paper: Five Ways to Use Cards in your Scrapbooking by Tina Walker | pretty paper. true stories. {and scrapbooking classes with cupcakes.}

I love to find household objects that can be used in my crafty projects. Either by using them as ‘tools of the trade’ or by incorporating them into a project, I gain satisfaction of re-using and re-purposing.

Today, I would like to share with you ways of using an old credit card, library card, or gift card.

Number One: Use an old card as a mask. You will need an old card(s) and spray mist.

You can layer and use multiple cards as a mask for a layout or card. For my layout I used 3 cards and placed them on top of each other to create a horizontal grid. Once you are happy with the placement of your cards, spray with mist and carefully remove the cards when you are done.

Number Two: Use an old card to apply paint, modeling paste, or gesso. You will need an old card, modeling paste, and your favorite stencil.

You can use an old card to apply product to a project. I love how evenly a card applies modeling paste with a stencil. Remove modeling paste from container and apply (paint) it over your stencil.

Carefully remove the stencil and you have great texture with modeling paste.

Number Three: Use an old card to create splatters and drips. You will need an old card and spray mist.

You can use an old card to create splatters and drips on a layout or card. Apply spray mist to card.

For drip effects, allow spray mist to ‘pool’ on the card, then slowly tip the edge of the card to your paper and allow spray mist to drip down.

For spatter effects, tip card upside down and tap the card to release the spray mist, creating splatters.

Number Four: Use an old card to create hash marks and lines on a layout or card. You will need an old card and acrylic paint.

Pour some acrylic paint to a paper plate or craft mat. ‘Swipe’ card through paint several times to load the card.

Swipe your paper with the card creating your hash mark/line design.

Number Five: Use an old card as an embellishment. You will need an old card, your favorite stamp, embossing ink, and embossing powder.

Using your favorite stamp, stamp an old card with embossing ink and apply embossing powder. Heat and let your unique embellishment take shape. I wanted a little bit of glimmer and shine to my layout, so I used gold embossing powder. LOVE! You can use the embossed card in many ways on your projects. I cut my card into smaller rectangles and adhered them to the edge of my layout.

How is that for super easy and super fun? Want another quick re-purpose idea? Plastic bread ties and clips make fantastic embellishments on your layouts. Think of the possibilities!

So next time you think about throwing away a normal, everyday household item, think about how you can re-use or re-purpose it into a crafty project.

Tina Walker lives in Sunny Salt Lake City, Utah, but is a mid-western girl at heart. Much of her crafty inspiration comes from her two French Bulldogs, Moose & Flikka, who have quite the reputation in the scrapbook world. She is currently a Design Team member for My Mind’s Eye and Jenni Bowlin Studio and owns and designs for Frog Dog Studio, a monthly Mixed Media kit club. You can see more of her work on her blog, A Dog’s Life and on her Mixed Media kit club blog.

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30 August 2013

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