My Pandora Album...

I have had this idea from the moment I first saw the packaging...

I am secretly annoyed by packaging. Doesn't it bother anyone else that almost everything we buy comes in something that eventually goes into the garbage? Doesn't that mean we are buying garbage? It speaks volumes for the lack of trust that runs rampant in society today. But I digress...greatly.

I received a Pandora bracelet from my DH and DD on the occasion of my birthday last month and I LOVE IT! I love the charms, I love silver, I love the concept and my husband is deeply grateful that he no longer has to *think* when it comes to meaningful gifts. Like ever. My daughter just loves picking out charms and can't wait to have a bracelet of her own.

Then Christmas came and I received more charms from family and so now I have a lovely collection that has a deep meaning for me which brings us back to...this...

 ....Packaging and lots of it. Let's take a closer look shall we? I see...ribbon, and tissue paper and little paper envelopes and the Gift Bags themselves are reinforced and chipboard like - but beautifully embossed and ready like a canvas! It just screams "Alter me!! I am an album, grab your scissors!"

I can't take credit for this idea - this is directly inspired by Debby Schuh and her Anthropology Album from a few years back. Can't think of a better recycling project...

So here are a few pics of me taking the large bag apart to turn them into covers of the Album. All you need is a pair of scissors, double sided tape (sookwang!) and some patience.

 The bottom of the bag I separated easily by lifting the flaps - there may be some tearing but try to keep most of the flaps intact.

 Cut up along the sides of the bag so you have two halves. Use the scor line as a guide. You don't need perfectly straight lines as we will be fold them back down and covering up any uneven cuts.

 Next cut out those notches along the bottom as otherwise, they just add unnecessary volume.

 As an aside, if you have cats, you will know that they also love all the packaging and want to "help". I would like to introduce you to Midnight, a steadfast distraction while creating. I am sure she will be featured often here.

Anyways - back to making the covers...using double-sided tape (sookwang!) I tacked down the side flaps first. Cut a piece of black cardstock to 9" x 9" and tack down to the cover, I finished the inside of the front cover.

(Which one did I use as a front cover? Good question...

The bag had a definite "front" (shown on the right). It's smooth, without any scor lines to mar its appearance. The "Back" of the bag has a scor line about 2" from the bottom (shown on the left) - it needs to be there, it's how the bag folds up for storage purposes while it's at the jewellery store. I decided on a tasteful black velvet ribbon to mask the seem and turn it into a lovely embellishment instead. So - plain and smooth is the front of the album, and black velvet ribbon is on the back. )

Still working on the front cover - you should have a bottom flap that's just...well...flapping there. I thought it best to use it - turn it into a pocket to store bits to scrap later on. Pictures, ribbon...you get the idea.

Anyways - I need to reinforce the bottom flap/future pocket so I just used plain Bazzill white cardstock to adhere to the inside of the flap. Then, using the thinnest sookwang tape available (the 1/8"), I tacked down just each side of the flap to give me a decent pocket on the inside of the front cover.

Front Cover done!

Back Cover - the bottom flap is a bit wrecked and to try and turn it into a pocket really wasn't worth the effort - especially since I had another idea for a pocket anyways. The Back Cover just needed to have the sides tacked down, bottom flap tacked up, but before you tacked down the black piece of 9" x 9" cardstock, be sure to cover that scor line with ribbon - 3/8" black velvet was my choice.

A small FYI on Velvet Ribbon (may arts) - I use Scor Tape to adhere ribbon - it works beautifully. However you better be VERY certain of where that ribbon is going because while you can still pull it up after, if you pull the tape OFF the back of the velvet ribbon, you are likely removing velvet as well, and the ribbon is ruined. Just be careful when placing the ribbon - that's all I'm saying.

Once the ribbon is placed and you are happy with it, then you can finish off the inside of the Back Cover with the 9" x 9" black piece of cardstock. Voila - 2 album covers upcycled from a gift bag!

Next week I will show some pages I have done inside...hope this didn't bore you to tears, and maybe inspired you to look at packaging in a new way. I will be further altering the covers, and talk a bit about how I am going to bind them.

Jenn

PS On a more personal note - I am doing fantastic. Lots of work to be done to keep me busy, so I don't get to craft as much as I would like but I've done more this year than I have in the past five so I am grateful.

Oh...and I accepted a full time job today that is awesome and starts on Feb 7th. Glee!

j.