#SimplyG45 – DIY Floral Frame

Hello, G45ers!

 Welcome to a #SimplyG45 DIY Floral Frame how to blog.  This post is jam-packed with tips, step by step photos and one beautiful home decor piece, all by Brand Ambassador, Aleksandra Mihelič.  To create this masterpiece Aleksandra used our Floral Shoppe collection, Decades ink pads, Flower Dies, and a $1 frame.  Let's jump in!  

 

“There are always Flowers” Altered Photo Frame

By Aleksandra Mihelič

 

"Hello, my dear Graphic 45 friends. I’m so happy to be here with you today again. For this month I prepared for you a beautiful and quick Altered frame, that I bought on sale in store for little over 1 dollar and with help of just a few things from my G45 stash created a beautiful Home Decor piece. I made my own 3D flower with Graphic 45 Flower dies from Floral Shoppe collection but will show you also another way, to create more 2D flowers, coloring them with Decades inks. I hope it will inspire you to give some of your simple Home Decor pieces a new life too.

 

TIP 1: I love to put a piece of cardboard on the back of my layers to make my projects more dimensional. I use cardboard instead of foam tape! I love it more, because it makes the whole surface more sturdy.

 

 

TIP 2: I always put just a bit of white gesso over my elements, using a dry brush. It blends elements more beautifully together and it gives the project a bit of a white-washed look, which I really love!

 

 

TIP 3: I also love to add some tiny color splatters on top of my projects, using diluted acrylic paints and a brush. Here I used apple green and white splatters to match with the rest of the elements.

 

 

TIP 4: I used Decades ink Venetian lace on top of the colored frame to give it more Vintage look. I applied it with a sponge.

 

 

TIP 5: I followed the same pattern for coloring the edges of Policy envelope. Decades inks are perfect for shading.

 

As mentioned above, I used Graphic 45 papers from Floral Shoppe collection to cut out and assemble the flower for decorating my frame. But there is another way. Not only Decades inks are perfect for shading they work beautifully also when using them to color the paper. So I used this process to make some more 2D flowers to decorate my Tag.

 

 

I applied my Decades inks on a smooth surface just pressing my pad onto the surface and then I sprinkled it with water. Here I’m using “Antique Moss” and “Precious Pink” Decades ink pads.

 

 

I then pressed my piece of paper onto it and dried it with my Heat Gun tool.

 

 

I used the piece of paper to cut out several flowers with Graphic 45 Flower dies.

 

 

You can also use Decades inks to stamp onto the surface to give the flowers some extra texture and interest. I used here “Bon Voyage Blue” Decades ink pad, which matched perfectly with my Floral Shoppe background.

 

 

You use the Flowers to decorate and finish your card or tag.

 

 

Supply list for the “There are always Flowers” Altered Photo Frame

• Floral Shoppe 8×8 Paper Pad,
• Policy Envelope Regular Black,
• Floral Shoppe Ephemera Cards,
• Large Tag, ATC Tag, and Flower Dies
• Clearsnap Decades Dye Pad Venetian Lace

I hope you liked my today’s inspiration on Graphic 45 blog. Thank you for joining me and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon again!

Enjoy your day!

Hugs.”  ~Aleksandra

 

What a great project! We hope this has inspired to you take an old frame from your house and turn it into something beautiful.  Big thanks to Aleksandra and to you for making our G45 community such a creative and wonderful place!  

 

Happy Papercrafting!