mini me

hello crafters,
brace yourself, this is going to be a long post. . .
i made a coaster mini album using coasters that i purchased at michaels. i named it mini me becuse it's a mini album that's all about me (clever right-lol!)

so let's get right into the mini.
the first thing i needed to do was cover the coasters.

COVER THE RAW EDGES OF CHIPBOARD USING DISTRESS INK IN WALNUT STAIN (YOU CAN SKIP THIS STEP IF YOU WANT, I'M GOING TO EGGE THE SIDES AGAIN ONCE I COVER WITH PAPER)

USE A CROP A DILE TO PUNCH A HOLE

I CHOSE DESIGNER PAPER FROM MY MINDS EYE'S STELLA AND ROSE COLLECTION THE GRETTA 6X6 PAPER PAD

TRACE THE SHAPE OF THE CIRCLE AND CUT OUT THE DESIGNER PAPER WITH SCISSORS

TRIM EXCESS PAPER WITH A CRAFT BLADE

SMOOTH EDGES USING BASIC GREY'S PRECISION FILE SET

USE DISTRESS INK IN WALNUT STAIN ON EDGES

CIRCLES CUT USING COLUZZLE AND EDGED WITH DISTRESS INK IN WALNUT STAIN. FLOWERS AND RHINESTONE FLOURISH BY RECOLLECTIONS, VELLUM DIE CUT K&CO ABRIANNA COLLECTION

BANNERS CUT FROM DESIGNER PAPER, FLOWER CUT ON CRICKET USING GEORGE AND BASIC SHAPES, BUTTERFLY IS MARTHA STEWART 3 IN 1 PUNCH, VINE GLITTER STICKER IS RECOLLECTION

CUT SIMI CIRCLE AND ADHERE TO MAKE POCKET. TRIM BY RECOLLECTIONS ADHERED WITH HOT GLUE. FLOWERS BY RECOLLECTIONS. CUT TAGS FROM DESIGNER PAPER. RUB ONS ARE K&CO ABRIANNA COLLECTION

I LOVED THIS LEDGER PAPER AND REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO COVER IT (SO THIS WILL BE A PERFECT PAGE FOR JOURNALING) SCALLOP BORDERS CUT WITH MARTHA STEWART PUNCH, FLOURISH IS A LEFT OVER SCRAP

CUT LEFT OVER SCRAPS INTO STRIPS, DISTRESS WITH WALNUT STAIN DISTRESS INK, USE FISKARS SCALLOPED SENTIMENT PUNCH, STAMP IN CORNER OF JOURNALING BLOCK IS INKADINKADO, BUTTERFLIES ARE MARTHA STEWART 3 IN 1 PUNCH, RHINESTONES ARE RECOLLECTIONS

CUT STRIP AND 1 1/8 INCH AND 1/4 INCH WIDER STRIP TO MAT THE PAPER. PUNCH CIRCLES WITH CIRCLE PUNCH, EDGE WITH DISTRESS INK. FLOWER AND RHINESTONE FLOURISH ARE RECOLLECTIONS

CUT SEMI CIRCLE LAYER FISKARS SCALLOPED SENTIMENT PUNCH. FLOWER CUT ON CRICKET USING GEORGE AND BASIC SHAPES, RHINESTONES ARE RECOLLECTIONS, BANNER CUT FROM DESIGNER PAPER.

I really enjoyed making this mini. I'm hoping that I'll get a new tripod and some new video editing software for christmas and i'll do a video tutorial on the next mini that I make. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog, if you have any questions please leave them in the comments. 

blog ya later,

avgscrapgirl 

my craft journey part 3

hello crafters,
welcome to part three of my craft journey. this is all about mini albums and altered projects. i group these two paper crafting style projects together because they use similar supplies. what i love about altered projects and mini albums is the dimension that you can put into your projects. with standard albums that have page protectors it's best to have supplies that are flat, for me when it comes to mini albums the thicker the better.
transitioning from scrapbooking and cardmaking to altered projects was interesting for me because it really expanded what i considered a craft supply. i was no longer limited to the "scrapbooking" isles in michaels. i was now browsing in the wood section and even the wedding section of the store looking for supplies. when it comes to altered projects you can alter or embellish anything you'd like.

 this part of paper crafting is all about thinking out of the box-you're no longer restricted to a 12x12 layout or an A2 sized card, the possibilities are endless.

common altered projects include: picture frames, cigar boxes, jewelry boxes, notebooks, favor boxes, stick pins and tags to name a few.
mini albums: as the names imply are smaller than the traditional 12x12 or 8x8 albums. Usually they're 6x6 or smaller. you can use a 6x6 album, but it's more fun to grab some chipboard and make your own album. it can be square or a circle or any shape you can die cut.

the other thing i love about altered projects are swaps! you can join a swap site and enjoy making new friends and exchanging beautiful projects with each other. 

so here are the tools you'll want to add to your collection to get into altered projects and mini albums
tools

• glue gun-a wonderful adhesive that's strong and quick drying and helps secure heavier items. 
• kraft mat-if you didn't get one for cardmaking you're for sure going to need one now. to keep your cutting mat or work surface from getting stained. 
• paint-perfect for coloring natural wood any shade you'd like
• paint brushes
• distress inks-another item you may already have if you picked it up while cardmaking. i primarily use walnut stain and vintage photo, but you can collect and use as many colors as you'd like. 
• medium and lightweight chipboard. most scrapbooking stores sell 12x12 sheets of medium weight chipboard. i purchase mine at www.bluemoonscrapbooking.com. you can SAVE MONEY on lightweight chipboard by using cereal boxes-you're going to paint over or cover them with paper so no one will ever know it used to be a cheerios box. 

now for the splurge items.(check out part 1 of my craft journey for tips on stocking up on splurge items) 

• die cutting/embossing machine like the big shot, vagabond, or cuttlebug
• embossing plates and dies. 
• sewing machine

• cinch or bind it all

supplies

• textiles: fabric or felt
• feathers/leaves/sprays
• charms/jewels/pearls
• trims/ribbons/sequins/twine
• tags
• rhinestone flourish
• border stickers/chipboard stickers
• bookplates/nameplates
• dimensional sitckers
• glitter/shimmer : perfect pearls, glimmer mist, smooch spritz, and stickles.
• crackle paint

brands that i love

• graphic 45
• 7 gypsies
• recollections
• tim holtz
• websters pages
• sizzix

now for a little inspiration, check out these youtube channels for amazing inspiration.

• livelovescrap
• mybutterflykisses12
• followthepapertrail

thank you so much for traveling along with me on my craft journey. the best part is that once you get to the end you can cycle back and start all over again, mixing and meshing different techniques and skills you've learned from each phase along the way. it's all about having fun and enjoying this hobby i love. 

k&company abrianna recipe box

hello crafters!
for my latest altered project. i altered a recipe box that i purchased at michaels with k&company's abrianna collection. you can watch the video below or over at youtube. . . enjoy!



thanks for watching
vlog ya later
avgscrapgirl

picture frame for my niece

hello crafters.
today i'd like to share a picture frame i altered for my niece.
here's a picture of the before. . .

and here's a few pics and a  video of the after. . .

 

thanks for watching!

vlog ya later,

shawnte, the avgscrapgirl

julienne butterfly tag

hello crafters,
this is the first altered tag that i've ever created. i had so much fun working on this. i used k&company's julienne collection to alter this ranger tag.

the white ribbon is tim holtz, the butterfly is recollections, i created the flower using prima flowers, and added a recollections yellow mulberry paper flower to the center. the bling is also recollections

i love the torn and rolled edge technique-it gives the tag a shabby chic feel. and i distressed the tag with rangers worn lipstick. tucked under the torn paper are flower die cuts by k&company

i did another torn edge across the top middle of the card, it's a fun way to layer, the pearls are recollections,and i really love the gauze behind that tim holtz ribbon it's so delecate and dainty-really adds a beautiful touch to the tag.

i had a lot of fun making this, if you haven't tried making tags give it a shot, its really fun to try something new.
thanks for looking.
blog ya later,
shawnte, the avgscrapgirl

what's in your vintage purse swap

hi crafters!
ok, so a few posts ago i gave you a sneak peak at the recent project that's made my craft desk a collosal mess. i participated in a swap hosted by bona, who is livelovescrap on youtube.

the wait is officially over, check out my video below. . .






thanks so much for watching. i worked really hard learning the vintage shabby chic theme, and i hope that my swap partner really loves her purse.

i also sent some bonus goodies with her purse that i didn't include in my video, so when she posts her video i'll be sure to link, in case you want to see what she got in her RAK. and if you don't know what a RAK is-well, first you're not watching enough youtube, and second it's a Random Act of Kindness :)

vlog ya later,
shawnte, the avgscrapgirl

happy NSD & a sneak peak

happy national scrapbooking day!
i spent my day working on my vintage shabby chic purse for Bona's purse swap. it was a perfect craft day. i have just a bit more work to do and i'll be finished.
i made the purse using graphic 45's curtain call collection. here's hoping i nailed the vintage shabby chic theme! i should have a video posted next week. until then. . .
here's a sneak peak. . .

hope you're having a great NSD!
blog ya later,
shawnte, the avgscrapgirl

cosmo cricket everafter altered box and mini album

hello crafters,
today i'd like to share the very first altered box and mini album i've ever created. i made this box back in february, but because of technical difficulties i'm just now uploading it to youtube.

i owe a big thank you to bona at livelovescrap and arlene at mybutterflykisses12. i'd never thought of altering anything until i happened across their youtube channels. these two ladies are so talented, and i've really been inspired by their hard work.

as you'll see in the video i did give them a "shout out" LOL! :) however, since making this video bona is now following my blog! and my youtube page!! and i'm participating in her what's in your vintage purse swap!!! (if you can't tell i'm so super EXCITED)

i hope you enjoy the project





thanks for watching!
vlog ya later
shawnte, the avgscrapgirl

altered picture frame

i'm still pretty new to altered projects, and it's so different from standard scrapbook pages and cards-and i'm really loving it.

you may remember this picture frame below from my michael's haul video, and it's amazing what a little paint and a few embellishments can do.
check out the video below, and don't forget to check out my new youtube chanel avgscrapgirl! and if you've been following me at m1y4l3o please switch over :)




vlog ya later,
shawnte the avgscrapgirl