Pamela’s Gallery

This is the bday card I made for my good friend Carole. Once again, I recycled, and reused; this time the packaging from an embellishment set from JoAnn’s ETC.

Here’s the card:

And here are the step by steps to create one of your own!

• Making the shaker box backing:

Take a package of embellishments that have plastic packaging, remove everything but the plastic packaging…:)

Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to same size as the cardboard backing . Make SURE it fits the plastic part. This one has an edge on the back, which I left in tact, so I could slide my piece of paper into it.

Since my corners are round, I used a corner rounder on my piece too. Stamp and decorate it.Ink the edges with co-ordinating ink (if desired).

Stamps used: Butter/Dragonfly, Turtle (greenery)     Inks: Cat’s Eye Color Box Chalks: Lavender; Ranger Archival Black         Colors: Shimmerz-angel wings

• Finishing the shaker box:

Using a dryer sheet, wipe the inside of the plastic cover out. (helps keep the glitter from sticking where you don’t want it)

Try as I might, I could not get this shot to come out….basically I added the glitter and some Happy Birthday confetti to the inside of the plastic piece.

Using adhesive that dries clear (I used liquid glass) run a line of it all the way around the edge of the plastic.

Here’s a little tip: When you have a bottle of something (like liquid glass) that ALWAYS clogs, even when you store it upside down, tie a long needle to the top of the bottle with some thread. Use the needle to unplug the clog, and just wipe it off. The thread keeps the needle from getting lost, and it’s ALWAYS there when you need it!

Carefully slide your cs backing into place. Smooth all the edges, and make sure it is adhered all the way around. If you have any gaps, the glitter will come out! Wipe up any excess adhesive. (I used a paper towel, barely dampened.)

Clip all the edges with whatever kind of clips you have. I’ve shown you clothes pins, paper fastners, and even a mini clamp. The all work, just be sure you have it clipped all the way around.  Set aside to dry.

• The Card base:

Stamp the card base.  For this card, I decided to use a Tri Fold Card base from Paper Reflections. But I only cut a mat for the outside fold.  I left the inside fold white, and stamped directly on it.

Inside fold: Stamp sets used-Butter/Dragonfly, Fly (phrase)    For the greenery, I used a wc pencil and just sketched them in there. (click the close up photo for a larger, close up view)

Outside fold, or FRONT of card:  Stamp sets used: Distress dots backgrounder Inks: Color Box Chalk-Wisteria, Cat’s Eye-Lavendar

• Create greeting piece:

Stamp bday phrase onto a white scrap of cs, and trim to size. Ink edges, and mat with co ordinating cs.

Punch a small hole in one side. Add dotted ribbon (JOAnns) This ribbon is not double sided, but I wanted the dots to show on the front only, sooooo:

Flip over, and twist the ribbon, so the pattern is facing front. Flatten with your fingernail, and use the clear adhesive to hold it in place.

Use adhesive:

Use adhesive as a weight…lol……place the bottle on top of the piece, until it’s dry.

• Putting it all together:

Take your coordinating cs that you cut to fit earlier (I know, I didnt’ show you a pic of it…but here’s one) and adhere it to the card base. Make sure you leave some border so you can see your pretty distress dots bg! I chose to tear the edge of my cs, and ink the edges.

Add the greeting piece.

Now to add the shaker box! Just apply adhesive (I used my tape gun) to the cs backing on the shaker box, and position on card front.  Viola! You are finished!!

Hope you’ve enjoyed this fun recycling  project!!

TFTI!

Pamela

Trash to Treasure:

By Vicki Parson for FireCracker Designs by Pamela

 

As the economy is in the shape it’s in, especially around the Holidays, we are now more concerned as ever trying to stretch our dollars.  I’m going to show you some terrific ideas that you can use with your common “trash” that you throw away all the time!

 

Step 1.  What I’m going to work with for this tutorial is a 11.05 oz. empty container of a Folgers coffee container, an empty matchbox and a 35 cent 3×5 notepad that I pick up from time to time at the dollar store.  (I haven’t used it at all, but it got “beat up” lying around and I would never give someone a “torn up” note pad!)  (As you can see by my “trash”, I do have a color theme going here which is red & black…see below!)

 

Step 2.  We are going to start by measuring the size of the coffee container.  Now, you can see that I did not cover up ALL of the sides because there is a small hump at the top and bottom of the sides.  I do not recommend trying to cover this as it’s too hard & it will never stay in place anyway.  So I have used those “humps” to my advantage here.  Make sure that you pull tight as you are covering.  I recommend using an ATC gun or a very strong adhesive like red line tape to cover all paper to your “trash” as it will stay on better.

 

Step 3.  Now you will be using the same or coordinating papers to cover up your notepad front and match box as well.  I just used some of the left over sheet that I used on the container.  **idea:  Don’t forget that you can also use your left over wrapping paper to cover your “trash” for an awesome look too!!**

 

When I started to cover my matchbox, I attached the paper to it using the same seam as what the cardboard was on the box for a nice finished look.  (I did not cover the insides of the box, but you could certainly do that as well for a “matching look”.)

 

You can see here how I chose to cover up the notepad & matchbox with my papers that coordinate with my coffee container/gift container!  I did leave the top of the notepad with the wire binding without paper as it’s hard to get the paper between the wires, but check out the pictures below where I show you how to cover it up nicely!

 

Step 4.  Now that you have all your papers covering up your “trash”, we still have to cover the top of the coffee container for a finished look & because there is still “logos” showing on the lid!  So what I did was just take my giga scallop & mega circle punches and punched out some more decorative and matching papers and glued on top.  I also added a nice glittery black flower with a rhinestone brad in the middle of it!

Step 5.  Now the FUN part begins!!  Now that everything is covered, you can start stamping some fun embellishments to dress up your paper covered TREASURES!!  I used the Doodles 7-Crazy 4 Paisley stamp for mine.

 

All of the images were colored with some Copic Markers, cut & punched out what stamped images I wanted and added them as desired to my projects.  I also decided to place some yellow stickles in the middle of the red flowers for a bit of sparkle.

 

Step 6.  For the matchbox, I also made some note cards to place inside for the gift recipient.  The ones here measure approximately 4” x 2 ¼” when folded.

 

You can see in this picture that the note cards fit nicely inside the matchbox.  I believe that the matchbox will hold about 6 of these note cards.

 

Step 7.  After you have embellished your matchbox, notebook & container as desired with paper and images, you can take your LEFT OVER pieces of ribbons you may have lying around and tie them onto the wires at the top of notebook!  As you can see, this gives a nice finished look to your project!

 

FINISHED!!  In this picture, you can see all of my finished trash…er I mean TREASURES completed and ready to give as a special gift to someone or keep for myself!! J  No one ever has to know that you keep trash and give it away as a gift!!  As you begin this journey, you will start to find more and more trash to turn into treasure and you will become a pro!  Here are some other ideas to get you going:

Pop tabs as buckles!

Old dictionary for ephemera in your projects!

Use pop cans & a die cut machine for metal die cuts!

Use an old box, Poptarts for example, and cover up as shown here!

Wrapping paper for covering trash! 

Use candy wrappers on your cards!

Sandpaper for creating a “sandy look” on your projects!

Blank computer sticker address labels to stamp on!

Clothing tags for using on your projects!

Use old dryer sheets, cover with glitter and add to projects!

 

HAVE FUN being trashy!!

(My Thanks to Vicki Parson for a wonderful tutorial)