Before and After.....

Amazing what a little T.L.C can do to a VINTAGE item on a rainy day huh??   Amazing "Before & After" on an old, VERY old wooden chest that I have owned (and used) for about 10+ years.  This little beauty, rugged as it WAS came from the father of a family friend.  Bless his heart for his typewritten labeling (now very brittle over the many years,  and his inventive "nail" drawer pulls, but I could see potential in this treasure as soon as I laid eyes on it......too bad it took me so many years to actually get around to DOING it!!!  ha.   I got all my customers orders filled and figured it was finally time to make something for ME to keep.    

I used patterned paper from a few of my FAVORITE companies. Seven Gypsies, Tim Holtz (thanks Pam, for the paper!!)  and a little Graphic 45.   (gotta LOVE that text paper on the side huh??)   Adding some text paper is always a good thing!!    And the final "altered" touch is the drawer pulls (numbers) taken off of a vintage adding machine (money order machine?) !!!  Thanks Kris and Bejes for that find!!  less than $1 for the entire machine at a garage sale!!!   and I have lots of other numbers leftover (even some in RED) , so you may see them appear in this blog from time to time.  :)   

Now, what will I use this little chest for??  well, to hold my ever growing collection of alterable items and embellishments, of course.  One can never have enough little cubby holes and drawers to hold them all!!!!   

I hope you enjoy the "before & after" images as much as  I have loved creating it, and looking back at all the memories it took to FINALLY make it.  

Leave a comment, take my NEW poll, or simply pass the word of my blog on to others!!!    and most of all, thanks for stopping by to see what's new..........

An inch of thanks!!!

Inchies, altered (of course).   I made these little darlings to present, attached to a corsage, to our faithful organists in the church we attend.  This Sunday, they will be recognized for their musical talents and God given gifts.  

What is in YOUR attic????

What do you do with all your childhood memories from clubs / sports / accomplishments???  of couse, call Simply Altered and have a personalized cigar box created to proudly display them.  What good are they doing sitting in a drawer or in the attic?    I got this request from a customer, for her adult daughter, who has possibly long forgotten being awarded these pins.  In the midst of simplifying her home, she came across these, and of course did not have the heart to toss them!!!   It was a challenge to work with basically two colors + black as I tend to make more eclectic boxes with lots of colors and patterns, but this one was much different!!  I do like the way it turned out and hopefully the recipient will too.  

a way to get from here to there..........

two extreme forms of transportation!  but the  ATC 's to be given to the very same recipient!! two requested themes for the Pick A Theme, being Planes and Tricycles.  The tricycles is from her blog "Paper Pedaler" , and the planes must be when she dreams of faraway places!!!   : )     regardless, I hope you enjoy these Christy !!  in a month or so, they will be good additions to your growing collection.  Enjoy.    I even added some Glosssy accents to the tricycle, as I am SURE you very own bike was always this spotless shiney and clean huh???   ;)

an ATC with a (re) purpose !

Always looking for those perfect pieces of life to use for another purpose.   In clearing out my attic a few weeks ago, I was taken back to the late 80's when I cross stitched about as much as I am currently papercrafting.  I found MANY old stitched pieces that as much as I loved them then....I do not necessarily want them NOW.   I kept a few for my childrens sake, in MANY years to come, but I also found alot of small elements to cut apart and "repurpose" into other things, and this piece in particular will be on its way to a fellow swapper that has "quilts" as her chosen theme.   It is all about looking outside the box!!!!!!!   it is really the most interesting place to look!!!

Simply Altered pendants

ok.  Venturing out beyond boxes, magnets and notepads for my Simply Altered business, and am now creating pendants.  As with any Simply Altered items, these are easily personalized!!  note the "destination" one is not only from Iowa, but specifinally created with map of my hometown, Oskaloosa!!  I will be taking orders for the pendants, as well as showing all of them off at Art on the Square!!  (I am preparing 4 months ahead this year, as opposed as to a couple weeks ahead LAST year!!)  live and learn!!  :)   ..........My intentions are to sell them with chain in assorted finishes, pendants of all kids of shapes and sizes,  and sell pendants alone to make them interchangeable.  I will also have the same pendants for key chains, fobs, etc etc etc...oh the possibilities are endless.  Why have something that is good for only ONE purpose???  that is no fun.     :D   enjoy looking!!!!!!!  and if you feel the need to  S P R E A D the word about my blog , or the items I have available, pass this info on to ALL your family and friends!!!   :)    Thanks!!!!

"Style"...insist on your OWN!!!

....the card to end all cards  (atleast all of MY cards!)  I have received more comments on this card, than any other!  So, I feel the need to share it with EVERYONE this time!! I nearly tossed the image out, but being a stylist, I just felt the need to use it.  Reduced the size, and added lots of Bazzill mini 3mm brads, some ink, and different papers, and it came to life.  Insist on your OWN style.  Don't settle for anything less than what feels right for YOU,  and as tempting it might be, don't be a second rate version of someone else.  As "interesting" as this style appears, it may be good for some???  but my style is SO very  different.  My "style" is VERY simple!!!!  and it suits........ME!!!!    Yes, Christy......I am making one just for you !!!  lets exchange cards, with YOUR interpretation of "style" for me.    :)  Fun???

Got Magnets?  

I know I do and I have 122 of them done!!  whew, and I FINALLY have them posted.  It took me forever to get a decent picture of them, and I finally had to be happy with what I ended up with.   ( I really need advanced photography classes) or maybe "beginners" training for that matter!!   I had too much reflection to suit me, and without a flash, you could not see the details!!!  arrghhhhhhh  beyond the flash capabilities, I am clueless.   ANYWAY....look closely and enjoy!!  there are some really neat ones in here.  I will take about half to The Book Vault in Oskaloosa, where they sell them exclusively....and the rest are going to an Art show in June, along with many other fun items!!  These sell like CRAZY!!  great for impulsive purchases at the check out, or great for gift giving.....in a practical way. 

Paper Pedaler: It's All Rosie

Paper Pedaler: It's All Rosie

I love this Christy!!!

Our fragile earth

I will introduce you to my other pasttime, related to papercrafting.   Artist Trading Cards (ATC's).  They are so much fun to make, and MY form of therapy.  :)   lol.   I can hardly say it is cheaper than therapy because I am not sure it is.  (yikes)   I belong to various groups in trading these little beauties, and most recently I established a local group....which include so many of my friends and very talented people.  We trade once a month, with all sorts of different themes.   The one shown here is one I made for my own collection and is among my favorites.  

Quickkutz earth die cut

October Afternoon tree rub on

Hero Arts dotted circle stamp

and the little tag stating how "fragile" our earth has really become.  

Enjoy, and thanks for taking a look.  

~~Kelli

One of my favorite boxes

this is one of my favorite topics to work with, atleast.  Historic Oskaloosa boxes sell  out nearly as fast as I can make them.  I can personalize them, or you can find my general inventory (exclusively) at The Book Vault in Oskaloosa.  So many people are interested in the history of their hometown, and I love to create (and research) hometowns all across America, for creating a WONDERFUL box to commemorate it.  Of course the inside is equally as wonderful, and makes the box useful as well.  Use it to hold momentos, or SIMPLY have another look to display with it open.