Altered Photo Albums

Hopefully, by now, most of you know I love to host and be in swaps. It is enjoyable to help others with their own craft while improving myself. So, I started a 12 Week Christmas Challenge swap and had 2 partners. One of the weeks was to alter a photo album for your partner. I love the way these turned out and I hope that my partners will be able to enjoy these for years to come.

Altered Mini Photo Frame for Vintage Swap

I found these adorable mini frames at a local dollar store, and found some pretty paper which I cut to fit the frame. I distressed the edges to give it some age and character. I added a beautiful rose and leaves that have glitter on them to make it stand out a little and mounted it with adhesive foam for dimension. I took my letter stamper and stamped the word: Memories onto a smaller tag which I glued to the corner.

One of the Best Altering Books on The Market...

I would have to say that this title belongs to a book by Madeline Arendt called "Altered Art for the First Time." It comes in a hardback. I first saw this book in my local library and knew that this was a book I needed and wanted in my craft book collection. She has so many clever ways to "re-use" and alter every day items. I will post a few of her pics from her book. They are her projects and the book includes directions. This is a 5 star book. The ISBN# is: 1-4027-1655-9. She alters tags, flash cards, books, mint boxes, matchbooks, dictionary's and much more. You won't be disappointed by this book.

Altered Toilet Paper Gift Card Holder

It seems to me that there is always an abundance of empty toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls, and I hate just throwing them away. So, I was needing a gift card holder one day to give to a family friend. I decided to try my hand at making one. I pressed a toilet paper roll down flat which fit a gift card perfectly. I distressed the TP roll and punched holes on one end and threaded a twine rope through and tied little knots on either end. I attached a piece of scrap cardstock all the way around it with a glue gun. I took a bunch of my old postage stamps and scanned them in a row to resemble a border. I printed it out and cut out the row of stamps and distressed the edges with some Cat's Eye Distressing Chalk. I printed out one of my favorite quotes out onto a cream cardstock which I distressed again. I used a blue paperclip to close the top but make it easy enough to open. The reciever of the gift card said that she loved the holder almost as much as the gift card.

My Mother, My Friend Heritage Scrapbook Page

This is one of my favorite scrapbook pages of my mother and me. I took a small picture of us and made it larger. I used several K& Company stickers and Anna Griffin Paper. I thought that it was clever to use the stickers to put the phrase "My Mother, My Friend" a little on the picture and some on the page. Mother, I love you so much!

Grandma Brown's Childhood Heritage Scrapbook Page

When I recieved this picture of my Grandma Brown as a child holding her large doll and cuddling her favorite doggy, I decided a black, white and silver them was befitting to the page. I used Cat's Eye Chestnut Roan to distress the edges of the white page. I found silver glittery Chipboard letters at a local craft store, and then wrote a little note above the picture entitiled "To be Young Again." Grandma loved looking at this page when she came to visit.

Recovered Queen Anne Leather Chair

A fews years ago, I taught myself how to recover furniture basically out of need. We just did not have the money and so being college students on a budget, this became the norm. This summer I went to a few garage sales. I found this (sorta ugly blue) Queen Anne Chair for $5.00. I decided to take on the task and challenge to recover this chair. I spraypainted the chair, the original wood color was light colored almost a whitish color. Then, I removed the old fabric, sanded parts  to make the chair look distressed and recovered it with leather. I used various sorts of brads to give this a finished look.

Altered Vintage Corset Burlesque Tags

Lately, I have become somewhat fascinated in the world of corsets. They played such a major role throughout history, thus creating contraptions of all sorts, special furniture such as a fainting couch, and much more. The strive for beauty may never end since there are records that date back thousands of years that, beauty will be the quest for many. So, I have started my own altered art Vintage Corset and Burlesque Tags. I must warn you, there are some tags that show more than others (if you know what I mean.) Since I collect a ton of vintage ephemera, my choices are and were endless. So far there are 10 tags created (not all shown) but I see this line going far.

Already have a few upscale boutiques wanting them. You may look, but please do not make copies etc. Thanks.

How to Make an Altered Fairy Gift Tag Instructions:

 

How the Fairy Tag was made:

 

 

                                                Items needed:

 

• Chipboard
• 1 Peach Colored Piece of Cardstock
•  Covered Adhesive Chipboard "F" Letter
• 4 inch Fairy Flower Stamp
• Paper Hole Puncher
• Ruler
• Glue Dots/Adhesive Double-Sided Tape
• Darice Finishing Accents Ribbon/Fibers
• Making Memories Metallic Charm that read: Laugh with 2 rows of 3 bling stones
• 3 Green Feathers
• 2 Prima Flowers- Daisy Mix #716387
• Le Plume Carnival Set Markers
• Crayola Thin Markers
• Clearsnap Cat's Eye Chalk Ink- Various Colors
• 2 Brass Brads
• 6 Pewter Square Brads
• Scissors
• Sharp Tool for Puncturing Holes into the Chipboard

1. On a sheet of chipboard, create a 6 inch tag by using a ruler and pencil. I made a small 1 inch triangle shape on either side of the tag. The edge of the chipboard makes for the 2 sides of the triangle and when you make your cut like: / then you end up with a 1 inch triangle.

2. Take your hole punch, and punch in the center of the tag.

3. Using the Cat's Eye Chalk Ink to distress the edges on front and back of the tag. I used 4 different colors to give it an aged "feel."

4. Take the wooden Flower Fairy Stamp (I bought mine from Michael's Craft Store), and take the Le Plume Black marker brush side to apply the ink and stamp onto a peach colored piece of cardstock. Let the ink dry.

 

5. Use various colors of the fine-tipped Crayola markers to fill in the stamped design.

6. Outline the colored design with the Le Plume Black Marker with the fine tip point.

7. Take the scissors and cut around the taller flower bunch that the Fairy is holding with her hands, and on the left side of image cut around the outer part of the butterfly and lower flower bundle until you reach the edge of the image. Measure the stamped image so that it fits the chipboard tag. Make sure there is no overhang of the image on the tag.

8. Take the purple fiber ribbon and measure enough of the ribbon to fit across the front of the tag, and allow about an inch on either side. Use mini glue dots to adhere the ribbon to the front of the stamped image. Turn the paper tag over and use a piece of tape to hold the remaining ribbon to firmly secure it into place.

9. Take the 3 feathers and tie the ends of each feather together with a piece of tape. Take another piece of tape to secure the feathers to the chipboard tag.

10. Take the stamped paper tag and put double sided tape around the entire perimeter of the tag, and a piece in the middle of the tag. Secure the tag to the chipboard. Note: There will be a little lift on the paper because of the feathers. This is alright because you will be "disguising" the lift with the Prima Flowers.

11. Using your sharp tool, puncture each corner, and above the cut butterfly image, and one near the little flower bunch on the left side (the 2 brads will be somewhat close) of the stamped chipboard tag making the hole wide enough to put brads through. Place a Pewter Square Brad in each hole.

12. Take the brass brads and insert it into the center of the prima flowers. Using your sharp tool, puncture a hole about 1/2 inch from the left side and place the larger prima flower with the brad into it and close it. Just a few centimeters below the first prima flower hole, place another hole so that you can put the second Prima brad flower.

12. Remove the paper on the back of the adhesive chipboard letter "F" and place it under the 2 flowers. I used the letter "F" for 2 reasons: Flowers, and Fairies.

13. Use a large raised Glue Dot and place it on the back of the metallic "Laugh" charm. Place the charm near the bottom in the middle of the chipboard tag. Your charm will cover some of the fiber, but that is what adds to the charm.

14. Take, at least, 2 different but complimentary ribbon and fibers and run it through and over to secure the ribbon to the tag. Tie the ends of the ribbon into a knot to prevent fraying.

15. Enjoy your new work of art! Place on a gift, or just hang it on the wall for a piece of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practical Scrappers Marker Challenge Contest: Erica's Altered Chipboard Fairy Tag Using Markers!!!

Altered Art "Laughing Fairy" Gift Tag

April is such a wonderful month that is filled with all sorts of secret and beautiful new beginnings. Many flowers are blooming, and people are emerging from their homes to enjoy the beautiful weather. Last week, I was bored so I thought to myself "Self, you need a challenge." So, my "Self" went online to see what other artists were creating. I stumbled across a wonderful blog site for "Practical Scrappers" that is filled with challenges, contests, tips and much more. For those who are on limited means, want to use what you have, find new uses for long forgotten items, then this is the site for you. When I was first introduced to scrapbooking, I bought anything and everything I thought I needed. I ended up using maybe 1/3 of the items, and the "leftovers" lurk in the darkest corners of my studio hoping to get its fifteen minutes of fame (or forever be remembered in a card or scrapbook page). The "Practical Scrappers" are so creative, and inspire one to learn new techniques and try new things while using what you have. You can find them by clicking on the link below:


Practical Scrappers Blog Website


So, after viewing all of the wonderful projects on this board, I felt like the inspiration bug was coming to visit. It had been awhile since he was last here, so he was a welcomed sight.


The weekly challenge was to use: Markers. Yes, you read right; just good old fashioned markers. Most crafters, parents, kids, grandparents or basically anyone who is alive has these great colored ink holders. I am unsure of who was the original creator of "The Marker" but I do know that he/she was a pure creative genius! The task and challenge was to bring out our long-forgotten items and put them to use in creative ways. So, throughout this past week, I ended up making all sorts of things like: cards, paper bag books, shaker boxes, but my final project was an "Altered Stamped Fairy Gift Tag." I am so proud of this tag, and I hope you enjoy it also. I may get the nerve to post my other creations designed with markers but for now, this is my winning entry.

To create your own Fairy Tag, I have posted the instructions. Enjoy!

Vintage Ephemera Inspired Altered Black Photo Album

Today I was feeling creative, and found an old, unused, empty photobook that was black and spiral bound. I went to my Office Word and typed out all sorts of sayngs, quotes, poems etc and printed the words on fancy, shabby chic, vintage looking paper. I cut the paper to fit the cover of the book and then distressed the edges using Cat's Eye Chestnut Roan ink. I took vintage lace and attached it to the middle area of the paper. I took a glue gun and finally attached the paper to the book. I added chipboard, a red poker chip, 2 feathers, vintage ephemera scanned to a smaller size, corner edges, a little paper bird I created, then added a few buttons. I thought I was done when I found a heart that used to be a piece of jewelry and attached a tassle to it. Ta-da, old things, made new.... I am truly proud of this project. Took me about an hour to complete.

Twilight's Volturi Wedding Gift Box and Necklace to Bella Cullen

     

        A few years ago, I went to an auction that had all sorts of strange and misc. items. One box had many pieces of hardware and extra crystals from a chandelier. I was in a Twilight Swap and needed to make something special for my partner. I decoupaged a wooden box, and added jewels and pearls to it. The inside of the box is the Volturi's note to Bella about looking forward to meeting the new Ms. Cullen. I made a "diamond looking" pendant from an old chandelier that I polished. Then found a fairly thick and longer gold chain to hang it from. It was fun to make this and learn a little more about jewelry making and being able to create a "green" style necklace that used found items in new ways.

Altered Easter Paint Can Design

     
     Altering items and giving them new lives, is very exciting for me. Recently, I joined an Easter Paint can swap on a messageboard that I belong to. The rules were simple: Design and alter a paint can that your swap partner would love, and fill it with all sorts of crafting/scrapbooking/personal items that your partner would love. I went to Michael's craft store and they had a great line of scrapbooking paper, stamps and other embellishments. On the lid I distressed a round fitted piece of paper, attached a bird tag, added prima (paper) flowers, and a brad. Then I took out one of the latest rubber stamps I bought that had a chandelier on it. I used a silver stamp pad and stamped the lid. The paper was attached using double sided tape. The hardest part of the entire can was to cut the paper in the right places so that the handle wouldn't be hard to reattach and for a more finished "Look."  I contacted each of my partners, and although this was supposed to be an Easter "looking" can, they wanted a can that could be used year round.I enjoyed making them so much that I made one for myself in the same papers.