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Monday, 3 November 2014

Destination Inspiration - Recycled Packaging

Hello everyone, Anne here and I am pleased to bring you the latest Destination Inspiration post here at A Vintage Journey. My topic this time is Recycled Packaging and I hope you will feel inspired to do some recycling yourself.

I am the first to admit that I hoard lots of Tim Holtz/Ranger goodies in my craft room but there are times when I run out of things. Recently I ran out of one of my all time favourite products - Ranger's Clearly for Art (CFA). I had to find a substitute for a project that needed to be done in a hurry - so I looked at my extensive stock of plastic Idea-ology packaging (I save it all!) - and just experimented - and it worked! I should say here that I am not giving up using CFA but if you need a quick substitute..... this does work.
This is a plastic case for some Idea-ology pieces, I cut it up into flat pieces, along with some other packages and put these to one side for die cutting later. 
I took some colours of Distress Ink and put them directly onto the craft mat.
I dragged my card through the stains, do this more than once if necessary. You can see that my card 'bubbled' slightly but I quite like the effect and it will not detract from the finished result.
Add some more colour with Distress Inks and give it a spritz with a darker colour - in this case I used the new Distress Spray Stain in Walnut Stain. It gives a lovely 'aged' look.
Cut a variety of leaves from both the plastic packaging and your coloured card. I did them separately because my pieces of plastic were all quite small.
Glue the plastic to the paper/card leaves and run these through an embossing folder - surprisingly the embossing was still very pronounced even though the plastic is quite thick. I used the Jumbo Leaf embossing folder for all of the leaves.
Heat the leaves with your heat tool. At this point, by using plastic packaging they do get VERY HOT, so be very careful!! Before they cool down completely, shape them with your fingers to give them a more realistic look.
Create a background for them to sit on. This background was created using Distress Spray Stains in Mowed Lawn and Walnut Stain onto a piece of recycled Kraft card. It is so very easy to create a background quickly with the sprays.
Here is my finished autumnal/thanksgiving card. I was not too worried about the depth of the leaves because this card will be placed in a card box and given by hand.

I was enjoying myself so I carried on ......
This time I took a large piece of plastic and covered it with Tissue Wrap (Composer) using Ranger Glue and Seal to adhere it to the plastic. I sprayed the whole piece with Fired Brick and Mowed Lawn Distress Spray Stains. I use a large pizza box as a 'spray station' to avoid covering my whole desk with the stains.
I used Tim's Tattered Poinsettia and die cut three sets of flowers.
I used a small shot glass and heated the flower over this to give it some real shape. Don't forget it gets really, really hot so you need to leave it for a few moments before lifting it off or shaping it! Do the same with all the pieces.
This is how the flowers look when assembled. They are quite stiff and strong and hold their shape beautifully. They are not really practical to put on a card (unless you are putting it in a box) when they are shaped like this but they do look good.....
....as a Christmas decoration on a parcel (along with Tim's Jumbo Pinecone and some of the new Holiday Greens die cuts) to give as a gift.

I think that if the petals were given a coat of Ranger Glue N Seal then they would be perfect to add to a Holiday Wreath too - I may just try that next.....

Well I hope you enjoyed my experiment and that you might give it a try - just remember though, the plastic gets very hot and needs a moment or two to cool before you touch it. Thanks for looking!

All of the products I used can be purchased from our wonderful Sponsor, Country View Crafts and I have put links at the end of this post. Susan, the owner, gives the most amazing service, she is always well stocked with Tim Holtz and many other products, so do please visit.

Product List from Country View Crafts:

41 comments:

  1. Fabulous projects Anne! I love using plastic packaging. I save it all! PINNING!

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  2. Anne - thank you for such a wonderful and inspirational tutorial. Like you I save all kinds of things and one day I may just have a use for all of them. For right now I am going to get out the packaging and give this a try. Your poinsettias are truly amazing.

    Hugs xx

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  3. Gorgeous projects Anne! Amazing way to trash to treasures! Thank you for sharing your creative process!

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  4. Annie, this is a magnificent tutorial. When I saw the pieces on your blog, they look so very real. Loved the instructions as to how you created the wonderful looks. I'm undecided which might be my favorites. I'm awfully drawn to those gorgeous fall leaves...but that poinsettia is grabbing my eye as well. You did a marvelous job in the creative process, but also a very explicitly detailed how-to with the instructions. Well Done indeed. (But I would expect nothing less from your talented self!) TFS & Big hugs.

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  5. What a clever girl you are Anne! Your leaf card is lovely with the woodgrain background - and your poinsettia's are beautiful with the music tissue wrap - who wouldn't love to receive that gift box!!! Thanks for sharing these great ideas for recycling the plastic containers!

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  6. Wow Anne, what fabulous creations. Love those crispy looking leaves and the Poinsettia is amazing. What a great tutorial and one that I will definitely be trying thanks to you. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx

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  7. Gorgeous leaves and flowers from the recycled packaging!

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  8. Hello Anne love this project from recycled plastic. The leaves look so realistic and great tip about putting them over a glass. The colours are so beautiful and rustic looking. Thank you for sharing x

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  9. I am so pleased that I hopped over for a closer look, these are stunning Anne. The colours and textures on the leaves and poinsettias are amazing and your finished designs are wonderful.
    Thank you for such a fabulous, clear and easy to follow tutorial too.
    hugs Sue xx

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  10. Oh pressed the wrong button and lost my comments. Love this Anne and using recycled packaging is such a great idea. The leaves are so realistic, love the colours and how you shaped them is a brilliant. Thank you for sharing x

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  11. Brilliant Anne! Inspirational tutorial and so effective. Just love the tissue wrap on the packaging, might try that later! Nikki xx

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  12. Superb tutorial Anne! I love that you used the large leaf embossing folder with all the leaves and the tissue wrap poinsettias look wonderful (great idea to use the shot glass!) So perfect on top of one of your handmade boxes. Thank you so much for sharing. Jenny xxx

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  13. What a fantastic clear tutorial Anne and a brilliant idea on recycling. I think we are all guilty of hoarding Tim's packaging and finally have the answer on how to use it now. You card and box are equally as stunning. Thanks for sharing with us all.
    Julie x

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  14. fabulous tutorial Anne and I'm so glad I'm a hoarder of all Idea-ology packaging too...thanks for sharing a great idea for using it...hugs kath xxx

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  15. Oh wow, this is AWESOME!! Love it! x

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  16. A journey indeed we have taken with project, this is so creative and awesome, thanks for sharing you talent with all of us.

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  17. Absolutely brilliant Anne! I have used packaging before as a substitute for CFA but never combined it together with paper, great to see how well it works! Your finished projects look fantastic too, love the poinsettias specially!

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  18. Stunning work. Those leaves look fantastic, colours and textures. Brilliant ideas. Thank you, Jan

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  19. Brilliant projects Anne and I love your use of packaging.

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  20. Hello Miss Anne, BRILLIANT is the word for these, I love to recycle, your card and box is just SUPERB, a fantastic tutorial, you are " THE BOMB " full stop... thanks for sharing hope you have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS )))

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  21. Wow Anne, just fabulous! Great idea about the packaging, your poinsettia is fantastic! Love your autumn card, the wood background turned out just wonderful! Thanks for the great tutorial! hugs :)

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  22. What a FABULOUS tutorial Anne and how clever of you to recycle packaging in this way. I have LOADS! so will certainly be giving this a go as I have never thought to combine it with paper. The finished leaves are just amazing and then there was more - the poinsettias are just stunning! Thank you! xxx

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  23. Fabulous makes, Anne! Thank you for the inspiration! xx

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  24. Brilliant makes and great tutorial.
    Hugs

    Patricia x

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  25. Fabulous recycling Anne and I love the finished results. TFS this wonderful DI

    Hugs Annie x

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  26. Wonderful Anne! Fantastic recycling . I love both projects but I' m really drawn to those gorgeous poinsettias sitting so beautifully on your ATB . Great inspiration xx

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  27. Very clever ideas Anne, but I'm not surprised, and I bet Tim is delighted some of his pacakaging was recycled so beautifully. I wonder what, if anything, he does with it himself. The poinsetta is my favourite here, because of the music paper. ((hugs)) xx

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  28. Fabulous recycling techniques, love the leaves and poinsettia

    Jools x

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  29. Fabulously brilliant! I save all my packaging, too. I have never tried the plastic with paper, but I sure will now. Those poinsettias are stunning!

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  30. Thank you for a fabulous and creative tutorial. Oh gosh... LOVE the result. These are AMAZING !!!! Vibrant colors, fantastic techniques. Will give this a try ASAP....
    Thanks a lot !!
    Hugs from Monica .... Spain

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  31. Mama Mia Anne!!! Fabulous idea with the packaging - cant you tell I am completely thrilled that I binned 6 prima package covers last week!!! I'm just telling myself that Prima ones wouldnt have worked as well! Hmmm.

    Moving along swiftly ... It's amazing how you have transformed the plastic - everything looks so so impressive and perfectly 'store ready'. You finish everything so professionally. I LOVE also your 'spray station' (inspired) and moulding shot glasses (genius!). Wonderful makes and tutorial. Nicola x

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  32. Beautifully done Anne - I have used this technique - I first painted the die cute flower with gesso before going on with the Colors
    Of the flower I wantec. It makes for a most beautiful embellisment!
    SANDY XX

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  33. A destination inspiration post with wonderful inspirational ideas, techniques and finished projects. Love how you have used the packaging Anne, thanks for sharing your experiments with us.
    xxx

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  34. Stunning project and tutorial Anne..the way you have used the packaging is truly inspirational! Hugs Carole Z X

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  35. Stunning projects Anne, the tutorial is fabulous so inspirational , love how you used the packaging...Hugs May x x

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  36. Catching up and so glad I did not miss this! Beautiful use of recycled packaging! Love the Autumn feel and gorgeous colors. Hugs!

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  37. Awesome projects, Anne!
    I am feeling so inspired :)

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  38. The most beautiful use of re-cycled packaging. An absolute triumph!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  39. Fabulous! Such great repurposing and beautiful results.

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