Tuesday, January 7, 2014

A Recycled Christmas.

This year I am determined not to leave my Christmas cards until the last minute (like how many other years?) so I am doing Christmas Challenges through the year to keep me motivated.


The first challenge I am entering is an Up-cycled/Recycled/Free Christmas Card Challenge at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge.

The second challenge at Laineys Crafty Space - Christmas Fun is Anything Goes!  As long as it is a Christmas Card.

The third challenge at Challenges 4 everyone is Anything Goes as well.

The fourth challenge at Card Makin' Mamas is also Anything Goes!

Ok so on with the card... the challenge to recycle/up-cycle... the boys had rescued some Christmas cards a few years ago that someone was throwing out!  (Yes perfectly good cards - not even written in!)


  • So I cut out Santa... completely on one (very fiddly!), then on the second one I cut the sack, hand, cuff, coat bottom ruffle and Santa's head!  Mounted them all on foam to give the image some depth.  Next B handed me the Christmas Tree card (even more fiddly lol) and so I cut that. 
  • I then scored some white card to make a box shape on the front of the card (Thank you Ultimate Crafters Companions score board.. soooo easy!).  
  • My lovely Silhouette Cameo next was employed to cut the window out of black card.  
  • I scored in some detail and mounted with both foam and tape to give dimension.  
  • I then manually cut the "window"out of the front panel of the "box".  
  • I hand measured and cut a front panel then embossed it in my Cuttlebug using a Sizzix - Tim Holtz embossing folder to give a brick effect.  
  • The window got a backing of recycled embossing folder packaging as the window. (Which made taking photos a nightmare as I have a white iphone lol)
  • So on the front of the "box" I put the brick panel then the window on using double sided tape.
  • I mounted some nice "wall paper" from my stash, added a stamped Chandelier and heat embossed with gold.
  • Santa and the tree then made themselves at home in the room with some handy-dandy double sided and foam.
  • I sealed the box then made and mounted a card and double sided it on the back.
  • The finishing touch some glue and Flower Soft "Polar Soft" - and if you are going to use this... TURN OFF THE FAN *chuckle*  Snow in Western Australia.. who would have thought?!?





 

Happy Crafting *Hugs* Sarah



25 comments:

  1. What a great way to recycle old cards - lovely card. Thanks for entering the Christmas Fun Challenge. Hope to see you again, Bev x

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    1. Thanks for visiting and giving me some inspiration with the Challenge! *hugs*

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  2. Oh wow you did put some work into this didnt you, its brilliant. I must admit i did LOL at the flower soft and fan though
    Thanks for joining us this fortnight over at Christmas Fun challenge blog.
    Good Luck with the challenge
    Hugs
    Marie (DT for Christmas Fun)
    xxxx

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    1. My "quick card" took 5 hours but I think the end result was worth it! I must admit I really LoLled at the Flower Soft blizzard especially when B (11) walked in the room and goes "Wow Mum it is SNOWING!" *hugs* Happy Crafting!

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  3. Fantastic use of old Christmas cards, what a fab idea, peaking at santa through the window. Thanks for joining us at Christmas Fun. Jax (DT Christmas Fun)

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    1. I really enjoyed this challenge! Thanks for stopping by *hugs*

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  4. Great card and so much depth to it. Love the idea of looking through the window to see all the detail behind.

    I haven't put my Christmas crafting stuff away this year, I am aiming to make at least 3 packs of Christmas cards a month to make sure I have plenty when I need them lol

    <3 & hugs
    Lisa xxxx

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I wish you luck on your year long Christmas adventure... IMHO one can never have enough Christmas Cards... they are a smile that arrive in the mail ;-) *hugs* Sarah

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  5. Morning Sarah i think the Christmas challenge is such a great idea, your card is gorgeous xxxx

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    1. Thank you Debbie! Happy Crafting *hugs* Sarah

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  6. Great recycling, I hate wasting card & paper, my husband daren't throw anything out without asking me first xxx
    Thank you for visiting my blog xxx (hugs)

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    1. hehe I have to be quick and put things in my cupboard or my Husband throws *everything* away! You are welcome for the blog visit... I have been getting so much inspiration! *hugs* Happy Crafting!

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  7. Fantastic use of Re-cycled cards, just love this hun, and I might join you with the quest in not leaving my Xmas cards until the last minute, xxx

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    1. I look forward to seeing your Christmas cards Avril :-) Thanks for stopping in *hugs* Sarah

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  8. I must get a Cameo!! Great recycling and an excellent end result! Thank you for joining Christmas Fun!

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    1. I adore my Cameo... I feel I have a long way to go to use it to its full potential but every day is full of possibilities! It is well worth the investment Susan. Thank you for stopping by *hugs* Sarah

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  9. Thanks for entering your lovely card for CHNC challenge 158- you could also enter this into my CHNC challenge extra for Januaryr - I'd love to see it there too. x

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    1. G'day Hazel, I just entered my card into that challenge... thank you so much for the heads up and the motivation to keep going on my Christmas cards! I will not get to December in a panic this year :-) Happy Crafting! *hugs* Sarah

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  10. Well worth all the cutting your card looks fabulous! Thank you for joining us at Card Makin' Mamas, hope to see you soon! Susan x

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    1. Thanks Susan! See you at Card Makin' Mamas again soon :-) Happy Crafting *hugs* Sarah

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  11. A bit of De Ja Vue Hazel? *chuckle* nice to see you bounce on back! *hugs* Have a great day, Sarah

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  12. This is such a good idea, what a great way to recycle - well done on getting off to a flying start for Christmas 2014! and thank you for joining in our very first challenge at the Christmas Fun Challenge - please help us spread the word for 2014! - hope we see you back for our next challenge on 16th January hugs Judith x

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    1. Thanks Judith! Thanks for the inspirations and motivations... see you next challenge. Happy Crafting, *hugs* Sarah

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  13. Oh that is just the cutest!!!!! Thanks so much for participating in our CRAFTYHAZELNUT CHRISTMAS EXTRA challenge!! Hope to see you again for our next challenge!!
    ~DEANNE~
    A Little Bit O' Paper

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Deanne! I look forward to participating in more challenges again soon :-) *hugs* Happy Crafting, Sarah

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Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! Happy Crafting :-)