Welcome to Scraphappy Day post for April. Apologies to readers for the long gap recently – any kind of craft work has been a challenge these last few months as I have so little time for myself. As I recently noticed my box of greetings cards is very much depleted I set aside an hour or two to make a few more, so this challenge is about reusing paper items such as old birthday cards and scraps of paper as an alternative to recycling them.
Old greetings cards, thank you notes, postcards and even those art cards you can pick up free at exhibitions and galleries can be turned into new cards. Here are some examples:-
Many of these ‘new’ cards have been made from old cards and the card at the bottom was an ‘art card’ from a gallery and cost me nothing.
I make a little label to stick on the back of the card just to tell people this is recycled.
When I was clearing out the craft room last month (and it is still very much an ongoing project) I found a stack of small colour photocopies I had taken of my own watercolour sketches and turned these into little cards too.
I also came across a sheet of rather lovely printed wrapping paper of vintage seed packets and I have no idea now why I bought this – it must be a few years old – though no doubt it would have been for some craft idea of mine back then and I never got around to it.
Instead of keeping it to wrap up a present I cut around each of the illustrations and together with this pack of handmade 3″ square concertina cards (a find at my local art shop that I bought last year) …..
….I decided to turn these cute little pictures into tiny cards – the idea being that I will send them to friends and family with a pack of flower seeds included.
And here they are in the making – not easy cards to photograph especially with the low light levels at the moment but I think you will get the gist.
It is always worth a visit to all the other ‘crafters’ that take part in the ScrapHappy Day they make some beautiful and inspiring things and below you can link through to their blogs. I am just hoping it is an up to date list.
Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa,
Lynn, Tierney and Hannah
where the journey takes me 2 
Your cards are always so beautiful. I love the idea of putting a seed packet in with the concertina cards.
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I do love the cards you have made using the ‘seed packet’ wrapping paper, very clever, and your label for the recycling use is pure brilliance, some times it’s good to focus on something you love, you are very talented. How is your garden ?
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I love the cards, esp the little concertina ones. My card recycling skills have been greatly improved since I got a WRMK envelope maker. I can quickly make custom fit envelopes – often using random materials (eg front cover of Waitrose magazine) and sticking a plain rectangle on the front for the address.
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Lovely cards and I am glad you have found some time for yourself.
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Beautiful cards.
I used to love using different paper from unusual sources to make cards.
Have a good day.
NóilÃn
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What great ideas for reusing cards. I have a ton of them as I hate to throw out some of the nicest I have received.
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They are all lovely cards, Viv. You must have had an enjoyable time making them.
I hope you are able to find some more moments, like this, for yourself, as you are so creative. Xx
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Your cards are lovely. I wouldn’t need a sticker saying the card was recycled. People would know straight away and not in a good way.
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Ha Ha I am sure you would make beautiful cards – the sticker is just to confirm to people that I am being thoughtful of our planet and not just cheap by reusing an old card!! I expect some people might take offence though.
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Surely no one can take offence at a recycled card?! Card giving has really dropped in Australia – cost of cards and postage played a big role in the drop. Why spend nearly $10 on a piece of cardboard that is tossed?
I have a friend to whom I give my handmade cards – it’s our little joke because I am not crafty and they are baaad cards and she knows I can’t give them to anyone else. Except my sister.
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Perfect little cards and such a good idea to add a packet of seeds as a small gift
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