Free stuff

Ideas for where we can get free stuff to use in our scrapbooking and cardmaking:

Ribbon

• Keep the ribbon we get from clothes (you know the ribbon you trim off as soon as you get home because they put it on the clothes for hanging is nicely in the shop - usually under the arm pit part).
• Off gifts received from others

Buttons

• Collect all the extra buttons you get with clothes in case one comes off. Make sure you don't use it until you know you wont need it as a replacement.
• Take off old clothes not suitable for recycling.

Buckles

• From worn out belts.
• From worn out shoes

Material from old clothes and house hold items not suitable for recycling. Denim can be really effective to make a lot of embellishments. Leather from old handbags is another idea.

Wrapping paper - some beautiful papers can be used. My girls received some bath bombs that were covered in a beautiful textured strong tissues like paper, which I ironed and will now use in a project.

Glass Jars left over from cooking sauces, jams or coffee make great storage for all those small bits and pieces (especially buttons).

Old wool jumpers (not suitable for recycling) can be unraveled to use in projects. (Even re-crocheted into cute flower embellishments).

Old novel pages can be used to make interesting embellishments (check the text to make sure it is appropriate in the project).

Old kids cardboard books recycled make great mini albums.

Foil/Tin from a Milo tin (or equivalent) can be die cut or embossed for an embellishment.

I suppose the list can be endless..... but you get the idea.... if you are about to put it in the bin, look at it and think of other uses.

These idea's not only help us increase our stash of embellishments but also we are recycling and reducing landfill.

Note: Be careful what items you use in scrapbook pages. Not all items are safe to use in scrapbooks. I am not too worried myself as all my current photos (and I scan old photos) are stored digitally for future generations, and my scrapbook pages are for my enjoyment now, but this is just my personal decision (that is a discussion for another time).