Up-cycled 3 Ring Binder to a Scrapbook

Welcome! If you are hopping along with us today you should have come from Simplyprice.blogspot.com.
If you aren't already a follower of my blog, I would love to have you follow me.
The hop order is;
My Craft Channel mycraftchannelblog.blogspot.com
Tifany DeGough with special guest Midge Hammon Inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com
Abigail Stoops scrapbookista.com
Michelle Price with special Guest Justina Nadolson simplyprice.blogspot.com

This is a project not only inspired by, but using many products purchased on My Craft Channel. I really can't narrow it down to one episode because I have learned so many tips and techniques watching all sorts of episodes.
We were getting rid of some 3 ring binders at work (they had been well used and were falling apart). I decided to try salvaging the back piece that houses the actual 3 ring mechanism. When my October "Kit of the Month" arrived from My Craft Channel, I knew this was the perfect project for an all day crop.

Here are the results. 

The October "Kit of the Month" was all about the home. We just moved in, and I had put a lot of thought into making our home feel warm and inviting. I want to document what really makes a house feel like a home. 

The front of this album is a chipboard house shape sprayed with Color Shine spray (by Heidi Swapp) glued to a square piece of chipboard that was also sprayed. 

I cut 2 square holes in the house piece so I could make little windows with pictures in them. The windows are covered with clear acetate for the glass effect.

The old silver binder rings are visible on this type of up-cycle so I tied assorted ribbons to each ring to give them a little personality and color. 

The back of the original binder is covered with wood printed paper, and the edges are sealed with gaffers tape so that none of the original binder shows. I left the pocket on the inside back for momentos. 

Here are a couple of the inside pages dedicated to our Home. 

Honestly, I cried when I got this kit in the mail because the sentiments and sayings on each piece really touched me. The paper is double sided and beautiful, the ribbon and buttons included are adorable. they really do a great job of putting a delightful bundle together. (No, they don't pay me to say this, I mean it! ) 

Thanks for stopping (or hopping) by.

Happy scrapping! 

Tiny Canvas Frame Accordion Album

This is a project I totally dove into, with items from My Craft Channel Kit of the Month (Echo Park paper and stickers, My Minds Eye embellishments, Miss Caroline baker's twine) and featuring our Grandson.
I had this nice block of uninterrupted quite time at home (rare) and lost  myself in color, paint, and sweet memories.

Front of 4x4 canvas

Inside view- see brass hinges and mini shadow box.

I think it's really cool how the 1/2 inch depth of the little canvas makes a tiny shadow box on the left side. The accordion album is tucked into the right side.

 Materials used;
Two 4x4in Artist Canvas (stretched over wood and pre-gesso primed)
Echo Park papers and embellishments
My Mind's Eye Wood button
3 ft Seam Binding
A bit of Muslin
Acrylic Paint
Green Crepe Paper
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink with Close-To-My-Heart Stamps (that I won from MCC!)
Plaid's Dimensional Magic
 A set of tiny brass hinges
 Quick Quotes chalk ink in Amaretto

If you want to try this at home, learn from my mistakes. The hinges are very difficult to put into the canvas, so ask a handy husband, and do this first, otherwise your album may get damaged while trying to do it afterward. Next time I will just hot glue ribbon as a hinge.
Paint the canvas LAST. It was hard to stamp or stick paper to canvas after the flat surface on the outside had been altered. Make your accordion fold mini album and stick it in first. MCC has a few tutorials on making an accordion fold m ini album- View Melissa Francis, Heidi Swapp, Or Teresa Collins past shows here. mycraftchannel.com/Shows/

Mr. Tweet (T.P. roll recycle challenge)

My Craft Channel posted a "What can you do with toilet paper rolls? " challenge a couple of weeks ago. This is one challenge where my imagination took flight. (Pardon the pun). Anyone remember the Tiki Room song from Disney World? "In the Tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,  in the t.p. t.p. t.p..." kidding.

So I started with a couple of cardboard toilet rolls, craft paper, wooden spools, scrap trim, 3 in1 glue, hot glue, Heidi Swapp Color Shine, chopsticks, washi tape, baker's twine and some google eyes.












1) Cut 2 strips of paper into 6 inch long, t.p. wide strips.
Cut a third color for the beak, half as wide, but 6 in long.

2) Glue paper to cardboard rolls with 3-in 1 glue or a strong craft glue. Hold paper together with paperclips while waiting to dry.

3) Punch holes in the bird/animal (horse?) where the hanging strings (baker's twine), neck and legs will be. Depending on the weight of your construction, this spot may change, so you can test if it hangs right by using a bit of washi tape.(It is re-positionable).
The length of your marionette's neck and legs is up to you. If you want to make a four legged puppet, you may want them shorter.

4) Cut, fold in, and hot glue the beak in place, then the back of head in place.

5) Color Shine in Fuscia and Gold Lame was used on the tail feathers which are an old cotton tassel, and on the feet which are wooden spools.

6) Hot glue on the tail "feathers" and "plumage, the eyes, and the spool feet. I used small tassels for plumage as well.

7) Put dots of hot glue or 3in1 wherever the strings and hole are to give it a solid hold during active play.

8) Attach the string to two chop sticks by tying in place, then holding in position with washi tape (you will need help from someone for this). The chopsticks in this picture have been wrapped in matching washi tape just for a bit of color.

DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE, I forgot to punch holes and put string through before sealing up head and body going back to do it later was kind of messy.

Can't wait till the little guy comes over to play, he will love it!

Melissa Francis Give Away!

My Craft Channel and Melissa Francis have a contest right now to win $200 worth of beautiful Melissa Francis things!
Just click here to enter, and check out her "how to" episodes while you are there.
MelissaFrances_Giveaway