Category Archives: Shabby Chic Project Ideas

Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album

Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album Using Spellbinders Dies and Trims

This Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album was a cinch to make!  I used 10 black paper bags, chipboard for the spine, glue to glue down the outside gusset and the pocket folds, double sided tape to adhere the inside gusset to the binding system, several dies from Spellbinders and Trims and Bling from Spellbinders.  I also used papers and other embellishment pieces from my stash.

best paper bag mini album ideas

Paper Bag Mini Album Ten Page Binding System

This Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album measures 7 x 4 3/4 x 2 1/2.  How I wound up with a two and a half inch spine is the following: I knew I wanted to make a ten page mini album, so I used the Hidden Hinge  Binding System, with my own variation.

I simply took an entire piece of 12×12 card-stock, cut it in half, and began scoring at the half inch mark.  The scoring process I used is: half inch, half inch, a quarter inch, half inch, half inch, a quarter inch. I do this all the way to the end of the paper.  The very last score mark will leave you with a gusset that’s a bit smaller than a half an inch; but it still works.  You then do the folds in peaks and valleys. The half inch score lines make the peaks, and the quarter inch score marks are the valleys.  You then use STRONG double sided tape to adhere the inside of your peaks. What was once a 12 inch wide piece of card-stock, is now about 2 and a half inches!

Once you’ve done this you will use double sided tape all through the back of your binding system to adhere it to the spine.  If you are more of a visual learner, and would like me to make a video tutorial on this ten page Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album, let me know in the comments section below.

How I Made the Front and Back Covers

Once you have adhered your binding system to your chipboard spine, it is time to adhere the pages (paper bags).  Tip: It is always a good idea to adhere your papers or card-stock to your paper bags before you adhere the bags to the binding system. However, refrain from decorating them at this time.

I began with my back cover. To adhere your back cover, you will use strong double sided tape.  You must be precise at placing your first “page” down.  This back cover will be your guide.  Tip: You don’t necessarily have to slip your page all the way in the gusset. By leaving a little bit of room, it will be easier to turn the pages once it’s complete.

You will do this for the remainder of the pages, always matching placement to the last page you adhered, until you get to the last page.  Now that you have the front and the back covers to your Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album, it is time to decorate.  Suggestion: Decorate or embellish your inner pages before you do the covers.

best shabby chic mini album ideas

On the front cover I used Beaded Woven Trim (top gold accent piece), Ruffled Loop Trim (surrounding the flowers on lower left corner), and Floral Trim (next to the spine) from the Spellbinders A Gilded Life Antique Gold Trim Embellishments.

I also used fine Beaded Trim along the edges and Ruffled Trim on the spine, from Spellbinders A Gilded Life Ballet Pink Trim Embellishments; and to top of the flower cluster that you see on the bottom left corner, I used a rhinestone from A Gilded Life Jewel Box Buttons Embellishments.

Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album Ideas

On the back cover I used Floral Trim from Spellbinders A Gilded Life Ballet Pink Trim Embellishments.  The other embellishments used were from my stash.

Beautiful Mini Album Tags Using Dies from Spellbinders

It was fairly simple to create these elegant Mini Album Tags. I decided to cut my tags using the Spellbinders Amazing Paper Grace Cascading Grace Pockets.  These mini album tags sit inside the top paper bag pockets and peek through to adorn the mini album beautifully!  You can glue a singular flat-back pearl on top for that additional touch of elegance!

Spellbinders Spellblogger

Shabby Chic Mini Album Ideas

So much detail went into the making of this stunning Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album.  I encourage you to watch the video for the album flip-through.  I absolutely LOVE making these! And with dies, trims and bling from Spellbinders, I know my next mini album will be just as beautiful!

Full List of Spellbinders Dies and Embellishments Used

Click here to view my other Spellbinders Spellblogger projects.

Shabby Chic Paper Bag Mini Album Flip Through

 

Shabby Chic Pocket Letter

Shabby Chic Pocket Letter 2017

This Shabby Chic Pocket Letter was put together for a Giveaway Challenge.  It’s been awhile since I’ve made full size pocket letters. Sure you’ve seen me send out a couple of mini pocket letters here and there; but nothing that required that much on my part.

I knew I wanted to make a Shabby Chic Pocket Letter, but I was a bit intimidated by the entire process. So I went through my stickers and paper bins and this is what I came up with!

Shabby Chic Pocket Letter

Shabby Chic Pocket Letter

To create this pocket letter I used the following items:

Spellbinders Mini Envelope 2 – S4-509

Martha Stewart Punch All Over The Page Pattern Punch-Crochet Flower, 1.5

Photo Play Paper BV2211 Julie Nutting Belle Vie Double-Sided Paper Pad (24 Pack), 6″ by 6″, Multicolor

DCWV Country Life 12×12 Paper Pad

EK tools Paper Punch, Large, Glass Jar

So what do you think of my Shabby Chic Pocket Letter? Now, I need to stuff it with goodies and send it off to Canada! I hope it gets there in time! Thanks for stopping by. See you next time!

Click here for my other Shabby Chic projects and ideas.

 

Shabby Chic Craft Ideas and Altered Projects

Shabby Chic Craft Ideas and Altered Projects

Today I’m sharing some Shabby Chic Craft Ideas and altered shabby chic projects.  Hi and welcome to Decor8yourlife! The blog that is!  I’ve been super busy getting my shabby on, and I can’t wait to share it with you! First and foremost, Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there. This is your weekend. Do what ever you please. You’ve earned it! For me, I’m keeping busy redecorating the family room and moving things around in my craft room.  It’s busy work I know, but I actually enjoy it!

Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been getting my shabby on! My first project is an altered shabby chic egg carton.  This shabby chic egg carton was created for an Instagram swap. I loved how it turned out and best of all, the recipient loves it as well!  The Paris Theme Mini Album leans more towards the Shabby Glam side; but I guess it can be classified as Shabby Chic? I made this Gatefold Mini Album using the Frank Garcia base. Since I didn’t create this mini album from scratch, I will have to call it an altered project. This is my second mini album that I’ve created using the Prima mini albums by Frank Garcia. They’re well made, sturdy and easy to work with. The only thing about them is, is that you can’t embellish the inside pages as much as you may want to. However, with the beautiful Prima papers you let the papers speak for themselves!

Shabby Chic Craft Ideas     Shabby Chic Craft Ideas

Shabby Chic Craft Ideas

In my Shabby Chic frenzy, I also created some gift bags, embellishments, and Rosettes.  Now I know that everyone likes to turn their paper rosettes into wands. My thinking is however, what if the recipient wants to use the rosette embellishment on a card, mini album or any other project they like? So I left them without the straws.

Some of the items I used in the making of these projects were:

So what do you think of all these shabbilicious goodness??? Pretty cool hu? LOL  Click here if you want to see other projects using Spellbinders Dies.

 

And please, don’t be shy. Leave me a comment 😉 Until next time.

 

Shabby Chic Shadow Box Tutorial

Shabby Chic Shadow Box Tutorial | Design Team Project for KS4U

I must admit, writing out a tutorial is not my forte. However I’ll do my best to jot down all the steps I took in the making of this shabby chic shadow box.

I begin with a 6 ½ x 6 ½ shadow box. I then cut 4 pieces of pretty paper according to the dimensions of the box openings, and distress them a bit with gesso around the edges.  Just a light sweep with a dry brush will do. I then use glue to adhere the paper to the openings. This will serve as the backdrop to my shadow box.

On the top row I adhere pink roses from the shop. The foam pink rose is secured on a metal filigree; and the metal filigree is hot-glued to the center of the paper.

For the lower half opening, I glued down the backdrop paper. I then cut a smaller piece to add as a frame for what I’m about to add to the lower half. This “frame” is distressed around the edges for that shabby effect. I then cut two smaller squares of paper, distress around the edges, adhere one to the “frame” at an angle, cut a piece of lace and adhere it to the square, add foam squares to the other square piece and with hot glue, adhere it on to the lace.

I then fussy cut a flower bush from the paper collection, score about half an inch at the bottom, fold along the score line and glue this piece to the bottom of the shadow box. I then cut a piece of applique from one of the laces and adhere that to the upper ledge so that it freely dangles over the flower bush.

I make a rose “vase” by wrapping a pink rose, some pink bead spray and white pearl spray, with some pink trim. I then hot glue this vase on the bottom left corner.

To adorn the edges of the shadow box, I apply several trims; and run some flat back pearls to adorn the laces. I then use a die-cut butterfly to add on top of the pink laces.

On top of the shadow box, I added a white-painted wooden filigree. I then adorned that filigree with a rhinestone crown.

At the bottom of the shadow box, I hot glued two silver-tone metal filigrees and topped them with one singular pink flower right in the middle!

If you would like to see more of this Shabby Chic Shadow Box, check out my video. For more crafty goodness, follow my blog, subscribe to my YouTube Channel, and click on the links to the side to follow my social media for the behind the scenes stuff!

Shabby Chic Spiral Notebook | Shabby Chic Project Ideas

Shabby Chic Spiral Notebook | Design Team Project & Giveaway

Shabby Chic Spiral Notebook – I used papers and chipboard from my stash; and my cinch binding machine to create this spiral notebook. However, you can easily decorate the cover to any spiral notebook you already have.

To add a touch of elegance to the inside front and back covers, I used Pink Scalloped Trim.

I decided to glue down a piece of craft color card stock on the cover. (approx.. 9×7). The card-stock serves as a strong paper base, where I can glue other items on to. I then added Gold Embroidered Tulle Lace on the edge on one side of the card stock, and a scalloped stretch trim on the other side.

I then took a piece of grey corrugated paper (approx.. 9×6) to lay my design on. I cut two Square Silver Metal Filigrees right down the middle. These served as the corner pieces. To accentuate the metal corners, I used Flatback Pearl Buttons.

I used tags and stickers from my stash on the upper part. To decorate the bottom third of the corrugated paper, I layered several trims. First I glued the gold dangle trim. I then glued the French Script Trim on top of it. I then glued down the Pink Gimp Trim, and right on the edge, I glued down the flat back pearl trim for that finishing touch.

To accentuate the trims, I used a Silver Wrap Filagree with a Rhinestone Cameo on the center.  Once I was done decorating the corrugated paper, I adhered it to the cardstock, using double sided tape and scraps of chipboard, for that dimensional effect.

Shabby Chic Ideas

 

Shabby Chic Altered Clock Tutorial

Shabby Chic Altered Clock Tutorial using the Tim Holtz Idea-ology clock.  Hello! and welcome to my blog! In this post I share with you how I altered this beautiful shabby chic clock using items from Shabby is Chic Boutique. I’m so super excited, as this is the first mixed-media project that I’ve done in a while, and it turned out super fabulous if I should say so myself! And I have!

shabby chic clock          shabby chic altered clock tutorial

How To: The first Step in this Shabby Chic Altered Clock Tutorial is an obvious one, you take the clock apart.  Then apply gesso on the clock surface you’ll be working with (the inside and out).  Allow the gesso to dry and apply a second coat.

Next you will tear some strips of scrapbook paper (the thinner the sheet the better), you may also use napkins if you wish. Decoupage the torn strips on the clock. Pressing firmly with your brush, ensuring there are no air bubbles left.  For this altered clock, I chose to apply the strips sparingly, as I wanted to paint some of the surface. I painted areas with a light green chalk paint, and I painted the inside of the clock as well.

Once the paint was dry, I applied some white gesso sparingly on both the painted outside area, and on the decoupaged area.  Once this was dry, I sprayed several shades of glimmer mist to add some sparkle to the clock.

For the back (lid) portion of the clock, I took 2 pieces of 6×6 scrapbook paper, traced around the lid, and cut two circles.  On the circle that was to go on top, I cut a slit almost to the center, then took the edges and rolled them with a pencil.  I also distressed the edges of the circle.

I then glued the first circle down (on the part that I had applied gesso to earlier), then I glued the distressed (rolled edges) circle on top of it.  I continued to cut small strips of paper and glued them on the lid.  My last layer was a strip of Cream Crochet Trim.

I then used glossy accents to adhere the Silver Wrap Filigree on top of the trip. I also used glossy accents to adhere the flat back pearl button on top of the metal embellishment.  I applied several Mini Foam Roses and Pink Teardrop Sprays along the side, and topped it off with some paper butterflies.  I popped the lid back on the clock and began embellishing the outside.

For the outside embellishments, I begin with Cream Crochet Trim, then applied the Brown Tassel Trim on the top.  I then applied the flat-back pearl trim along the clock frame.  I also embellish the bell portions of the clock with trims and flat back pearls. I used seam-binding to make a bow and adhered it to the side.  I continued adding Mini Foam Roses, paper punched butterflies, metal embellishment, and used a Rhinestone Cameo to dress up the Rose Gold Metal Bow.

I also have a video tutorial for this clock. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, if you enjoy crafty videos! Let me know, in the comments section below, if this Shabby Chic Altered Clock Tutorial was helpful to you and what other projects you would like to see in my blog and in my youtube channel.

*Since the making of this tutorial, Shabby is Chic Boutique is no longer in business. However, you can find many of the items mentioned in this tutorial at KS4U.*