We are happy to bring you this week’s Featured Company: Graphic 45. We are so excited to be featuring them regularly on Paper Crafter’s Library! And this week we have a Good Ol’ Sport collection prize package give-away. Details will be at the end of this post.
For those of you unfamiliar with Graphic 45 , we’d like to take a minute to re-introduce them to you.
Graphic 45 is an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company— owned and operated by a mother and her two daughters.
Diane Schultz—Designer and CEO (aka mother)
“I’m passionate about being creative and eager to make it possible for others to find their creative voice. My background includes stints as a designer for, McCalls, Simplicity, Vogue/ Butterick, Mattel Toy Company and a host of other jobs that each, in some way, led me to what I do now. At 45 I went back to school and got my degree in graphic design— I named the company to celebrate that achievement.”
Aimee Filimoehala —Director of Operations
“I wear a lot of hats and love it that way. Business, marketing, operations, etc. have made me a pro at multitasking (aka juggling‑figuratively and literally). When we launched Graphic 45 just three years ago we had no idea what was in store, working together as a family has been an amazing journey that we all feel so grateful to be apart of.”
Charee Filimoehala —Director of Customer Service and Design Team Coordinator
“I joined the team a little over three years ago and haven’t looked back…what a life-changing experience this has been. I love working with and around creative people and products (not to mention I like my co-workers quite a bit). I spend my days working with our friendly stores and talented design team…the occasional trip to a workshop or tradeshow pretty nice too.”
Together we create vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of the 1920’s and 30’s – with vibrant color, irresistible texture and imaginative design to create products with decades-old appeal that’s both fresh and familiar. Let our products inspire your next scrapbook layout, card, album or home decor project.
Graphic 45 Designer Annette Green
Our Graphic 45 Guest Designer for this week is Annette Green who is part of the 2013 Graphic 45 Design Team. You can see Annette’s fabulous project below, but first, here is a little more about Annette:
In my professional past, I worked as a graphic designer in the advertising world and was an all-around crafter on the side; cross-stitching, quilting, painting, beading. Once my daughter was born (16 years ago) as many of us moms do, I naturally became an avid scrapbooker and papercrafter. I discovered Graphic 45 a handful of years ago when shopping in my local scrapbook store. The beautiful vintage imagery caught my eye right away. I remember in particular seeing those flying pigs from Olde Curiosity Shoppe and knew that I was going to love everything Graphic 45 produced. And I still do! For the past 8 years, I’ve worked from home full time as a designer, teacher and artist hosting workshops and classes. I’m a certified Ranger educator and an active blogger with how-to videos on my YouTube channel. My husband, teenage daughter, our Sheltie “Suki” and I live in sunny Melbourne, Florida near Cocoa Beach. Hubby shoots off rockets from the Kennedy Space Center, daughter is an uber-talented artist, and Suki is our little love. Life is good.
Altered Tissue Box
Graphic 45’s Sweet Sentiments collection is perfect for Spring projects. One of my favorite things to do with Graphic 45 papers is to alter objects. Clocks, shelves, boxes, you name it. Function is always important, so I chose a tissue box cover to alter this season. This will look so pretty sitting on my bedside table. I enjoyed making it and hope you’ll give it a try too.
1. Start with an unfinished wood tissue box cover. Sand lightly if needed.
2. Cut 4 strips of the purple with white polka-dot side of “Perfect Petals” paper. For my box, these measure 5 inches long and ¾ inches high. Then cut four strips from blue striped side of “All My Love” paper. Mine were cut 5 inches long and 1 inch high, then I used a border punch. Adhere these together and put aside. (all papers have been dabbed with cream colored acrylic paint for a shabby look.)
3. Cover box sides and tops with paper. For my box, I cut two pieces of “Perfect Petals” at 5 x 6 inches and two pieces of “Heart Song” (using the pink pattern on the back side) cut at the same measure. The top piece is 5 x 5 inches, cut from “Violet Bouquet.” To line the oval opening of the box, I cut two ¼ inch pieces (one at 8 inches long and another 1 ½ inches to patch the rest.) Adhere the four border strips along the bottom of each panel.
4. Add lace and rosette ribbon along bottom and top, wrapping all the way around the box. For the oval opening, you’ll need to clip the curves slightly to help it follow the shape.
5. Next you’ll create a photo frame for the front of the tissue box. From the “Sweet Sentiments” paper, cut away the frame. I use a craft knife on a mat with a ruler, then fussy cut with my knife in the corners.
6. Cut the left and right sides first. The scraps can be put aside for another project.
7. Cut the tops and bottoms off the pieces from Step 6. Put aside scraps.
8. Put your four pieces back together and tape securely from the back side using clear tape.
9. To create the photo frame, cut any plain chipboard into pieces as indicated in photo. (I used silver in this photo for demonstration purposes.)
10. (The pieces in this photo are white, but they are the same pieces from Step 9) Adhere the two largest pieces together to create thickness. Then adhere two of the long strips together, the other two together and the short two together. Adhere these to your largest piece on three sides, leaving the top open for a photo to slide into. Cut a piece of clear acetate the same size as your large piece and adhere to frame as shown.
11. Apply double-sided sticky tape to all four sides of the back side of your paper frame and adhere to chipboard unit.
12. Before adhering your chipboard frame to the front of the tissue box, cut a few strips of paper at ¼ inches and adhere to three outer edges of your frame (leave the top open) to finish it off. Add a pretty bow to the top and a metal key to the bottom.
13. Use dies and punches to cut leaves and flowers as desired and adhere to the top of your box. I use colored card stock and pattern paper for a mixture of colors and textures.
14. Adhere two Shabby Chic door pulls, one to each side of the box. These are decorative, but serve as a lifting point when changing out the tissue box that fits inside. Add more flowers and leaves to the front of the box.
15. For your photo frame you’ll create a slide-in piece with a photo. Cut any cardstock, then select any photo. Adhere as shown, leaving more space at the top to grab ahold of.
16. Slide your photo unit into your frame. When you want to change out the photo, simply use tweezers to lift it out. I added a chipboard tag to my frame as a final embellishment.
Supplies
Graphic 45 8 x 8 Sweet Sentiments paper collection
Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments chipboard tag
Graphic 45 Staples Shabby Chic Door Pulls (2)
Graphic 45 Staples Shabby Chic small key
Basswood Box “Boutique Tissue Box” by Walnut Hollow
Pink Ribbon: May Arts
Card stock: smooth white and colored textured by Core-dinations Signature Series for Graphic 45
Perfect Pearls, pink and white
Craft knife and mat
Other: Lace, rosette ribbon, plain chipboard, acetate, flower punches and dies, border punch,
Mod Podge and various other adhesives.
We hope you have enjoyed this fun creation from Annette. I would also like to extend a warm thank you to Annette for sharing her fabulous project with us! Please take a minute to stop by Annette’s blog and of course the Graphic 45 blog to check out all their amazing creations! Be sure to leave a comment on this post to enter to win the Graphic 45 collection listed above.
Thank you for sharing Annette’s lovely tissue box holder and tutorial. Altered objects are one of my favorites and this one is especially pretty.
What a pretty way to dress up a powder room or bedside table. Love all the flowers.
Such beautiful inspiration with these projects, absolutely stunning!!!
What a way to chase away the sniffles using this work of art! Love Annette’s creativity turning everyday ordinary objects into something extra special. Thanks for highlighting this project & the chance to win.
Love this beautiful creation and the great tutorial. Your blog is always so informative. Love Graphic 45 products also.
Beutiful tissue box. I love it with the picture frame as well. Graphic 45 papers are always so lovely.
Gorgeous box. This G45 collection is beautiful.
Love this tissue holder, especially the flowers on the top! Terrific idea…I can just see doing this for different holidays. Nice way to bring a special occasion into daily thoughts. Lovely tissue box cover. G45 papers are so easy to use! So many images to fussy cut. Loved seeing the tutorial on how the frame was cut. Thanks!
I love Graphic 45. Beautiful box–love the sweet photo!!!
I love how you can use every little bit of paper with no waste, it seems like I manage to mess up my sheet with the first cut. I guess I need to plan it out better before cutting. Hmmm what’s that saying…measure twice, cut once!
thanks for the giveaway!
I love Graphic 45 paper. It’e endless possibilities with it, and it doesn’t fail to inspire. Thanks for the chance to win!
Graphic 45 has such beautiful papers and the DT is always so amazing. That commemorative tissue box cover is just spectacular!
Very pretty project!
The instructions will
be helpful in making
this. Lovely paper.
Carla from Utah
Exquisite altered tissue box – so pretty and romantic. Great giveaway too.
isoscia at aol dot com
What a lovely tissue holder!! The G45 papers are just the perfect complement for the gorgeous photo! Love the embellishments.
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
Just love this tissue box, it is an inspiration, and love the wedding photo too!!! really beautiful and the Graphic 45 paper is just so pretty, thanks for sharing and also for the opportunity to win and Graphic 45 paper pack
Graphic 45 is one of my favorite companies and this great collections shows why.
I have several wooden boxes that I painted many years ago. I’ve put them in the closet because I was tired of them. Now I have an idea for updating those boxes and giving them new life. thanks for the push to re-purpose these boxes. Love G45. They always come up with such good ideas – and they’re beautiful too.
Beautiful!! Annettes work is always so amazing!! I love Graphic 45!!!
Fabulous tissue box holder – a great transformation – well done Annette
WAUW this is so gorgeous, but G45 always share such amazing projects made with their totally amazing papers and collections. Boy would I love to win this pack, that´s for sure.
This is just gorgeous! What a work of art! Love g45 papers!
Love Graphic 45 papers, they are so versatile and beautiful. Wonderful project inspiration!
OMGosh, Annettes tutortial for the tissue box is right on, so beautiful!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Oh what a beautiful tissue box. I created one many years ago but it’s not nearly as beautiful as this one. Thanks, g45 … you ROCK.
What a lovely tissue box cover!! I am so going to do this!!! I am in love with anything Graphic 45! They have such amazing collections and I love their staples also! I have almost every single collection they have ever come out with but I haven’t gotten any of the Good Old Sport collection yet so I would LOVELOVELOVE to win this prize package to get me started!! Thank you for giving me more information about the lovely G45 ladies!! I love how they dress because it just goes to show that they REALLY live and love what they do! Not many companies can say that in this day and age.
Thanks again for the chance to win some of Graphic 45’s lovely products!!
LOVE THIS! Can’t wait to make it.
So beautiful. I’m so inspired that I’m going out today to find a wooden tissue box and get the papers to make this. You are so talented…thank you for sharing with us all.
Ahhhhh! I love all Annette’s projects! This is quite lovely! I’m a fellow Floridian too on the Tampa side! Love all things Graphic 45 and thanks for the chance to win this great stash!
Gorgeous and functional..what a beautiful project! Thanks for sharing.
Wow, what a gorgeous tissue box 🙂
Love the paper, project and company! Great work.
This is such a pretty project.
What a gorgeous tissue box!
Love that tissue box cover and what a fun and simple tutorial! I love Graphic45. Pick me!
The tissue box Is exquisite, perfect in every way. Love the Graphic 45 paper. I have the same paper pack so will try making this some day. This would be a perfect gift for family and friends. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely box and no where near as difficult to make as it would look! Thanks for sharing!
Wow….great projects. I just love the kleenex box and will give it a try. I hope I can make it work. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
This is such a neat project! I love the step-by-step you provided with photos! Thank you! I know that it’s time consuming to do that; but us beginning crafters REALLY appreicate it!
I love this project. Love the graphic45 products. My grandson loves sports and I would love to make him something with the sports collection. Thanks for the chance to win.
Lovely project Annette – it also included my love of fussy cutting – I indulge my passion for this with Graphic 45 papers.
Wow. Was contemplating making a tissue box for my sisters birthday. This is so beautiful.
I now can make one for her with these instructions.
Many thanks Annmieke
I love, love, love Graphic 45 and this project is gorgeous!! Seriously, I was shocked when I saw this post, as I have a tissue box holder that I am suppose to decorate this next week and you have given me a lot of ideas. Thank you for the chance to win this awesome product!!
Fabulous project…..really loved this….I have similar box at home…definitely going to try….thank you for sharing.
Fabulous project. Thank you so much for the tutorial! I happen to have a box that I can use 🙂 so I am going to give it a try. I love all that is Graphic 45 🙂 so thank you so much for a chance to win this fabulous prize.
I was already in love with graphic 45 and after reading Diane’s inspiring story, I’m desiring to be a guest designer for them someday…
Beautiful tissue box cover 🙂
Gorgeous tissue box. I love graphic 45 they have such great designs, patterns and so many wonderful images to fussy cut in their papers.
I love the tissue box. Super amazing. Cant wait to try it. Thanks for a chance to win. Graphic 45 papers are so beautiful, just love them.
This is such a sweet project. I loved the frame building tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for sharing Anette lovely project showcasing G45. Sharing the love of G45 with your readers here at paper crafters library is appreciate. Your inspiration is wonderful.
So far I have limited my paper crafting to cards and scrapbooks, but this project has inspired me to spread my wings! Thank you.
Annette’s picture frame looks so easy once you know how it’s done.
Love this project! And really love Graphic 45! What a great combination for the tissue box. This is definitely something I want to make for a gift for my daughter. Now to search for the wooden box. Thanks so much for sharing!