Frugal Fridays - Frugal Arts & Crafts

You may have noticed I have really gotten into making artist trading cards recently. I find it very relaxing and since they are so small, I can whip up a few in very little time.

As with most art or crafting, supplies can get pricey. Fortunately, I already had many art supplies.

ATCs (artist trading cards) are 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size. They also have to be sturdy, so plain paper won't cut it. You can purchase ATC blanks, pre-cut cardboard at artist and craft stores.

However, I have found a cheaper option... food boxes. Cereal, crackers, pop boxes etc... It takes a bit of time and effort to measure them out and cut them up, but not that much.

As I have played around with the ATCs I have also found other household supplies or garbage that I can use in my art, such as:

• plastic wrap,
• any cardboard box

• tin foil,
  
• the scrap tissue paper from sewing patterns,

• images and patterns from magazines,
• tags from clothing,

• plastic from packaging,
• candy wrappers

• paper towel,
• patterned paper napkins,

• newsprint
• pages from old books
  

the list is endless.

I now really look at things before I throw them away, always wondering if I can make something out of it.

I am only doing this for myself, but I imagine this would be great for people with little ones that make several masterpieces every day - no more running out of paper!

Here are some artwork I have uses recycled items on.

This one uses a wrapper from a Quality
Street chocolate from Christmas time.

This one uses plastic wrap

The words on this one were printed
on scraps from a sewing pattern

This is a page from an old book with a coffee stain

This collage uses many recycled items, a bit of twine,
a clothing tag ripped up, sewing pattern paper,
old music sheets, brown paper bag and old books

And I made it all on a piece of a coke case

This is the beginning of an ATC made
using a paper napkin and ink stamps

For even more great frugal tips, head over to Life As Mom!