Upcycle Week: Give Matchboxes and Egg Cartons New Life with these Great Ideas
Hello G45ers!
Today we have a special blog post for you. We are celebrating our fearless leader, the director of operations, and my very favorite sister's birthday. Happy birthday Aimee! We will also be sharing two fantastic projects. Think twice before throwing away a matchbox or egg carton. You can turn garbage into a stunning gift that would make anyone smile! In this post, Joanne Bain shows us the possibilities of upcycling a matchbox, using our Nature Sketchbook collection! Following Joanne, we have Lena Astafeva's gorgeous Olde Curiosity Shoppe egg carton. Both projects would make excellent gifts or great storage for your desk or craft space. Join in the fun and share your birthday greetings and repurpose ideas in the comments.
"Happy, happy birthday Aimee, you are one of the hardest working, smartest, loving women I know. Thank you for always sharing your light and showing me the way. I love you." ~Charee
"Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Aimee!
I’m so grateful to be your Mother. You’ve got the brains, confidence and courage to do whatever you set your mind to (and have since you were a toddler). You bring fun and laughter to our family and to Graphic 45. May the next year of your life’s journey be filled with joy and adventure!
I love you Meemers!" ~Mom aka Diane Schultz
This week we are giving out a $40+ prize package that includes an Off to the Races 8x8 paper pad, 6x6 Patterns and Solids pad, Decorative Chipboard, Ephemera Cards, ATC Black Book Box, and Shabby Chic Drawer Pulls. Wow! To enter to win, just leave a comment here on our blog and/or Facebook page. The winner will be announced here on the blog on Friday, April 21st, 2017.
Upcycled Matchbox by Joanne Bain
"For my Earth Day project I decided to upcycle a large matchbox which would normally end up in the bin and turn it into a small gift box. It would be a perfect place for some yummy sweets or maybe a gift card for that special family member or friend." ~Joanne Bain
Bee Yourself. Use our Metal Label Holder to make sentiments pop.
Ornate Metal Label Holder
Both twine and string add nice finishing touches on projects.
Graphic 45 Supplies:
Nature's Sketchbook Collection
Season Splendor 12x12 Patterned Paper
Mother Earth 12x12 Patterned Paper
Verdant Woodlands 12x12 Patterned Paper
Nature’s Sketchbook 12x12 Patterned Paper
Metal Door Plates & Knobs
Ornate Metal Label Holder
Upcycled Egg Box by Lena Astafeva
"There are so many things always left, which we don’t need anymore. We should look back, think over and turn an old thing into a new one." ~Lena Astafeva
Tip: Egg cartons make excellent embellishment storage containers.
Graphic 45 DIY Craft Paper Rolls are the perfect weight to add this added ruffle detail.
DIY Craft Paper-Bicycles & Polka Dots
Layered fussy cuts are a great addition to any project.
Graphic 45 Supplies:
Nature Sketchbook 8x8 Pad
Nature Sketchbook 12x12 Pad
Nature Sketchbook 12x12 Patterns & Solids Pad
DCE Olde Curiosity Shoppe
DIY Craft Paper-Curiosity Collage & Butterflies
Other Supplies:
Eggs box
Petaloo flowers
That wraps it up for today! Thank you, Joanne and Lena, for two gorgeous examples of upcycling, a step by step tutorial, and a whirlwind of creativity. Be sure to share in the comments what you repurpose at home. We love learning new crafting ideas and techniques! Have fun creating and have a cupcake in Aimee's honor today.
Happy Papercrafting!
Visit your LSS or order online today! Looking for Graphic 45 products? Store Locator
Happy birthday to Aimee!
Posted by: Marina Blaukitchen | April 18, 2017 at 05:12 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee! We love you:)
Very cute projects! Egg carton idea is wonderful!
Posted by: Anne Schilling | April 18, 2017 at 05:20 AM
Happy Birthday! Gorgeous projects!
Posted by: Jean Marmo | April 18, 2017 at 05:26 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee!! Such amazing projects and amazing products!! Love Graphic 45!
Posted by: Diane Barnett | April 18, 2017 at 05:28 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee, and please keep posting all the fantastic ideas that your design team creates. Love the beautiful vintage horse collection.
Posted by: Kathy Bumb | April 18, 2017 at 05:33 AM
Have a great day!
Posted by: Penny Arnold | April 18, 2017 at 06:10 AM
Happy birthday, Aimee! Wonderful projects.
Posted by: Pat Ford | April 18, 2017 at 06:11 AM
Happy Birthday, Aimee! And thank you for the chance in this giveaway!
Posted by: Billie Dee Jelin | April 18, 2017 at 06:14 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee. Have a lovely day!
Posted by: Marianne Gonzales | April 18, 2017 at 06:26 AM
i LOVE the egg carton upcycle. great posts, as usual! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aimee.
Posted by: Kat Schriber | April 18, 2017 at 06:26 AM
What great projects using things we normally throw away !!
Posted by: Sue MacFall | April 18, 2017 at 06:32 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I love to use nice boxes (I'll have to also try out the egg carton idea next year). Thanks for the idea. Your papers make everything better!!
Posted by: Sharon Gullikson | April 18, 2017 at 06:39 AM
Happy birthday, Aimee.
I am many times intimidated by your amazing projects, so these make me feel like I can maybe, just maybe, make one like it. Thanks. The papers are great as usual.
Posted by: Brian Poteraj | April 18, 2017 at 06:40 AM
A very Happy Birthday Aimee!
Love these upcycles!!
Thank you for all the awesome papers in Graphic 45! Love them all.
Posted by: Debbie Johnson | April 18, 2017 at 07:04 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee!
Who would have thought of using a egg carton in a project, great idea.
Posted by: Debbie | April 18, 2017 at 07:18 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee,enjoy your special day!
Stunning projects,love all the details and fussy cutting.I have this collection and it is so versatile.
Posted by: Mathilde S. | April 18, 2017 at 07:18 AM
Happy birthday day Aimee!!
Lovely upcycled projects today.
Posted by: Kath White | April 18, 2017 at 07:28 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Love all the great ideas and projects! G45 is the best!!
Posted by: BarbaraF | April 18, 2017 at 07:42 AM
LOVE these fab projects and Happy Birthday to Aimee!!!
Posted by: Caitlin Rebecca | April 18, 2017 at 07:47 AM
So many wonderful ideas. Also, Happy, Happy Birthday to you Aimee!!!!!!
Posted by: Veronica Roske | April 18, 2017 at 07:52 AM
Happy Birthday, Aimee! I'm really enjoying these projects for Upcycle Week!
Posted by: Vanessa LeClear | April 18, 2017 at 08:24 AM
Happy birthday, Aimee.
I love today's projects - I have
the perfect egg carton just about empty and I'm going to try to replicate the project. Hope I can do as well as Lena.
thanks to both for sharing.
Posted by: Mary Holshouser | April 18, 2017 at 08:48 AM
🎉🎊🌈HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIMEE🎼🎂🦋!
Loving today's upcycled projects. Graphic 45 rocks!❤️
Posted by: Glenda Buster | April 18, 2017 at 08:54 AM
Happy Birthday, Aimee! Love all the projects.
Posted by: Linda Cosby | April 18, 2017 at 09:11 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee. Wonderful projects yet again. Would love to be a winner of any of the Graphic 45 products.
Posted by: Kathy Cadile | April 18, 2017 at 09:52 AM
Happy Birthday Aimee! Would love to win this prize!!
Posted by: Patti Schatz | April 18, 2017 at 09:53 AM
Happy, happy Birthday Aimee! And here I thought I was the only one that "looked" at "trash" as "Treasures"!!...lol!
Posted by: Donna Leutloff | April 18, 2017 at 10:01 AM
Happy Birthday, Aimee. What clever ideas for the match box and egg carton. I repurpose my egg cartons but don't decorate them. Bummer. Now I will. I save all my wraps - papers, plastics, etc. They come in handy for stamping, tags, and cards when I want to do something special. Even corregated cup holders from coffee shops end up on my cards. My family thinks I am a packrat. Little do they know.
Posted by: Carla Haase | April 18, 2017 at 10:21 AM
Have a marvelous day and get spoiled. Love the eggbox
Posted by: Kaatjeb | April 18, 2017 at 10:27 AM
Sending Happy Birthday
wishes to Aimee! Love
these creations, so neat
and pretty.
Carla from Utah
Posted by: Carla Hundley | April 18, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Love the matchbox project. I've been throwing them out but not any more. You come up with the best ideas G45!
Posted by: mary puskar | April 18, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Happy birthday Aimee have an awesome day
Love the projects
Posted by: frances perkins | April 18, 2017 at 12:11 PM
Happy birthday to Aimee and more fabulous creations. Hard to believe that was an egg carton.
Posted by: Sue LD | April 18, 2017 at 12:19 PM
Love all the projects you do you are so great with everything you do. Happy Birthday
Posted by: luclle Martin | April 18, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Hey, Birthday girl, kind of you to share project items for all of us to use on your birthday! I hope you have as much fun today as I will when I repurpose items in the future.
Posted by: Carole Effting Lohr | April 18, 2017 at 12:43 PM
Happiest of birthdays Aimee! I love both of these upcycle projects! Hard to see they were once a matchbox and an egg carton!!
Posted by: Sandy Trefger | April 18, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Happy birthday
Posted by: Pam Fairchild | April 18, 2017 at 12:54 PM
I'm always looking for ways to use those empty egg cartons...they just seem like they should continue their usefulness. Why not be pretty while doing so!?
Posted by: Martie Rollin | April 18, 2017 at 01:00 PM
Happy Birthday Aimee 🎂🤗!!! Lots of fun up-cycling today, thank you tons!
Posted by: Michelle Nettleton | April 18, 2017 at 02:03 PM
Happy Birthday. Love the projects. Thanks
Posted by: Beneta | April 18, 2017 at 02:32 PM