Altered Matchboxes / Graphic 45 Couture

I had fun this weekend with altering little matchboxes!

First I started with 8 of these...

I painted the drawers with Jacquard's Neoopaque black acrylic paint. I love this line of paint when painting on chipboard or cardstock as it does not warp or wrinkle the chipboard / paper. I then covered the outside of the matchboxes with Graphic 45's Couture paper collection.

Hmmm....I worked on the above photo...rotated it,,,,it still keeps inserting into my blog post in the wrong direction. So turn your head to the right a bit and you will see the photo correctly. :) I used the 6x6 pad for the solid part of my project, the 8x8 to cover the matchboxes and the 12x12 for the inserts inside each drawer.

I then cut two pieces of medium weight black chipboard (by Graffix) into 3 3/4" squares. I rubbed on some Inka Gold by Viva Decor on the edges of the chipboard pieces. Not a lot but just enough so that it showed and looked aged as if the gold had rubbed off some throughout the years. I also used Black Soot Distress Ink by Ranger to edge all my papers.

The handles on my drawers are made by using a jewelry spacer with a black brad. The feet were made using these beads from my stash. Looks like something that might have been used in the 70's judging by the color and the size of the hole in the beads.

I took some light weight spackle to fill in the holes so that I would have enough of the bead to attach to the bottom of the chipboard. Every craft room should come with a jar of spackle! :) Once the spackle dried, I painted each bead with the same black paint that I used to paint my drawers.

I assembled all the pieces using Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. The matchboxes are stacked two high and sandwiched between the two chipboard pieces. Then I glued the feet on using my hot glue gun. The beaded design on the top was made using a 3" stick pin, one of the green beads that I painted black, a gold jewelry spacer and a gold bead. When the boxes are all placed on the base chipboard piece, it leaves a hole in the middle where none of the boxes touch. So my stick pin runs all the way through the top and through the bottom chipboard piece. This left me just enough of the stick pin sticking out that I could attach a small rubber tip which now holds the stick pin in place.

Here are some different views of my finished project. Each side is a bit different as I used at least one different print on each side.

Here is a view with 4 of the drawers opened:

The box kind of has an Asian flair to it, don't you think? I'm calling it< "Couture goes Asian"! :)

I hope you enjoyed my altered matchboxes. Thanks for stopping by!

Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante Mini Album

I have been hoarding this paper for way too long. Finally decided to put it to good use to make this 4" x 4" mini album. The front cover, the back cover and the spine were made using chipboard that I covered from the paper collection. I added some metal gears and key for embellishments. The woman with wings on the front cover was "fussy" cut from the paper, mod podged on lightweight chipboard and cut again. Then pop dotted onto the cover. The back cover I kept simple and free of embellishments. The copper strip of paper on the front and back covers are from a piece of hand made paper that my son picked up for me on his last vacation trip. Other than the copper paper, all other paper used is from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante paper collection.

The pages of the inside of the book are made using envelopes that I purchased from Hobby Lobby. Each page is also a pocket that holds a photo mat for photos. There are also journaling tags featured throughout the album. I kept the embellishments down to a minimum as I like the photos to be the main focus of the album. Also...how could you cover up this beautiful paper with a lot of embellishments. I LOVE the paper from this collection.

I also included a waterfall feature for photos and journaling on the inside front and back covers. The above pictures show one of the pages inside and the front cover waterfall feature. To finish off the little album I used a black braided tie cord to tie the album close.

This album is special to me as it represents two stages of my life. I have been legally blind for the last 7 years. Recently I had surgery on both my eyes. So far the surgery on my left eye has not been too successful as I am still legally blind in that eye. However, there was great success in the right eye! I currently have 20/30 vision in my right eye without corrective lenses! I am seeing things that I have never seen or haven't seen in 7 years. The most important thing...seeing my family and loved ones faces again! It has been a life changing experience for me. I started this album before my eye surgeries and finished it after my surgeries with my new vision in my right eye. Paper crafting was a huge struggle for me while being legally blind but I refused to give it up. I am having so much fun now creating with my improved vision!

Here is a video that shows the entire album, front and back covers as well as all of the inside pages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzuJRb4yjDk

The design style of this album was inspired by Ginger / My Sisters Scrapper's tutorial on you tube. I included a link to her tutorial in my you tube video description box. Be sure to check it out as Ginger is soooo creative and has some fun albums and tutorials to share.

Thanks for stopping by!

Prima Almanac Coin Envelope Mini Album

A coin envelope with too many pages to photograph...scratchy voice from the worse attack of allergies ever...and a camera that isn't working right....what is a girl supposed to do? Why make a video of course! :) In spite of the poor quality it still seem easier to make a video rather than trying to photograph all the pages. I have not embellished the outside cover yet and I have a bit more embellishing to do on the inside, other than that it is done. It was quick and easy to make...fun too!

Thanks for checking out my video!

Balloon Birthday Card

A quick and simple birthday card...but I think a cute one! Hope you agree. The balloons are a punch, the happy letters are dies by Sizzix and the birthday part of the sentiment is computer generated. Printed paper is by DCWV and cardstock by Bazzill. The border punch is by Fiskars.

Thanks for stopping by!

Coin Envelope Mini Tag Book / Accordion Tag Book

Three posts in one day! I know! That is a lot for me. I wanted to post one more style of a tag book / mini album that uses coin envelopes to create an accordion style. The tutorial is by Christina Betts. You can find part one HERE and part two HERE. I made my own coin envelopes and if you would like to know how I made mine...check out my earlier post HERE. I used Lumiere Paints in copper to paint my edges of the chipboard and then distressed the edges with walnut and black soot Distress ink by Ranger. I used Kraft cardstock to make my coin envelopes and the designer paper is by 7 Gypsies. I have not completed my tags yet but I will be sharing those at a later date when I do. This is really a super easy and fun project. I hope you will check out the tutorial!

An inside view:

In case you missed my earlier post...here is a couple of views of this tag book and the vertical toilet paper roll tag album that I posted earlier.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Vertical Toilet Paper Tag Mini Album

 I love to make tags and what could be better than a collection of tags in a cute tag album! This is a vertical toilet paper roll tag album that uses an incredibly easy hinge system and toilet paper rolls.  I used a medium weight chipboard, designer papers by K&Company and a handmade flower from a swap I was in. I have cut my tags  from chipboard and both sides have designer paper on them but I still have some more to do to the tags and will have to share those at a later date. I think I may be doing some more embellishing as well to the inside of the album. Meanwhile, you should check out Ginger's (mysisterscrapper) awesome tutorial on how to make the vertical toilet paper roll album. You can find the tutorial HERE for part one and HERE for part two. Her tutorials are well done and so easy to follow. She does some amazing work and creates some beautiful mini albums. I hope you check out her tutorial.
Here is an inside view of the album:

Thanks for stopping by!

Tutorial For Making A No. 3 Size Coin Envelope

 From time to time I find myself needing a coin envelope for a project I am making. Instead of purchasing them, I like to make my own. Making my own allows me to make the coin envelope in any solid color cardstock or designer paper of my choice. The size Number 3 coin envelope is the size I use most often. I thought I would share with you how I make mine. Pictured above is one with a closing flap and one without.

Instructions:
Using cardstock or designer paper of your choice...
Cut a 6" x 6" square
On one side score at 1/2" and 4- 3/4"
Turn your 6 inch square once (90 degrees) and score at 1- 1/2" and 4"
You will now be making 4 cuts. View the photo below to see where you will be cutting.

Basically  you are cutting away the four corners up to where the score lines meet at each corner. Once you have cut away your pieces your 6" square should now look like this:

The larger tab at the top is your flap and the smaller one at the bottom is the tab that will enclose the bottom of your coin envelope. You will notice that on the bottom tab I cut off the edge at an angle to make it easier for the tab to fold up and to give a neater look to your finished envelope. Now fold on all 4 score lines. Apply adhesive to the longer side flap and seal down over the other folded side flap. Apply adhesive to the bottom tab and fold up. I like to use a liquid adhesive for this but double sided tape also works well. Round the corners of the top flap if you like. You can also take a round circle punch and cut a half circle on the top of your coin envelope with the flap open if you like. I used a one inch circle punch on mine. You now have a number 3 size coin envelope which measure 2 -1/2" x 4- 1/4" when completed. Easy Peasy!

Need a coin envelope without the flap? No problem! Cut your paper to be 4-3/4" x 6".
Score at 1/2" on the 4- 3/4" side and score at 1-1/2" and 4 " on the 6" side.
Cut your two corners out from the bottom tab as directed above. Notch your bottom tab on each side of the tab, fold on the score lines, glue your side tabs together and then your bottom tab and notch the top with a circle punch if you like.

Hope this helps you to make a number 3 size coin envelope. Thanks for stopping by!