Recycling Works!

Rescuing recycled materials usually means working with limited color choices. Discarded paint samples diverted from landfill come in an unbelievable range of colors with amusing names, and my one-of-a-kind selection is ever-changing. With such small paint cards, I unfortunately am able to use each color only 1 to 4 times with my larger die cuts.

Can you believe all this useful crafting material was heading to the dump?

Whether you create your own greeting cards, enjoy scrapbooking, craft journals, collages, shadow boxes or other framed art; these delightful upcycled flowers will add an interesting touch. I put an elegant look to plain colored tissue wrapping paper with my tricolor flowers, giving my presents a unique flair above the traditional commonplace bows.

I match my flowers with discontinued designer wallpaper samples to create a charming line of recycled gift tags, which continue to be useful as beautiful bookmarks after the gifts are opened.

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The nature of the paint samples sometimes gives my die cut flowers rustic charm with a subtly distressed appearance. Squeezing as much use out of these sample cards as possible, I even collect the tear shaped flower petal innards and offer them in a bag-o-bits for creative use.

If you are looking for flowers ready to use in your crafting projects, please stop by my ArtFire shop for a pleasant, dynamic selection of colors and designs. Most of my flower sets are presented sewn to paper in a cellophane bag, making them the perfect eye-catching addition to any gift basket for a crafty person.

I use a Sizzix die cut machine and dies to make my garden of paper flowers. These designs are copyrighted by Sizzix and used with permission per their angel policy.

Gift wrapping sets the tone for your present’s presentation, adding value and increasing anticipation for its contents to be revealed. An eye-catching fabric gift tag makes a statement about your unique and thoughtful packaging. My fabric tags are backed with white cardstock ready for your message of good cheer, and make useful bookmarks, adding an additional little gift to your present.

I get many of my fabrics from FabMo, a wonderful nonprofit that diverts discontinued designer samples from our local landfill. These rescued textiles have wonderful patterns, textures, and colors, which make beautiful and unexpected gift tags, and are the perfect focal point for a solid color coordinating wrapping paper. Most of my white cardstock is recycled making these 100% recycled – upcycling at its best!

My tags are available in 3 sizes:

► 4 x 2.25 inches, 10.16 x 5.72 cm

► 2.75 x 1.5 inches, 6.98 x 3.81 cm

► 2 x 1 inch, 5.08 x 2.54 cm

I use a Sizzix die cut machine and dies to make my delightful gift tags. These designs are copyrighted by Sizzix and used with permission per their angel policy.

If you are looking for a set of awesome gift tags that will have you tagging year-round with flair, please stop by my ArtFire shop for a wide selection of colors and designs.

I like to sew, and admittedly use finger pinning whenever possible, but pins are necessary when working with unruly fabrics or for a complicated seam. Pincushion, pin keep, or pin corral, whatever you call it, having one handy for those tricky sharps, which are always wondering off, is essential.

Anyone who sews needs more than one pincushion; one at the machine to collect pins, one in the mannequin’s neck, one or two in the cutting area, and one in each of your portable project baskets. It is so convenient to move these cushions between work areas as the pins migrate. Pincushions should be fun, colorful and add energy to your work area.

The charming pin keeps I make are made of 100% rescued or recycled materials. I use discontinued designer upholstery samples and foam packing that would otherwise end up in landfill, and even get most of my thread from a crafter’s recycling shop, where thankfully unwanted items are donated instead of tossed. The recycled foam comes in many shapes making my pin keeps as unique in size as they are in fabric design. Since most of the pins I use are the long quilting ones, a piece of rescued plastic or chipboard sits on the bottom of the shorter pin keeps to protect your fingers.

My useful and beautiful pin corrals prove that recycling really works! Visit my ArtFire studio for an exceptional selection of corrals ready for you and perfect to give as a thoughtful one-of-a-kind gift. If you are looking for a special color, please contact me. I would be honored to make something just for you, and will look through my ever-changing available fabric samples.

Many of the fabrics we enjoy today are made with synthetic materials and shed their inorganic fibers in the washer and dryer. Together with hair, pet fur, and other materials, a layer of sludge is created in our pipes, which over time can lead to blockages.

The tremendous amount of lint discharged from the washing machine will strain any septic system, and if you have a septic system, you know the importance of filtering inorganic and other indigestible materials. Reducing the sludge layer lengthens the time between pumpings.

For years I purchase aluminum filters from the hardware store, then one day I looked at a bag of lemons and the idea hit me - Why not use the mesh from the produce bag as a filter? Thus began the evolution of my washing machine lint screen filters, and I have never bought another lint trap from the hardware store!

Simply put: If you don’t want it down the drain, you have to strain. I am a great fan of recycling and have used many materials over the years. No surprise that the smaller the weave, the more it is going to catch.

I tried old nylons, but found that the snags and runs do not strain very well. Nylons themselves have a tight weave and must be changed very often to avoid damaging the washing machine. Never restrict your washer’s discharge flow rate.

I reached the happy medium between results and serviceability with tulle. Since I use rescued materials from various sources, the colors of my filters often change, but provide the same great filtering service. If you do not have the time or inclination to sew up your own filters, I am happy to make them for you and have several filter packs available in my ArtFire shop.