Wednesday 28 September 2016

Upcycling - times three

About a week ago I was idly flicking through the box of received/shop bought Christmas cards that I always hang onto after each Christmas. Am quite selective though and if I truly can't see any way a card could be up cycled then it goes off to one of the supermarket collecting points in January for The Woodland Trust. I always hang onto hand made/crafted cards and absolutely love looking through them - those I won't ever part with, or re-use, needless to say!

Back to my 'idle flicking' - this is the glossy 'shop bought card' that caught my attention:
I love robins and it's such a pretty card just as it is really. But, nine on one card seemed much too tempting not to have a play with.  The images are quite small, about 1.5" square each and no sentiment, but a die set that I bought not too long ago came to mind.

I must confess that I'm quietly delighted with how the three cards I made out of that one card turned out - here they all are:
And here's a single one on its own, for a better view:
I used:

- 4" x 6" white card blank, tent style

- one triple window die from the Just Rite Frame Set 'Three in a Row' to die cut the apertures. I did have to trim a teensy bit off one side of the card before positioning the die, just to be sure it would fit through the Cuttlebug in a single layer. The secret is to line up the die so you have it at equal distance from the top of the card as well as on either side - if you're aiming to make a similar card

- so now there was a card with three stitched apertures i on the front - cool :)

- next I double checked the robin images and sadly each one would need to be positioned separately - it was a gnats whisker but too risky to try and adhere strips of three at a time, sigh just my luck :(

- backed each aperture with red line tape and trimmed the images so there was a good overlap before adding them behind the apertures. One tip, I added all the red line tape around the apertures for each single square before starting to add the images from behind (by eyeballing from the front of course)  and then just peeled off as much backing as was needed as I went. Reason? Too much of a chance of accidentally sticking bits where not needed - remember am still recovering from 'turquoise-gate' here!

- now the images were in place behind each aperture - and of course this was the point at which I fretted about wrecking the whole venture, getting ready to stamp the sentiment

- backed the inside of each front of the cards with a slightly smaller piece of white card stock using red line tape, so I could work without any stray 'sticky bits'

- then, using the Misti I aligned a stamp from the triple stamp Inkyylicious 'Seasons Greetings' sentiments set and inked it up using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and stamped it in place - phew, always a risk but it worked just fine! Should have done that earlier really but I just couldn't visualise which of the sentiments in the triple set would look best.

The die set also comes with an outline die to cut those frames in a row, 'free-standing', as an 'add-on die to a card top - if that makes sense And there are also three dies to cut smaller 'stitched' square inserts or cutouts. Really versatile!

They also do a two by two die (ie, four squares) and I so wish I could recall just who perked my interest to go hunting! Apologies but I do look at so many blogs each week, sigh. Bad  for the purse!

Card(s) all done, and I had three almost the same - apart from the slightly different images and the in-house critic gave them a double thumbs up - yay!

This card is for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #300 -'Use a sentiment' of course.

 As well as Hazel's other Christmas challenge blog, which is Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for September.





39 comments:

  1. These cards are awesome! I love the 3 squares, the big sentiment and especially the stitched framework! Way to recycle!

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  2. What a find. They look like they were made to be used with that die. Lovely set of cards.

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  3. Hi Di, from one to three cards is great! Such pretty little birds to, I may have to go looking for those fine dies... thank you for the pick of the week, hope to share your thank you card this week... have a great trip... Megan

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  4. These turned out beautifully Di. I LOVE those images and they look amazing in those sweet, stitched frames. Great job! xx

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  5. These are beautiful! Wonderful upcycling! Love the die used!

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  6. These cards are so smart, Di! Good eye to recognize the possibilities of that beautiful original card and excellent design with the three-in-a-row layout!! I'm really aswoon over the font of that sediment, too! WOW! Hugs, Darnell

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  7. These look really smart. Who can resist a cheerful little robin and here we get three. Brilliant upcycling.

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  8. Wonderful! You'd never know they are upcycled. Love the cas look and those little robins are just sooooo cute (and very fit for the occasion).

    Hugs,
    Eemeli

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  9. Double thumbs up from me too :) xxx

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  10. Fabulous cards - I love the frame die and it's another one for my wish list!
    Kath x

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  11. I can see why your delighted with how they turned out they look brilliant. Love them and such a clever idea.

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  12. OH wow Di what a gorgeous set of cards......such a clever design xx

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  13. I'm a terror for keeping card but I never know what to do with them. Maybe I should have a go at card making myself. I love to receive handmade cards and it must give you so much pleasure to give them.

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    1. That's how I began really Sarah! Using images from received Christmas cards and 'up' cycling them! You could get hooked of course :)

      Di xx

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  14. Love these pretty robin cards . . . three times over and MORE! Great recycling and a lovely die.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  15. A terrific bit of upcycling here and you've done well to use up all the robins for three cards. That die set sounds handy to have even if it is a bit fiddly to actually use - well worth the hassle for the results though!

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  16. I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE these cards Di...great upcycling...and those window dies?...well now I have something else on that ever growing wish list and ever depleting bank balance...sigh!

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  17. Hi Di,
    what superb cards, and I too love Robins.
    Your designs are ace and perfectly created.
    I love them.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  18. This is a fabulous piece of upcycling Di and the robins look so pretty in the row of stitched frames, and three more cards for the box. I love the sentiment too.

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  19. These are fantastic and a wonderful way to recycle. Plus you were able to make three cards from just one. Very clever. I do the same thing when I see something online I want to recreate and can't remember where I saw it!

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  20. What a great use of recycling Di your cards are amazing l to love robins and the stitched edges is always a favourite of mine your so talented well done xx

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  21. Fabulous trio of cards Di. I know just what what you mean about blog reading being expensive - I've already looked at some dies and embossing folders that I've seen this evening, but resisted temptation, just made a mental note of them for the future. Now I'm off to look at some more!

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  22. A wonderful recycle job Di. The robins are lovely and your triple aperture die was perfect. Love greeting stamp too.
    Jean x

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  23. Wow wow wow!!! How many fabulous CAS with these robins!!! I love robins, too!! Great works!!

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  24. You know what? Your cards are way better than the original. Yours are clean and crisp and theirs was too fussy and busy.

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  25. You clever Pixie! Of course I love the trio of cheeky robin cards. That is a fantastic die set to show off the images, and how perfectly the die worked for you to recycle these images. So glad you discovered a way to re-purpose these pretties in a new way, to cheer someone. And YAY for Misti, cause you did that sentiment just perfectly too! TFS & Hugs

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  26. Love these cards Di, a great way of re-cycling!
    Janice x

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  27. Robins are my favourites for Christmas cards and I just love the up-cycled cards you made. They look very elegant and so much nicer than the original shop bought one. x

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  28. Three fantastic cards. Great recycling Di. The little robins fit perfectly into those diecuts. I do the same with my shop bought cards and have two non crafting friends who pass theirs on to me too. Barbxx

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  29. Adorable cards!
    Thanks for joining us at CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for September!
    Monica - DT

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  30. Fab recycling, such a gorgeous card! Those little robins are perfect in the apertures of the die, perfect! xxx

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  31. Wonderful recycling! I love robins so love the original card, of course, but I'm so impressed with the three cards you made from it - gorgeous! Hope you are having a lovely time this week. Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  32. Wonderful recycling - just love those robins xx

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  33. Love these upcycled card. That is a great die. My mond is whirling thinking of all the possibilities.

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  34. I’m so sorry I’m late in leaving my comment. Thanks for entering both of my CHNC challenges with your lovely crafting - hope to see you again soon. x

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  35. I am loving these cards AND this die set... which I'm still trying to get hold of for a good price! Can you believe that I found one supplier for it who keeps promising it will be back in stock soon. Sighs. Oh well... maybe eventually I'll get hold of one! X

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