
Hello G45ers,
Altered art is a wonderful thing! It is such a great feeling to take something ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary! Today we are going to share two incredible ideas for flawless altered art! Both of today's crafts feature our gorgeous new French Country collection! We will be sharing a stunning altered treasure box by Susan Lui and a beautiful altered frame by Clare Charvill! Clare's project even comes with a fun and easy tutorial to show you how to make one of your very own! Altered art projects are not only fun to create but they make amazing gifts! Let today's fabulous crafts inspire you to try creating some pretty Graphic 45 altered art for yourself or someone you love!
Also it's Monday and you know what that means! It's time for a new Graphic 45 blog contest! In honor of today's splendid altered art projects we are giving away this magnificent French Country prize pack that has everything you need to create amazing altered art! We're giving away a French Country 12x12 paper pad, French Country Stickers, French Country Chipboard Die-Cut Tags 1 and 2, Small Matchbook Box, Stamped Metal Brads and new Regular Tag Album Staples! Wow! Just leave us a blog or Facebook comment this week for your chance to win! One random winner will be chosen from this week's comments and announced this Friday, March 29th right here on the Graphic 45 blog!

First up in today's altered art celebration is this fabulous altered treasure box by Susan Lui! We just love how Susan layered the French Country papers with pretty chipboards and embellishments. Doesn't that Ornate Metal Door Plate look amazing on top of this treasure box?!

Graphic 45 Metal Staples are just perfect for adding weight and flawless vintage charm to any altered art piece! Here is what Susan had to say about this superb box!
"The box is heavily-layered with multiple levels of distressed French
Country patterned paper, French Country Chipboards, Graphic 45 Staples
and flowers. The sides of the box are lined with patterned paper which
has been carefully pieced to appear like a continuous sheet, then dotted
with faux gold circles." -Susan Lui







Supplies:
Graphic 45 French Country papers - Grandeur, Rendezvous, Bon Appetit, Bonjour
Graphic 45 French Country Alphabet Stickers
Graphic 45 French Country Chipboard 1 & 2
Graphic 45 Staples - Ornate Metal Door Plate and Knob Staples, Metal Butterflies, Ornate Keys
Next we have this darling French Country altered photo frame by Clare Charvill. Just imagine what an incredible gift this would make for a friend or family member. Handmade photo frames are the perfect way to give a personalized and sentimental gift for someone you love. Or create one for yourself to add some pizazz to your home decor! Follow along with Clare's fun tutorial to create one of your very own. Take it away, Clare!
I thought I'd share a fun little project with you all that wont
take you too long to make and would make a lovely gift. I used two 12 x
12 papers and some of the new banners and flowers and tags that go with
the collection to make this fun photo frame and stand.

Supplies:
Graphic 45 Supplies
French Country pop out Tags & Pockets
Other Supplies
2mm Chipboard
Tacky Glue
Black Acrylic paint
2mm deep black foam tape
Tacky Glue
To Make the photo frame
Cut two chipboard pieces
Piece 1 - 6" x 8"
Piece 2 - 5 3/4" x 7 3/4"
Take
piece 1 and draw a line 1" in from all four edges. Cut out the centre
aperture using a craft knife to make your frame.
.
Put tacky glue around all four edges on one side of
the chipboard frame and stick to the cut apart side of the 12 x 12 Bon
Appetit paper . Trim paper down leaving 3/4" sticking out around all
four sides of your frame. Use a craft knife to make diagonal cuts through the paper between the opposite corners of the inside of the frame. Fold
each section back over the chipboard, trim and stick down. Now mitre
the corners of the paper to 1/8" from the chipboard - diagonal cuts
Starting with the longer sides, fold the paper onto the chipboard frame and stick down
At
each end of your longer sides flatten the edge of the paper in over the
edge of the chipboard pushing it towards the centre of the shorter
chipboard edges. This covers the corners and gives a really smart
corner to your frame.
Now fold over the paper along the shorter edges of
your frame and stick down to the chipboard using double sided tape or
tacky glue.
Take your smaller piece of
chipboard and a sheet of 12 x 12 Rendezvous paper. Cut out two pieces,
the first 6 3/4" x 8 3/4" and the second 5 1/4" x 7 3/4".
Cover one side of your chipboard with tacky glue or
strips of double sided tape and stick down centrally to your larger
piece of Rendezvous paper. Fold and stick paper as given for the outside
of your frame, and then put tacky glue or double sided tape around the
edges of the smaller piece of paper and cover the bare chipboard section
to finish off the back of your frame.
.
Now attach strips of black double sided foam tape
1/8" in from the edges around the two long and one short edge of the
back of your photo fram.
Take your back piece, and stick the
side that has the smaller matte on over the foam tape. Push the two
pieces of chipboard together firmly.
To make the Photo Slider
Take a
piece of A4 8 1/4" x 11 1/4" black card (250 gsm) and cut two pieces.
Piece 1: 4 1/4" x 6 1/4" Piece 2: 7 5/8" x 4 1/2". Cut photo slots
at the corners of the smaller piece, put double sided tape or tacky
glue around the edges on one side in between the slots and stick to the
larger piece of black card centring side to side and up 1/2" from the
bottom. Take two of the large red banners from the new banners pop
outs, ink the edges of both. Stick one banner (point downwards)
centrally to the front of your photo slider with about 1/2" sticking up
above the top edge of the slider. Then turn over and stick the second
banner over the top of the first. Slide into your photo frame. You can
change your picture easily as its not stuck to the slider.
.
To decorate the Photo Frame
Pop out
the pieces pictured below from the new banners and flowers pop out
sheets.
Cup the flower petals (working on the back of the flower) using
a ball tool and stick together, then position on your frame. See
Pictures below.
.
.
To make the stand for your Photo Frame
Cut
a piece of chipboard 8 x 10". With the shorter sides top and bottom
score at 4" down the length of the chipboard. Centre your ruler over
the score line and draw a line down either e from top to bottom. Now
draw a line 1" in from one of the shorter edges to make a T shape.
Using a craft knife cut out your T shape. Shape the ends of the three
arms with a round template, trim and then paint the chipboard piece
black.
All that's left to do is add you favourite photo and admire
We hope you all had a great time time exploring today's fabulous altered art! We want to thank Susan Lui and Clare Charvill for their beautiful work. We hope you'll join us tomorrow as we bring you more marvelous Graphic 45 inspiration to help brighten your day! We hope you all have a marvelous Monday! Don't forget to leave us a blog or Facebook comment this week for your chance to win that amazing French Country blog prize! Thank you again for stopping by our blog!
Happy Papercrafting!
Your Friends at Graphic 45
Tried to buy some of that gorgeous French Country locally today, but sadly there was none to be had :( So if i won, I'd be truly thrilled!!
Posted by: Shona | March 26, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Love the 'French Country Collection"!
Posted by: ValerieK | March 26, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Great projects, beautiful papers! Love it!
Posted by: Cindy | March 27, 2013 at 04:43 AM
Wonderful altered art projects! Thanks for the tips!
Posted by: Alina Igna | March 27, 2013 at 05:20 AM
Beautiful. Great inspiration.
Posted by: Joan | March 27, 2013 at 07:28 AM
Bon. Tres, tres, bon.
Posted by: Eugene Bellion | March 27, 2013 at 09:08 AM
These creations look fabulous - thank-you so much for all the deets and chance to win fabulous G45 products
Posted by: Paper Profusion | March 27, 2013 at 12:44 PM
both of these projects are fabulous! I so love it when the step by step photos are included so I can see how it comes to life. :)
Posted by: Jennifer Scull | March 27, 2013 at 04:05 PM
Beautiful work, really beautiful. True artist's
Posted by: Nancey Thomson | March 27, 2013 at 10:01 PM
Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb work!
Posted by: boutique new era | March 27, 2013 at 11:46 PM
Love, love, love these projects. Beautiful as usual and the tutorials are detailed and helpful!
Posted by: Jean Bullock | March 29, 2013 at 09:37 AM
Just love French Country Collection, and love the projects. I will be creating a few. Thanks
Posted by: Janice Heighway | March 30, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Flawless Altered Art make the simple things more attractive and more beautiful. The concept of making photo frame form card paper is admirable and it really look cool.
Posted by: Art Store | April 01, 2013 at 05:35 AM