauce jars, soaking the labels off of them & using them for my flowers. I consolidated the pink flowers into the big pasta jar & used the smaller jar that held some pink flowers for my white flowers.

It's an easy & earth-friendly use for a glass jar. Plus it looks pretty!

Ok, so how many more colors of flowers do I have to sort through? How many more bowls of pasta do Tom & I have to eat?

What creative uses do you have for leftover jars?