My First EVER Altered Cigar Box

Recently over at Mini Album Scraps, okay well maybe about a month or so ago, there was an altered cigar box swap that opened and I was curious to try my hand.  School has been demanding and hard so I was not able to join in a swap, but my friend Jules and I decided to do our own swap with one another with a little more time.  I sat and sat and sat for some time thinking about what I wanted to do, and then trying to do it.  I went through TWO cigar boxes trying to get the effect that I was looking for.  In case you are wondering, that awesome glue crackle technique...... not so much on cigar boxes, at least I didn't have any luck.....  After some time, and much love, thought, and labor, I came up with this:

 I really struggled with this box as I wanted it to be fun but grungy.  The roses are I Am Roses that I dropped distress ink reinker on and then soaked with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  The large flower was made using some Graphic 45 Romantique collection, Tim Holtz's Tattered Floral Die, and a tutorial I found on the web.  But the main piece of inspiration was this:

When I had dreamed up this box, I had wanted there to be a french memo board in the recess of the inside, so that little things can be tucked into this treasure eve after the goodies inside are taken out and placed in their proper places...

The memo board was made using fabric and lace I had on hand, some satin ribbon in my stash, and the round things are actually brads I made using the iTop Brad Maker (which I LOVE).  These were placed into the board by punching a hole at the intersections of the ribbon, placing some strong fabric glue in the back of the brad and then putting through the hole and securing in the back.  It was super easy and fun to make!  I hope that the recipient of this little guy loves it as much as I do.

Have a fun and crafty day!

Stylish Pin Storage

Today, I am going to start off talking about Mini Album Swaps (of course, what else would I talk about?)  One of the swaps that I have been participating in fairly regularly is the Stick Pin Swaps.  A stick pin swap is basically getting some pretty floral pins, adding beautiful beads to them and then swapping them.  It is a lot of fun, and gorgeous pins are everywhere in scrapbooking right now.  And to be honest, you can make tons of different stick pins with very minimal supplies - so it's a fun, cheap embellishment as well.  With that said, although I have only done a few of the stick pin swaps (2 at this point) I have TONS of pins already.  And the pins are just beautiful, so I wanted them to be visible.  Thus arouse a need for a stick pin pin cushion. But it could not be any pin cushion, it had to be a beautiful one, that fit my style and decor.  I wasn't quite sure how to make them, so I did some research, and came across this YouTube video.  Watch it, it's totally worth it.

And this is what I came up with:

 And a close up of all the beautiful embellishments

Rather than using fiber fill, I used some decorative sand that consistency of emery sand from michaels.  They sell it in the floral department.  It is heavy and thick so it holds my pins nicely.  I got everything I used on coupon, and still have enough sand fill to make another pin cushion!

I have to be honest, this little guy took me a while.  After placing the silhouette piece on I wasn't quite sure what else to do, but it definitely looked very unfinished and ugly.  But it sat on my shelf waiting for the right inspiration.  Well a few days ago while digging through some of my stuff, I found that little Carpe Diem tag and thought it would go perfectly.  I had had the beautiful feather pin already in mind, but it didn't go well with what I had so it too sat.  However, once I put the tag on, everything fell in to place and I had a finished pin cushion.  I am so happy with the way it turned out.

Supplies: Mini Brown Bucket (Michaels); Brown fabric (Joann's); Green and Brown Trims (from my mother); Flower (Prima); Silhouette (from Korean Market); Feather (Feather Accents); Metal Tag (Creative Imaginations); Bling (Michaels)

The continuation of my Swapping Addiction: Toilet Paper (TP) Mini Albums

You may not be able to tell yet, but I am addicted to swapping.  After the stockings I created, I decided to join more swaps, and more swaps, and more swaps.  This next share, came from an online forum community I like to hang out at - Scrapjazz.  I have been here for years, I feels like almost an eternity really (and not in a bad way).  Anyway, one of the awesome ladies over there, decided to organize a TP mini album swap (Thankyou Lindsay such a great idea!).  I didn't really have a use for a TP mini album, but the idea sounded like so much fun, that I just could not resist!  We were matched with partners, and all of them had the same theme "Favorite Things" - each album was different as they were based on the preferences of the partner - My partner was Lindsay.  She likes the colors Black and Pink - and this is what I came up with:

The nice part of this project: EVERYTHING was from my stash and scraps - seriously, I did not have to crack a single piece of brand new unused paper or other supplies.  If you have lots of scrap paper you want to use up, I suggest making TP mini albums.  Not to mention that you get to repurpose those TP rolls that you just through away.  Seriously, I'm pretty sure I am hooked on this whole swapping thing.  It is a Blast.  And to give a little shout out to my partner (Virginia) who sent me mine (which I LOVE) here are some more beautiful TP mini album pictures:

 I am in LOVE with that handmade flower, it's gorgeous! and Pretty!

 Isn't that Owl just the cutest?  I love it!

 Love those tags!  They all look the same, and they ALL look perfect.

Altred Scrapbook Cover

Just a quick share, of something I did a few years ago...... before I knew about blogging of course.  Well here it is

An altered album.  It was originally red, I tore the cover off and left the spin intact.  I then took serendipity squares cut in 2x2 inches and adhered them to the front and back of the album using Wacky Tacky Tape.