RRR Challenge and Book is Done!

 First I have to share that my book is at the publishers! I'm exhausted and happy. Belonging to the group Arts in the Cards was a godsend for me. It allowed me to be creative in a different way than writing and to be a part of a group since I spend most of my days the last five months alone in front of my computer. The last challenge was Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Here are my ATCs (artist trading cards, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches). Enjoy!

Every project allows us to learn something about ourselves. When I got out my box of saved items, I began to see a theme to my obsessions.

Here is a list of items used:

Tissue paper, Trick or Treat bag, dye catcher cloth, envelope, catalog pieces. Korean dog treat label and a part from a gift bag

Spice flier, postcard, Starbucks coffee sleeve, dye catcher cloth, gift bag and a stamp

Atlas page (sent to me as gift wrap), tissue paper, postcard piece, flash card, apricot label (plastic), Trick or Treat bag, stamp and catalog piece

Tissue paper, Trick or Treat bag, JC Penny's shopping bag and catalog parts

Atlas page, wrapping paper, ribbon, airline menu, candy wrapper, envelope part and a stamp

Atlas page, ribbon, airline menu, candy wrapper, gift box part and a stamp

Dye catchers cloth, postcard, placemat, flash card and the inside of an envelope

Trick or Treat bag, tissue paper, envelopes, dye catcher cloth, Korean dog treat label and a part of a placemat

Bookmark, gift tag, flash card, catalog part and two different envelopes

I think I was successful with recycling and reusing. Didn't reduce my box of saved treasures by much, but I sure had fun.

Earth

I am fortunate to belong to a wonderful postcard  group called Postmark'd Art. We started doing element exchanges where you create a 12 x 12 inch piece based on the element then cut it into six 4 x 6 inch postcards. This exchanges element was "earth." For weeks I kicked myself for signing up for this exchange because I could not come up with an idea so I simply stopped thinking about it. While I was digging out my mailbox for the third day in a row, I was thinking about how much I was looking forward to digging in the dirt when suddenly I got the idea to needle felt. Once I got going all the stress and worrying that I had been doing evaporated. I even used some precious felt from my beloved Georgia (country not state) and lots of other roving that I had purchased but never used. I also felted in the little felt balls that were on one of my sweaters! It was almost as good as playing in the dirt.