two earth friendly layouts....

I have been rambling so much about those three R's that I don't think I have ever really explained my logic behind it....

it's super simple and so perfectly stated that I love it the way it is.... The words are made from my SLICE (just chillin font) and the best part is they are all cut from scraps.... Yah me.... plus kraft cardstock and one darn cute picture taken by Candra. I have recently needed to upgrade my scrap storage (from a medium to large box) and it was starting to bug me.... I really need to use more scraps.... I think I might be diseased..... you know like the crazy people who have 25 million pets... well now there's that crazy lady who won't throw out her scraps.....

SO from the scraps of my scraps I created another layout.....

This LO was actually inspired by Laura - she recently did a LO on her Flair Addiction and it reminded me of my ever growing pile of buttons I have been collecting and not using...... so I gathered all my greenish themed ones....... and some prima product packaging and voila!

That's all for today - I am off to make mother's day cards.......
xo,
anna

a cereal box journal swap

I previewed the journal I received a few days back from Phyllis ... now here's a pictorial preview of the one I made..... for Christy in Virgina:
My main goal was to create a red and yellow journal to inspire creativity. My take on the journal's genre...... kitcshy campy scrapper meets gypsy vintage recycler.... (is there even such a thing?)

it started out innocently enough with two caprisun boxes and some gesso and red paint.......

then I added a mix of red and yellow papers - purposely left the barcodes on all the papers (when possible) and lots of "randomness". I think I rocked the randomness part :) I include a vintage library card from CORDER .... courtesy of my friend Nathalie.... ohhhh and vintage wallpaper (can u tell?)

where possible i added product packaging that was craft related...... (fun :) found a really great embossing powder by ZING! it's a great color (mustard). I'll be using more of this soon.

some vintage ephermera from 7 gypsies...... (love them!)

some random mailings received from my place of residence.....

holy collage batgirl.... I tried it! - indie scrapper style :)



above - I love acrylic so I added a few acrylic pages and some acrylic packaging..... a vintage book page pasted on is from Shakespeare - the Comedy of Errors (nice!)
below - some transparent packaging - with a sticker story......

back cover view...... had to include a "do not remove" label.....

And the front cover - finished.... yes - tilt your head to get a better view :) my own comedy of errors - I forgot to rotate the picture before I added (opps) I'll put it in the mail tomorrow miss christy.....

xo, anna

embracing my inner nester

So I have been on a roll... using product packaging to make art...... this picture below was product packaging from my mom's house..... over spring break, we left dad in charge of the kids and crafted together, for a few hours..... I made about 6 cards using all her "stuff". It was fun to use someone else's loot..... I loved some of the cards I created.. but since my mom is a busy career woman I decided I would make all the cards for her to send to her friends.....maybe I'll get lucky and get one myself in the mail? (hint, hint mom) I digress...... anyhow, she had these love stickers in a heart shaped box....... we used all the stickers and were ready to recycle the box..... when I realized I loved the size of it...... hummmmmmm. Maybe I create some kind of 3d art from it?
here's what I came up with.......

I called it "love nest". I so, desperately hoped a birdie would find our backyard suitable for nesting this spring but it has not yet happened :( So - I made my own nest...... for Linda. Linda is my original nest queen..... she is a master of making GREAT scripture nest and made me realize my love for these beautiful creatures. While in NYC (a few months back), I visited a yummie store called Tinsel Trading CO - OMG - a store with nothing but embellishments - not just any embellishment BUT mostly vintage ones!!!! YUM YUM...... this was one of the few stores I had a spending spree in..... in the picture above..... you will notice a little yellow birdie..... I found him there...... the nest was already made (Michael's floral department) the flowers are prima - (wild wood coil mushroom collection) the patterned paper is anna griffin - the vintage tag is from tinsel town, too. Bonus.... there are REAL robin's eggs in the nest :) feathers, too.....

This picture is another recycled product packaging creation..... can you guess what it is? All patterned paper is Bo Bunny - "it's my party" line

What can you create from random product packaging?? My friend Laura from JUST PLAIN AND FANCY has created this AMAZING layout from some Tim Holtz packaging.......it's sooooo cool! GO see!!!!
xo,
amt

it's not easy being green......

you just need to think before you act.....


So.... I'm celebrating all things green here at Nest happenings and I thought I would share some info with y'all. What exactly does it mean to be earth friendly, eco-conscious or a GREENIE ?? My favorite quote of all times is the 7 gen quote...."in our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations". Seriously - you don't have to be a green advocate or recycling nut to be "green". You don't even have to spend a lot of money to be a friend to the earth. You just need to think about your actions...... You don't have to be a VEGAN or all organic or a tree hugger..... You just start out small and you will not believe how it will grow from there.

It does not take a lot to create your own recycling center at your house. If your city does not offer recycling service.... You can donate your recycling (especially paper) to your local schools.....(they all need the money!) Some schools even have those "paper gators bins". You can take your plastic and aluminum down to your local recycling center.... they will even give you money (based on weight) for bringing it down. Here's the web address to find one near you (click me)

You can support LOCAL farmer growers by buying local.... (click me for farmer's market in your area) this is HUGE.... seriously think about it.... less money spent on gas to transport/import your food, keeps your money local, the food is FRESH!! (everyone wins) Here's a great read..... Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - it's written by my favorite all time author Barbara Kingsolver and her family. (good books on tape....) .... THINK GLOBALLY - ACT LOCALLY!

You can plant drought resistant plants.....it's called xeriscaping (click me me for more info ) SAVES your water bill!!

You can support companies that care about our earth.... one of my current favorites is Terracycle.... they take the NON recyclable plastics and turn it in reusable products.


I'm only listing a few thing here.... the list is endless.... seriously..... Here's a great website for educating yourself about "green living" Our Earth.Org

I do not claim to be a greenie or eco-conscience but I am a friend to mother earth...... I just try my best everyday to remember to think before I throw my trash out.... is it really trash? Maybe I can repurpose it? Can someone else use it? Is it recyclable? I take my own bags to the grocery store (sometimes I forget......I'm not perfect.....I just make sure that I bring them back to the store all stores have the "return your plastic bags here" box.) Also, I am teaching my son's that they need respect our earth and be kind to it....

So, I leave you with this though.... what kind of impact will your actions have on the next seven generations?