Altered Bird Cage with Bird Watcher by Graphic 45

Who doesn’t LOVE Graphic 45 paper? ReNae here, with the FotoBella.com Design Team. The Bird Watcher paper collection by Graphic 45 is definitely one of my favorites! Bird Watcher is full of cerulean blue hummingbirds, delicate nests, spring green foliage, golden yellow and ruby pink florals. The thoughtful sentiments and lovely imagery Is ideal for cards and albums for all the special people in your life. But did you know that it is also perfect for home decor projects? It is! On the G45 blog there is a tutorial on how to alter a BIRD HOUSE. And today I’ll show you how I altered a BIRD CAGE using the Bird Watcher collection. But first, let me tell you about this amazing paper collection.

The Bird Watcher Collection

Bird Watcher, like all other Graphic 45 collections, includes the following products. A 12×12 Collection Pack (comes with sticker sheet), 8×8 Pad, 12×12 Patterns & Solids Pad, Chipboard, Journaling Cards,Ephemera (Stickers and Die Cuts)

Bird Watcher Collection Pack

If you’re like me, you’ll want it all…the whole Bird Watcher collection! FotoBella has put it all together in this “I REALLY Want It ALL! Bundle”. This paper crafting kit includes the Bird Watcher 12"x12" paper pack (2 sheets of 8 double-sided designs and two 6"x12" decorative sticker sheets), 8" x 8" paper pad (3 sheets of 8 double-sided designs), 12"x12" Patterns & Solids paper pad (2 of 8 double-sided designs), decorative chipboard, 4x6 & 3x4 Journaling & Ephemera Cards, Die Cut & Tag embellishments, and an exclusive FotoBella paper storage box. FotoBella does this for most of their paper collections. And FotoBella puts together coordinating card stock and fibers for many of their collections as well! Isn’t that awesome?

Creating an altered bird cage is easy and fun, especially when using the Bird Watcher paper collection. There are two styles I’ll show you here…one is the simple version and one is more detailed.

Creating an Altered Bird Cage

The simple way to create an altered bird cage relies on this beautiful Graphic 45 Bird Watcher patterned paper for the images for inside your bird cage, and with very little effort you can create a stunning piece of home decor.

After selecting a birdcage, decorate it using the detailed paper in the collection. The folks at Graphic 45 have done the design work for you, creating beautiful paper collages which translate to a gorgeous finished product. Of course you may want to fussy-cut out desired bird images to add to the bird cage but you don’t have to. The diecuts ephemera pack has lots of images that work perfectly to add detail and interest to your project. This simple version goes together quickly and looks great!

Select the paper you want for your Bird Cage

Fussy-cut bird images

Fussy-cut desired bird images

A beautiful finished product-Simple version!

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The more detailed version uses die cuts, fussy-cut images, ephemera and flowers to create a look suited to your own personal taste. With this style the background paper is muted, and allows the images to stand out. You can create exactly the look you want by cutting out only what you wish to use. In my sample, I used some dies from my personal collection to add to the fussy-cut images. This version takes a bit more time, but is worth it! Creating an altered bird cage suited specifically to your own decor definitely has it’s advantages!

Create and prepare die cuts

Preparing die cuts

Mermaid Effect Paste by Prima

Creating with die cuts

Create design for bird cage

Add embellishments and flowers

Use packaged die cuts for interest

Note the dimension

The finished Altered bird cage

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Sequins make great bird’s eyes

Supplies Used

My altered bird cage was made by first die cutting and fussy cutting images from the beautiful Bird Watcher patterned paper. I used Mod Podge to give these papers a satiny finish. As they dried, I painted the bird cage with Art Alchemy Opal Magic Paint. This paint is a unique two-tone, iridescent effect, water-based acrylic paint. It changes tone from different angles.

The bird cage was embellished with Finnabair Mermaid Effect Paste which is a creamy iridescent glitter paste. It added dimension and shine to the bird cage.( it will be perfect for future mixed media projects!) After the Mod Podge dried, I used Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax in Blue Velvet, Turquoise Satin and Rose Gold to embellish the birds and leaves. These also leave a two-tone effect!

Finally, I finished embellishing the bird cage by adding some Sparkletz Rainbow. Sequins, sparkles and gems are always a good thing!

Details make all the difference!

Altering a Bird Cage is really fun and a gratifying summer project. I hope you’ll give it a try! And FotoBella.com is just the place to shop when you’re ready to do it!

Happy Creating!

ReNae

Dreaming of Faraway Places Canvas

Hola! Chris here and today I am sharing my Dreaming of Faraway Places Canvas I created using my Stamperia Amazonia kit from Fotobella!  I am absolutely in love with the papers in this collection!   They are perfect for canvases and would be great to scrap pictures from a tropical vacation! Of course being a biology major, I love the naturalist feel to these products!

Supplies needed to recreate this craft

Fotobella Supplies

Stamperia Die cuts assorted - Amazonia

Clear Die cuts - Amazonia

Stamperia Collectables Amazonia

Other Supplies

8 x 8 Canvas, burlap paper, brads, archival ink, distress ink, chipboard quote, globe die, brown card stock, mini stapler, tags

Creating your Dreaming of Faraway Places Canvas

First, cut the burlap paper to fit your canvas. Ink the edges of your canvas with archival ink. Next, punch some holes in all 4 corners and add brads to each. Cut your Stamperia Collectables Amazonia animal print paper to 6x6. Distress the edges of the paper and attach to canvas with a mini stapler. I sort of let the edges roll and tear a little. Adhere two tags to it.

Die cut a globe from brown card stock. Adhere the globe, overlapping the 2 tags.

Add leaf die cuts from your Stamperia Clear Die cuts - Amazonia.

Add parrot die cut to the top corner. I just love how colorful these die cuts are!

Now, add alligator die cut to the bottom are, find this in the Stamperia Die cuts assorted - Amazonia.

Add distress ink to your chipboard quote and adhere to your canvas. Add a clear die cut Butterfly and a chipboard scorpion to your canvas.

I hope you are inspired to try creating your very own Dreaming of Faraway Places Canvas!

You can find all of your supplies at FotoBella.com. Check them out today!

Creating a Stay Calm Mixed Media Canvas

Greetings! Chris here and today I am super excited to share this Stay Calm Mixed Media Canvas I created with my Stamperia Amazonia Kit from Fotobella. This Stay Calm quote will be a great reminder in my office! Reminding me that sometimes it is best to keep my reactions to myself! So let’s get started recreating this Stay Calm Mixed Media Canvas.

Supplies needed

Fotobella Supplies

Stamperia Die cuts assorted - Amazonia

Stamperia Collectables Amazonia

Other Supplies

Card stock - Kraft, brown; Corrugated card stock; jute; 6 x6 burlap canvas; postcard stamp; ink; brads; stickles; hole punch

Creating Your Stay Calm Mixed Media Canvas

Start by cutting your quote image from the Stamperia Collectables Amazonia. You are going to triple mat this quote. First mat your quote onto Kraft card stock. Next mat the quote onto corrugated card stock. Then mat the quote one more time onto brown card stock. Distress the edges of your brown card stock.

Cut the animal skin print slightly smaller than your canvas ( 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches) from the Stamperia Collectables Amazonia paper. Distress the edges of your animal print paper. Punch holes in corners and insert brads in the corners. Adhere to your canvas.

Stamp post card stamp onto kraft card stock.

Tear the edges of your post card and adhere to your mixed media canvas. Wrap jute and tie knots around the corners of your canvas.

Add your triple matted quote onto your canvas.

Mixed Media Canvas

Adhere a chipboard feather from the Stamperia Die cuts assorted - Amazonia. Tie and adhere a jute bow to finish off your canvas. Add a touch of stickles to make the tiger’s eyes sparkle!

I hope you are inspired to try creating your own Stay Calm Mixed Media Canvas!

Head over to FotoBella today to grab this collection, and start crafting!

A Pre-made Album Decorated with Prima’s Magic Love Collection

Hi crafty friends. It’s Kristine and I’m back today with one last project featuring the beautiful Magic Love collection by Prima Marketing. I will be showing you how I decorated a pre-made album, and the one I used is also made by Prima. Handmade mini albums are my absolute favorite craft project and I don’t normally use pre-made albums. However, I have an idea and I want to share it with all of you today. Like any double-sided papers, it is often difficult to choose which side to use in a project. If you’re anything like me, you hate to cover such beautiful paper. In this project, I have a solution! Read on to see what I’ve come up with.

What is a Pre-Made Album?

If you’re new to the world of mini albums, or just don’t want to make the base album, then pre-made albums are for you! They are made by several companies including Prima and Graphic 45, both of which are sold at FotoBella. They come in several different sizes and types. Prima’s pre-made albums feature thick chipboard pages whereas Graphic 45’s albums feature cardstock pages with pockets, flaps, and tags.

There are both pros and cons of these albums. For example, you may prefer not having to take the time to create the base pages, which saves you time for decorating and enjoying the book. However, you will not be able to customize the size of your book. Second, the book is already assembled so you have to be careful of the bulk between the pages. However, if you are careful about embellishments and add-ons, you will be fine. Finally, the pages in these albums do not turn the same as a handmade album. This can be a pro or con, depending on your personal preference.

Decorating with Double Sided Papers

Double sided papers can sometimes be difficult to use simply because both sides are so pretty! It can be a struggle to decide which side to use and which side to hide. My solution to this problem is to use both sides! Instead of using cardstock to create my flaps and pockets, I will be using a decorative border punch on my double sided papers to decorate my pre-made album pages. The advantage of this is two fold: both sides of the paper will show, and it adds less bulk to the album pages.

TIP: when scoring the tabs for the flaps, score and fold so that the tab is on the top of the page rather than tucked under. This will allow for less bulk, but also the flaps will lay flat without having to use magnets or tabs to hold them closed.

Once you have flaps and pockets on the pre-made album pages, add some embellishments using the chipboard stickers, wooden stickers, trim, flowers, and ephemera. These full extras are perfectly coordinated and make it easy to decorate an album.

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Pre-made album pages decorated with Magic Love

The pre-made album does offer ease of use to the crafter new to making albums this way! I hope you will head over to the FotoBella online store and pick up one for yourself today.

Happy crafting!

~Kristine, FotoBella Design Team

Floral Mixed Media Canvas

Greetings! Chris Here and today I am excited to share this Floral Mixed Media Canvas. This Canvas is created featuring Stamperia’s Amazonia Line from Fotobella!

This product line is so beautiful! I couldn’t wait to start playing with my Fotobella package! Just look at all the beautiful colors in these products! The complete line is absolutely stunning.

Supplies

Fotobella Supplies

Stamperia Die cuts assorted - Amazonia

Clear Die cuts - Amazonia

Stamperia A4 Rice paper packed - Amazonia orchid

Other Supplies

Mod Podge, Jute, 8 x 10 Canvas, Loose Burlap Weave Ribbon or fabric, archival ink, dimensional adhesives

So let’s start creating our Floral Mixed Media Canvas

Start by inking the edges of your 8 x 10 canvas with archival ink. I used a brown tone, but feel free to use what ever color you’d like.

Next, trim your Stamperia A4 Rice paper - Amazonia orchid to fit your canvas. Be sure to save that left over scrap for later projects :D

Trim your

Apply mod podge to your canvas and adhere your Stamperia A4 Rice paper - Amazonia orchid. Add a layer of mod podge over your entire rice paper sheet.

While your mod podge is still wet, adhere several pieces of loose burlap ribbon as shown.

Next, adhere the Amazon River die cut from Stamperia Die cuts assorted - Amazonia onto the bottom are of your canvas.

Using dimensional foam adhesives, adhere Stamperia Clear Die cuts - Amazonia over flowers on your Floral Mixed Media Canvas. These add so much dimension to your project.

Adhere butterfly onto the lower corner of your canvas, bending wings upward.

Continue adding leaves from the Stamperia Clear Die cuts - Amazonia.

Wrap and Tie jute around your Floral Mixed Media Canvas to finish your project.

I hope you are inspired to get creative and try out this line available at Fotobella.