Some of my Altered Art Projects

Pop Up Letters For Fleurish Box

In my last post I gave you instructions to make a Fleurish Box. My fleurish box has "pop-up" letters in the centre - here are the instructions to make the pop-up letters.


All you need is chipboard letters, I used TLC Monograms Outerwear and mounted them onto TLC Monogram Chips. Now get some small scraps of chipboard (about 1 inch by 1/4 inch wide), for the letter "R" I have used one strip, and for the letter "K" I have used 2 strips.

Score and fold these strips of chipboard at a 1/4 inch in and adhere the 1/4inch fold to the bottom of your chipboard letter so the letters can stand up on their own. Adhere the the 3/4 section of your chipboard strip to the centre of your fleurish box.

Instructions to Make a Fleurish Box

Fleurish boxes (or explosion boxes) are a unique way to display a variety of photos, they can be made for gifts or as a cool coffee table display. They look like they would be hard to make, but really they are quite easy. Here's some instructions to make your own.

Materials:
4 pieces of cardstock (or patterned paper)
Double-sided tape (or glue)

Instructions:
1. Choose 4 pieces of 12x12 Cardstock (you can also use patterned paper). If you want the lid to match the outside of your box, 2 of the pieces need to match.

2. (To Make Lid) Choose the cardstock you will use for your lid. Create your lid following this pattern this pattern.

1. Measure and trace according to pattern dimensions. 2. Score on dottod lines. Cut on solid lines. 3. Fold the centermost scored lines up towards you. 4. Tuck the extra flaps to the adjacent lid edges and secure with glue or double-sided tape. 5. Fold the remaining 3/4 inch down and secure.

3. (Making the box) Choose the cardstock for the outside of box. Do not cut, but score the paper every 4 inches (10.2cm) until 9 quadrants are formed. Turn to the side and score every 4 inches again. You will have 9 - 4 inch sections scored on your paper. Cut the four corners off so that the paper looks like a cross. (see diagram below)

4. Repeat process of step 3 with the two remaining cardstock sheets but in descending sizes - 3 3/4 inch squares (9.5cm) - 3 1/2 inch squares (8.9cm).

5. Layer your papers largest on the bottom to smallest on top. Glue the pieces together at the center square (see image in step 3).

6. Fold all pieces upward toward you to form the box.

7. Embellish each page with photos and other embellishments. Also decorate the outside of box and lid as you wish. The flower I made for the lid was made using the instructions from Aussie Scrap Source - Little Box of Love off the page kit.

To make the "pop-up" letters in the middle see my next post here.

Decorating Wooden Doorhangers

Materials:
Wooden doorhanger
Patterned Paper (I have used GCD Studios Rose Colored Glasses - Droopy Vines)
2 different coloured ribbon
Wire stem flowers
Letter stickers (I have used GCD Studios Letter Stickers - White Glitter)
Mod Podge
Sandpaper
Varnish (optional)

Instructions:
1. Paint your wooden doorhanger in your chosen colour, the front will be covered with paper so you only need 1 coat, do 2 coats of paint for the sides and back of doorhanger. Leave to dry.

2. Mark the outline of your doorhanger onto your patterned paper, then cut out your doorhanger shape. It doesn’t have to be really neat as we will sandpaper the paper later.

3. Using your Mod Podge adhere your cutout doorhanger shape to the front of wood doorhanger.

4. Once mod podge is completely dry, sand the edges to get rid off the overhanging paper, this is really easy to do and gives your end result a professional finish.

5. Varish or use your mod podge to seal the doorhanger. Wait to dry.

6. Once dry it is time to embellish your doorhanger. Get two lengths of different coloured ribbon and wrap it around the top of the hanger and tie a knot, twist two wire stem flowers around the ribbon at the knot. Do the same at the bottom of the doorhanger, if you tie the knots tight enough you shouldn't need to glue ribbon down, if the ribbon is a bit lose just add a little glue to the ribbon at the back of the hanger.

7. Use alphabet stickers to add your child's name to the center of the doorhanger.

Finished! You can decorate your doorhangers using a variety of different embellishments, here's a couple of examples using stickers, chipboard, ribbon and a photo.

Kids Chore Charts

Do your kids need some encouragement to do their chores or their everyday tasks? Then these Co-Ed Chore Chart Kits are the perfect solution to help your children get the job done.

I use one of these charts for my 5 year old son, just getting him to dress himself or brush his teeth is always a drama so I made his chore chart to get him to do these simple tasks with no drama - and its worked, I just have to remind him about the chore chart and he gets up straight away to go brush his teeth, eat his breakfast etc. Of course at the end of the week he gets a "reward" for his good work.

Each kit includes (2) 12x12 die-cut sheets, one blank chore chart outline, letter patterns, Poppin pieces, cardstock, embellishments and step-by-step instructions to complete your customized chore chart. Finished size is 10 3/8 x 12. Currently these chore charts are on special for $16.95.

Melanie

Pretty Boxes to Decorate

Simple and sweet, decorate paper-mache or wooden mini boxes with patterned paper and embellishments to create a cute little box to store mementos and bits and pieces, or you could even make a "mini-album" to place inside the box.

Materials:
Mini Box (I used a paper-mache box from Spotlight)
Paint
Patterned Paper (I used GCD Studios Zen Garden 12x12 Designer Paper - Cherry Blossom)
Ribbon (I used GCD Studios Zen Garden Self Adhesive Ribbon)
Flower Embellishments (I used Carolees Creations Foam Stickers - Together Flowers)
Flower Rub-ons (I used Flowers, Hearts, Sayings Rub-ons)
Mod Podge
Varnish

Instructions:
Paint the box and the lid, one coat on outside, outside will mainly be covered with paper, 2 coats on inside of box and lid.

Trace the lid of box onto your paper and cut out the circle, using mod podge adhere to top lid. Measure how high the side of your box is, then cut a strip to wrap around the base, my box was 14” in diameter so I cut a 12” strip plus another 2” strip to cover the gap made in the back. Adhere to base of box using mod podge.

Once mod podge is completely dry, gently sandpaper any excessive paper off the box. Use GCD Studios self adhesive ribbon on the outside of lid. Add flower rub-ons randomly to lid of box and then place Carolee's Creations Fowers on top of the rub-ons, use the title "Together" or you can create your own.

Gently spray a light mist of varnish to the lid and base of box (including the inside of box). Wait until it is completely dry before putting your lid on!

Embellishing Your Candles

Candles - everyones loves candles and they make a beautiful idea for gift giving, so why not make your gift giving that bit more personal by adding scrapbooking embellishments to plain candles.

In my candle example I have used flowers and ribbons, but you can use a variety of embellishments to decorate candles like rub-ons, charms, chipboard shapes or stickers. And you can also experiment with different candle sizes.


Materials:
Candle (any kind, I have used a scented candle).
2 lengths of coordinating self-adhesive ribbon (length depends on the size of your candle for the ribbon to wrap around). I have used GCD Studio Zen Garden Ribbon.
2 Flowers (the flowers I used had wire stems on them)

Instructions:
1. Get one piece of ribbon and measure how much ribbon you need by wrapping it around your candle. Once you have your desired length find the centre and twist 1 wire flower around the ribbon, now twist the second wire flower around the ribbon near the first flower, arrange flowers so they "sit" nicely.
2. Take the self-adhesive backing of the ribbon with flowers and wrap the ribbon around the centre of your candle, then wrap the second piece of ribbon around the candle directly under the first ribbon.

As simple as that!

Here is another candle I embellished using ribbons and stickers.

Photo Fridge Magnets

You can make this sweet fridge magnet by using a wooden coaster. Below you will find the instructions to make one of these magnets. You can play around with different patterned papers and embellishments to make gorgeous gifts for friends and family.

Materials:
Wooden Coaster
Patterned Paper
Flower Patterned Paper
Rub-on Words
2 Brads
Magnet
Mod Podge (liquid craft glue)
Sandpaper
Craft Knife

Instructions
Paint your wooden coaster in your chosen colour, the front will be covered with paper so you only need 1 coat, do 2 coats of paint for the sides and back of the wood coaster. Leave to dry.

Mark the outline of your wood coaster onto your patterned paper, then cut out your coaster shape. It doesn’t have to be really neat as we will sandpaper the paper later.

Using your Mod Podge adhere your cutout coaster shape to the front of the wood coaster.

Once mod podge is completely dry, sand the edges to get rid off the overhanging paper, this is really easy to do and gives your end result a professional finish.

Varnish or use your mod podge to seal the coaster. Wait to dry.

To make frame cut a square from the stripe paper 6/ ½ cm x 6 ½ cm and mark 1cm in at all 8 corners and make them line up to the 1cm marks to form the inside square to cut out. Use your craft knife to cut inside frame.

Get photo 6cm x 6cm and adhere to frame you just made. Adhere photo frame to your coaster.


Cut out 4 flowers from flower paper. Layer two largest flowers and pin together with brad, place on the top left corner of coaster overlapping photo frame a little bit. Add extra flower embellishments to bottom right corner of coaster. Add rub-on words to sides of frame.

Using your mod podge glue the magnet to the back of the finished coaster.

Here are a couple of other magnets I have made using different embellishments and different coaster shapes.

How to Decorate Wood Letters

Materials:

Wood Letter
Patterned Paper - I have used Carolees Creations 12x12 Patterned Paper - Winter Bullseye
Cardstock - I have used GCD Studios Rockets Red Glare 12x12 Cardstock - Freedom Stripe
Rub-ons or stickers for embellishment - I used GCD Studios Planes and Trains Rub-ons
Paint
Ink
Tools - Sandpaper, scissors, modge podge (or liquid glue), varnish (optional)

Instructions:
1. Paint your wooden letter in your chosen colour, the front will be covered with paper so you only need 1 coat, do 2 coats of paint for the sides and back of woodletter. Leave to dry.

2. Mark the outline of your wood letter onto your patterned paper, then cut out your letter shape with scissors. It doesn’t have to be really neat as we will sandpaper the edges later.

3. Using your Modge Podge adhere your cutout letter shape to the front of the wood letter.

4. Once modge podge is completely dry, sand the edges to get rid off the overhanging paper, this is really easy to do and gives your end result a professional finish.

5. Varnish or use your modge podge to seal your letter. Wait to dry.

Making Embellishments - From the cardstock cut out 3 circles slightly larger then your rub-ons, ink edges of all three circles. Using your popstick apply the rub-on bicycle, wagon and airplane images to the cardstock circles. Using double-sided foam adhere circles to the front of your wood letter.

Now that you know the basics of covering wood letters with patterned paper you can play around with different ways to embellish these wood letters. Ribbons and flowers are nice to use, or you can use ribbon to hang chipboard shapes and images on.

Pop Up Cards

Just add number stickers or alphabet stickers to gift cards to easily make a cute and interesting birthday card.

Materials:
Gift Card (homemade card or brought blank card)
Strip patterned paper about 2cm x 17.5cm
Monograms Numbers
Double-sided tape
Flour or powder to take the stick out of the monogram stickers

Instructions:
Get your strip of patterned paper and fold and adhere in half to make a thin 1cm wide strip. With the strip length ways mark and score the lines like the image below.

Now you need to turn this strip into a rectangle by adhering the two 2 1/2cm sides together.

Join the two sticker monograms together as close to the edge as possible and then rub flour or powder over the sticky part of the numbers and the dust the flour off with a cloth to get rid of the stickiness from sticker.

Adhere you number (21) to one of the long sides of the rectangle. Adhere the other long side of rectangle to the back of the open gift card so your numbers are standing in the centre of the card. Now you can easily open and close your card to reveal the popup numbers.

For a fun alternative you could even make your popup card's using 2 or 3 sticker shapes for wedding cards, baby cards and other special occasions .

Thinking Outside the Square

I do a lot of altered art projects, and when ever I see something I wonder how I can alter it! So when I saw two Nutella lids I knew straight away I could easily turn them into a mini album.

So armed with some scrapbooking supplies and modge podge I began creating a mini book on my trip to New Zealand. Here is the finished product - I think it turned out pretty good.

Now I just need to fiqure out what to do with this interesting Hubba Bubba Container!

Envelope Books

Heres a fun project for you to make. These envelope books are really easy to make and can be used to help you remember all important birthdays. Make sure you read all instructions first to get a feel for the construction of the envelope book.

Front cover of birthday envelope book


Open view of envelope book


Open view of envelope book showing the 12 calender pages that go in the envelopes

All measurements are determined by the size of your envelopes. The measurements I have used is for envelopes C6 (115 x 162mm). You can change measurements to suit your size envelope.

Materials:
TLC Hotfudge Birthday Kit
2x extra cardstock (for calender inserts)
White printer paper
Alphabet stickers
Chipboard
12 envelopes

Instructions:
Making Book Cover:
Step 1: Cut 1x piece of purple cardstock in half, it should be about 15cm (6") but measure because not all cardstock is exactly 30cm x 30cm (12"x12").

Step 2: With the white side of the cardstock facing up, mark and score both halves of cardstock at 14cm and 15cm. This makes the two spines for the book.

Step 3: With one half off your cardstock mark, but DO NOT score at 16cm. Then adhere the other half of cardstock at this 16cm mark. You want it so your envelopes sits nicely in the middle section of book.

Step 4: You now have the basic book ready, now we have to make the strip to keep book closed when folded up. This strip is made in the same way as the envelope book. Cut 2x strips of cardstock, 4 1/2cm x 30cm. Mark and score at 16 1/2cm and 18cm. With one strip only mark but do not score at 18 1/2cm, adhere 2nd strip of cardstock to first strip at this 18 1/2cm mark. Wrap your finished strip around your closed book cover and adhere strip together at back so you can slide it off the book.

Step 5: Decorate outside cover of book. Cut 2x pieces of the strip paper 14cm x 9cm. Adhere to to the left and right outside covers about 1cm from bottom. Cut 3x circles from chipboard (or use precut circles) and use modge podge (or craft glue) to cover chipboard circles with patterned paper, sand edges of circles for a smooth finish. Using foam mounting tape adhere present, cake and candle picture accents to chipboard circles and adhere to the top of the left outside cover making the candle chipboard hangover the right edge of cover. Using the alphabet stickers stick the word book to the arrow accent and adhere to bottom right of outside cover.

Step 6: Decorate inside of book. Cut 2x star patterned paper 14m x 9cm, adhere to the bottom of the left and right sections on inside cover. Cut 2x stripe patterned paper 14cm x 2 1/2cm and adhere to left and right sections of inside cover overlapping the star paper a little bit.

Now you have the basic book, you just need to add envelopes and calender inserts.

Adding Envelopes:
Step 1: Get your 12 envelopes and fold the (self adhesive) flap backwards on all envelopes.

Step 2: Starting with the first envelope adhere to second envelope using the self adhesive flap, repeat with all envelopes, until you have your stack of envelopes stuck together.

Step 3: Adhere the bottom envelope from the stack to the center section of your open book. you can cut a strip of patterned paper to place inside envelope to hide the blue part of envelope, but I decided not to as the calender inserts cover this.
Step 4: Decorate top envelope. Cut strip paper to the length of your envelope by 8cm high, adhere to top envelope 1.5cm from bottom. Cut the ribbon accent to the length of envelope and adhere to the bottom of the top envelope overlapping the strip paper a little bit. Cut 2 full star shapes and 1 half star from the star paper and adhere to the top envelope. Adhere "celebrate" accent to left of the top envelope.

Making Calender Inserts:
Step 1: If you like you can download the calender template that I used, or you can use your own calender template. Print calender months onto white printer paper and then cut out and adhere to cardstock, cut out. My measurements for each calender insert is 15cm x 11cm.
Step 2: Using the ribbon accent cut 12 sections and adhere to the back of each calender month at different intevals. Insert 1 calender month into each envelope.

Finished!!!

You can change the theme of your envelope to suit your needs, here is one I made for favourite recipes.

You can also make one to store cards, a babies first year where you can have a separate envelope for every month to keep photos and mementos, or make one for your child's school days.