A few years ago in my Tole painting class my teacher told us that if you want to improve your skills you must practice every day!  I wanted to paint roses, the old fashioned type. I practiced daily. The problem was running out of paper to practice on and I wasnt about to spend more money on special paper.

Then I had an idea! 

I went into my recycle bin and pulled out a few empty cereal boxes. The inside of these boxes are smooth, the perfect thing to practice painting on. I also use the smaller boxes...any of the cardboard boxes will do as long as the inside is smooth.Once in awhile I use them to paint a design on before I paint on the actual project.  My grandkids paint on them, glue things on them . These boxes make great templates, stencils, stamping, can be used when using embossing powder endless possibilities.

So in my house we dont throw away the empty boxes. We open them up (carefully), and place them in a pile in my craftroom.

So in one swoop I am Recycling, Practicing and Painting!!