I put together this darling recipe card holder in less than 4 hours! It uses altered paper bags as its pages. Although I bought this as a kit, it’s a great way to use up some of those paper scraps you’ve been collecting. I added lots of little touches here and there that weren’t in the instructions. There are lots of slots to place your recipes cards. The book uses lots of textured materials such as textured paper,burlap canvas and wood.

Cork and Paper Embellishments on the Front Cover

I’m already planning my next altered paper bag book. It will have a very different look from this one and will be filled with different types of goodies. I’ll be sure to include full instructions as well. I got this kit at our local scrapbooking store. Now all I have to do is fill it with recipes.

Thanks for taking a look!
Christine

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Loofah Soaps

We then went to make a rose loaf soap made from shea butter soap and organic roses. So pretty!

Shea Butter and Organic Rose Soap

It was a great day teaching Mansi how to make bath bombs,bath salts and lots and lots of soap. These little aliens in spaceships are really soaps!

Lost in space alien soaps

These are some bath bombs Mansi made. Have you ever attended a creative workshop like this just learning new things? It’s a lot of fun but it’s also very satisfying learning a new craft or skill. I hope you enjoyed looking at these handmade goodies. If you’re learning a new skill or craft right now I wish you many hours of crafting happiness!!

Make Beautiful Things……..Christine

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Trio of Altered Bird Houses

I used lots of fun glitter to them. To get get good glitter coverage and spread Mod Podge on and pour the glitter over. The Mod Podge worked great. I also used Mod Podge for the the Little French Bird house.

This Little French Bird House I covered with scrapbook paper, ribbon and buttons from the French General.

The Little French Bird House

These houses were covered with glitter and decorated. I gave a little bling to my bird.

My bird has some bling!

My little Christmas Bird house is embellished with paper and garland.

Speaking of glitter I found these beautiful glitters over at createforless. They have so many beautiful colors and in those beautiful bottles too.

Vintage Glitters

I hope you enjoyed these mini bird houses. When I make the rest I’ll be sure to post them.

Christine

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Week One Challenge New Years

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With the holidays upon us you can make some quick stunning gifts with a few items you have around the house. I’m sure most of us have some clay pots around or if you don’t you can go to the Goodwill (that’s what I did) and get a few for fifty cents or less. In my previous post I made some quick and easy glittery snowflake soaps, so to make my soap presentation a bit more dramatic I made this altered pot to present my snowflake soaps in.

Here are the supplies I used

1. Clay pot

2. Martha Stewart Pearl Paint in Aquarium or other blue or blue-green color
3. Acrylic Paint in White

4. Craft Sponges

5. Recollections Glitz or other white glitter

6. Scrapbook paper for rosette

7. Rubber or Acrylic stamp (Let It Snow)  for banner on rosette and small piece of white paper for the banner

7. Metallic Pigment in Silver and Light blue Pigment Ink

8. Silver Wired Ribbon 1.5 inches wide

9. Glue Gun

DIRECTIONS

1. Paint your clay pot with your white paint. Let it dry and repeat this 2-3 times until your pot is covered with paint. Be sure to paint the inside too.

2. With you sponge paint brush, brush on the Martha Stewart Pearl paint. While the paint is still wet sprinkle some glitz on the top of your pot.

3. Make your rosette.  Make it large to fill up the front of your pot.

4. Paint on some of your Metallic Silver on the sharp edges of your rosette.

5. Make a bow to go behind your rosette.

6. Cut a 1/2 inch by 5 white piece of paper and make your banner shape at the end (see photo) Stamp with the Let It Snow stamp and edge it with the light blue pigment ink. Glue your banner behind your embellishment and glue your rosette and embellishment together. Now glue bow behind your rosette.

7. Glue your bow/rosette about a third down on your clay pot. You’re done!

Now you can fill it with those beautiful snowflakes we made in the last tutorial or use fill it up with some pretty glass ornaments.

See you next post!

Christine

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