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Assembly Line Valentines

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It’s time to crack the craft whip on those kids.  Valentines for school are often a source of frustration for parents whether you are trying to get your kid to make them or simply write his name on each one. It’s tedious.  Probably best to tackle them assembly line style and start way ahead of time.  Here are some ideas for recycled paper materials that can be used to make valentines:

  • maps
  • book pages
  • junk mail
  • holiday cards
  • paper bags
  • cereal boxes
  • sheet music
  • children’s artwork (with permission)
  • office paper
  • gift wrap
  • brochures
  • invitations
  • magazines

The problem with recycled materials is that they usually have printing on both sides.  Once our cards are done, I will cut up some back sides of office paper and have the kids write their names and glue to the inside of each card.

Here are some simple ways that you could use your recycled materials:

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From top left:

  1. Patterned side of a security envelope (idea from Design Sponge).
  2. Paper bag with vintage children’s book illustration.
  3. Blank cards made from sheet music, red envelope, paper bag, and embroidery design book page.
  4. Corrugated cardboard heart on recycled envelope.
  5. Painted cereal box with yarn scrap.
  6. Hearts on paper bag (see instructions below).

To make these little hearts, just cut some recycled paper in 1/4″ strips and follow the pictures below, adding a drop of glue at each step.  The corrugated hearts were also made with strips of corrugated cardboard rolled down from each end.

paper-heart-steps

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Etsy Finds Friday

1-30-09

Itty Bitty Bouquet of Ceramic Flowers, $15 from Mudpuppy.

Little Iccle – Grey Kitty, $55 from Abigail Brown.

Japanese Cotton Lace, $7.50/meter, From Japan with Love.

Vintage Wooden Cow, $12 from paddywaak.

Flowers 2 (detail), 18″ x 24″ screenprint, $35 from Nate Duval.

Tropical Flower Lady, $125 from Mimi Kirchner.

Spring Branches Letterpress Cards, set of 3 for $8 from Blue Cole Press.

Abstract Poppy Baby Quilt, $160 from All the Numbers.

Hand Stitched Valentine Card, $4 from papermode.

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Upcycled Flowers

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I’m getting carried away with this recycling theme.  Check out these upcycled flowers that the kids and I made for Alpha Mom using old sweaters and coat hangers.  You can make these from materials found around your home, and they’ll never need water!  A nice little Valentine’s gift for teachers or grandparents.

I have gotten a LOT of use out of these sweaters (see here, here and here).  And my older daughter has been wearing the sleeves of one of the sweaters as leg warmers.  It’s hip to be frugal these days.  This recession is wicked karma, but I hope that we can learn some hard lessons from it and remember what’s really important.

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Sewn Valentine’s Day Cards

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Here are a couple of ideas for recycled Valentine’s Day cards.  I’m going to try to post a new idea each day this week.  So much better to make something from materials found around the house rather than buy a card at the store.

This card is made from an old manila folder and vintage fabric.  I used a bit of interfacing to stiffen the fabric and glued it on with spray adhesive before sewing a zig-zag stitch around the edge.

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And here’s one for the kids.  A lacing card made from a cereal box.  We simply cut the box, painted it with acrylic paints, poked holes and laced it with yarn.  Good exercise for fine motor skills and fun to boot.  The center heart is a scrap from an old embroidery pattern book.

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