Tuesday, April 29, 2014

WOYWW 256: The one where she (hopefully) saves you some money

This week finds me sharing tips for repurposing products that will save you (and Julia, our beloved host at Stamping Ground) money.

But first, let me take you to my hallway/stairs that leads up to my office.

Standing on the top stair looking down, this is quite close quarters, but I'm confident you can see several of these beauties I've framed over the years.

Standing on one of the lower steps, it was even harder to get a good photo of these.  BTW, I made all these frames that are this blond color.  I used quarter round trim you put above your baseboard molding or below your crown molding. 

Now that the rocking horses are out of the way, lets save a bit of money.

I'm fairly certain most of you know to put your cardboard to good use, like the cereal box I'm showing in the above photo.  But did you ever think to save old magazines, especially those from advertisers, to use under pieces you glue?  Once the glue has been spread on the item you wish to adhere, remove it, and turn the page of the magazine.  You are now ready for the next item you wish to glue.  Works well on both wet and dry glues.  If you don't get magazines or junk mail, an old telephone book will do the same trick!!


Inside that cereal box is some great FREE wax paper.  You can use it between book or journal pages that may still be slightly wet with paint, behind pages you don't want getting paint or spray ink on, 

create various techniques using it, or you can line your spray mist box, then use it in art collages later.  All you need to do is wipe it off with your hand before you put it to work the first time, and you have another freebie from repurposed materials.

I hope you enjoyed this post on repurposed materials, and if coming from Julia's please leave your number.  There was one person I couldn't find last week who left me a comment.  Could she have come from Julia's?  I'll never know for sure.

50 thoughtful remarks:

voodoo vixen said...

I love the rocking horse prints and I am totally impressed that you made some of the frames!
Why have I never thought to use ad mags on my desk for glueing??? Perfect idea stops all the mess and you have clean sheet each time! Annette no number yet! LOL

Nikki said...

Such fantastic prints you have made :) and great tips I use scraps anything to colour on top of happy woyww hugs Nikki # now yet http://graphixanddesign.blogspot.ca/2014/04/woyww_29.html

Krisha said...

Love the "rocker" wall.
I have used a phone book for ever to glue in. We don't eat cereal, so I missed out on that one, but really a great idea.
Krisha no# yet, but you know where I am

Andrea said...

thanks for thE money saving tips an d fab rocking horse pics impressed you make your own frames they look fab crafty hugs Andrea #1

Helen said...

Love your frames, and the rocking horses. I used old scrap phone directories too, or at least I did, they don't seem to deliver them any more here. Mostly it's all online now! But great tips. Helen 9

fairy thoughts said...

It's amazing how much stuff we throw away that we can actually use. I will definately be saving the inside of the cereal packet from now on..... Very useful thanks Elizabeth
Janet @12

VonnyK said...

I love your rocking horse pictures and those frames are incredible. You are so clever. Thanks for all those money saving tips, I never thought of using the waxy paper between pages but I will now.
Have a great week.
Von #11

Chrysalis said...

Hi Elizabeth - rocking horses? What a lovely subject to collect! I'm just like you, never throw anything away - drives DH nuts!! Have a great week, Chris # 15

Kyla said...

Loving the horses and yet more very cool recycling ideas. The cereal box I use had the best smooth white card when turned inside out and die cuts and takes colour fabulously, we are a resourceful lot us crafters!

Kyla #21

RosA said...

Hi Elizabeth, I get a ton of junk mail. I'm always using it underneath glue, paints etc, then I don't feel bad about throwing it all away :)
RosA # 10

Ann B said...

Love your rocking horse prints, so many different types but the traditional black and white ones are my favourites. Have used magazines for gluing, and as a base for stamping on but never thought about the cereal inners. Thanks for the tips .
Happy WOYWWW
Ann B
24

Shoshi said...

I love your little rocking horse gallery! Clever you, framing them, too. The rest of your post absolutely delighted me. I'm in full-blown dont't-throw-it-away mode at the moment and enjoying the adventure of Frugal Art, so this was right up my street! What a brilliant idea to use magazines and junk mail in that way. (Is there anyone on this earth who doesn't receive junk mail, I wonder...)

Once you start thinking like this, everywhere you go, you find yourself asking yourself, "Could I make art out of that?" It makes you much more observant and a lot more careful about what you throw away.

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #28

Unknown said...

What GREAT tips...thank you!! I am a fan of junk mail so this is a good way of using it when I have finished reading it. Wonderful photo collection of rocking horses! Thanks for dropping by my blog earlier. have a great week and happy WOYWW.
Janene #5

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I always knew we were kindred spirits, Elizabeth, but I do the same in my wardrobe too!!! Lol. It makes me teeth itch if things are out of order....I can't just mess my colours up :-)
I think the frames link all those different rocking horse pics really well. Looks like a proper gallery!
Hugs, LLJ 36 xx

Julia Dunnit said...

I do use up scraps and mags etc..unless they're Mr D's catalogues and things I find myself easily distracted! Interestingly, it's been a while since I found a wax paper bag inside a carton of cereal..indeed, for a short while, even weetabix came out of plastic wrapper..but it's now back to paper, so I guess the consumer had some influence there!
Love the rocking horse gallery, am less impressed that you might have been teetering on the edge of the stairs..oh my.

Eliza said...

I have always wanted to make my own frames and have some of the tools to do it, mitre, saw etc. I just don't have enough time.

Good idea for the magazines and flyers. I also have a beauty for the to be used in art. I use the magazine pages with a product call bright shine. It rubs off the print and warps it and strips it back to bare in parts, then I colour over it and use it completely in my artwork as a base page. Gosh this stuff is wonderful but a bit smelly. I used it all the time when making ATC's years ago and the cereal boxes and tissue boxes were the backing cards. If you want to know more email me. This is sort of right up your alley with re-cycling. LOL

Have a great week crafting.

Hugs Eliza & Yoda 47
Happy WOYWW

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi Elizabeth and Yoda....and lovely to see some more of your rocking horses. Now I'm a bit of a re-user too but thank you for these great ideas (I even recycle the recycled envelopes you know the brownish/kraft coloured ones on my cards and the packaging from blling) Cheers and have a great week RobynO#35

HeARTworks said...

Hi Elizabeth, I have used old magazines for gluing, and telephone books. I even have one beneath my desk as we speak. But I have not kept the inside of a cereal box yet! I did have fun yesterday as the art director arranged stuff on my desk and removed some stuff. I told her, "Now you know my secrets!" cause she definitely saw my pile up of junk and dust!!! patsy

sandra de said...

Now they are very clever ideas but then I would expect nothing less from your wonderful blog.
Sandra

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

I do love your rocking horses, and having them on your wall as well is a great idea. Those are some really good tips for reusing what is really just rubbish otherwise.You could use those magazines also for putting under your work when you are adding colour to the edges of your card. Thank you for sharing your ideas. xx Maggie #61

Halle said...

Those are great tips. I had kind of forgotten about using old magazines as a gluing station. Not sure why...I used to do it all the time that way.

Carole said...

A stairway purrfect for the rocking horse gallery. Love the frugal tips. Be well Carole #68

Hettie said...

Lovely pictures of the rockers there. Great tip. I tend to use cereal boxes for books or the kraft type turn into tags!
Hugs
xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

A lady after my own heart, I never throw things away if they look useful but I could do with expanding walls lol!
Happy crafting, Angela x 49

Unknown said...

Just peeking in before Im off to my DR. Apt.. so I have to keep it short.. But that's funny I have the same pic in your 2nd one at the top. Any wayI like I like and Im off and running. Thanks for sharing. Roberta #78

Darla said...

Great tips. I've used the old telephone book for the purpose you mention. Haven't saved the waxed paper but then again we don't buy cold cereal. I'll save it if I find it in another pkg. though.

Darla

Claire Grantham said...

Thanks for the visit earlier. OWH is operation write home an organisation that sends hand made cards to troops. I made a lot for them last year and I am just starting to make for them again. Love the tips and all the beautifully framed rocking horses. Cx #16

my cup of tea said...

You have such great tips! Thanks for sharing. Your rocking horse pics are so sweet!
donna#81

Unknown said...

I just love your rocking horses! And great tips, too! I use scrap paper from printer screw-ups and old phone books. I seldom save the cereal liners, just keep forgetting. Thanks for sharing and Happy WOYWW!
Carol N #76

Nan G said...

Hi Elizabeth, I'm back WOYWW ing! Love your repurposing tips. Great pics of the rockers. Wow, you do have a quite a varied collection of them! Snuggles to Bleubeard from the Girls. Hugs and Happy WOYWW! Nan G #82

Caterina Giglio said...

Brilliant!!!! ... my husby is a cereal eater, you have given me a great idea.. x

trisha too said...

You even have photos of rockers--fabulous!!

Never would have thought of using the cereal bags, but have to say, have done the magazine trick/catalog trick out of necessity--had a go-box of art stuff in the car, and needed a workmat for my lap!!

Happy Woyww to you!!!
:)trisha #84
(not showing
the mess.)

Elizabeth said...

Hi Elizabeth, love your rocking-horse gallery and so impressed that you made the frames too - something I have never tried to do! Great recycling tips too. I've cut down on the receipt of junk mail by registering with the mail preference service to say we don't want any! And I pass most of my magazines on to my daughter who then passes them on to friends so they get well used. Sadly, the cereal we eat does not include wax paper - pity because it's really useful stuff. Thanks for your visit and yes, that is a new banner which I put together myself - that way Bonnie gets a starring role. Hope Bleubeard likes it too. Have a great week. Elizabeth x #70

Eliza said...

Pats to Bluebeard he is one smart cat. Yoda says Bluebeard was right and in answer to you. It is the Oscar equivalent to the Logies. Where all the stars come out and find out who wins what award on the night, being the Gold Logie. Yes a glamorous night and Yoda hates me working away from him.

Hugs Eliza

Tertia said...

Thank you for your visit. All clear was given by the dr. Such a relief.
As always you are a wealth of information.
Happy WOYWW!
Tertia.

Caro said...

The rocking horse pictures are fab! I also use magazines like this (especially old TV guides) but the inner bag from cereal is a new tip I shall remember. Thanks for sharing. Happy WOYWW. Caro x (#61)

Crystal Komara said...

Hmm, what a unique way of recycling a cereal box! Hope all is well Elizabeth. I've got to get back to my Tea for Tuesdays posts. I've been delinquent! My Guinness sends his purrs to Bleubeard! Happy WOYWW!

Shoshi said...

Thanks for visiting me while I slept, Elizabeth, lol! I had a really bad night last night and a very poorly day today (feeling a bit better now thank goodness) and have spent most of the afternoon asleep on the recliner while "watching" Chariots of Fire!!! Glad you like what's going on on my desk this week. This recycling lark is great fun, isn't it. As for the rail, I got that idea off Pinterest, and I got the clips and rings from Ebay. I've also got some other bits and pieces on there as well as stamps (I'm not a great stamper myself and mostly use background ones and the odd flowers and leaves etc. but not cutesy ones and I don't colour them in). I've got 2 Tim Holtz palettes on there (alcohol inks and perfect pearls) and you could use the system equally well for stencils or dies.

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #28

pearshapedcrafting said...

Just love the way you put those frames together! Thanks for the handy tips - I used to use magazines with the kids in school but never thought about it for myself!! Hugs, Chrisx 95

TwinkleToes2day said...

Beautiful rocking horse pics Elizabeth.
I never thought of keeping the cereal packet! Silly me. What a fab idea. I already use magazines for gluing. Saves me having to clean it up too, hehe :o)

Dianne said...

never thought to use the waxed paper in cereal boxes! duh...makes sense. and you even make your own frames! I am truly impressed...:)

Dianne said...

P.S. ...I was delighted to find that you are a Firefly and Serenity fan! Love, love those space cowboys with attitude! sure wish they'd bring the show back or do another movie...

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Annie said...

Sorry I'm so late popping over this week.....yesterday was full to the brim with twinnie fun [blogging doesn't get a look in as you can imagine :-) ].
Fab tips Elizabeth....now all I need is the time to get creative :-) I shall be playing catch up this week with my sewing for customers....including curtains! :-(
Hugs,
Annie x # 26

BJ said...

Thanks for the upcycling tips, always useful. Thanks for the visit BJ#53

Anonymous said...

As ever, great tips - if I (or anyone in the family) ate cereal! :) But it does point out that you really need to look very critically at everything you might normally toss in the bin cause you just need to think outside the box (see what I did there? LOL!) a little to find a use for it.

Happy (day late) WOYWW!

Mary Anne (8)

Twiglet said...

Thanks for the tips. I try to recycle as much as I can - I just hate waste! Have fun x Jo

Mrs.D said...

Well you really worried me there. Your third picture had the words, 'like the cereal box I am showing you in the picture above' but the picture was a Uline catalogue or something. I wondered what sort of cereal you eat in the States. Then I realised there was a cereal box underneath it.
I love the idea though, I keep lots of cardboard like this and then can never find it when I want to, and sadly we don't get waxed paper in our cereal boxes any more. Cheap unsatisfactory alternative.
Anyway, your picture frames are wonderful made from beading, stop those little darlings galloping away out of the pictures. I might save some money making picture frame.
Chris #42

Neet said...

Hi Elizabeth - keep the tips coming. I love the inner bag from cereal usage.
Hope you two are keeping well but can you let Bleubeard know he might have to wait a couple of weeks to see some polymer clay produce. I just got a glut of birthdays to deal with!
Hugs and Thanks for visiting me - Neet 44 xx

peggy aplSEEDS said...

that's a delightful gallery of rocking horses, Elizabeth! and of course your tips about recycling are great. we don't have that much junk mail in the Philippines but telephone directories, ah we have a lot of that in our office! happy WOYWW and thanks for the visit!