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Transform Old Products Into Ones You’ll Love – Paperclipping 178

Paperclipping 178

Do you have old products that leave you uninspired?

Of course you do! I do, too. But I’ve become really good at transforming them back into “new” products that excite me.

How doable is this?

It’s so doable that whenever I buy a new stash of scrapbook supplies I’m thrilled about, I still end up using my older products. And if I open my bag of new stuff at all over the next month, I only dip into it.

So how do you get to where you can use and love the stale stuff?

You remember your dear old Gramma who learned from the Depression how to make do with what she had…

Just think of GRAM and you’ll remember my four methods for transforming old products into awesome ones:

  • G – Gather a whole bunch together for impact
  • R – Re-purpose them into something you need
  • A – Alter them to make them completely new
  • M – Match them with something new

I’ve already made video tutorials specifically on G-Gathering and R-Repurposing. Today I released the episode for A-Altering. I share one major principle that will help you know whether an old product is worth transforming, and how to go about identifying the type of transformation it needs if it is worth it.

Also, there are a couple techniques that are simple, and a couple that are artsy.

Raised to Read closeup

But don’t be intimidated by the word, artsy. The results look artsy, but they’re crazy easy to do and you don’t have to have any talent. At all. You’ll just look like you do.

It’s a secret between me and our Paperclipping Members. So if you’re a member, you can go get your video and your secret right now!

Want to be let in on it? If you’re not a member, it’s easy to become one. You’ll get almost 180 video tutorials plus two more every month for six months.

Click here for more info on the Paperclipping Membership.

See you in the video!

This entry was written by Noell Hyman and is filed under Scrapbooking Ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • http://www.karenscorneroftheweb.blogspot.com Karen Poirier-Brode (Ladydoc)

    Love these techniques. The dimensional transformation is very fun. I will try that. The transformation of the Victorian silver vanity mirror was great, too. I need to look at taking things apart when I see parts of a design that I like. Great ideas. If you are not a member folks, and you are reading this blog, you really ought to be. Noell has many fresh and interesting ideas and approaches to design!

  • KatieK.

    These videos and tips have been really helpful. I am looking at stuff around me with a “how can I use this as it is or altered” mindset. I had a layout that needed some embellishments which is something I’m not good at doing/seeing. But I thought of “what would Noel do?” Added some spark of color with some punches using the triangle theory but it still didn’t go. So again, wwNd? I changed them by cutting them in half and played around a bit more. Beautiful.
    I get so much out of the P videos – it’s one item in my craft budget I will always make room for. Thanks.

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Thank you so much for this enthusiastic comment, Karen! I appreciate your endorsement! Also — thx for naming what that thing was (the mirror!). In the video I almost said, “Maybe it’s a Romper Room Magic Mirror” but I figured that couldn’t be right. I guess I was CLOSE! :)

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Thank you so much, Katie! It makes me happy to hear how the videos and my way of sharing has been helpful for to you! Again — much appreciation for taking the time to share with me and others the value you’re getting from the membership.

  • http://www.BackToPaper.com Linda Tieu

    Love these last two episodes about repurposing products or finding a use for everyday items. I think it’s not only economical and unique, but helpful for those of us who have a hard time finding the manufactured products – int’l folks! By the time we get “new” product lines…they aren’t new anymore anyway.  

    Great ideas – would love to see more :P

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    I hadn’t thought of that!! Thank you for bringing that up because I get so many emails from all over the world about how hard it is for them that they can’t get much in product. Now I know how I can help them. Thank you!!

  • http://www.BackToPaper.com Linda Tieu

    :) Cool. Now you’re going to have all these int’l scrappers hounding you for these types of tutorials. LOL

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    ;)

  • Jana_NJ

    Loved the technique Noell and I just renewed my membership also so I don’t have to worry for a year. I love also to re use things hopefully you guys will talk about that on the Round table

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Thanks for renewing, Jana! I appreciate your membership!!

    Yes — we’re working on that topic. I did that last episode because you had requested the subject on the Roundtable and I knew it was going to be a bit before we could do it! It’s coming, though!

  • Anne Walterich

    Now I need to dig into my 90′s box of stuff that I bought at a garage sale and go nuts with it. It’s fun to alter these items, but also frustrating because you have to wait for them to dry 24 hours (like the puffy paint) and I’m all about instant gratification. Patience is a virtue, I suppose, but it would be much easier if I didn’t buy stuff that sucks to begin with just because it is on sale. Working on it….

  • Anne Walterich

    And something else that REALLY sucks – Elmers glue, and probably most of the scrapbook adhesives, are not vegan. Neither is glossy photo paper, gel medium, some paint and my silkscreening photo emulsion, so I’m torn about what to do with that. It may be kosher since it’s not really identified as part of an animal anymore, but I’m still debating on how true to my principles I really am. Sorry for the off-topic rant, but I know that there’s at least one person out there who gets it. We need to start a cruelty-free scrapbooking product line!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    I know what you mean, Ann — I don’t buy leather with one exception — I HAVE to for our dance shoes.

    It’s my understanding that there is no such thing as vegan glue. Nobody’s bothered to figure out how to do it without animals. The way I see it is I’m starting with my food and clothes — anything where I really do have a choice — and hope that more and more people will start there as well. With the internet, information spreads so much more quickly and more and more people are finding that you can be healthy — even healthier — without consuming animals.

    Maybe when that is in more people’s consciousness someone will take the time to figure out how to make adhesives and these other products without harming others.

  • Jana_NJ

    If you’d like to include a audience member I’m here for that topic ;)

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Just made a note of that! Thanks, Jana! :)

  • Iceteeeeee

    Noell, so inspiring, as always. I so enjoy being a member here. I am looking forward to
    your True Scrap presentation in a few weeks!
    Trisha

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Thank you!!

  • KatieK.

    Well, the better we get at reusing stuff whether from our stash or found items the better it will be from all these areas of concern – environmental, sources of adhesive, vegan, organic, etc. I was about to write toxic metals/heavy metals and realized that that could be something of concern. I think we could do better as scrapbookers as evaluating the impact our craft choices have on these issues. So pushing reuse, recycling, and upcycling is a step in that direction. I think that non-chronological scrapping also benefits the environment. Maybe we could expand on this topic in the future. I’m sure folks will have lots of ideas & opinions to share. I would like to know if anyone else ever thinks of these things and how that has impacted what they do. Katie P.S. Happy Anniversary!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Great point, Katie! I love solutions that help solve a whole lot of problems with just one action, as you listed. We’ll be talking about this in the next month or two on the Roundtable so if you have any thoughts to add ahead of time, let me know. I agree about the chronological scrapbooking point.