Altered Box

I've always adored working in 3-D and have to admit a slight penchant for the Vintage influence. This project satisfies both of my likes!

I found these "books" in one of the local cheapie stores and decided they would be perfect for altering. I had just the right retired Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! in my stash and ended up with this result.

I wanted to create a nice box to keep some special cards and envelopes in, and while the pattern on the original box did not appeal to me, the colouring in the spine did. I was also experimenting with ways of using Stampin' Up's Labels Collection Framelits - so have used them to frame the title area.

Some Crochet Trim and Linen Thread tied around the front cover, complete the effect.

The inside of the box.

The really fun part was creating the Title area.

I used Stampin' Up's Apothecary Art Stamp Set and hand coloured it with Classic Inks and an Aqua Painter. This was then cut out with a Labels Framelit. I stamped the word "CARDS" using the Lovely Letters Alphabet from Stampin' Up! then crushed the card stock prior to sponging it. I love this effect. 

The outer frame is embossed with the Square Lattice Folder, then de-bossed with another size of the Labels Collection Framelit. I used Brushed Gold card stock as the base for the frame, then sponged the texture with Soft Suede and Early Espresso Ink.

Can you see what I've used to "age" the stamped area.  My favourite useful stamp set from Stampin' Up!  - French Foliage.  Just love those little splotches for all sorts of projects.

That's all for today,

Until Next time

Stay Crafty! 

Scrap A Canvas - Vintage Style

Over the last couple of years I've really started to love scrapping photos and now that our family has the addition of a cute little granddaughter - scrapping has become even easier. Sometimes I like to go beyond the confinement of a page and I thought a canvas would be great to show off this photo taken on our 40th Anniversary celebration cruise. 

I used Stampin' Up! patterned papers for the background elements and a variety of punches to create the flowers. I also used embossing folders for texture, and Framelit dies from Stampin' Up! for interesting background shapes.

 I love the effect obtained by sponging ink onto an embossing folder before running it through my Big Shot. The Stripes folder is great - it gives some wonderful texture, pre-inks easily and additional sponging on the edges helps to create a Vintage look. 

Paper piercing is another great technique. One that can be used purely for decoration (as I've done on the Labels Collection Framelit Die (from Stampin' Up!)  or as a guide for stitching (see below)

I prefer to make my own flowers from card stock - these were quick and easy to create by punching shapes, scrunching them up, sponging the edges with Soft Suede ink from Stampin' Up! and then piercing the centres with brads.  The leaf stamp is from the "French Foliage" set and to give a little dimension I just folded it down the centre, sponged the spine and edges and attached to the canvas with hot glue.

This canvas is created for the following challenges:

Frilly and Funky Challenge Vintage - anything goes - follow your muse - 

to scrap more of the photos from our cruise to the Caribbean and visit to Disney World -Animal Kingdom Resort, Florida, so that they are on show rather than hidden in a book. 
Creative Bloggers Challenge Network   monochromatic 
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge-PWC240     brads 
Stampotique DesignersChallenge SDC82       Die Cuts and Punches 
Make It Monday #122  - Always anything goes

Inky Chicks Challenge 1  - Anything goes

Framelits are Fun

Some of Stampin' Up!'s newest products are the Framelits dies. They are fantastic to use and show you exactly where they are cutting as there is no room for error when cutting out frames. What you see is what you get!

I had the honour of demonstrating how to use Framelits at the recent South Pacific Convention and enjoyed playing with them to make a Mini Album, frames for photos, 3-D items etc, but what I enjoyed most of all is the versatility of being able to cut, colour, emboss, pretty much however you choose. So much fun.

I've made a couple of cards since Convention showing off the combination of Framelits - Labels Collection with a purpose made stamp set from Stampin' Up! named Apothecary Art.

Here is the first card.

I used a combination of Designer Series Papers: Beau Chateau and Attic Boutique, some lovely Chrochet  Trim - Victoria, a brad from the beautiful Antique Collection, and a flower from my pre Stampin' Up! days stash. 

I've used an Edgelit and coordinating embossing folder for the shaped edges at the base of the card. The crochet trim is attached by a strip of Sticky Strip and is kept flat behind the image and folded randomly where it is visible. A little Linen Thread is tied around the brad for a final Vintage touch.

The detail photo shows how easy it is to use just one colour for the image and still achieve great results. I applied the colour with an Aqua Painter, but you can easily use a Blender Pen if you hesitate to try water-colouring.

The greeting is from Stampin' Up's Curly Cute stamp set and I've sponged the edges of most parts of the card stock with Marina Mist, Soft Suede and Pink Pirouette.

These cards are fun and quick to make. The papers make great backgrounds and as Stampin' Up! has such a wonderful range of coordinating products, it is easy to ensure that ink colours match card stock and patterned papers. 

Contact me if you'd like further information about the Framelits, Edgelits and coordinating products, or if you would like to order any of these products. They can be mailed directly to you (Australian residents only) but need to be purchased through an Independent Demonstrator.

Next I have a different card using the same Designer Series Paper Pack - Beau Chateau, same Labels Collection Framelit and the Apothecary Art Stamp set, just changing the ribbon to White Satin and adding some of the gorgeous Pearls from the Basic Jewels Collection.

I hope you'll give these new products a try and will enjoy the many creations you'll be able to make. 

Until Next Time,

Stay Crafty and Enjoy Life