Quote of the Week

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day!

I have a few projects to share today in celebration of Earth Day.  Each year it is my goal to be more aware of how I affect the world I live in.  I am huge into recycling, but know that I still have a long way to go in changing some of my habits to better our world.  As my daughter always says, " Every little bit counts."  I love that my kids are so interested in caring for their world. Each year we take our wagon and go clean the wooded path that we walk through on the way home from school.  Each year it makes me angry at how much litter there is in the beautiful section of nature.  It makes my kids angry too.  It's a good angry.  I know that they will always think about keeping their world clean.  At least I hope they will.

My favorite part of Spring is the beautiful look and smell of the lilac bush by my driveway.  Oh is there any sweeter smell???  I think not...well, maybe chocolate.  But other than that, I think not.  I saved a vinegar bottle specifically so that I could try the technique that Beate did HERE.  ( Go to the bottom of the post for the video)

I used Enamel Etch, embossing powder and the dot from the Stephanie Bernard Back 2 Basics set to create a fun, polka dotted vase.  Here is close up.  Hopefully you can see my irregular dots.


This didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, but it still looks pretty and my house smells wonderful. Make sure if you try this that you really add the etching enamel heavily.



I have one more project using several recycled items.


My flower and the "trim" along the bottom are made from a pair of jeans that my daughter outgrew and used to paint her room with.  She keeps accidentally pulling them out of her drawer to wear.  Not anymore.......:)
I used my Spellbinder's die to create a jean flower much like yesterday's post.  The smaller cherry paper is actually the front of the paper packaging.  I cut it out to layer on this card.  While my coupon isn't really recycled, it's from a Valentine's card pack. Love using off season stuff.  Cherries are nature at it's best, aren't they?  Yum!

We won't be having cherries, but we are having our first taste of Strawberry Shortcake tonight accompanying a great big GREEN salad with our deer steaks.  It's going to be "Good Eats" tonight.

I'm entering this into a few challenges this week.

Die Cuts R Us- Earth Embellishment
The Pink Elephant Sketch
Stamp Something~ Layers
Sweet Stampin Challenge~ In Stitches
Your Next Stamp 14 ~ Faux or Real Stitches


I really hope to have a few more Recycled Projects to share in the next week. Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for the BIG release for PaperWorks Co.  There will be prizes galore.  Don't miss it!

9 comments:

bernietom47 said...

Happy Earth Day! Love the jeans flower! I try to find a second use for everything before it gets tossed. I've collected LOTS of jeans fabric over the years. Never thought to make flowers out of it. Never tried etching but I sure have enough jars I could try it on. Thanks for sharing.
Have an Awesome Day!
Bernie

Faye said...

Amazing, gorgeous, lovely card. Thanks for sharing it at Sweet Stampin. x

Sally said...

Love the jeans flower. I too have never thought to make a flower out of them. A lot of other stuff but never a flower. Hummm I might just have to give that a try.

Dotty Jo said...

Happy Earth Day to you too Nikki! We don't make nearly enough of Earth Day here in the UK. Great etching on your vase - what a great thing to try. Love your card! I might cut up the front cover too as I love the two sizes of cherries! Jo x

Annie said...

Happy Earth Day to you too. Great take on the sketch - thanks for sharing it with us at the Pink Elephant.
Ann xxx

Jenn K said...

What a great use of some recycled items! I love to re purpose things too! Thank you for joining us on The Pink Elephant!

Cara said...

Love that flower made out of jeans!! Too cute! Thanks for joining DCRU this week!!
Cara DCRU DT

Gwen's Busy Little Hands said...

Nikki your lilac vase is beautiful. I have lilacs here and mine always bloom late...I'm so looking forward to what you have in your photo. Your other project is fantastic too.

Smiles!
Gwen DTC@DCRU

~*Joni said...

Nikki this is so adorable! I love the denim and cherries combo, perfect for this happy card. I love love your vase and beautiful lavender flowers. Thank you for joining us at DCRU this week!
~*Joni DCRU DT