Friday 23 September 2011

Berry 71 Bleu Guest Designer for September 2011 {Concertina Mini-Album in Altered Box}






***Wow, wow, wow!!  Just wanted to say THANKS for all the blog love girls - You just made my last 24 hours very happy with all the nice things you had to say about my frame - thanks so much!!!***

I had actually pre-scheduled this post but had to pop in just to let you know how much I appreciated all the comments & that I'll be coming to visit you all later tonight - right now I am running around buying paint & brushes as it's Spring here (yay!!) and the house is getting a new slick of paint!

I decided to use the second pretty tag provided to me by Marivic, of Berry 71 Bleu, to decorate this little box that I altered.  

It started off bright orange & frankly {as you can imagine} I'd tired of it!  
So I painted it dark brown, mixed with black, deep red & gold & love how it turned out.  
No special effects really - just patiently painting on the coats with time to dry between each colour so as not to end up with a muddy mess, and dry brushing on the gold at the end.

I am entering this in the trinket box challenge over at LESSOLOGY - a great new challenge blog dedicated to "doing more with less" co-founded by my great bloggy friend Yvonne.  So go & take a look there as you still have a week left to alter a little box & get it linked up :)


Marivic sells these tags from her Etsy store here & everything is already added, so they are great for really snazzing up a project quickly & easily!

She sent me some extra matching buttons so I tucked those in underneath & around the tag here & there 
& added a gold skeleton leaf & a Making Memories glittered frond & that was that - done!


It was actually SO EASY to do this project that I felt like a kinda lazy Guest Designer :) 
so decided to make a concertina mini-album to put inside it to give my Mum-in-Law as a Christmas gift.


I'm not the most prolific mini-album maker - as you know - and for this one I actually made the entire album myself using dark brown Bazzill Cardstock.  
I have no idea if I made it "correctly" as I designed it myself but it looks good & it functions so that's good enough for me!


I measured up the box & cut the card down so that, when folded, each square measures .5cm smaller than the box, so that it can be removed easily, otherwise it would have been to snug a fit.
I stapled that pull-tab between 2 layers of card so that the album concertinas out when you put your finger in there & pull.


Notwane (pronounced Not-waan - ee) is a place in Botswana, just outside of Gaberone, where we often go on vacation, with my DH's mum & step-dad, as they live in Gaberone.


Granny loves taking the kids for walks down to the river.  
Chelsea was going through an "I'm too cool for river walking/teenage phase at the time so unfortunately doesn't feature in this album!


This is what the album looks like outside of the box.  It is a chunky 2 inches thick so that it takes up all the depth of the box & fits A LOT of photos.



16 photos all together & all in the same series - it's times like these when a mini-album is just what's needed :)



I didn't want to add any dimension, so the album would close completely flat, so just added a few older Making Memories sentiment stickers & some basic grey doodly rub-ons.



I know that Granny will love this album as the river walks are a very special part of her day with her grand-kids when we are holidaying there.



I used some inks to distress the stickers a little as they were a bit stark to begin with.



That's a genuine sunflare there top left - NOT added in in Photoshop :)



Zaphira the cat comes too & is rather photogenic!



Just 2 years ago & the kids looked so LITTLE compared to now...


Supplies List:-

Box - repurposed
Tag - Berry 71 Bleu
Buttons - Berry 71 Bleu
Skeleton Leaf - LCS
Gold frond - Making Memories FaLaLa
Paints - Making Memories Asphalt, Chocolate & Red Wagon
Gold metallic powder - Barco
Modge Podge to seal - Mr. Hooks

Mini-Album


Bazzill Cardstock - dark brown
Gold metallic powder paint - Barco
Braid - Making Memories
Brown & burlap flower - Prima
Brad - stash
Alphas - Webster's Pages Storytellers
Rub-ons - Basic Grey
Staples
Inks - Color Box - Creamy Brown & Yellow Cadmium




29 comments:

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

I don't see you mentioning it here....but I may have missed it as I'm using my phone....but I hope you will consider entering this in lessology! Its perfect for it! If you are entering and I missed reading that here...forgive me :):):) either way..this is stunning! I loveeeeeeeee all the details and textures and loveeeeeeeee the fold out photos! Gorgeous! :):):):):):):):)

Lea said...

WOW Helen this is fabulous! The box is beautiful, but the mini album inside... how cute is that! And a great idea! I'm sure your monther in law will love this!!!

Amelia Khalik said...

Amazing work helen!!! The box is gorgeous and the mini album..perfecto!!! A great gift for grandma indeed! :)))

Mitralee said...

I think by far this is one of my favorite projects of yours. And, why why why did we let Sponge Bob escape to your country! So sorry! Your little miss is super cute!

Kerryn said...

What a great idea Helen! Not only have you given new life to an old box but you've made it into a wonderful gift too. love it!!!

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

WOW!!!! I am looking at this with my mouth wide open!!!! What a project!!!!!
(clapping!!!!)

Sabrina Scrapbook said...

Wow Helen, these are TRULY wonderful projects! I love the dark color in the background, and I have to say I SO adore the accordian album. I used to do accordian albums a lot before I began blogging :) About the envelope album you asked, that's from Melissa Frances, the envelope album is originally plain. Hope I have answered your query ;) Enjoy your weekend there. I am having a hard time with office work huhu!! Take care yeah!! xoxo.

Cynthia Lloréns said...

Helen this is STUNNING !
The box is beautiful, but the mini album inside... how cute and gorgeus is that! And such a wonderful and a great idea!
You are a very talented girl and I feel so honored to work with you!!
Thanks for always coming to my blog and leave so many nice and sweet comments.
You make me a very happy person.
I wish a wonderful weekend.
Kisses and huges from Brazil
Cynthia

Diana said...

Very fabulous mini album.
I wish I had the headspace to take on and complete one...

sandi said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! The box is stunning! I absolutely LOVE what you did here...and then the mini book...oh my...gorgoeous, gorgeous gift! The pics look fab too!

Jasmine S said...

OMGoodness Helen. This is just sensational. Wow, you have done so much work with this and it is just sensational. I LOVE IT.

topkatnz said...

Very cool indeed - well done:) I hope it's well appreciated.

scrapbookertink said...

Hi Helen how adorable, love it, take care, Doreen x

Unknown said...

You are not just an amazing artist..you are also one amazingly, talented photographer! The accordion album is just gorgeous, but the pictures inside? priceless....love it!

Eila Sandberg said...

This is smack on brilliant Helen! The photographs really are amazing, have to echo Marivic about them. Just plain fantastic! Love the album too and how clever to conjure it up just like that, so totally shows how fabulous you are!! WTG girl! Mwah!

Desire Fourie said...

Stunning little project and I am sure the recipient is going to treasure it forever.
Desire

Alison said...

Brilliant project Helen...your MIL will love it!
Alison xx

yyam said...

Wow! What a stunning creation Helen! Love all the beautiful details and the mini inside! You've certainly given a new lease of life to an old box while pleasing your mil...:)

Thanks for joining us at LESSology! :)

Bellaidea said...

looks great! and yes, kids get bigger to easy :)
Thank you also for your visit :)

Audrey Pettit said...

How fabulous! What a gorgeous altered box and mini album! I just love that accordion-fold album. And such a beautiful box to go with it. Love that vintage tag and the dark chocolate color. This is going to be one awesome Christmas gift.
Thanks so much for joining us at LESSology.

Heather Jacob said...

wow Helen this is totally sensational I saw it on the berry71Bleu blog and fell in love with it ... stunning idea to add the book .... love it to bits .. Hugz x
I found some I did awhile back ... with a little book and tags inside... you have inspired me xox

Angi Barrs said...

WOWZA...What a super fabulous creation. Love the paint that you used. The elegant details and the tag are so pretty. Thanks so much for joining us at LESSology for our altered trinket box challenge

Yolande (pronounced you-land-a) said...

Your box and concertina album are absolutely fantastic! So love the tag, your paint work and other beautiful elements that you've added to the box. The photos are divine and I think Granny is going to be super pleased with her special gift.. :)

jax said...

Gorgeous! granny will certainly LOVE this and the photo's really capture the tranquil mood that goes with the obvious beauty of the area.

Lynnda said...

hey ...Helen.... I found you!!! and I am your new follower... gorgeous blog... so many beautiful things to see.... I love those projects you made... they are very inspiring and gorgeous indeed!!!! you are amazing crafter....awesome... hugs...xoxo

Lynette Jacobs said...

What a wonderful project...see I told you...you're great at off the page projects.

~amy~ said...

a-mazing work...your style is absolutely fabulous! Your altered box is WOW...hard to believe it started off orange! Your mini is gorgeous....such a great set! Thanks for joining us at LESSology!

lisa said...

Helen this is amazing. Just gorgeous
: )
Thanks for joining us at LESSology! x

Denise Price said...

I love all the details in this beautiful projects. You did a good job showcasing that gorgeous tag, and your photos really shine in that lovely mini album.