Summer Projects - Mini Albums and Journals

Hi all,

Hope you're all having a great summer...the weather has been very hot here, in fact to hot some days to work in my craft room.

It's been a while since my last update, and I've been working on many new projects and ideas. I'm now addicted to making junk journals, and I've joined a group on facebook called Junk Journal Junkies, which I've got so much inspiration from all the ladies there :)

So here are some photos of some of my projects.

File Folder Photo Book/Mini Album

Hi Crafters!

I love looking at YouTube videos to find inspiration for my craft projects, there are some very talented ladies on there. A really easy project I saw recently was a little mini album that was made from Manilla folders. So, as I had some Kraft folders laying around I thought I'd try this...you could also use free papers from a magazine to cover the pages, which is a great way to use those papers that are hanging around in your stash.

You can find tutorials to make the file folder albums on YouTube from Dawns Inspirations and The Paper Addiction.

This is what I made, it has a sewing theme.

Happy New Year & Update

Happy New Year Friends!

I thought it was about time I did an update on my blog, before it disappeared in to cyberspace for ever!
Last year was so busy, as I started renting a shelf space in a local gift shop, to sell my crafts. I also opened an online shop on wowthankyou, ( there is a link in the right hand bar if you'd like to check it out). Sales are trickling in slowly, if I keep up with social media promotion... that does help I think!

I'm hoping to really go for it this year with getting more products in both outlets. So, I'll try to keep you updated with all that.

I've added a few photos below of projects I worked on last year.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I really appreciate it, please leave a comment if you wish.

Altered Notebook

Notepad Holder with Calendar

Altered Jewellery Trinket Box

Inside the box

Vintage Grungy Paper bag Album

Inside pages to add photos

Shabby Chic Altered Clock - Photo Tutorial

I altered this clock for a DT call for Lavish Laces on You Tube.

This is how the clock looked to begin with.

I took the clock apart, and sanded it, then painted it with white acrylic paint & Linen paint.

I tore strips of the Prima Fairy Rhymes paper and adhered them with Mod Podge, to give a textured effect.

I used a sponge brush to add white acrylic to the clock face, to give a shabby look.

I sprayed the entire clock with my homemade spray paint in red & pearl to give a pink effect.

I embellished the clock with WOC flowers & lace, & other embellishments from my stash.

I had a lot of fun altering this clock, and hope to do another one soon, but maybe more grungy!

Have a lovely day, & please let me know what you think!

Melanie x.

Altered Craft Projects I've Been Working on!

Hi Friends,

Here are some altered projects I've been working on for challenges:

Lace container for Zenderlee's March lace challenge on Youtube

Altered box using Prima Fairy Rhymes paper for Sabrina's challenge on Youtube (craftychica87)

A card for Sabrina's challenge too.

Altered cookie cutter for a challenge on Paper Craft Planet

I'd love to hear your comments on these projects!

Have a nice day, Melanie x.

Altered Shabby Chic Frame with Wild Orchid Roses

Hi, blog readers, hope you're having a lovely day!

I haven't blogged for a while as I'm really busy getting ready for my first craft event in March. My son's school is having a Treat Yourself Day, which will include crafts, jewellery, nail art etc. The event is been held at Wisbech Grammar School, Wisbech, Cambridgshire on 16th March 11.00am - 3.00pm, so if you're in the area on that day, why not come along. I'll be adding full details of the event on my facebook page nearer the time.

Shabby Chic Altered Frame.

I decided to see if I'd have any luck in finding some things for crafting in my local charity shops...and I was very pleased to find some nice frames for altering, some pretty lace, jewellery and a book box Yay!! So, the altered frame in the photo was my first find.

I painted the frame with white acrylic paint, then I used Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in Scattered Straw to cover the front of the frame, you can see a little of the crackle paint in the last photo, but I did end up covering most of it. The papers are Romance Novel from Prima, which are absolutely gorgeous!

I hot glued some beige lace around the edges of the frame, wrapping it around the back. I then used some flowers and leaves from Wild Orchid Crafts to embellish the frame. This was my first order from WOC and I was very impressed with the quality, and reasonable prices.

I tucked a tiny piece of crochet lace behind the flowers, which was from a larger vintage cloth. I sprayed the whole project with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl to add a light shimmer to the frame, then sealed it with Mod Podge in matte.

If you have any questions or comments please leave me a message. I look forward to hearing from you :0)

Olde Curiosity Shoppe Altered Box

I'm really getting into altered art at the moment, I think it's probably a natural progression for most scrapbookers to move onto. When I heard about altered art, I thought I'd have to be an artist to try it, but in fact it's very accessible to any crafter. You can easily learn new techniques by watching You Tube videos.

I also love steampunk and vintage at the moment, so my next project has that kind of theme. I couldn't get the Graphic 45 Debutante papers, which have the steampunk theme, so I used The Olde Curiosity Shoppe 8x8 pad by Graphic 45. These papers are like nothing else I've worked with, they are so easy to use and distress...and are very detailed with vintage colours.

List of Materials.

Cardboard Gift Box
White acrylic paint
docrafts acrylic paint in Pearl
Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe 8x8 pad
Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad Walnut & black ink pad
Prima flower
Square lacy die cut from my stash
Black braid trim from haberdashery shop
Lace from my stash and old belt buckle

I used a cardboard gift box, that was given to me at Christmas...the type you can buy in a card shop. I painted it with white acrylic paint and docrafts Artiste acrylic paint in Pearl.

I covered the box with the Olde Curiosity Shoppe papers, distressed the edges of the box and paper with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut. I fussy cut some pictures from the papers and inked the square lacy die cut on top with black ink.

I added a Prima flower, skeleton leaves and a little bit of lace from my stash. The sides of the box were covered with black braid trim, an old button and a belt buckle from the 1960's.

I'd love to hear your comments on this project.

Have a lovely day,

Melanie :0)