The Paper Players Challenge #41: Recycling!

Howdy and Happy SUPER Sunday! I just love Sunday's because that is the day we launch a new challenge over at The Paper Players. This week, the theme is RECYCLING!! How cool is that? Look around you right now...what can you re-purpose for the sake of creativity? If it is heading to the trash...*STOP*...look again...can you actually USE it?? (Mail, packaging, newspapers, magazines...even OLD clothes!) I BET you can and we want to see it! 

So, where did I get the inspiration for my card? Well, I simply looked no further then an item that is occasionally sitting on my desk while I create...a can of Diet Dr. Pepper! I cut open the can, punched a few shapes then ran them through the Big Shot ...and there you have it, recycled "embellishments"! I figure that this card makes one less can in my recycle bin this week and THAT is pretty cool! 

Also, the twine accent was recycled from a bakery box that contained some yummy treats from a brunch I attended earlier in the week. Anything can be re-purposed, if you just give it the chance! 

After cracking open that can, I punched out six 1-1/4" circles and one Scalloped Oval. I embossed them with both the Vintage Wallpaper and Square Lattice Embossing folders. Embossing aluminum is super-easy and the results are awesome! The edges CAN be a wee bit sharp, though...nothing dangerous, though. Not to worry!  

I added the same, coordinating embossing on the layers of the card. I used Blueberry Crisp DSP and lightly sanded it to give a "distressed" look.

Finally, here is the decorated inside. I originally intended the front to have 8 circles...but short of making this one an 8x10 card, I had to scale back a bit. I just used my "surplus" for the inside: 

Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave me a comment to say hello before you go. I really hope you have an awesome day today and I also hope you will share YOUR creation with us at The Paper Players, this week! We would LOVE to see what you come up with to RECYCLE on your project! :)

Stampin' Up! Supply List:  

Stamps: Because I Care (Hostess set) 

Paper: Blueberry Crisp DSP, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock

Ink: Pacific Point and Old Olive (sponging) Classic ink

Accessories: Scallop Border punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scalloped Oval punch, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Corner Rounder punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Color Coach, sponging with Old Olive Classic ink, Modern Label pnch and 2" x 1-3/8" XL Oval punch.

Non-SU! Accessories: Diet Dr. Pepper Can, purple jewels and twine from a bakery box

Hydrangea in the Spotlight

Hello everyone! It's already Thursday? Ugh, this week is just flying by. Before I get into my card for today, I wanted to share some cool news. One of my cards was featured yesterday HERE at Paper Punch Addiction, which is a huge honor yet again. Thank you SO much, Kim! :) Please stop by and visit the site, there are some awesome ideas for using your punches. 

For my card today, I got my inspiration from the weekly technique challenge at "Just Us Girls". I have never tried the Spotlighting Technique before. It's just a really unique way to highlight a stamped image on a card. A link to a tutorial can be found HERE on Splitcoast, too.

I have had the idea in my head that I wanted to use this hydrangea stamp from the Because I Care set, when I first saw this challenge last week. Today, I FINALLY had some time to put it all together. Just in time, the challenge ends tonight. Whew! 


After I got the "spotlight-ed" image all colored and shaded, it just felt like it needed something else. So I pulled out my new Nature Walk set and inked up the little bee. I do NOT like cutting tiny things out, by the way, and tend to avoid it at all costs. But this little "buzzy-dude" needed to add some dimension to the flower so there was NO way around it. GAH...time to use those dreaded paper snips! I also glittered up his wings and added some Crystal Effects to his head to give him some added pizazz, since he IS in the spotlight, after all.

The card ended up being pretty simple overall but hopefully it helps the technique stand out more. I have listed all of the supplies used at the end of the post, so I won't go into detail. Here is a photo of the inside of the card, made with some scraps left over from the front:

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. I hope you are having a great week so far. Before I sign off, I realized that I haven't shared any photos of the "furry-ones" in quite a while. So, here is a shot of my angelic Benjamin Maxwell curled up on the desk, as I type this up. He is totally in the way, BUT staying out of trouble...for the moment anyway! (Note: the curled up paws. This cat is always in the most odd poses.) 

Have a HAPPY day! :)

Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Because I Care (hostess, level 1), Teeny Tiny Wishes (front sentiment) and Thanks for Caring (inside sentiment)
Ink: Basic Black and Perfect Plum (for coloring the hydrangea) Classic ink
Paper: Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, 1" Circle punch, 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scalloped Trim Border punch (inside), Chantilly 1/2" Lace trim, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, 1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Antique Brad, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (bee wings), Crystal Effects (bee head), Blender Pen and lots of Stampin' Dimensionals
Non-SU Accessories: alcohol-based markers and large circle/scalloped circle die cuts