Crafty Secrets Altered Tablet

Hello bloggers!  For those of us in the USA, it's a busy week of getting ready for Thanksgiving on Thursday, but before I get too involved in cleaning, baking & cooking, I wanted to share with you how I made an Altered Tablet for Crafty Secret last week.

Crafty Secrets is coming out with an AMAZING Digital Christmas line of papers, images & ephemera and I couldn't wait to start playing!  Here is the project that was just recently showcased on the Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage Blog:

The first thing I did was CREATE my patterned paper using the 'robin_holly.png' file (from the new CD5 Christmas CD) into a Word document.  Once I inserted the image, I began to copy & paste it all over the page and changing the sizes of the image to fill in the blank spots to create the paper.  Once I've positioned the image where I wanted it for my paper, I then changed the color theme (in Word) to Sepia and changed the orientation to landscape for this project.  I printed it on both sides of the 100# white cardstock paper and you'll want to be sure to use a little heavier paper than your cards since it will be open & closed more often than a card would.

(L) pattern after turning & changing color (R) original color print

 The tablet I am using measures 5" x 8" and is 1/4" thick.

By simply adding a little extra onto the top & sides ... plus the 1/4" for the thickness of the pad, that is your cover!  It nice to also cut a small piece of paper 5" x 2" to cover the flap on the top of the tablet.  Using a strong adhesive like red line tape or Scor-Tape, adhere your tablet to the inside 'back' panel of your paper.  Then fold front flap over like a book cover.

 Another nice thing to do is make a coordinating or accenting panel for the inside cover which can house extra notes, receipts, envelopes, stamps ... whatever you need. 

 Here I've simply embellished and adhered a red 5" x 3 1/2" panel on THREE sides with 1/8" Scor-Tape ... leaving the top open.  You can either fold done one top corner or cut off an angular piece.

 

 For my front cover embellishment, I have simply printed, cut & matted the robin_holly.png file in its original colors, did a little 'fussy cutting', added a touch of ribbon and a computer generated sentiment.

Every year since we moved into our home here in Akron, Ohio (almost 10 years now) we have held a Christmas Party on a Sunday afternoon in December for the neighborhood.  Everyone is so busy with kids & work that there's so little time for neighborhood fellowship!  Each year I make something for each of the ladies who come to the party ... sometimes monogrammed cards, sometimes homemade scarves ... it's just whatever strikes my fancy.  

WELL TODAY I decided these altered tablets would be this years project.  I just sent out the invitations today so I'd better get busy creating!  And with these beautiful new digital papers to create with, it won't take me any time at all!

 

I'll share them with you as I get them made ... I think they'll be a wonderful gift!

I'd also like to share this project with the following challenges:
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
 Tuesday Alchemy - Anything But A Card
 Artistic Inspiration #16 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Blogger's Network #5 - Christmas Anything Goes (3rd entry)
Mygrafico Challenges #140 - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime #89 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge - Anything But A Card
Victorine Originals Challenge #47 - Anything Goes

 Times a wasting!  I'd better get hopping!!

Till next time!