Glorious Graphic 45 Altered Art Week: Day 4!

Hello G45ers!

Welcome to another day of fun here at Graphic 45! We're continuing this spectacular week in celebration of altered art! Our design team has created the most dazzling projects to share with you. Today we're featuring some gorgeous works of altered art by Sherry Cheever and Melanie Forbes. There's even a great tutorial by Melanie Forbes that you're sure to love! Altered Art is a spectacular way to create unique and gorgeous crafts. They make wonderful gifts and are perfect for home decor. With so many diverse ways to use altered art, why not make something special for yourself or someone you love? Today you will see some beautiful pieces that are sure to get you in the altered art spirit. So lets get to it!

This first piece of altered art was created by Sherry Cheever and features our new collection Little Darlings. Sherry used the Graphic 45 5x5 Kraftboard Altered Art Box and adorable Little Darlings Papers to create this precious work of art. You can also see Sherry's beautiful paper flowers and the Graphic 45 Metal Tag Staples that help make this box such a bundle of joy!

Supplies:

Graphic 45 Papers:  Little Darlings Collections – Precious Poesy, Heaven Sent, Cherished, New Arrival, Little Treasures and Peek-A-Boo
Graphic 45 Staples:  Metal Tags; 5x5 Kraft board Altered Art Box
Spellbinders:  S4-128 Classic Squares SM, S4-126 Classic Squares LG, LF-005 Grand Peony Creations, S5-086 Bitty Blossoms, Grand Calibur
Imaginarium Designs:  Large Flourish and Tulip Flourish
May Arts:  1.25” 100% Silk Ribbon in Ivory
Ranger Industries:  Distress Stickles in Peeled Paint and Clear Rock Candy; Distress Stain in Peeled Paint; Distress Ink in Antique Linen; Matte Glue ‘n Seal; Glossy Accents; Cut-n-Dry Stamp Pad Foam; Alcohol Ink in Aqua and Lemonade
Other:  Chipboard; Plaid Folk Art Vintage White Acrylic Paint; Pearl Corsage Pins

Next up is this stunning paint caddy by Melanie Forbes. This gorgeous caddy is all decked out in vibrant Steampunk Debutante papers. This is the perfect project for the avid crafter. We could all use some stylish ways to organize our crafting supplies. Why not create a sweet caddy like this one for your tools and paints? It will add an enchanting element to your crafting space! Melanie has even created a fun tutorial with terrific tips to create one of your very own. Take it away, Melanie!

Supplies:

Graphic 45 – Steampunk Debutante – Modern Marvels, Eclectic Emporium, Mechanical Mind, Time Warp, Ephemera Extraordinaire, Steampunk Debutante, Tags, Time Flies
Staples Trim
Twiddleybitz – Steampunk Gear border, wings small, Flying butterfly clock, Steampunk butterfly on gears.
Imaginarium Designs - cogs
Tim Holtz – Vintage photo distress ink, sprocket gears, bulbs, Word Key, Foundations metal feet, Baubles
7 Gypsy – Binding rings, Industrial gears
Clock hand piece
Unknown copper watch
Scales
Chain
Black Gesso
Helmar 450, Scrap dots, Modpodge matt

Steampunk Paint Caddy Tutorial:

Any piece you have around the home is easily converted into a masterpiece!! Here I had a tool /paint caddy which I picked up for a couple of dollars from a garage sale – it was plain mdf just waiting for me to scrap but did sit on my shelf for a couple of years just waiting on the right papers – Steampunk Debutante.

First of all –dust it off – and then paint it in an undercoat – most objects I alter I simply paint with black or white gesso and a foam brush – it provides a good cover and is cheap!!

My next step is to attach paper to the tool caddy – for the ends of this one I traced around it on the paper I wanted to use and then simply cut out by cutting just inside the traced outline. Ink all your edges first and I also adhered any other paper on top for layering prior to adhering to my tool caddy.

Then you simply “paint” the tool caddy side by side with Mod Podge then stick the paper to the project and paint another coat of Modpodge over the top again – you don’t need to wait in between coats for it to dry – I love to use the matt version so you don’t have a high gloss – the Mod Podge also acts as a sealer to help protect your project.

One tip though is to remember that if you have areas on your project there are slots or area’s for doors/drawers etc that you don’t add to much paint or layers so the working mechanisms still have room to open and shut….If not you will have to sand back these area’s to ensure you can still open doors or shut drawers or slide in barriers!

Allow to dry overnight then finally I simply add all my embellishments to finish it off – Voila

That's all for today, G45ers! Thank you so much for joining us for another day of altered art fun! Huge thanks to Sherry Cheever and Melanie Forbes for their beautiful projects today. We are having so much fun getting to share this inspiring week with all of you. There are more gorgeous projects in store on tomorrow's blog. We hope you'll join us! Have a terrific day!

With Love and Pretty Paper,

Your Friends at Graphic 45

Comments

[eyes2theocean]

My what beautiful works of art! The album is so lovely and the caddy s just amazing!!! :)

[julie Tucker-Wolek]

Wow wow wow! The DT never ceases to amaze me! These are both stunning!!

[Mary]

This is really awesome and so creative. Love the flowers and well..just about everything!!

[Carol Mc]

Wonderful creations.

[Orlie]

I was in a maze when I saw the Little Darlings picture frame!!!!! Just blew me away. I really love how the flowers came out .must try for me.

[Candy]

So beautiful, how can one actually use it?

[Pam Perkins Zirbel]

Melanie and Sherry!!! Crazy awesomeness!! I have a caddy similar to the one Melanie did..guess I will be re-doing it! Thank you BOTH for the inspiration!

[Annette Green]

Holy cow, that paint caddy is totally amazing! I need to hit the garage sales more often if this is the kind of stuff you find. I love it!

[Sheron N]

The caddy is a work of art I am so in love with it!

[wanda buxton]

Both pieces are spectacular.

[Deanna]

Awesome master piece!

[Jeyatha]

Love the paint caddy.. I really want to try making it..

[Sue W]

Two more fabulous projects. I especially love that paint caddy!

[Zena Harty]

The paint caddy is amazing!I have to dust off my mod podge.

[jocelyn]

Both of these projects are so awesome. I love the frosted flowers. So beautiful. And the art caddy.. so me.

[Bartemous Black]

Thanks for the Tool Caddy inspiration! I think there is a shelf in the bathroom that needs attention!

[jo west]

the creations are just fabulous, i love the box, so girly!!!

[Rosann]

I so love Sherry and Melonie's work...those flowers are absolutly gorgeous. Love the Steampunk !

[cat lacigale]

Love the tool caddy ! It is AMAZING !

[Carrie]

Incredible! Sherry and Melanie are fabulous!

[Jackie]

Beautiful!! Hummmmmm I wonder how my magizine holder would look in steampunk?

[Anne McIntosh]

Wowser! That's all!

[Brandy]

Love the paint caddy! It goes to show you can take a plain item and make it beautiful!

[Kelly]

The Darlings box is so beautiful and just perfect for baby keepsakes! And Melanie's caddy looks fabulous covered with the Steampunk papers! Awesome designs!!

[Dorothy McCarthy]

Fantastic!

[ava]

two great projects

[Patty Taylor]

Yum yum yum! Love love love!!!! WANT everything in your new lines. I may need to get a second job to support my G45 habit!

[Gloria Westerman]

These are so beautiful...I just wish I could find one of those caddy....that would be so cool to have....tfs

[karine]

Coucou, ces projets sont très beaux, bises

[Jan Hennings]

Beautiful altered art!

[fusiafscrapping]

Awesome!

[Ellen Haydon]

I really want to try my hand at the caddy project. I think I am out of my mind, but I usually am surprised at myself when I reach for something I don't think I'm quite ready for. That's why I love the papers and especially the talented people who suggest the great projects for us.

[many]

Magnifique, merci