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Time: 30 mins

How To: Recycled Rubber Band Note Cards
Rubber bands seem to come "free" with everything. And they multiply like rabbits in my junk drawer. A few weeks ago, my daughter spied some in the kitchen and asked to play with them. I tossed her a pile, which she promptly cut into pieces with her little scissors. As I was cleaning up the mess, I started to see rubber bands in a whole new way...and that, my friends, is how I came up with the idea for these cards. :)

They are super easy to make and were really satisfying because the results are so cool. All of the rubber bands I used are recycled...mostly from produce and flowers I get at the market. Everything else was left over from previous projects. I've been very focused on my "stash busting" this month, since I decided to take the Stash Bust challenge and not buy any new supplies in April.

If you don't have these things on hand, you can purchase good double stick tape or adhesive sheets from any craft store. If you don't have blank cards, try making some from card stock or recycled brown bags...you can even make a matching envelope for them out of just about anything. Here's what you need to get started making recycled rubber band cards:

Posted by The Brass Paperclip Project from Seattle, Washington, United States • Published 19th April 2010 • See The Brass Paperclip Project's 5 projects »

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Starside10 added Recycled Rubber Band Note Cards to Card Folds 06 Sep 15:55

Step 1
Cut a piece of card stock to be the base of your project. (I used roughly a business card sized piece.)
Step 2
Apply a piece of peel n' stick adhesive or several strips of double stick tape to your card stock, covering it completely. Peel off backing to expose adhesive, creating a sticky surface for your rubber bands.
Step 3
Cut your rubber bands open to make long strips. Place one at a time on your adhesive, alternating colors and sizes to make a striped pattern. (I started somewhere in the middle and worked my way out to the edges.) Press down firmly, but avoid pulling on the rubber bands as you place them so they don't stretch and then try to shrink down later.
Step 4
Trim uneven edges to your desired length.
Step 5
Apply more double stick tape to the back of your finished rubber band piece and then apply it to a card. Add a stamped or hand-written sentiment if you wish.

I did a few different variations with horizontal and vertical stripes. I also did one with an uncut edge and love the fringe effect. Next to try: weaving! Other possible uses are limitless...I can see a larger piece adorning the front of a journal or a coaster. Smaller pieces could be worked into jewelry. Lots of possibilities! Just be sure to use really sticky adhesive to hold the rubber bands in place. Then be prepared for smiles when you give one of these to someone special. :)

That's it! Hope you enjoy and have fun making some cards of your own! And feel free to share links to photos of any cards that you make! I'd love to see what else can be done with this idea.

XOXO

Cindi