File Folders and Paste Paper

Recycling something old into something new and useful makes me feel happy. How about you? (Feel free to leave a comment below and share your favorite art recycling project.) This episode of the LIVE HowToGetCreative.com show known as Drama-free Friday began with old File Folders that needed a face lift and an Iris Card Storage Box that needed a makeover. (If you don't have old File Folders, you can find new ones here.)

After determining the size I needed, I cut down the File Folders. In addition to File Folders, I also cut out Tags from the larger leftover pieces. Next I mixed diluted Elmer's Art Paste with various colors of Acrylic Craft Paint. I call these mixtures Paste Paint!

Now for the fun! With foam brushes, I applied a quick coat of Paste Paint and immediately used texture tools to add interesting patterns into the wet paint. My favorite texture tools include: Catalyst Wedge W-03 as well as the Martha Stewart Striping Tools and the Ranger Texture Tool Set of 6.

Once the first coat of paint dried, I repeated the process with a different color and additional patterns. When dry, I treated the inside of the folders with Paste Paint and textured patterns, too. To make these folders easier to pull from the box, I added a Paste Paper file tab. 

If you'd like more information about Paste Paper, check out the sample HowToGetCreative video classes Paste Paper is Fabulous and Paste Paper Pizazz.

Check out the pictures of the finished file folders. Click on the images to see the details.

Remember to check out Laraine Centineo's YouTube Channel for some amazing mixed-media paper techniques. I showed the beautiful papers she sent me this past week! Thanks again, Laraine!

If you'd like to know when I go LIVE on YouTube, just sign up here.

Feel free to tweet images of your art @BarbOwenDesigns. I love to share your creations with my followers!

See you next Friday at 2pm EDT for the next episode of Drama-free Friday!

Remember to Get Creative today! It's Easy!

Barb

PS: Leave a comment below and tell me your favorite art recycling technique.