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.

Final Result of Twilight's Cullen vs. the Volturi Checker/ Chess Game Board

     
      In earlier postings, I posted the pieces of a checkers game that I made for one of the best book series I have read in awhile: Twilight. I created Cullen Crest and Volturi Crest pieces out of polymer clay. I used some decoupage glue and attached each "color" square to a sturdy piece of cardstock, then finished gluing it onto a piece of wood that was cut to fit onto the 12"x12" board. I distressed the edges and sealed it. I created a little baggy that goes inside an altered box to hold all the game pieces. I took several photos to show the steps.
       Supplies needed:

Start of Layering:

Finished Board:

Bag holding the pieces and the box the pieces are housed in:

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.

Altered Paper Notebooks

     

      Recently I was sorting through many boxes and came across several plain notebooks. I like to keep them in my purse, handy in case an idea of inspiration overwhelms me. I think it's important that the accessories in your purse, briefcase, backpack and other everyday holders be as nice as the container or holder it comes in. Some may ask "What are you talking about? A notebook is a notebook." It adds a little special something when you can pull out an item to make the people around you stare or inquire on where you got this or that. Since most of the people around me know that I alter items, many have asked for these personal touches to items in their everyday lives.
      When making and altering these notebooks, I knew 3 things for sure:

1. The book needs to be secure or at least able to close.
2. The book needs to be altered to fit the person using it.
3. The book needs to have a personality of its own.

    To address the first, must haves, I used ribbon and good old-fashioned velcro to keep these books somewhat private. Second, personal touches such as stickers, photos, and other meaningful embellishments were secured onto the tiny notebook. I hand stamped the pages using an adorable vintage looking chair which made each blank page, pop. The last requirement for the altered notebooks needed unique items even though some may look exactly the same. Al beit, lace, brads, word, pictures, buttons, feathers, beads were added to give each book its own glory. Next time you are short on cash, or are needing a last minute gift for birthdays, showers, and just because, pull out some everyday items and make them special by catering to that person's likes. A personalized touch makes a differance in a gift and that is what keeps your gift from being forgotten or tossed aside. Just be creative, and use what you have.

Twilight's Alice Cullen and Jasper Hale's ATC Cards

       I was trying out new ways to alter my Twilight Character Picture ATC's and I did not like my outcome. Above is my first Jasper ATC basically 1 of 1. I will use the saying I wrote and the picture for my other ATC's just not this exact design. I wanted it to talk about what was missing in his life, and then he finds his beloved Alice at a small cafe. Below is my ATC on Alice Cullen, I wrote a diary type entry for hers also. They will become part of a Dear Diary series I am making. I wanted to show you my "simple creations" because these will be the only ones in this category series.

Twilight's Famous Santa: Waylon Forge ATC

Twilight’s Famous Santa: Waylon Forge ATC

          I decided that it was time to pay homage and respect to the lesser known characters throughout the Twilight series books and movies. My first inspiration comes from a scene in the movie Twilight when Bella first comes back into town. Charlie, a single bachelor father with limited cooking skills, introduced his daughter to the finer things in life by going to the small Forks café that becomes a character in itself. As the waitress serves Bella her veggie platter a grubby sort of guy that looks like he may drink a little lurks behind her eager to get his chance to talk to Bella. He introduces himself as Waylon Forge, a guy who played Santa for years. Jokes are made at his expense but he is a good sport about it and adds a little humor to the conversation after being called: Butt Crack Santa. He jokes about the fact that the kids like those little bottles… It truly takes a character much courage to make a joke about himself. As you can see in the ATC of Waylon Forge, I found a picture of his face, enlarged it to the size I needed and cut it to fit the scene of the Santa I had found through many pages of clip art. The Scene with Santa has him lounging on a hammock, soaking in the sun’s rays while holding a mixed cocktail. I then took a glitter glue with tiny snowflakes in it and placed a layer on the card to make it “sparkle.” I decided to add a silver pine tree brad to give the illusion that even though he was at the beach, he entertained at all times.