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About Amber Ladley

Amber Ladley is a creative entreprenuer who seeks meaningful projects that light up her soul. Her specialties are talking trash, seeing potential in everyday waste, and igniting creativity in others.

She currently spends her days crafting, computing, and being a mom to two amazing teenagers. Her passion for creative reuse bleeds into everything she does from teaching upcycling workshops, to making handmade gifts and notecards.

View her artist portfolio at happilyupcycled.com.

@amberladley on Instagram

❤❤❤ spent a lovely day outside with @t1020 😊

Final prep week is here! I've been so busy crafting I've had no time to take 📷 's 😂, but I promise I'll have lots of handmade gifts and DIY kits ready for @milltownartisanfair01027 😊 Hope to see you on Saturday!!

I 💚 when I find long-forgotten hidden treasures...I believe this leaf has been pressed for more than a year. I found it in a dictionary. Do you press leaves & flowers in book pages?

Celebrating 15 years of marraige with @t1020 ❤😊

She nudged me to get out for a walk & I'm so glad we did 😊❤

DIY Pumpkin Kits??!! Hmmm...so for me "patiently waiting" (see previous post) means getting my hands on some paper and crafting 😍 i find the art of paper craft to be relaxing and stress relieving. Fortunately my amazing test group hasn't made me wait too long for feedback 😊❤ive received phone calls and texts and emails and photos and a couple surveys returned via 🐌 mail -- I'm still digesting it all and need to hear from a few more voices before figuring out what my DIY postcard subscription product looks like, BUT one thing is very clear -- everyone LOVES the kits and I LOVE making the kits YAY!!! . . So, back to those pumpkins...I've taught many book page pumpkin workshops over the past few years at libraries and Craftworking events. It's an easy, well loved and satisfying project and i have sooo much great paper to make these kits with (including maps/atlases, children's books, music pages -- all materials I've rescued from the landfill) and they will make GORGEOUS PAPER PUMPKINS!!!!! . . WANT ONE?? DM me your email address or send me a note at happilyupcycled@gmail.com. When all the info is ready I'll send you the link and you can decide whether or not to purchase a kit. Need more info.... . . Here's where I'm at with putting the DIY Book Page Pumpkin Kits together: ✔ prototype complete = kit includes material to make 3 pumpkins (sm, med, lg). Written instructions + access to a video tutorial. Maybe even a virtual craft date if there is interest in that...lmk if that's something you'd want to do. . 📦 ship date = late Sept/early Oct . Limited quantity will be available. I have enough time and materials to make between 25-50 kits over the next four weeks. . . WANT ONE?? DM me your email address or send me a note at happilyupcycled@gmail.com. Have questions? Please comment below or send me a message. Thanks! . . #creativereuse #iwantcraftsinthemail #DIYcreativityKit #paperpumpkins #DIYpumpkin

To the post office! 17 DIY test kits went out today 💕 I had so much fun making these 😊 Thanks to all who signed up to receive one...Now I just need to practice patience while I wait for feedback 😂#iwantcraftsinthemail

Sometimes an idea comes to me and it doesn't go away...this one has been brewing for a few weeks and I'm thrilled to be working on a new creative project 🎉 @happilyupcycled I'm developing a monthly craft kit that will inspire your creativity + sense of connection...WANT TO GIVE IT A TRY?! Test kits are being mailed this Tuesday...if you promise to send me honest feedback, I'll send you a prototype 😊❤ to participate either DM me your mailing address or email your name and contact info to: happilyupcycled@gmail.com #creativereuse #monthlyDIY #upcycled #papercraft #happilyupcycled

Want to learn how to make these paper flowers? You can! Join me Tuesday night in Whately, MA 😊❤️SIGN UP REQUIRED. CALL 413-665-2170 to register. Library is open Sat 10-3 and Mon 10-5. More info below: #Repost @whatelypubliclibrary with @get_repost ・・・ Upcycled Book Page Flowers workshop! SIGN-UP REQUIRED. Tuesday 10/16, 6-8 pm. AGES 13 & UP. Learn how to repurpose discarded book pages into paper flowers using the Kusudama technique. All materials provided, but feel free to bring your own decorative accents for the center of your flowers (buttons, small sea shells, bottle caps, etc. work well for this). Workshop taught by Amber Ladley, founder of Knack: Creative Reuse in Easthampton. LIMITED TO 10 STUDENTS. PLEASE STOP BY OR CALL 665-2170 TO SIGN UP. #creativityworkshop #upcycledbouquet #handmadegift #handmadegiftidea #creativeteuse #whately #whattodoinwhately

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Press + Praise

Happily Upcycling in South Hadley (Going Green)
Oxford library classes create beauty out of rubbish (The Webster Times)
Thank You! (Email from Library Patron)
Glenmeadow Learning Participants Got Crafty
Your Time: Kusudama workshop, Westhampton Public Library (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Craftworking Works (BeetlePress)

@happilyupcycled on Instagram

This week I had the pleasure of visiting the Dwight Branch library in West Hartford, CT to lead an upcycling workshop. I brought all kinds of reuse materials with creative potential and taught a lovely group of women how to decoupage -- a technique I learned 30 years ago from my mom 😊 It was a fun and crafty evening, some beautiful art was created, and I'm so grateful my mom was able to join us ❤ . . . #creativereuse #upcyclingworkshop #decoupage #gratitudejars #handmadegifts

TODAY!!! So excited to be at the @milltownartisanfair01027 -- head on over to Eastworks in Easthampton 11am-5pm 😊

TOMORROW!!! Hope to see you there 😊❤ Want to get a sneak peek at all of the handmade holiday goodness created by local artisans?? Check out the @milltownartisanfair01027 feed for pics!! ====== #Repost @milltownartisanfair01027 • • • • • • Eastworks @milltownartisanfair01027 is on the marquee at Eastworks! (thank you, @eastworks_community @eastworks_ma @eventsateastworks) Find the perfect handmade gift and support local artists and makers when you visit us this Saturday. See you then! #artfair #craftfair #artisanfair #handmade #easthamptonma #itsineasthampton

Last week I was invited to the East Springfield Library 📚 to teach my Book Page Pumpkin workshop for their annual Fall Fest. I ❤ this little library! It's a small branch, but they have a big-hearted community. It's always such a pleasure to craft with their creative group...i only wish I got more pics of all the amazing 🎃's they made 😊

Today I shipped out 2 Book Page Pumpkin kits -- 1 went to a woman in Minnesota and the other to her mom in California -- they're planning a virtual craft date to celebrate their October birthdays! How cute is that?!!! 😊😊😊❤💕 . . These kits are now available in my @etsy shop and I'll be bringing a bunch to @milltownartisanfair01027 on 11/9 at #eastworks . . #DIYcraftkit #iwantcraftsinthemail #paperpumpkins #upcycledbooks #homemadefalldecor #creativereuse #discardedbooks #diypumpkin

#iwantcraftsinthemail DO YOU?! . . I've got some exciting news to share 📰 📣 I turned my book page pumpkin workshop into a DIY Craft Kit you can order via 🐌 mail 🎉 . . If you'd like to feel more connected to your creativity + create your own paper pumpkin patch this fall, check out on my Etsy shop: link in profile at @happilyupcycled . . . #paperpumpkins #upcycledbooks #halloweencrafts #DIYcraftkit #creativereuse

New project in the works = pure happiness!! 😊😊😊 Who else ❤'s upcycling maps? #paperupcycling #mapart #upcycledmaps #atlasart

Soooo. Much. FUN!!! Thanks to everyone who came out Tuesday night to make a denim dahlia! Special thanks to the team at @artesanastyle for providing us with a beautiful creative space + extra denim :) We had a great turnout and I'm looking forward to setting up the next one...What upcycling project would you like to make? . . #upcycledjeans #diydahlias #holyokema #westernmass #creativityworkshop #denimflower

I know what I'm doing TOMORROW NIGHT & I can't wait!! What about you? Want to spend some time with your creativity and our crafty community? If so, I hope you'll join me (@amberladley) at @artesanastyle in #HolyokeMA! Sign up on Eventbrite.com (search for 'Make a Denim Dahlia at Artesana'). ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ p.s. I'll be serving few of my favorite @yogitea and cookies in case that is helpful in making your decision ;)⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #upcycling #denimdahlia #amberladley #creativereuse #vintagebutton #DIYdenim #upcyclejeans #creativityheals

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