How-to: Creating an Awesome Altered Container

 

I decided that I just could NOT discard this little baking powder container when it was empty. It was TOO cute! I thought I’d use it for my SNS “How-to”  project this month! The best part about this project, aside from the fact that it is made using SNS ribbons… is that it is “GREEN!”  I reused and repurposed a container that otherwise may have ended up as plastic in a landfill.  I used scrap paper to decorate it, and buttons from my collection of  recycled buttons to embellish it. The tag I created  used a  recycled clothing store tag  as its’ base.  Again-I used some small paper scraps to decorate it.  You can even use up some of your ribbon scraps…. the lengths required are small!   

 Let’s see what we can create!

A~ Container to be altered: I was planning to use it on my desk to hold a roll of postage stamps!

Supply List:    

  

Piece of waxed paper to cover work area    

Scrap pce of old sandpaper- anything goes   

Garbage can to do the  sanding over   

Clean, damp rag to remove the sandpaper dust from container    

Paper trimmer &  sharp scissors     

10″ long (allows for a wee bit of overlap at ends) x 1.5″ wide piece of leftover patterned paper in a pattern you like     

Mod-Podge (matte)    

Paintbrush to apply mod-podge    

Mini or Pop-up glue dots (SNS Store carries these HERE)    

MM Ribbon Glue (SNS Store carries this HERE)    

A strong adhesive like Tombow’s Mono Multi Liquid Glue – for adhering pom pom trim directly to plastic top    

4 buttons to form floral centers    

About  5 flowers to group in a cluster.  I used:  1- 2″ flower, such as these shabby chic ones by  Prima, 3- 1.5 ” flowers and 1- 1 ” flower blooms in various coordinating shades (like these by Bazzill: SNS Store Link.)    

Gift Tag/Contents  list: recycle a small (1.5 ” x 1.0″) store tag or make your own. I covered one from a store and punched a hole in the top for the ribbon.   

Ink: for edges of gift tag; I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Pumice Stone, from the SNS Store    

Mini lettering for your Tag: I used Cosmo Cricket from the  SNS store.    

 From the September Ribbon Kit:    

 Three, 10″ lengths of ribbon  from the kit- brown velvet, cream dotted grosgrain and the mini pom-pom trim    

 Small  length of cream dotted organza: about 4″ long  (for tag)     

 How to alter your container Step by step:     

 1- Wash & dry container well. No need to remove label.    

 2- With top off, use sandpaper to rough up the surface of the plastic. Doing this standing over the garbage can means all the dust will be collected!     

 3- Using clean damp rag/cloth, wipe off the excess sanding dust.    

 4- Leaving the container top off,  and setting it aside, Mod-podge the surface of the container using a paintbrush (Remember: NO mod-podge on the container top.)    

 5- Apply the strip of patterned paper you have chosen to cover your container with around the middle, Mod-podged portion of container.  Overlap the ends of the paper, using  a little more Mod-podge as adhesive to seal the  ends where they overlap.     

 6-  Apply a thin layer of mod-podge all over the paper using the paintbrush. Allow 10 min to dry and apply another layer of mod-podge.    

7- Allow the mod-podge to dry on main part of container.    

8-  Apply a thin bead of strong glue (I used Tombow mono-multi) around the upper edge of the top of the container. Glue the brown pom-pom trim in place as seen below.   

     

 

    

9- Gather your pieces of  velvet and grosgrain ribbon.  You will be applying the  2 ribbons to the main portion of the container, over the patterned paper.      

10- Use MM ribbon glue to adhere the 2 ribbons, one at the upper edge of the container, and one at the bottom of the container, over the patterned paper, as seen in the photo below:  

 

   

 11- Create a floral cluster on the top of the container,  at the edge. TIP: As you do this,  make sure it is still easy to open it once this top is placed “on” your container.  Try it out carefully! 

Apply the flowers to the edge of the container top using Glue Dots. Use the buttons as flower centres, again using Glue Dots to secure. 

One  close-up view, showing the floral centres (buttons) and flowers in the cluster: 

 

One view of the container top, showing the floral cluster that’s been applied at the edge: 

  

  

 12- Next, create your little tag: Cover a store-clothing tag with cardstock.  Ink edges, punch a hole for the ribbon, add ribbon using a slip knot.  Trim ribbon ends. Add your label with Cosmo Cricket tiny type lettering. (Mine will say “Stamps”.) 

  

 

 13- Screw top onto container. Glue tag in place. Admire your completed altered  baking powder container!  

Ideas for using your pretty, reusable container: 

* Fill w/ wrapped candy  as a TY treat for a teacher, coach  or group leader 

* Hold a roll of postage stamps on your desk 

* Add funny quotes and encouraging  sayings  and  give to  for a shut-in or a senior citizen 

* Surprise!  Ttry enclosing a  gift certificate to the movies  or  a local restaurant and leave on a friend’s doorstep 

* Enclose a money gift for a teenager at birthday time 

* Store push-pins for your bulletin board or paperclips on your desk 

  Thanks for popping in to see this fun, green project! Try one- I KNOW you’ll enjoy it!

  

 

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How to: Make “Scruffy Posies!”

I love to reuse and repurpose! I discovered another use for the fabric in old jeans. I make “scruffy posies” from the denim! With the distressed look one of the “in” things right now, the posies are sure to find a home on one of your layouts – or even a card! 

Want to try it? Read on!

Denim scraps from old jeans

First, gather some old denim, the scruffier, the better!

Denim circles, large darning needle, ribbon scraps

 Using scissors or pinking shears, cut some circles in graduated sizes. Make 3-4  circles  for each posy you’re creating.  

1 layer of posy after being "scruffed"

Place circle on a surface that is specifically for arts and crafts- not your table top, as it will become scratched! I used a craft mat.  

Using your darning needle or other sharp pointed instrument, scruff all around the edges of each circle, pulling threads  as you go. The threads will stick out “every which way;”  that’s just what we want!

Layered denim flower

 When you have finished scruffing the edges, layer the circles one atop the other.

CRAFTY TIP : Dark denim is usually lighter on the inside. Flip the second circle over when you layer it atop the first one.. This gives subtle colour contrast on the surface of your flower.

Note white stitch in center, holding assembled flower together.

Thread a needle with embroidery floss (I use it because it’s strong) and put a stitch throught the center of your posie to hold the layers in place. At this point you could use the floss to emboider a “center” in your flower. I don’t do this, I just finished the floss off with a knot in the back.

There- you have a scruffy posie! Ready to embellish?

Ideas for embellishing your posie with  “leaves” and flower “centers”:

Pretty ribbon can be used as leaves for your posies

1. Make some pretty ribbon “leaves” for your posies.  SNS Ribbon is perfect for this!  This is a great opportunity to use up small scraps of precious ribbon  treasure!

Patterned paper scraps make realistic leaves

2. Add a pretty button center. Adhere with a Glue Dot.

Floral button posie with Sizzlit leaves

3.  Use your Sizzix or other cutting system and some scraps of patterned paper  to create leaves. (BasicGrey’s “Perhaps” Collection patterned paper was used for the top flower.)  The Sizzlit die used for these leaves is  labelled  “Flower, center and leaf.” Only the leaves were used.

Leaves hand-cut from paper scraps

4. Try your hand at cutting some leaves from scraps. The leaves above were created with some scraps of Dream Street paper. The slightly distressed copper-look button is perfect for this scruffy posie!

 

5. Match buttons and ribbon for a “put-together” look.  For another look, you could  sew the buttons in place with matching floss or  thread rather than adhering with a glue dot.

6. The Dollar store is a great source of “faux” flowers. You can use leaves from them to embellish your posies.  Just remember to distress them so that they are suitably “scruffy!”

Sizzlit Architectural Accent #3: A source for swirls

Sizzlit Architectural Accent #4: A source for swirls

 7. Want some vines or swirls around your flower?  Keep your eyes peeled, because they’re everywhere! I found some in my “Architectural Accent” (#3 and  #4) Sizzlit dies,  as you can see above. Using scissors, I simply  trimmed out the swirly portions I needed. Presto: Vines!

Swirls and Scruffy Posies

7.  Here is my finished layout, using 3 scruffy posies embellished with buttons and swirls, and accented by Distress Stickles in Walnut Stain.

 

 Thanks for  being here, hope you enjoyed this “making Scruffy Posies” tutorial. Can’t wait to see what YOU’LL create!

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