Go Green! Find the Value in Vintage

Announcing the arrival of one of the trendiest Paper Crafts issues yet! Our July/August issue, better known as the Eco issue, hit the shelves and your mailboxes last week, friends. Have you had a chance to really dig in? Have you settled in with a cuppa somethin' yummy and wrapped yourself up in its goodness?

Because I'm not kidding you, this one's a doozie! Inside you'll find all kinds of inspiration on how to paper craft ECO-nomically and ECO-logically. From learning clever ways to craft your scraps to becoming informed about paper crafting products that are ECO-friendly, this issue is chock full of amazing ideas for how to save money and Mother Earth at the same time.

And I know. I did help put this issue together. I am a bit biased. But I check the Internet. I do a bit o' the blog bopping. I'm connected. And I'm happy to report that others are calling this a must-have issue as well. I mean, come on--5 cards for $5? Seriously? In today's economy? Yep. We have 5 designers who not only did it with style, but they can prove it with their receipts!

But I digress. The real purpose of this blog post (besides shamelessly promoting a product that I'm personally extremely proud of) is to announce our next Moxie Fab World Challenge.

Are you ready? OK! One of the hip features in this issue is the Value of Vintage. We asked our submitters (Are you one? If you aren't you should be! Click here for more.) to create paper crafted projects that use something vintage in the design. That is, they needed to use an actual "old" item in their project. For example, Kim Kesti die-cut an old map for the sentiment in this cool card:

Miss You Card, p. 50

She also used an old typewriter key in this vintage project:

My Type of Friend Card, p. 49

Kalyn Kepner used an old piece of jewelry in this colorful card:

Birdie Hello Card, p. 52

And so did Maren Benedict:

Sweetness Card, p. 55

And I love how Lisa Dorsey turned this old magazine photo in to a cover-worthy card:

Wishing You Card, p. 53

Vintage is ECO-nomical because you are incorporating something that you already have into the project which saves money. And you're saving the earth because you're repurposing an item rather than buying new. The best advantage to vintage? The moxie fab factor. It seems that everyone is getting into the act. Check it:

A necklace that uses an old key and some old lace:

In the Key of Love by LoriLouDesigns

A sundress that incorporates an old pillow case:

Vintage Pillow Case Dress from vintagefern

Journals made out of an old book cover:

The Clue of the Dancing Puppet Notebook from heavensentcrafts

...and a game board:

Monopoly Game Board Notebook from heavensentcrafts

Necklaces made from vintage buttons:

Vintage Button Pendant from kellybot

...vintage images:

Too Much Stress Pendant by Jeweliansun

...vintage bottle caps:

Pioneer Valley Bottle Cap Necklace from hemplady

...and old typewriter keys and Scrabble tiles:

Laugh from thegildedlily

This is a painting made from pages out of an old story book:

Max the Repurposed Storybook Dinosaur from BoutikiHut

These are barrettes made from old jewelry:

Little Pink Dove Vintage Barrettes from kitchentablestudios

While these are vintage images that you can purchase:

Antique Playing Cards from piddix

Steampunk Hardware on Vintage Postcards from piddix

Ready to discover the value of vintage for yourself? Then create a paper crafted project that has a vintage item incorporated into the design. This can be a vintage image, vintage buttons, lace, trim, photos, music, post cards, greeting cards, jewelry, game pieces, magazines, wallpaper, playing cards--the sky is the limit as long as it's old. Just be sure that when you upload your project you indicate what the vintage item is in your description.

You have until midnight MST on Monday, June 15 to upload your project to the Moxie Fab World Value of Vintage Challenge Group on Flickr by clicking here. You must upload your project to this group to be considered as a winner. Please also be sure that your image is in jpg format. The winning entries will be shown on Wednesday, June 17 and will win a moxie fab prize.

Inspired? I hope so! I just love this kinda stuff--don't you?

Loving our ECO issue,

~Cath

PS Speaking of challenges, make sure you enter the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol competition, going on now. We're just itching to discover new talent like yours--and you could win a ton of prizes along the road to fame! Click here for all you need to know to be the next Paper Crafts star and click here to size up the competition!