Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
So have been saving various heart boxes, square boxes, round cardboard boxes, square tins, altoid tins, and now I even acquired a lunch tin (with advertising on the side) with the intention of altering them. Now that my "to be altered" box is overflowing.......SOMEONE HELP!!
I am afraid that it will just turn out bad.......and it will just look like someone tried to cover a tin. How do you alter an item? Certain adhesives? How do you measure to correctly and line up to cover edges and seams???
I checked in the "everything but a card" gallery here but it doesn't really say HOW to do them??
Please help me put a dent in my "to be altered" pile!! I even saved some huge magnets to be altered!!
__________________ We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.
Here is a link to a great site with all kinds of ideas and instructions for altering stuff. I'm sure you could get a jump start on altering here. The first thing I ever altered was a composition book, and truly, it was not hard. My first one had some "glitches" but I learned with each project as I went along.
go to CARDZ TV and scroll down a few videos and see her altoid mini albums.Proof postitive you can alter anything. you can also search on YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. for more ideas. and go for it.
Stick down your paper with modpodge or other kind of decoupage glue and smooth out any airpockets and decorate with any flat embellishments and then put a coat (or even two if it's going to be a well used item) on top of the paper as well. You don't need oodles of the modpodge as it will make the paper buckle but just a thin layer will do.
aaaahhhhh......you gave it a coat of paint first......THAT is what I need. AND the modge podge......yes, I think those are things I knew I was missing.
I was wondering how to get the paper RIGHT up to the egdges and look good around the handle of the lunch tin......well as I look closer, the handle will pop right off and I can paint it and pop it back on!!
Thanks for all the links/ideas ladies......I guess I'll never know unless I try!!
Here goes nothin............
__________________ We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.
I do a lot of altering. I love ALL paper crafts. I have several tutorials also. The links to the tutorials are in my gallery posts. Here are some of my items:
I guess I'm not the only one that's collected items to alter and is now doesn't know what to do with them. I also have the fear that the items won't turn out very well. Thanks ladies for the great ideas.
__________________ You never know how strong you are until strong is the only choice you have.
go to CARDZ TV and scroll down a few videos and see her altoid mini albums.Proof postitive you can alter anything. you can also search on YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. for more ideas. and go for it.
I scrolled and scrolled and scrolled, but didn't find the altering blog. Did I miss it, or is it further still? Can you tell me the date? That would help in my search. Thanks so much.
The best way to do something is just do it. I would start with a plain box or the altoid tin as they are easy peasy. For the box measure the sides, cut a piece appropriate, and adhere it with any adhesive. Use a different piece for each side. That will help build your confidence to use advanced techniques later.
For the altoid tin, put it face down on the paper you want on top. Trace and cut. Adhere.
For the sides use 1/4" ribbon. Use redline tape to adhere. Put the tape on first, then the ribbon on the tape, do not put the tape on the ribbon and then put on the tin (you can but it's easier the other way.) Make sure you start 1/2 way between the hinges and end there to so the ends will be in the back and not the front.
When you are done with that, use bling, flowers or a smaller bumped up image to accessorize and decorate the top. This can be decorated just like a small card. I like to take a piece of square cardstock about 1/2" small than the tin size (were it a rectangle) and then use my corner rounder to round the corners. Then I stamp, decorate, etc. the cardstock and adhere to top bumped up with dimensions on top of the DP. Think twinchie or ATC when decorating!
Stick down your paper with modpodge or other kind of decoupage glue and smooth out any airpockets and decorate with any flat embellishments and then put a coat (or even two if it's going to be a well used item) on top of the paper as well. You don't need oodles of the modpodge as it will make the paper buckle but just a thin layer will do.
I am going to have to try this! I want to alter some Altoid tins.
I do a lot of altering. I love ALL paper crafts. I have several tutorials also. The links to the tutorials are in my gallery posts. Here are some of my items:
They are free and I put my stickers and scrap paper in them. I love them especially for going to crops.
1. Cut the envelope flaps off.
2. Choose your paper.
3. I just take my ATG gun and put down some adhesive.
4. Put paper on envie and trim.
5. I even have decorated them with cute stickers.
6. If I want them to really be tough (this sounds crazy) you can cover front and back with wide postal tape from Duck. My dad was crazy for the silver duct tape so maybe that is where I got it!
By the way, I have made a lot of goofs. Just chalk it up to experience and move on.
I also love to alter file folders, and folders that students use for school to put their homework in. Just follow the instructions above.
Hope this helps and my directions weren't to detailed!
Beaglelover
Last edited by Beaglelover; 04-02-2011 at 04:05 PM..
Reason: language clarification
I'm going to have to go to the supermarket today. I'll be checking out what the Laughing Cow Cheese boxes look like - lol. Bet their sales increase suddenly.
One of the grocery stores near me stocks things in the oddest fashion... the little mesh bags of the solid Laughing Cow cheese is at the front, in the fancy cheese case (LOL, that's what I call it) by the deli and the spreadable Laughing Cow cheese wedges in the box are in the normal dairy case. No clue why.
I just love this site! I always feel like the only person who isn't talented and who can't make things perfect and easily. Then I come here and find out I'm not alone.
Thanks ladies, I too have a cupboard full of stuff to alter but am afraid to jump in. I am going to give it a try this weekend.
Have your ever altered something??
Fantastic!
