Art and Sole: Use It Up...

I have been trying to use up some old craft paints. As you know I do a lot of work for PaperArtsy, and their Fresco Finish Chalk paints are truly wonderful. Trust me I simply wouldn't use them if I didn't like them. Since switching to their paints my old ones have just sat in baskets not being used at all, the quality, coverage and colour choice just isn't there.

However, I hate to waste. So every now and then I try and use up some of the old craft paint. I am doing ok. I had around 50 bottles and now i am down to 10. I have also been using up some paints that I made myself a few years back...

Last week, I cut off some large A3 pieces of brown parcel paper, and started sloshing paint around. no need to be careful, this stuff needs using up. I painted and stencilled...I added collage images and words, more paint, more stencilling, some stamping, some strips and splats...

Another 8 empty bottles went in the bin, and I cut down the papers to about A5 size and ended up with a 4inch stack.

I put some aside to use in an upcoming class project, and set about die cutting the others. i did birds and flowers and leaves and circles and hearts and in the process I busted one of my cutting plates.

Granted this thing is as old as the hills and has been cracked for probably 2 years, but it has finally bit the dust.

but I did get a huge pile of die cuts..

I love to keep a folder of these ready to make quick cards when needed... well sort of quick, I don't actually make anything quick lol

but I did make these 12, i will send a set of 6 to a friend and keep the other 6 for birthdays.. now i just have to remember to actually send them..

many of the dies are by PaperArtsy, hearts, leaves and flowers.

The bird and tulip are also PaperArtsy dies.

Notice the 2 black butterflies? they are Graphite texture paste( by Prima) pushed into a silicone mold and left overnight. The white ones are Golden Regular Gel.