Make Do Instead of Buy New

• Use Copic markers or reinkers to color white ribbon.
• Use gold leafing markers to color plastic buttons this makes them into more classy-looking charms. Use embossing powder to change plastic buttons into metallic-looking charms too.
  Copics work to color buttons too.
• Brads, buy a bag of ordinary brass office brads. Holding the legs with tweezers, press them into a pigment ink pad, then into embossing powder, and heat. OR buy the white ones and color them with Bic Mark-its!
• Corrugated card packaging makes great textural layers
• I read about someone who made a stamp positioner of Lego bricks
• Sewing machine- cheap, but looks expensive (less adhesive). It’s easy and adds texture and interest to the cards.
• Save the mesh bags from produce to use on cards -use mini brads to attach it.
• Recycle a catalogue by tearing out the bedspread and duvet pages - use these for the faux cloisonne technique or embellishments on paper.
• Make paper beads: 
•  http://gomakesomething.com/ht/recycled/paper-beads/                     
• http://paperbeads.org/space-them-out-with-paper-beads/                      
• http://madmim.com/paper-bead-tutorial/