Altered File Folder Tutorial using a Gauche Alchemy kit

I love taking everyday things

and ARTING them up.

Picture frames, notebooks, bags etc, things I use

in my everyday life and adding my spin on them.

Today I'm showing some altered folders from my file folder drawer.

I started with plain manila folders you can buy in bulk

(boring)

and a mixed media kit from

Gauche Alchemy

and

turned them into one of a kind pieces that make me happy

when I pull the drawer open.

I use the

Hot for Teacher kit for these folders.

I don't think it's available anymore but there are still some fantastic kits

on their site and you can create your folders

exactly how you want.

I began with my blank folder, took some crumpled up 

sewing pattern paper and Gel Medium

Using the Gel Medium covered the outside of my folder

Trim the edges even

Take some scrap pattern paper and ink it up

Adhere it to the inside part where the tab is.

Trim up any edges and add more ink if you want

Add a small label if desired

Tear some book text and ink the edges 

(I use solvent ink for this as I will be adding wet mediums later)

adhere it to the folder

Tear and ink more pattern paper and add it

and a third piece.

Layer as you go

I added a sticker from the kit

More book text torn & inked in the upper right

another sticker...

This sheet was in the kit.

I think it's from an old yearbook but I just love the faces

Tear out an image and ink the edges.

Adhere.

Tuck in some tickets,

add some Rub Ons

I also added a ripped piece of paper from a grade book down

the left

I added some star stamps again using Solvent ink.

More stamping over the pattern paper, collage images

Pull out Gesso and a brush

Dry brush the gesso over the folder.

Apply a very thin layer, cover all the paper, images etc with paint.

Adding the Gesso will pull it all together.

Once it's dry you can rub ink over the folder as well to catch the peaks

of the sewing pattern.

That's it.

Now you have a customized folder made just exactly how you want it.

The great thing about these are they take scraps

so not only are you creating art you are stash busting as well.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

File Folder Mini Album

Once upon a time I saw directions on how to turn

a manila file folder into a mini album 

using your sewing machine.

Now as I am all over anything that encourages me to use my machine 

I had to make several.

This is the second one I made and as it is September

I went with a school theme.

The base is a manila folder and I used quite a few collage elements from 

Gauche Alchemy 

as well as bits and bobs from my stash.

Layering the front with paper and fabric.

I left all my thread tails dangling.

The Number 1 comes from 

Club Scrap.

Inside the first 2 pages.

Used more stitching to make pockets where I added school theme tags.

Next 2 pages.

More tags, ruler bit, book text and more.

Closeup of some of the library cards etc that were used.

The flash card was covered with Gesso and inked 

leaving plenty of room to journal if wishing.

The back page.

Dictionary pages mixed with fabric 

and machine stitching.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Order of Things

I found this quote while browsing the web and it really struck a chord. Usually when I find a quote I'll print it out and put it on my desk until a piece I'm working on seems right for it. This time around however I had the quote and knew I needed to do something. Instead of the quote being added to the art, the art was added to the quote.

   I started with a base of 8x10 cradled paint board from Cheap Joe's. I love working on these for a base, unlike canvases where the center can sag this baby is solid and will take whatever you put on it. The panel was covered with a crumbled tissues paper and a light coat of gesso to give a jumping off point.

   I then took leftover scraps from the Gauche Alchemy Hot for Teacher kit and randomly adhered them across the panel. (The Gauche Alchemy kit was provided to me during an event for Scrapbook News and Review) Another layer of Gesso to tie it all together and then began adding color using Golden Fluid Acrylics, lighter in some spots to show the background papers, darker in others.

  Several stamps and StazOn solvent ink (the BEST ink to use when stamping over paint) were stamped across the background. The layers of paper underneath allowed for incomplete images in spots which I felt added to the appeal.

  The images also come from the Gauche Alchemy kit and are just slightly outlined in charcoal pencil. Last but not least is my quote
                          Often people attempt to live their lives backwards;
                                they try to have more things,
                                      or more money,
                            in order to do what they want,
                                  so they will be happier.

                          The way it actually works is the reverse.
               
                             You must first be who you really are,
                                then do what you need to do,
                                   in order to have what you want.
                                            Margaret Young


  I hope that 2013 brings YOU what you want.

    Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!