Easy, arty, crafty, green-teamy idea
June 6, 2007 | Arts and Crafts
Whenever I go to rummage sales I always find myself in the book section. I often see things that I think are so cool! And just $1! But really, what can you do with an outdated atlas? Or a craft book from the 70’s with projects you wouldn’t even be able to find the materials for?
Lately I have united my desire to rescue cool old books and my love of sending birthday cards by making my own arty creations. I have six friends with birthdays in the next two weeks so last night, I got my craft on.
Step one – collect old gems ripe with funny/interesting pictures:
Step two – Assemble your supplies. You may choose to do your crafts on a desk or table, but the guest bed will do as well.
As shown above: Scissors, exacto, rubber pad thing, glue stick, package of blank A-7 cards from a paper or craft store, colorful paper.
Step three: Find your fodder. Pictures are good, but if you’re into lettering and fonts and stuff, sometimes just the text parts are card-worthy.
Take a moment to mock them, if appropriate.
Step four – Cut out interesting pictures, frame with the colored paper, paste to the card. Yes, you are cutting up the old book, but it was just a dollar. And who was ever going to appreciate it’s coolness on that dusty old shelf?
Step five – Place finished card in one of the books and sit on it until you are done crafting, performing the patented Glue Stick Ass Sealing Procedure.
And Voila!
A birthday card someone makes for you just seems more special, don’t you think?
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June 6th, 2007 at 4:02 pm, Victorian Says:
you are so cool Jenny!
which one is for me? huh? huh?
June 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm, Jenny Says:
Girl! You just had me frantically checking my planner.
Who knows what gems await you September birthdays.
June 6th, 2007 at 10:25 pm, KLW Says:
I was thinking the same thing! hehe. we’re in to creating cards for any occasion with cartoons from the new yorker.
June 7th, 2007 at 12:25 pm, Elizaebeth Nielsen-Sheller Says:
Tres chic, mon amie! Do I see an Etsy stall in your future?
June 7th, 2007 at 5:37 pm, beth c Says:
That’s awesome, Crafty McCraftypants! I love buying cards with vintage photos glued to them, I love old books and magazines with funny pictures in them…why have I never thought of this before? Genius.
June 7th, 2007 at 9:39 pm, peaches Says:
Dear Martha,
This I love. I’m hoping (for real this time) to be a po’ SAHM in 3-4 months and was already worrying about how to support my card habit. Now I also have an excuse to buy all those old 50-cent books at yard sales. Thanks for this crafty tip!
Speaking of, there’s a belated card here for you, gathering dust….
June 8th, 2007 at 10:32 am, Heather Says:
and once again, you are my hero
June 8th, 2007 at 3:28 pm, tia Says:
in sing song manner: love them!
June 8th, 2007 at 3:52 pm, Jenny Says:
KLW: Excellent idea! Especially if you use one of those that no one understands.
Elizaebeth: Nah, probably not. I think that would take all of the joy out of it!
beth c: Ooh! I love that I gave you, the Queen of Craafting an idea.
peaches: I’ll believe it when I see it.
Heather: No, you!
tia: Thanks! I could totally hear you saying that, a la Mark from Ugly Betty.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:40 pm, Jill Says:
Jenny – You are amazing. Seriously, you could start your own line. Thanks for sharing your special gifts with us. I guess if you send me a special card come September I won’t belittle you in front of friends for sleeping through Oceans 13…I mean, come on.
June 12th, 2007 at 11:10 pm, Jenny Says:
Jill: Awww. Thank you for being so nice!
And yes, I deserve to be punished, or at least ridiculed.
December 4th, 2007 at 2:19 pm, Zesty Enterprise » Barn Sale scores Says:
[...] This set of books is called, “The Golden Treasury of Knowledge.” I like them because they look cool on the shelf and have really pretty, old-timey, watercolor-looking pictures inside. I can’t wait to use them in my art projects. They were .25 each, $2 for the whole set. [...]
March 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am, misskate Says:
Somewhere in my apartment, I still have that note you made for me after I gave you peanut butter. You are just so delightfully appreciative!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 am, Zesty Enterprise » Lookie what I made Says:
[...] A recent trip to the Barn Sale yielded yet another old book I could exploit for the purposes of correspondence. [...]