Newspaper Bag Christmas Wreath $0

We used to get three newspapers a day. (We have now simplified to one a day.) There was an excess of newspaper bags in our home (even with our using them as doggie bags on Lucy's walks twice a day).

I had a spare metal circle from a Paper Source wreath kit. (You could form a circle from a metal hanger or wire.) I cut the newspaper bags in half and tied each half on the circle. Right over left, left over right. Once the circle was full of knots I twisted and fluffed the strands so they lay right. I tied a small loop with baker's twine on the circle and pulled it to the back of the wreath so it can hang on our 3M Command hook.

I love that we got a few green bags for my "holly." I love this wreath, even if it's a glorified lei. I like the type on the bags and how it pops off of my white door. My daughter made it with me and was excited to gather the red bags each morning.

We got enough bags for the wreath in a month, but normal people only get one paper a day, so if this is something you'd like to do, start saving your bags soon so it will be finished by Thanksgiving!

Water Heater Drip Pan Door Decoration $1.82

I've had this crude barnwood frame in our garden shed forever. I snipped two squares from this scrap metal that we ripped out of our cabin when we installed a new water heater. Greg thinks it was the old drip pan. I have no idea what it was, but it came from our cabin's water heater closet and it isn't magnetic. (Rats!) Greg recycled the metal I didn't use along with the old water heater. He got $11 for it. That is a lot of money in ReDEUX Land.

After I snipped a larger square and a smaller square (use tin snips or crummy scissors set aside for cutting crummy things), I used my metal alphabet and hammered the word "WELCOME" into the center of the small square. I punched holes in the corners to secure the small square to the big square with silver brads. I also drilled two holes in the top corners of the barn wood frame for the ribbon. I used the largest drill bit we own. 

This is the metal alphabet. I originally bought it at the craft store and it was made by Making Memories.

Then I cleaned the metal with my Mrs. Meyer's countertop spray. Don't you just love Mrs. Meyer's? I used to drive all the way to Sur la Table at The Gateway to buy it, but now it's at Walmart. Excellent. Don't buy the geranium scent. It's nasty.

I took it to Hobby Lobby and had the framer shoot some glazier's points around the edges to hold everything in place since my nails weren't holding (the wood was so distressed they kept falling out). The framer didn't even charge me. I was expecting to pay a dollar. Yahoo. I tied my ribbon (taken from a wrinkled gift bag) in knots in the front of the frame.

Lastly, I hot-glued some felt to the back so when the frame bangs against the door we don't hear it. And it looks nicer. I had to buy the felt, which was $1.82 for half a yard. I have tons left, so if anyone needs felt please call.

I love it.

Lampshade Birdcage $1

 

I had a couple of old lampshades from my house I used for these, but I also bought some at D.I. for $1/piece. You just want to get a lampshade that has the metal rib cage. They are harder to find than you might suppose.

Slash through the shade fabric and remove what comes off easily. Soak the lampshades in hot soapy water. The glue will loosen up and you can rip the remaining fabric off with pliers. Once dry, pick any leftover glue off. I use my fingernails, but needlenose pliers would probably be better. Or a razor blade. I like the patina of the metal shades. If the shades are white I cover them with washi tape.

Make birds with fabric scraps. I got the pattern for my bird from this book. Sew little embellishments on your birds. I collect all sorts of trinkets, so I sewed little bits to my birds because I think it makes them interesting. RE named this bird "From Paris With Love."

 

 

 

Decorate your cage with anything. I have wired buttons and sewing notions on one, crystals and beads to another, and left some blank. You could do any theme you want. I used stamped clothespins from French General to make a perch in one of my cages. Really, the possibilities are endless, and I decorate my cage with the recipient in mind (their style, their colors, etc).

Attach the birds to the cage with fishing line and crimp beads. Yes, more fishing line and crimp beads. I told you I have an endless supply.

Hang the cage however you wish. I have done clear fishing line, braided embroidery floss, ribbon remnants, and jute. Just use what you have. Don't go buy something!

If you don't have a lampshade, use other clever objects. I made this one out of an antique sewing hoop for my sister Suz because she sews custom baby bedding for a living.

Postage Stamp Cards $0

Rip off stamps from your mail. Have your neighbors do the same. You'll have a ton in no time.

I made these for my Christmas cards a few years ago. It took almost an entire calendar year to get enough stamps to make 150 cards. Use ribbon scraps to make the wreath bow. The knot is no problem for mailing through the USPS, but if you're worried about it you can put a sheet of cardstock over the top of your card to protect everything.

I used the cancelled stamps I bought at the stamp & coin store for these cards, and I inked rubber alphabet stamps to stamp words, initials, important dates, etc, onto the cards.

One year I made valentines with the cancelled stamps. Just glue a bunch of stamps on top of each other until they resemble a heart and sew a vellum square or cut up sheet protector over the top. I don't know why my corner always puckers when I sew paper. Maybe I need to adjust my tension. Who knows? I don't think any of my recipients cared...

Trash Cards $0

I have probably made around 1,000 cards from people's trash in the last five years. It's easy. Just take the wrapping paper out of the garbage can at birthday parties. And take really pretty Christmas wrap. And retail store bags. And maps from trips. And anything else you can think of.

First of all, wrinkled paper can be ironed. Just put a piece of typing paper or brown grocery sack on both sides of your paper and iron it. Easy. Some paper looks fine wrinkled, too, like maps.

I usually embellish my "trash cards" with cancelled stamps. I have two Ziploc bags full of them. I bought a bag of cancelled stamps at the stamp & coin store for a few bucks. You can also use stamps off of your own mail.

Not used to taking stamps off of mail? Rip the corner of the envelope off (the corner that has the stamp) and soak it in a bowl of water for a few minutes. The stamp will peel right off of the envelope. Put the stamp on a paper towel and it will dry in minutes.

A fun way to use remnant tissue paper is with FRINGE SCISSORS. I loved this tissue paper my sister wrapped my Christmas present in. It was too cute to throw away.

Fringe scissors cut several times at once. They are like regular scissors on steroids and super sharp. I feel like Edward Scissorhands when I use them. I like to cut on the fold so the fringes are thicker and then muss them up after they are glued on. I love these scissors so much I think I might try to make my own piñata sometime. Or at least cards that look like they have little piñatas on them. I am always trying to find a reason to use them. Kitchen stores sell them for mincing herbs. I think mincing paper is more fun. Greg bought me mine years ago from Bell'occhio in San Francisco, but now Martha Stewart sells them for $9.

After I make enough "trash cards" I create sets of 8 and box them up. It's nice to have a little something to give away. Greg just went on a business trip and asked me (at midnight) while he was packing if I had any good "girl presents" for a nice lady he works with. She got a box of trash cards and loved them. She told him her grandpa collected stamps and that they reminded her of him.

I have a neat woodblock stamp of a letter "M" that I stamp on the back of every card I make.

I bought these plastic boxes that hold a set of cards at Xpdex for 59 cents. They don't sell them anymore. I will have to find a new vendor online. They are perfect for classing up trash cards!

*But paper isn't free? Yes it is:

A few years ago I walked into the BYU Press Building and asked Doyle (now retired) if he had any cottony, wonderful, thicker-than-cardstock leftovers that I could have. He cut down a BUNCH of leftover paper to 8.5"x5.5" for me. (About 2,000 cards!) All I have to do is score the fold line when I want to make a card. This is the spirit of ReDEUX! BYU couldn't have printed any job on the leftovers I took. They would have gone to waste after months of taking up precious shelf space. I only needed scraps. Win-Win. I am continually amazed what you can get for free if you just ask for it.