Tissue boxes, brown paper grocery sacks, mail coupons: All are items most of us discard when we’re done with them.

But, Sandy Redden of Harlan keeps them, and in them, finds inspiration.

A paper crafter who has been stamping for 18 years and doing paper cutting for about 15 years, Redden recently contacted me about her work. Because I was interested in writing about recycling in crafting, the package Redden sent couldn’t have come at a better time.

Redden hasn’t come across a piece of paper she isn’t willing to try to use in her paper crafts.

A former consultant for D.O.T.S. (now Close to My Heart), Redden has hundreds of stamps. She was introduced to paper cutting when she saw a listing in The Journal Gazette about 15 years ago for an adult continuing education class on the craft.

Since then, she has taught her own classes and even offers private instruction.

When I contacted Redden, I told her that my interest was in the concept of recycling (one of the cards she sent me had an embellishment made from a tissue box). When I arrived at her home, she admitted to being swept away by her creativity.

On a table in her kitchen sat dozens of cards, many of which were made with recycled items such as party napkins, cutouts from coupons that came in the mail, embellishments made from brown paper grocery sacks and focal pieces made from gift wrap.

“I always tell people, when they ask ‘paper or plastic’ (at the grocery store), always say paper,” Redden said.

To demonstrate how the plain brown sack can become a useable embellishment, Redden cut a square from a bag and ran it through a crimper in two directions to create a waffle effect. She then ran it through diagonally to come up with a different look.

I had two standout favorites in the huge stack. The first didn’t have a lot of recycled material, but it was certainly creative. Using a stamp of a fish, Redden cut out the fish and went to her yard to find a small twig. She then glued that to a piece of cardstock and dangled the fish from the twig.

The second card that made me smile was a cutout of a double steakburger and French fries from a Steak ‘n Shake coupon mailing. She cut out the meal and glued it to corrugated cardboard, which she then glued to card stock. Then, she added a stamped verse and had a small greeting card for just about any occasion.

I also liked the concept of creating a customized thank you card for a gift by using the wrapping paper used on the gift you received. Redden said she’s made such cards many times.

One important step I don’t want to leave out, but that I won’t get into detail about, she also embosses her card fronts and uses different kinds of embossing to achieve different effects.

I have to admit that Redden’s work inspired me. I sat in awe at her table, wishing I had the patience to tackle paper crafting in a way that would mean I’d have greeting cards on hand for just about any occasion. Heck, I wish I could do it in a way that provided for a lovely scrapbook of my family photos.

To check out a gallery of her work, as well as video of her demonstrating the paper crimper, click on this column at www.journalgazette.net/craftyliving.

Anyone interested in learning more about the lessons Redden offers can e-mail sredden13@verizon.net.