Image by flickr user Constanza. Licensed via Creative Commons.

We live in a use-it-up and throw-it-out society. Because of the low cost of creating more and more goods, most of us are guilty of shopping more when we could be reducing and reusing. (As an avid fan of the dollar store, I am all too aware of the level of my own personal consumerism!).

For rubber stampers, one item that gets used up frequently is an ink pad. They dry out, you want a new color, etc. etc. Well, over at eBay*, I have written an article with ideas on How to Reuse an Ink Pad. One of my ideas is to take the dry ink pad out and alter the case (similar to the image above, which is actually an altered Altoid tin, but the idea would work just as well for dry ink pads). (*I wrote that article as part of a paid collaboration with eBay.)

Can you think of some good ways to reuse dry ink pads? What do you think about the ideas I came up with?

The post How to Reuse Dry Ink Pads appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Rustic altered art was my inspiration this month as I created two new tutorials for the Live.Craft.Love blog! I had so much fun making Altered Art Angels and a Rustic Country Tin Wreath. Both projects featured natural materials, rustic tin accents, and ribbon, as well as an inspirational fall color palette.

All the ribbon I used was from my favorite ribbon manufacturer: May Arts. Find more of my ribbon projects here!

Altered Art Angels – Project Materials:

• Abaca Angels.
• Assorted ribbon.
• Rustic tin maple leaves.
• Rustic metal stars (tin folk stars or assorted 3D mini stars).
• Rustic tin folk hearts.
• Steampunk charms (I used keys and hearts & bows).
• Paper flower embellishments.
• Mini crochet doily embellishments.
• Wooden craft sticks.
• Paper in a matching color scheme.
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks.
• Scissors.

Rustic Tin Fall Wreath — Project Materials

• Darice 12″ Wire Wreath Form
• Burlap Ribbon or Burlap Strips
• 9 Darice Rusted Candle Tins
• 1 package 1.5″ Darice Rusty Folk Hearts (3 hearts)
• 1 package 2″ Darice Rusted Tin Mini Stars (3 stars)
• 1 package Darice Rustic Tin Maple Leaves (3 leaves needed)
• 2+ Colors of Contrasting Cardstock
• Tinsel Stems (I used red and gold)
• Assorted Ribbon (I used crocheted lace ribbon and glitter-flocked velvet ribbon)
• Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
• Scissors & Pencil
• 2″ Circle Punch (optional)

The post Rustic Altered Art Craft Ideas for Fall appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.