Altered Gift Canister

a Design Team Project for The Piece by Piece 

When I went hunting in my crafty closet I found a plain brown cardboard canister another crafter had RAK'd me with (thank you Brenda B).  I decided if I altered it with Bev's luscious laces and embellishments from The Piece By Piece I'd have just the gift I needed (of course I'll need to fill the inside with yummy crafty goodness as well).

I started with a combination of Matte Medium, White Gesso, Lindy's Coca Bean Magicals and some Pearl Ex in Micro Pearl.  With this mixture I painted the entire surface of the canister including the inside and the lid.  Once dry I misted the surface with Lindy's Alpine Ice Rose Starburst Spray.  The next step was to fussy cut the birds from a sheet of Ruby Rock-it paper called Mother Nature, Flock. Don't you just love those birds on the feeder?  I also cut one extra lone bird, popped him up on black chipboard and attached him to the back.

The flowers are a combination of Daisies Vintage Lace in Mauve, I snipped the flowers apart glued them to the canister with Beacon's Fabri-Tac and added a Flatback Pearl with Rhinestones in the middle, I used the Grey, perfect color to compliment everything else. Around the bottom are two rows of Tutu Tulle in Grey, one points upwards and one down to give a real full fluffy effect.

On the inside I used the Floral Venise Lace in White and misted it with a combination of grey sprays to get the soft grey that matched the rest.  Paper was cut for the inside/outside of the canister and the lid.  I used just a touch of Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick and Black Soot around all the edges.

The lid edge and outer portion of the top were covered in the French Cotton Crochet Lace in the Grey/White combo, I used Beacon's Fabri-Tac to hold it down.  Next I moved to the center and cut 2 of the mauve flowers in half and placed three of the halves in a circle adding my Jolee's silver bird house and finally a circle of the grey tutu tulle lace around the charm.  

There was one half of the Mauve flowers left so I cut it in half placed it atop some of the gathered crocheted lace and added some flower stamens for antenna and I had a butterfly once I added a stone for the body.

So I hope you liked my altered gift canister.  Please check out Bev's fabulous trim, laces and embellishments and other crafty gems, in her Etsy Store - The Piece By Piece.  You can also find her on Facebook.

Supplies -

Floral Venise Lace White LV-TL-500-029 French Cotton Crochet Lace 4397 Grey and White Flatback Pearl with Rhinestones Tutu Tulle Ballerina Pink Crystal Lacquer Alpine Ice Rose Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments 12-color Set Little Lindy- BROWNS

InLinkz.com

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Mini Album

a Cut at Home Design Team Project

Does paper speak to you?  It sure does to me.  Graphic 45's Botanical Tea Collection transports me back in time (now if it could only make me younger too, lol).  The papers are so reminiscent of my Grandmothers and Aunts.  It made me feel warm and fussy and loved when I was working with them.  I know you're probably shaking your head about now, but it's like a song on the radio or a certain scent, when you hear or smell them memories of past come flooding back.  I think my Grandma's are smiling at me right now, that's a good thing.

For this project I wanted to create a mini anyone could make, yes you included!  It's simply 8 pages of cardstock and 2 chipboard covers.  I matted the inside pages with the designer papers and covered the chipboard with cream colored cardstock.  I used Lindy's sprays to alter the outsides so that I was picking up the colors from the collection.

I had intended on using my Cinch to bind it but the metal of the coils just didn't fit with the image I had in my mind.  I replaced the coils with the ribbon and am much happier now.  With facing pages I stayed with the same designer paper mats and then used scraps to form pockets, belly bands or focal points to slip photos behind.

This time I shied away from a lot of embellishments staying primarily with the paper and the additions that come with it, chipboard, stickers, pendants, pockets etc.  The paper is so gorgeous it really doesn't need a lot of other embellishments to set it off.  Keeping to the collection also allows the book to close more easily instead of bowing on the outer edge like a few I've made do.

I hope you'll check out my video to see an overview of each page.  There's also an accompanying video for the gift box I made to put the mini in here and blog post here.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll become a follower of my blog today if you aren't already.

Have fun crafting!  

Patti

Supplies:

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea 12x12 Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Cardstock Flowers Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Cardstock Banners Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Chipboard 2 Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Chipboard 1 Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Tags & Pockets Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Stickers Tim Holtz Distress Ink Gathered Twigs Alpine Ice Rose Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Lindy's Glitz Spray Blazing Sun Grafix 12''x12'' Medium Weight Chipboard Spellbinders Labels Thirty-Six Spellbinders Die D-Lites Outrageous Butterfly Crystal Lacquer

InLinkz.com

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Gift Box

Sometimes you receive special surprises that just take your breath away.  That's what happened to me a few months back when we traveled to the Rocky Mountains to meet family for a little get away.  My sister-in-law pulled out a large bag filled with Heritage laces.  These were things my Grandmothers and their sisters had made years ago.  I grew up watching my Grandma crochet tablecloths and this simple package brought tears to my eyes, I get very emotional about things like this.  And then.... well.... I did what many of you do..... I brought it home, put each lace in a pretty little package.... and... HOARDED them!  Yep you guessed it, I just didn't want to part with those pretty pieces of my past.  

Until........................... Botanical Tea paper collection was released.  Oh these papers they take me back to my Grandmother's homes where hours of making hand stitched items of love was just a part of life.  Perhaps now is the time I can part with some of these lovelies!  

What you see here trimming the bottom is the gorgeous tatted lace that someone from my past had made. A gorgeous trim for a gorgeous paper collection.  I used a metal piece bent to create a handle for the front and attached this darling little birdhouse that's been hanging around in my metal collection.

I did a lot of fussy cutting for the box, taking the birds and mounting them on black chipboard so they'd 'pop'.  The flowers, leaves and dragonfly were also fussy cut but I layered them directly on the paper so they have dimension but just a tad.  Adding the metal pieces is just the right pairing for the papers I think.

Peeking out from under the metal flower is a tatted doily that matches the lace.  Beautiful isn't it?  The flowers are from a swag I'd cut apart and were actually all the color of the light cream here.  I sprayed them with Lindy's Alpine Ice Rose Starburst and then I misted the complete top of the box in Blazing Sun Glitz Spritz which just sparkles gold dust when it catches the light.

Shortly I will have the mini that's going the box, so be sure and check back.  In the meantime here's the YouTube video of the box itself:

Supplies

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea 12x12 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Walnut Stain Ranger Inkssentials GLOSSY ACCENTS Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Lindy's Glitz Spray Blazing Sun Alpine Ice Rose Grafix 12''x12'' Medium Weight Chipboard

InLinkz.com

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

Welcome Graphic 45, followers and guests!

It's been a year since I tried out for the 2013 Graphic 45 Design team making it to the final round of thirty! Where has all the time gone this past year? I've learned so much more this crafty year from all my followers and YouTube subbies. Your inspiration and support has challenged me and helped me to grow my art. Thanks to all of you I'm here again trying out for the 2014-2015 team.

Graphic 45 requested I pick six projects that best represent my work so here goes.  I'll include links to any YouTube videos or blog posts so you can see more photos or the video of the project if it was posted previously.

(1) Mother Goose Mini Album

I've just started a new series called Mother Goose - Not a Scrap Left.  This is the second Project of the series.  The premise is use up all the collection I purchased, in as many projects as I can, to see how far my paper and extras will stretch by only using the addition of colored cardstock.  I think it will be fun for my followers as well as a kudos to myself for 'using it up' instead of buying more, lol, which we all tend to do.

This mini is completely enclosed with an extra panel on the left and a front flap that hides 3 large magnets to keep it closed as it expands.  I used a Shabby Chic Door pull for the handle with a few of the flowers from the collection around it.  Hanging is a little star which says 'Just For You'.

The unique part of this mini is the patchwork pockets, six in all.  Each pocket is a different combination of pieces patch-worked together. This is a perfect way to use up all the little pieces that might otherwise be tossed and an easy, eye-catching way to stretch the designer papers.

You can see on the right the pocket this time has a diagonal pattern to the pieces with a banner of the tiny pendants hanging from a ribbon of ric rac across the top.  On the left is a waterfall with Humpty as the main focal point.  He's been fussy cut, attached to black card, cut again, Glossy Accented.  He serves not only as a cutie-pie for the page but also a hidden magnet which keeps the waterfall closed.

Here's another glimpse at a page done with all little one inch squares.  Because there were so many little pieces I added a couple of coats of Aleene's Collage Pauge which will help seal and protect all those edges.  The little girl has been fussy cut placed on blue card and fussy cut again.  She's only attached on two sides so a tag or photo can slip behind her.

Here I wanted to show you not only the next pocket design the diagonal going in the opposite direction but also the paper clip.  Do you recognize this???  That's the negative space left over from the flags and banner sheet when you poke the banner out.  I added the verse behind from another little scrap and then added a coat of Glossy Accent over top.  Attaching only the right hand side to the mat allows it to act like a paper clip between mat and cover.  And again, scraps are being used instead of tossed, wow this could get addictive, lol.

It's extremely difficult for me to decide what to show you here, this is but a tip of the mini book you're viewing. The full video, page by page, can be found here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(2) Note Pad Holders

 

When I was in Michaels one day I ran across note pads, two to a pack, and thought, hmm these would be nice to have on hand for friends. After I got home and looked at them I thought how boring I bet I could make a holder for them.   Designed with a magnetic closure under the front flap to keep them closed and a pocket on the inside to house post a notes or a card.  The paper pads slip into a slot so they can easily be removed and replaced when used (notice the one in the bottom folder is made with colored paper instead of a store bought pad).

Designed with Graphic 45's Curtain Call Collection

Designed with Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary Collection

(I also included a small pocket on the inside of the flap to hold a bookmark)

This is what I designed and shared.  There's a previous blog post here and a YouTube video here with complete instructions.  It's such a simple idea but the response was so positive with lots of feedback from so many of you that made them as well.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(3) Steampunk Spells Mini Little Book

Designed with Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells Collection

Using the 12x12 Vintage Voyage Papers from the Steampunk Spells Collection I created this mini little book for photos and memories.  This has got to be one of my favorite collections!  

  

Each page's corners were punched with a spider punch, top and bottom, but instead of having the punches on the right they are on the left above and below where the holes were punched for the Cinch binding.  By having the punched parts in the center they receive less stress as the book is opened and closed but still provide a decorative look.

  

Cutting around a focal point, like the owls creates an interesting pocket for tags.

  

 

There is a prior blog post here and YouTube video here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(4) Botanical Tea Gift Box

Last summer we met family in the Rocky Mountains for a few days of reminiscing and sightseeing.  My sister in law pulled out a zip lock bag filled with Heritage laces that were my Mother's, Grandmother's and many Aunts from generations past.  It's bit and pieces she had saved and stuck back thinking someday someone would use them.  I cried!  Of course I get emotional that way but was so thrilled with my new treasures and then.... I hoarded them!!!  I do that too.  Until I saw this paper collection!  I knew I'd found a home for some of them.  These papers bring all these wonderful ladies right back to my heart.  I used the tatting edge around the bottom of my box, isn't it gorgeous?  It's the perfect compliment for the paper.

Peeking out from under the metal flowers in the lower left hand corner is a tatted doily with similar colorings, a perfect match again! The flowers were taken from my stash (the remnants of a taken apart-on-clearance flower swag) and were sprayed with Lindy's Alpine Tea Rose Starbust Spray.  Wow I couldn't have found a better color match for the paper.

The metal pieces tucked here and there are all gifts from a couple of my crafty friends. I love the look of the metal with the paper and flowers. I took the birds and butterfly and added a layer of black chipboard underneath then fussy cut them out, it gives great dimension to the top of the box.  The little hummingbird has had his paper beak replaced with a piece of wire I painted black.  I also cut the flowers, leaves and dragonfly and glued them directly atop the first layer, it gives just a little pop up to them.  You can see the dragonflies wings were left free on the left to tuck in around the flower.  I also used Glossy Accents which gives just a nice amount of shimmer as they catch the light.  All the top was lightly misted with Lindy's Blazing Sun Glitz Spray, as the box catches the sunlight you see this gorgeous shimmer of gold dust.

Inside of box

This will make a perfect home for a special gift to a special someone.

You can see the video here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(5) Steampunk Spells Wicked Birthday Card

Designed with Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells Collection

For this fun card I lopped the head off the bicycle lady and popped it so that underneath it reads wicked. Outside reads 'something wicked this way comes' with the spinner pointing to the message inside which was printed on glossy photo paper, inked with Distress Inks and stamped with stamps from the collection. You can find the original blog post here and the YouTube video here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(6) Laughing Cow Altered Christmas Boxes 

(non Graphic 45 project)

If you're the same kind of crafty addict I am every time you see a box you say, hmm what can I do with that?  That's how I felt each time I bought Laughing Cow cheese from Costco.  It comes in packages of 3 each of which is in an adorable little round container.  

At Christmas time I always like to have gifts on hands for my neighbors, just a little something to share from me to them.  These altered boxes were the perfect gift filled with a few chocolates, who can resist chocolates?? Needless to say they were a big hit with all who received them.  You can see the original blog post here and the YouTube video here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(7) Botanical Tea Mini

(I ended up making a mini to go in the gift box above 

so thought I'd include it as well)

8 Inner pages with pockets, belly bands and tuck in spots for photos.

Using the same paper on right and left gives a nice flow to the page.  I cut along the natural design of the paper to create unique edges to a couple of the pockets.  

The blue grosgrain ribbon laces through the holes to create interest on each page as well as the book binding.  I fussy cut a lot of little pieces out, like the flowers on the left above, to slip photos behind.

This is such a fun little mini to put together.  It's designed for any level of crafter to accomplish from the beginner to the most advanced. Those who have crafted a lot have an endless number of options to 'dress it up' with the paper collection, those just starting out can create it from start to finish and feel like they've created a beautiful one of a kind gift.  Using the gift box above would just push it over the top as a very special gift for someone.

As always it's hard to share the whole mini here so there's a video here  which walks through page by page.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thank you Graphic 45 for giving me this opportunity to share my crafty passion with you in these seven projects.  They are but a small example of what I've made, and an even smaller representation of what's swirling around in my mind still waiting to be created!  Good luck on your 2014 Design Team search I know whomever you pick will do wonderful justice to the beautiful collections you design for us to play with!  Patti