So, here are some photos I took so that you can see how to use the puree/paste tubes for embellishing your projects. You can wash out any tube, really! They all differ slightly inside as to tone and colour.
- Cut the top and bottom of the tube off. Cut carefully along one side and open out. Wash any residual paste/cream off, flatten out and dry, CAREFULLY. The edges will be sharp, so don’t cut yourself.
- Now here’s the inside, washed, dry and ready to emboss:
- Now I trim this (which also sharpens your scissors for you) to fit the Cuttlebug embossing folders, pop it in and run it through my Sizzix. Here’s the one I used last night – I embossed it first with the Hearts folder and then ran it through the stylised flowers. I like both together and separately!
- Ready to cut to size, or punch out and use on your projects. You can also decorate these with alcohol inks before cutting and sharpies work well on them, so you can add your own lettering…. your recycled tubes mean you will always have a metal embellishment or the stash to make one whenever you need it.
- TIP: I also keep the occasional Chinese Takeaway foil containers for recycling, foil sweet wrappers, which tear nicely… Feel free to share your ideas with me too! I’d love to hear your fave thing to recycle and how you use it!
Altered Art & Stuff... 
Susann
/ May 22, 2008I used this technique with little pieces of tomato paste tube, but never the whole piece. And I was always ‘hand-embossing’, but yours looks stunning!
Rosie
/ May 22, 2008Thanks Susann! I always save them – so useful to stick in a folder – it takes literally seconds and they cut really easily too! 😉
Annapurna
/ May 22, 2008I keep forgetting to look for these in the grocery store. The embossed one looks awesome.
Carol
/ May 23, 2008Delicious. Love how this turned out. I’ve never heard of tomato paste tubes, is it a Brit thing????
Maggie Ann
/ May 23, 2008This is really impressive and beautiful. I’ve never seen tomato paste come in tubes here though.
Laura
/ May 23, 2008How beautiful!…the paste is gone but, it’s still tasteful! (tee hee). I wish we had tubes like that here in Washington! I’ve used soda pop cans, which are thin metal and then made flowers with a metal punch. I emboss them and paint them for a cool metal floral touch. I’m glad you shared this with us. Thanks!
Creatively Yours, Laura
Annapurna
/ May 30, 2008Thanks for the inspiration. I made something with a soda can inside. Gold vs silver. Take a look. Still working on getting the zentangles on a card. May be I will do an ATC.