Sep 6, 2011

LESSology Challenge #1: Creative Projects of Audrey Pettit, Kirsty Vittetoe and Yvonne Yam! :)


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Today we are sharing the creative projects of Audrey Pettit, Kirsty Vitteto and Yvonne Yam.

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Hi everyone! It's Audrey, excited to be here today sharing our very first challenge at LESSology. For my project, I created a nursery rhyme/ABC board book from a recycled kid's meal toy. Although cute before, this bright and happy learning book is now sure to bring a smile to any young child.
Here is how my book originally looked. Cute and sweet, buy waaaaay too young for anyone at my house. And with the fast food company logo on the front cover, not a good candidate for gift-giving, as it was. But with a little upcycling, this board book becomes a charming gift for someone with a small child.
 Since the pages were slick and glossy, the first step to altering it was giving each page a light sanding. Roughing up the surface a bit will make covering the book with patterned papers easier and more durable. Without this step, your newly glued-down papers may peel right back up.

I’ve learned that for me, it’s easier to create a cohesive mini album by coming up with a “formula” that you repeat for every page. For this album, I used papers from one collection, October Afternoon's Ducks in a Row, for a unified look. Each facing page got contrasting papers, with the right page getting the addition of a strip of scalloped paper from the left page. I mixed the papers up on each page, but repeated them throughout the album for balance.


Nursery rhyme and alphabet cards dress up each page. I added manila shipping tags behind the alphabet cards, along with upper and lower case alpha stickers. A simple and fun way to learn your ABC's.


The cover is embellished with more patterned papers, a bit of trim, and a fun kitty journaling card. Large shipping tags covered in vintage dictionary pages and washed with white paint are wrapped around the front and back covers and act as the closure for the book. The string from the back tag, wrapped around a fabric brad on the front, quickly and easily holds the pages shut.


Enjoy!
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  Hi, it's Kirsty! I am super excited and I am sure you are too, that our very first challenge at LESSology is finally here!!!
LESSology is all about recycling and upcycling, if you are "thinking green" or a thrift store junkie like me, you are going to love love love LESSolgy.
I bought this book for 0.50 at a local thrift store, I just love the color of the cover.

and I "borrowed" the lovely tulle from a birthday gift sent to me by my bloggy friend Lauren
TaDa......

here's my Paris Book....

One of my dream in this lifetime is to live in Paris for at least 6 months...
(waiting for my husband to retire)

We will be missing our friends and family by then..... and I will need lots of notecards to send to them.

cards with matching envelopes....


dream on....

now I can't wait to use my first note card from my Paris Book....

I am inviting you to join us for LESSology very first challenge, I promise, you will have more inspiration than ever to warm you up for this challenge and guess what? We have 2 prizes this round, thanks for our wonderful sponsor - Creative Charms (you should definitely check it out!!!) 


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Board book to frame

Hello friends! Yvonne here to share my altered book project. I turned an old board book into a decorated frame for a vintage photo of my parents' wedding.

Board book to frame 1

I started with an old board book (5.5 X 7.5 inches). What I did was to cut windows on the cover and inner pages (approx 4X6 inches), leaving the last page intact. I sanded on the surfaces to make it easier for elements to adhere.


Board book to frame 2

I adhered old music paper to the back page and coated it with vintage mod podge which aged the paper evenly. I covered the cover with soda can panels which I embossed with an embossing folder. Yes, don't throw out those cans! I then applied alchol ink in copper to match the tone of the music paper.

Board book to frame 3
Then I embellished with some found items around the house, inking and staining them with distress and alcohol inks. I also added crackle paint in rock candy for some subtle cracks on the base. Once I was happy with the placement of the elements, I glued the pages down for a sturdy frame.

Inspired to try out The Altered Book Challenge for yourself? We would love to see your entries! :) Please leave some comment love for our designers!

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Omg fabulous projects....i am beginning to get nervous about entering this one...you all are awesome and have changed the books into a masterpiece project.Brilliant job all of you

lisa said...

Wow these are amazing.
Pure genious Yvonne !! x

marenmat said...

What great ideas. I'm already LOVING this blog!!
Love altering things and will try and have a go at this too ;o)

Dora said...

Wow...you all gave me inspiration, great work!

Anita Kejriwal said...

OH MY GOD!!!! You all are real Queens!!! These are very good!Where do we stand? Nowhere!! I ,m scared of even trying out one and then showing it to the experts!!

RiNNE said...

Such gorgeous creations!! Love the vintage feels of Yvonne's & Kirsty's items. The frame and embellies sure look beautiful on Yvonne's project, & I adore the stationary that Kirsty made. But my favorite has got to be Audrey's book (I have young kids). I can see myself doing something like that - she makes it look so simple. And I MUST get those OA papers!!!!!!

Audrey Pettit said...

I had SO much fun with this first challenge, and am really looking forward to many more. Love your Paris book, Kirsty! So clever to hollow out the book to hold notecards, and I adore the cover. And what a fabulous frame, Yvonne! Such an amazing idea and so beautifully done. You both have inspired me so much!

Jan Hennings said...

WOW! The DT gals have created some real pieces of art here! Audrey's little book would be so sweet as a stocking stuffer and the vintage feel of the other projects make my heart beat a little faster...gorgeous pieces, gals!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

I loveeeeeeeeeee what everyone made!! Its amazing all the different styles this team brings! I loveeeeeeeeeee it! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Tracey said...

What fabulous creations........all of them so different! Great idea for a challenge. This is a fun place to visit and be inspired. TFS:)

~amy~ said...

wowza girls....way to rock the challenge!

Unknown said...

Beautiful work girls and goodluck with the challenge blog looks COOL!!
byebye,lean

Angi Barrs said...

You ladies ROCK! Wow...what amazing inspiration. I'm loving all of your beautiful altered books. :)

Sylvia said...

Beautiful projects, ladies! Both are so different and unique, just fabulous! Can't wait to see your next ones!

Virginia L. said...

AWESOME work from the DT!! You girls have taken upcycling to a whole new level! LOVE this!

Audrey Frelx said...

OMG!!! Such AMAZING work!!! Love these!!!

Bimart´s ateliê said...

Maravilhoso!Muito criativo e lindo,parabéns.

Bimart´s ateliê said...

Maravilhoso!Muito criativo e lindo,parabéns.