Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 263

The challenge at Crafty Cardmakers this fortnight is to make something with a recycled element. Other that that, you can make anything you like!

I spent a lot of time this spring making masks. Because of my (admittedly limited) experience volunteering in an isolation ward, I know that masks shouldn't be reworn (without washing) and should be handled carefully, so I made quite a lot for my family, and when the hospital asked for some to give to visitors, I made for them too. Most of them were the pleated variety, as I'm not a sewer, and don't own a sewing machine. But, I decided to have a go at a shaped mask and used the pattern I got here. For fabric, I used an old nightie which was otherwise supposed to go for rag recycling!

I was quite pleased with the result, and I've got to say, the fabric is very soft and comfortable - much more so than the ones I made using new woven cotton.

Having said that, I enjoyed making the others more because I got the chance to decorate using my range of  stamps and stencils. Some of the more recent ones are below, and for these, I used the instructions I found here.

The top mask (closed and open) uses a Tatty Teddy stamp I've had forever. I think it was a magazine freebie which I picked up at a craft show. I stamped it with Versafine ink, and added some background texture and colour using Versacraft ink. I used some of the Versacraft to tone Teddy's patches orange too.

The lower mask (which for some reason I photographed upside-down and I no longer have it) uses stamps from Printable Heaven and Crafter's Companion and a mix of Versafine Clair and Versacraft inks.

See what I mean? Much more fun! The ink fades a little, but is definitely still visible after a few washes.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, with a recycled element!