Weekend Inspiration: Plastic Cards

RIP pretty Florida driver's license. As of this morning, my driver's license no longer pictures a beautiful beach scene in the background, and a picture of a very excited 16 year old Sheila in the corner. Also, 16 year old Sheila found a way to turn an "A" into a star in the middle of my signature. No regrets. Now, my driver's license has a big ol' palmetto in the middle, a picture that actually looks like me and a signature that you would see on an official document or check from me. All important things to update but if you've learned anything about me by now it should be that my sense of nostalgia is a major motivation behind almost any action.

In honor of surrendering the old state license to obtain the new, this Weekend Inspiration is plastic cards. By plastic, I mean old gifts cards, expired credit cards, the junk ones from the mail, anything like that you might have piled up around the house. Or am I the only one who holds on to stuff like that?



Can we just talk about how cool this is for a minute? I'm not even sure what to call it (tapestry? mosaic?), but it's made from plastic cards, and I like it.



I couldn't find a good link to the source for this plastic card map, but it's so impressive it needed to be included as inspiration.



If you play the guitar or ukulele you could be set for picks for life.

This earrings were made using plastic cards as a sturdy base.



These equally awesome earrings don't even try to hide their humble plastic card roots. (Linking to pinterest here because the original source is in Bulgarian. Not sure how helpful that would be to most of us. They look fairly self-explanatory.)



If earrings aren't your thing, how about this bracelet?



Paper clips! You can make fancy paper clips/bookmarks! This is possibly my favorite simple discovery.

And if you just don't want to deal with any of this, apparently there are ways to recycle them by just mailing them in.

Any exciting plans for this weekend? I'm planning to hang a bunch of pictures and add other homey touches. Maybe I'll buy running shoes... Any recommendations? Hope your weekend will be more exciting!  :)

Sheila

Confessions of a Recycling Hoarder

Like many crafty people, it's sometimes a challenge to let go of things that others would consider trash. As least most people. It's not an emotional challenge, so much as a crafting separation anxiety: What if I need those toilet paper rolls or wine bottles or plastic containers-- all of it. Inspiration may strike! I'm confessing to the internet world in the hopes other recycling hoarders (sometimes called crafters) may be able to sympathize.

1. The amount of  recyclable goods in the apartment has to reach an obscene level before it will be addressed. A tiny bit out of laziness, a lotta bit because they MIGHT be useful soon.

2. I am strongly opposed to the purchase of wrapping paper and will save things specifically for the use of wrapping gifts: newspaper, magazine pages, brown paper grocery bags...

3. Magazines are saved rarely for content, regularly for the variety of pictures and colors.

4. Wine is purchased less for taste, more for the bottle. There are documented episodes of standing in the store too long trying to remember, "Do I have this one yet?"

5. Plastic grocery bags have a home of their own in the closet. I prefer reusable clothe bags for groceries but occasionally will get plastic just to renew the stash. If we don't use them around the apartment, eventually they'll be turned turn into plarn. Or baskets. Or a painting drop clothe.

6. Corks and Bottle caps. They're just pretty.

7. Empty plastic yogurt containers are reused and referred to as "Tupperware." 'Cause that's classier.

8. Tiny containers are worth their weight in gold. NO baby food jar, spice shaker, or medicine bottle shall die in vain on my watch!



9. Cardboard has magical transformational properties and should be saved at all costs. Especially the good stuff. You know what I mean.

10. Friends have been known to save glass jars as gifts. They are prized and displayed.

Basically, it's a good thing I've moved across the country a few times and had to purge or this could become obscene. But it's free and eco-friendly! 

What is your favorite recyclable to hold on to? Do you have any go-to crafts using things from around the house? I'd love to hear your ideas :)

Sheila