Tin Can Alley

 



 

 

In order to stay grounded, it is important to reflect on where you come from.  In my case, creatively speaking anyway, one of the very first crafty things I did was altering used food cans with pretty paper.  As "scrapbook paper" wasn't around in the 60's, I used wrapping paper and wallpaper book samples.  

I carefully measured the can's perimeter and length, and then cut (with scissors, no paper cutters then either)the paper to the appropriate size.   To make it stick, stay stuck and protect it from tearing, I used Mod Podge.  I think I was MP's very first Facebook fan.  And because I've always been good at multi-tasking (a girl can dream, can't she?), this project probably also fulfilled one of my Girl Scout badges!  

So, here is today's take on one of my earliest altered artwork projects.  Sure wish I had a photo of the ones I made a mere few decades ago. 

Coordinating paper to mix & match



The cans covered with beautiful patterned paper



Bright acrylic paint to coordinate perfectly with the paper



Painted wooden clothespins

Altered painted clothespins with paper, ribbon and matching tags



Finished can embellished with flower, button, ribbon, and rhinestones.
And clipped clothespin with attached tag.  This one is for brushes.



And this one for my scraps of ribbon.




For my markers.



This tiny can was added to the mix to house my pink button collection.



My new colorful cans to help me stay organized.

Now to organize the rest of my life...       





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Top Ten Resolutions for 2011

Happy New Year! Let's ring in the new, and throw out the old. No, wait! Don't throw out the old. Instead, "upcycle" it.

As I near the age matching the year I was born (mid-50's), I find this creative phrase a metaphor for life. Instead of grumbling about all those things that we mid-50 year old women find astonishing (like hairs on the upper lip, a body in need of toning, and grumpy teenage children, just to name a few), it is time to upcycle ourselves: limit the sugar and white flour, exercise for life, share a smile more often, and stop being so hard on ourselves. The super-Mom syndrome of the past few decades is no longer acceptable. Instead, it is time to find a gentle balance on our continuing journey called life. That being said, here are my Top 10 resolutions for 2011:

 1. Donate un-used craft items to Girl Scouts.
 2. (Continue to) volunteer at senior centers.
 3. Organize (i.e., toss out) expired coupons, old receipts, and newspaper clippings that I saved to read (but didn't).
 4. Spend more time reading novels and non-fiction.
 5. Take a class to expand my computer knowledge (which will benefit my blog).
 6. Take vitamins regularly.
 7. Add a day of tennis to my bi-weekly tennis schedule.
 8. Hide the chocolate--from me (i.e., don't buy the stuff anymore).*
 9. Enjoy spending time (instead of arguing) with our younger daughter for the next eight months before she goes off to college .
10.Think outside the box (i.e., my comfort zone) and expand my crafting repertoire.

*This is going to be tough!

Let's start with Resolution #10: expanding my crafting repertoire; thus, I present my first altered art project for the new year:

2011 Calendar & Photo Canvas

Material List:

9" x 12" and 6 x 8" canvas panels

coordinating scrapbook paper cut 8-1/2" x 11-1/2" and 5-1/2" x 7-1/2"

acrylic paint & foam brushes

Mod Podge (glossy)

Binder clips

Buttons

Spiral paper clip

Hemp cord

2011 calendar, cut to fit smaller canvas (I found these for 50 cents at Michael's)

metal label holder & brads

4" x 6" acrylic flat photo frame

photo (which is interchangeable)

double-sided foam tape

assorted ribbon & ric-rac

silk flower (cut from stem and backing)

number stickers

hot glue gun

If you would like a tutorial, leave me a comment and I will be happy to email it to you.  Also, if you like this bright color combination, click here to see the matching mail & note holder I made last year.

Now onto Resolution #9:  enjoying my 17-year old--that is, after she yells at me for waking her...Happy New Year!

Doreen

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