First Project of the New Year! Welcom 2015!

Happy New Year Everyone! Welcome 2015! So long 2014!

Every new year I set a goal or "resolution." This year I just want to be healthier and continue to be crafty. I hope to post at least once a week some of the different projects I've been working on.

So....here goes....

My first project for 2015 is an altered cabinet. I purchased the unfinished cabinet from my local Goodwill.

I figured it would be perfect altered with Graphic 45's French Country paper collection.

I started by taking apart the cabinet by removing all the hardware. I then painted all of the wood with black acrylic paint.

Next I measured all the sides and pieces of the cabinet. The height of the cabinet is taller than the paper in the 12x12" G45 French Country collection. So for the longer sides I used a piece of the rooster and hen border to cover the seams between paper strips.

Once I had finished cutting and laying out all of the pieces of paper I wanted to use, I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain ink. I used Mod Podge for furniture to adhere the paper to the painted cabinet. Using a plastic putty knife I pressed out the extra glue and any air bubbles.

I covered the doors as well. The larger square door was easier than the smaller heart doors. I used an x-acto knife to trim out the heart openings.

Once all the paper was adhered, I let it dry for about 2 hours. After which I covered every edge with the Mod Podge to seal it. I waited another 2 hours before installing the hardware to the doors.

I really like the wired piece that came with the cabinet and tacked it back to the larger square door.

Next I adhered pieces of paper to the backside of the cabinet to enclose the shelf. I did this to both the top and bottom portion of the cabinet.

Then using a cereal box I created a back to the cabinet using black cardstock.


My next step is to create altered pieces to place in the cabinet. I'm so excited to have finished this cabinet as it has been sitting in my "To Do" bin for a few months.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my first project for the 2015 year.

#Graphic45, #G45, #French Country

What's Black and White with Accents of Red?

Good Morning!

It has been a busy few days. This week I'm on vacation from my full time job. I have decided to devote most of this vacation to my crafts and art. I have finished two altered jewelry boxes and a few cards so far.

Adam Bagni has been busy drawing and designing digital stamps too. I will be posting these digital stamps in the Butterfly Garden on Friday. 

But back to the topic of this post....

What's Black and White with Accents of Red?

This jewelry box!

I used paper from Cloud 9 Designs called "71382 C9 NS Glitter Paper Pad 24sh/2s" and Core'dinations smooth black cardstock.

Originally the jewelry box had wood dowel handles. I cut them off and sanded the area smooth with sandpaper. I removed all the hardware and put them in to a ziplock bag. I then painted the entire wooden jewelry box with Apple Barrel "2043 White" acrylic paint.

With the top of the box removed, I began measuring and cutting pieces of paper to line the inside and outside of the top. I cut the pattern paper to be 1/8" smaller than the black cardstock. I ran each layer through my Xyron Create a Sticker and adhered them together. I used this adhesive to adhere the paper to the painted jewelry box.

Inside the cover there is a mirror. I used an X-acto knife to cut angles in the paper to create a seam between stripes of layered paper.

I used Mod Podge for Furniture to seal the paper to the painted wood. I covered every nook and cranny of the top (except the mirror). I set this aside to dry.

Next I began cutting pieces to cover the rest of the outside of the jewelry box. Again I cut the pattern paper 1/8" smaller than the black cardstock.

I measured and cut around the edges of the jewelry box where the drawer cut our is located. 

 I continued this process with the drawer and tray. Every surface once covered with paper including the bottom trim was sealed with the Mod Podge.

Once the Mod Podge was set I cut and lined the bottom of the tray and drawer with velvet paper in red. I used two clear drawer knobs that I purchased from Michael's to accent the front of the drawer and the jewelry box. I placed a red rhinestone inside each of the knobs and sealed it with E6000. I used the E6000 to adhere the knobs to the front of the jewelry box.

Once the jewelry box was dry, I used rhinestones to accent the top of the box and strips of velvet paper to accent the inside of the top. 

 

I then reattached the hardware. 

I hope you enjoyed stopping by and seeing this project.

Happy Crafting!

Steampunk Banner Using G45 and the Cricut

Good Morning Everyone,

Above is the Steampunk Version of a Halloween banner I saw on Xyron's Facebook page a few weeks ago. I love the original banner. So I decided to first make my own Halloween version then I decided to create a Steampunk version. I used paper from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante collection along with cardstock from Core'dinations. The keys and hot air balloon are from the Victorian Romance Cricut Cartridge.

The quote is from Edger Allen Poe; one of my favorite authors.

Here is a picture of the original banner I saw on Facebook.

I thought it was very cute, and something I could create with my Cricut and the Happy Hauntings cartridge. So here is a picture of my version of the Halloween banner.

I used paper from Die Cuts with a View and various embellishments I had in my brad and rub-on drawers. The pattern papers are inked with Walnut Stain Distress ink by Tim Holtz.

I hope you find this inspiring and create your own version of the banner.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Steampunk Morning

Good Morning!

It's finally Friday here in New Hampshire. I woke up this morning wanting to watch Return to Oz. If you  haven't seen this movie you should. It's a great 'what-if' movie. Anyway...

Last night was a great night at the Steamy Swan Society's first movie night event. We screened League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The event was a hit! We had about twenty-five plus people and plenty of goodies including popcorn (a movie staple), warm brownies, cookies, soda, and mini pies. As a group, we look forward to having more events like this in the future. We are currently working on a Masquerade Ball, Victorian Tea, and a Murder Mystery Theater.

I'm so happy to find people in my area that are into the culture/genre that is Steampunk. So this post has some of my recent projects that incorporate aspects of the Steampunk world.

Steampunk is basically a what-if scenario. What if technology didn't progress the way it did? What-if everything was still powered by steam? This genre takes on properties of popular fiction during the mid 1800's through about 1910's. Julies Vern for example.

3D Mandala using Assorted papers and Embellishments

A paper pin for the Mystery Murder Event

A card for a time traveler (i.e. Birthday)

Love Graphic 45 paper

  Thanks for stopping by and reading. Have a great day!

Steampunk Altered Art Shadow Coffin

Good Afternoon Everyone!

It's sunny and hot here in New Hampshire USA. Laundry is drying in the sun and I have finished another Steampunk themed project. I bought the coffin at Michael's and the paper from Stamping Memories in Belmont NH.

This item is available on ebay

Front of the outside-

 Inside the coffin-

The pattern paper is from the Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante collection. I used some of Tim Holtz's Wild Honey distress ink around the edges of the paper.

I used denominational foam under the flowers in the left side of the coffin and the corset on the right side.

The charms are jewelry pieces in my collection of embellishments. The loop opens to add more charms or to change the assortment. I spray painted the gears using Krylon paints.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Trace Adkins and Martina McBride Concert 2010 Book

In March of 2012, I was able to go to the Trace Adkins and Martina McBride concert at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. I purchased the tickets for my mom, Crystal, and I online. Then counted down the days.

The concert was amazing! I was able to get some beautiful professional quality pictures. However, the pictures sat in a box until this week. Finally I was able to place in motion the ideas for a mini book that were wondering around my head.

I used paper from Rusty Pickle and the Paper Element to create the final book. Here are pictures of the book as of today.

I used some of Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink on some of the pages for Trace Adkins. 

I used some of Tim Holtz Tattered Rose Distress Ink on pages for Martina McBride. 

I used brads and other accents to fill in large spaces. 

Each of the pages has the chorus from one of the songs each artist sang.

I kept the pages simple and left room for journaling...I think this may be a present for my mom this Christmas.