Upcycle Week: Learn how to store your photos & twine in style!

Hello, G45ers!   

 Pull out your pretty papers, scissors, and glue and let's start creating!  This post features two upcycled projects by our Design Team members.  First, Kathy Clement gifts us a gorgeous Mixed Media Box filled with tags and photo mats all decorated with the new Vintage Hollywood collection. Plus, Kathy shares her genius tips on how you can create your own masterpiece.  Second, Marina BlauKitchen shares a fantastic and simple way to repurpose a matchbox into a cord, twine or ribbon dispenser.  So let's dive in and enjoy what can be crafted with Graphic 45 and a bit of leftover packaging.  

 

 

Born to Be a Star Box by Kathy Clement

"My mom loved old black and white movies, and I can remember lazy Saturday afternoons spent watching them together.  It was a special treat to eat lunch from TV trays in the living room while watching Tarzan and Jane, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, or  Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn transport us far from our little house on top of the hill.  The Vintage Hollywood collection brought back all those happy memories for me.  I wanted to pay tribute to that incredible era of movie making by creating an “off the page” project complete with a movie reel and filmstrip elements.  I hope you enjoy this homage to the glitz and glam of Vintage Hollywood." ~Kathy Clement 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip #1

Turn trash into treasure!  For this off the page project, I combined an empty ribbon spool and G45 Staples packaging tags with a square mixed media kraft box, a shabby chic ornate door plate, ATC policy envelopes and Vintage Hollywood papers.  The end result is a glamorous photo storage box.

  

 

Tip #2

I love to use black chalk paint to alter surfaces.  It is a drier paint, so it is less likely to warp paper, it goes on smoothly, and dries quickly.  You don’t have to sand before painting, which is another big plus.  I used it to paint my kraft mixed media box, the empty ribbon spool and my packaging tags. I also ran a black edge around each side of the kraft photo mount squares from the box.  It provides a nice, crisp border for your photos.

 

 
 

 
Tip #3

Turn ATC Policy Envelopes into interactive elements!  Cut a strip of cardstock to measure 2.5” long x 1” tall.  Score down the middle at ½”.  Crease with a bone folder.  Glue one flap to the back of your ATC Policy envelope and the other to the bottom edge of your photo mount.  Then use 3D foam adhesive (or waste chipboard) to add an image to the envelope front.  You can add secret journaling, small souvenirs, or photos to the ATC pocket and mount large photos behind.

 

 Tip #4

To create the movie reel “ribbon” I cut 1.5” widths of the film strip ribbon on the reverse side of the signature page.  Mist the paper lightly with water and gently wrap around a pencil.  The paper will curl, and while damp, can be easily twisted and glued onto your project.  

 

 

 

   Tip #5 

To create the “bun” feet for the box, I glued together two 1” diameter wooden bingo chips.  Then I wrapped them with Staples black/gold washi tape and hot glued onto the box base.

Tip #6

Use a felt applicator and Red Pepper and Terra Cotta Alcohol Inks to alter the Staples Metal Doorplate.  Then tap black chalk paint around the raised edges to provide contrast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic 45 Supplies: 

• Vintage Hollywood 12x12 Collection: Star Studded, Spotlight, Vintage Hollywood
• Vintage Hollywood 8x8 collection: Glitz and Glamour, Tinseltown
• Vintage Hollywood 12x12 Patterns and Solids
• Vintage Hollywood Tags and Pockets Cardstock Die Cuts
• Vintage Hollywood Decorative and Journaling Chipboard
• Vintage Hollywood Sticker Sheet
• Red ATC Policy Envelopes
• 5x5 Kraft Mixed Media Box with Cardstock Photo Mats
• Staples Washi Tape
• Shabby Chic Door Plate & Knob
• Staples Metal Packaging Tags

 

Other Supplies:

• Empty Ribbon Spool
• Black Chalk Paint
• Petaloo Red Anemones, Black Botanical Blooms
• Gold Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon
• 1” diameter Bingo Chips for Bun feet (you will need 8)
• Metal stars
• Red Pepper, Terra Cotta Alcohol Ink to alter door plate
• Tarnished Brass Distress Paint
• Black Cardstock, Glue, Double Sided Tape, Glue Gun, Foam Dimensionals

Upcycle Cord Dispenser Box Cityscapes Tutorial by Marina Blaukitchen

 

"I love to recycle and give new life to an object that could have ended up in the trash. In this case, a small box containing Christmas chocolates has become a very practical cord dispenser for when packaging gifts." ~Marina Blaukitchen

 

Check out How to Upcycle Cord Dispenser Box Cityscapes Graphic 45 by Marina Blaukitchen on Snapguide.

 

 

Tip:

Do not throw anything away that makes you think that maybe you can turn it into something nice, unique and different.  You may not do it immediately but surely the moment arises when that little box has its utility.  Study the structure of the piece, and think how you can make the most of it and how you can paste the paper and other elements to make it perfect

 

 

 

Graphic 45 Supplies:

City Scapes
City Scapes Street of Dreams
City Scapes Chipboard 1

Other Supplies:

A matchbox type box
Cord
One eyelet
One brad
Some ribbon

 

 

 

This week we are giving out a $40+ prize package that includes an Off to the Races 8x8 paper pad, 6x6 Patterns and Solids pad, Decorative Chipboard, Ephemera Cards, ATC Black Book Box, and Shabby Chic Drawer Pulls.  Wow!  To enter to win, just leave a comment here on our blog and/or Facebook page.  The winner will be announced here on the blog on Friday, April 21st, 2017.

Thank you for following along on our creative journey.  We love to see what people are creating, to keep the great ideas going full circle.  Be sure to share your ideas below in the comments and photos of your work on Instagram and Facebook using the #Graphic45 hashtag.  In the words of Albert Einstein, "Creativity is contagious, pass it on."

  

Happy Papercrafting!

 

Visit your LSS or order online today! Looking for Graphic 45 products?  Store Locator 

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Comments

[Sue MacFall]

Great projects as usual - particularly love the string box. My string is always so tangled, so this will keep it all safe & tidy. Thank you

[Diane Barnett]

Great tips - another reason to love Graphic 45!!!

[Donna Leutloff]

Love the Vintage Hollywood project...great idea with the ribbon spool! And what a practical way to keep that twine untangled!! TFS!

[Dorothy McCarthy]

Awesome!!!

[Kath White]

Love, love, love todays upcycles!! Great tips and awesome tutorials on how to create all of the element on these projects. Graphic 45 your products rock!!

[ava gavloski]

Great presentation by both DT members. Going to the store to buy some black chalk ink/paint

[Mary Holshouser]

Love the cord dispenser box.
Goes from utilitarian to gorgeous - and
it's still useful.
Great projects.
thanks for sharing.

[Sue LD]

Wow--the first project is fabulous--so many great details. Love the practical cord dispenser box.

[Caitlin Rebecca]

GREAT tips and inspiration!!!

[fusiafscrapping]

Marvellous!

[Vanessa LeClear]

Kathy's box is so pretty! And I love the clever dispenser box from Marina!

[Sandy Trefger]

Such a great idea for a string box Marina! And Kathy, your project is stunning! Love them both!

[Mathilde S.]

I love the cord dispencer box ,what a great idea.Kathy's creation is inspiring as well.I very much appreciate the great tips from both ladies.
Thanks G45 for a chance to win.

[Glenda Buster]

Great idea for a beautiful memory box and Vintage Hollywood is the perfect collection. More reasons I love Graphic 45. It brings back wonderful childhood memories and gives me beautiful paper to recreate them for my kids and grandkids to enjoy! I'm loving the card dispenser box! I tend to want to hoard those great, sturdy little boxes and this gives me a very beautiful and practical use for them!

[Shanta Newby]

I love this!!! Beautiful!!

[Martie Rollin]

Upcycling is a test of our creative abilities...and just look at the terrific results!

[Carla Hundley]

Fabulous projects,
wonderful upgrades.
Carla from Utah

[Louise]

I just saw that you are bringing back French Country and I am so excited! (I know this post wasn't about that, but I am just thrilled). Now, I just need to plan a trip to France to go with it :)

[Tina M]

Spectacular Projects! Oh I am so in love with the French Country Collection! I can't wait!

[Pat Ford]

Wow! Design team members are so clever! Both projects are super!

[Michelle Nettleton]

Both projects are eye candy. I'm very interested in the cord dispenser box. Wow that's all from me today.

[luclle Martin]

I'm so happy to find these projects just love these papers

[Joya Bohman]

LOVE, love, love the photo box!! It's absolutely gorgeous! Love all the details!! Its fabulous. The Vintage Hollywood paper is perfect for this project! Thanks for the inspiration 0n both boxes!

[Lisa Kubin]

Love all the details and the paper is fantastic!!! Great job!!!

[Laurie Bradshaw]

Pretty awesome box!! Thank you, Graphic 45!

[Elaine W.]

Love the creativity, all the designers are so talented. And thank you Graphic 45 for producing beautiful paper and staples!

[Cyndi B]

Such a lovely tribute to honour the time you and your Mom shared! Delightful! And what a treat to find such a sweet twine dispenser box! G45 continues to excel with their papers and designers!

[Karen Martin]

Love both of these projects! Good examples of how simple or how "complicated" you can go when upcycling. That Vintage Hollywood box is amazing, love the filmstrip & reel & the photo pages. And the matchbox cord dispenser, I can see on my desk. I think I have a box that will work & I am going to use "Raining Cats & Dogs", so fun! I will use it to dispense Baker's Twine. Thanks G45!

[Deborah Cox]

How cute are these!?!

[Kirsty Vittetoe]

Fabulous projects!

[Jan D., FL]

Was so glad to read about the chalk paint. I've been curious about it and will purchase some to try. Good info to know. Thanks.

Love the twine dispenser...very clever.

Great post again....TFS

[Debby L]

These, as all your design team's projects, are amazing.have you thought to make kits from some of these projectS?

[Frances Perkins]

love the projects thanks for sharing

[Sue Davis]

I'm so glad I found this blog!! I'm excited about all the inspiration that I know I'll get from all your posts!!

[Sandy Carroll]

Love these Upcycle projects. So clever! I especially thoght the film reel and film were wonderful.

[Deb Whitehouse]

Love the matchbox idea, in fact I just created one..adorable. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Amante del Papel]

beautiful project is stunning!