One of the types of projects that give me the most satisfaction in paper crafting are those that I can make to display around my home. I love altered projects and especially photo frames. They are perfect for those special photos of my loved ones. Today, using a couple of Ellen's Essentials products and some Nestability dies I'll show you how I created this little display frame.
Ellen's Essentials products are not the most glamorous in the store but I there is a reason they are called essentials. They really are essential. Great products that can be used it so many different ways, the only limitation is your imagination. I've primarily created this project out of Craft-a-Board. Craft-a-Board is a chipboard like material that you can do so many things with. I love the soft white color that makes it so easy to create on. Unlike the greyish chipboard, you can stamp and ink on it and have the color remain true. While a little more porous than cardstock, it will stamp nice and cleanly.
To create this 4.5" square frame, I used one sheet of Craft-a-Board. To get started cut three pieces of 4.5" square Craft-a-Board. As you can see here, I cut out six so that I could make two frames at once. Adhere two of them together to form a stiff base. I then adhered a piece of Domestic Goddess, Lady of the House paper by Graphic 45. The edges were sanded with the Tim Holtz Sanding Block to reveal the white paper core.
Next create the top layer by adhering Domestic Goddess Quilting Bee paper by Graphic 45 to the remaining piece of 4.5" square Craft-a-Board. Die cut this with the largest Scalloped Square Nestabilty die and then die cut the center using a shape. I used a Nestability Circle die but a heart or other shape would be a pretty alternative.
Essentials by Ellen Crystal Clear Plastic is perfect for lining the frame opening to protect your photo. Adhere to the wrong side of your frame opening.
Use a tacky dry adhesive on three sides of your frame front to adhere it to the base. You want to leave that one side open to slide your photo in and be able to change it out again.
As I mentioned previously, Craft-a-Board is fabulous for stamping on and it is also great for die cutting. I've stamped a piece of Craft-a-Board that has been die cut with a Nested Butterfly die. The Newspaper Ads Scrapblock adds that vintage look I am going for on this frame.
The Craft-a-Board embellishment is sponged with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. Any color will look good on this board.
I love Basic Grey buttons. The colors are fabulous and they have a nice clean look to them. I wanted to make this one more distressed and vintage in appearance so I gave it a quick sand to reveal the inner white core.
Here's my button and butterfly embellishment put together. It is layered over a Maya Road Journaling Tag.
Photos and film strip just seem to go together. Instead of fabric ribbon, I used the Tim Holtz Filmstrip Ribbon. To hide where you've adhered it, just put your glue under other embellishments. Here I've used a Tim Holtz Adage Ticket to do that.
My frame needs one last thing....a way to stand up. To create a little easel back, cut a piece of Craft-a-Board to 2.5" x 3.5". Score about 3/4" in from left side and fold. Measure up from the bottom on the right side and mark 3/4". Trim from the top of the easel at the fold to the marked point. Trim from the marked point back to the bottom of the fold to form a triangle.
Adhere to the back of your frame.
That's it! Your frame will be nice and light. If you wish to change up the project a little, leave off the easel back and apply magnets. This project is light enough to hang on your fridge and it would be a great light project to send in the mail.
Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom!
Happy creating and have a fabulous day.
