Re-create

Lately I have been finding myself increasingly drawn to using recycled, pre-loved or repurposed elements in my creative process. I guess that it became a more conscious choice when I started my junky art journals - using old books to create the journal - but it has developed beyond that as I have started to explore stitching, gelli printing and weaving more regularly.

This is just a small selection of the repurposed elements that I have used this week - sewing pattern paper, bubblewrap, plastic packaging, lace doily, scraps of sari ribbon and lace, fabric offcuts etc....

I am finding these 'non traditional' supplies are reinvigorating my creative process for a number of reasons:

• they encourage a playful approach as they are low cost and many of them would have ended up in the bin.

• they are unpredictable and less familiar than stamps and stencils so they can open up new techniques.

• they are great for creating textures which I love to see in my projects.

Here are 2 examples from this week....in my 100 days of mixed media circles project I wrapped some craft wire with recycled newspaper yarn/twine and combined it with a roll off paper from gel printing and an old book page. The result is really dimensional, full of imperfections and interesting combinations that I couldn't have predicted! I have also been enjoying using fabrics on the gel plate. My YouTube video last week built a journal page on top of gel prints made using net curtain and this week I tried out lace doilies on the gel plate - they create a great print!

Here is the journal page from last week's YouTube video - created in an old book with gel prints made from net curtains and collage clusters full of repurposed elements - scraps of fabric, lace, and old papers. In fact, collage clusters are a perfect use for lots of recycled bits and bobs! You can watch the video here.

As with everything, this new found obsession with all things repurposed has escalated quickly! The downside of looking at everything as a potential craft tool is that it is easy to build up a massive stash/hoard of packaging, fabrics, papers etc (as if I didn't have enough already). I find myself intercepting family members on the way to the bin with a cry of 'don't throw that away, I can use it'. Everything starts to look like fair game in the pursuit of art....Mr G had to forcibly seize the potato masher from me this week as I wanted to see what pattern it would make on the gel plate :) Old cardboard, cereal boxes (and inner packets), tea bags, tin cans, elastic bands, paper bags, jars etc are all being diverted to my craft room and it is beginning to look a bit like landfill! And, it is not just household items....I have become obsessed with second hand shops and all of the treasures that they can reveal.

But seriously....it is fun and rewarding to go on a treasure hunt and find textures and patterns around your own home to inspire your next make. If this is something that appeals to you, I highly recommend a free course by my friend, Beth Chien - a mixed media artist who creates loose and layered mixed media art inspired by her surroundings. Check out Everyday Explorations to go on a scavenger hunt around your home and Beth will guide you with ideas on how to translate those textures, colours and patterns in to your own artwork.

artwork by Beth Chien

And if you are looking for more recycled inspiration....my YouTube video this week will be right up your street! This week I am creating a piece of home decor from a 'scrap kit' that my Craft Collective friends - Leonie Pujol and Erica Palfreyman and I - put together from our recent visit to Sunny Bank Mills. Scrap is a recycled shop at Sunny Bank which is crammed full of off cuts and spares from businesses and manufacturing. Think fabric and wallpaper swatch books, plastic shapes, yarns, old sewing patterns, cardboard tubes etc...it is fabulous! Anyway, we each picked random objects and shared them between us so that each of us can make something in our own style. That is the project that I am sharing with you this Sunday so stay tuned for that :)

The 'Scrap' Kit

My Project

I am so in love with the creative potential that unexpected combinations of repurposed items present that I am planning to put together some curated 'scrap packs' like we have used in this week's project. Let me know if you would be interested in colour coordinated packs containing small pieces of fabric, collage papers, threads/yarns, mdf embellishments, mini stencils etc which can start you off on your own creative adventure.

I would also love to hear about your favourite non-craft supply that you have incorporated in to a project - pictures would be even better :)

Thank you for reading and for joining me on my creative journey!