Altered Matchbox Template

Since I teased you yesterday with a tempting new project for using altered matchboxes I thought I should at least be nice and post a matchbox template for you.

Hey, I don't want to be accused of thwarting your creativity by dangling the carrot without giving you a way of eating it, ya know?! Click the image to download at full size.

free matchbox template

Although putting the box together is very easy and pretty much self explanatory, the video below will give you a quick and dirty idea of how to put the template together.

As always, I would love to see your creations so if you made the cabinet box or just put together one match box let me know where we can have a peek! Enjoy!

Altered Match Box Cabinet

This has got to be one of the most functional and clever uses for the altered match box if ever I've seen one!

Not only is this deliciously shabby chic, it is also inexpensive to make using an old cigar box and some match boxes. You could even enlarge your boxes to suit your needs.

Something like this makes great craft storage for those smaller items like brads, eyelets, buttons and other embellishments.

With some decorative paper, vintage trims or fabric and a little imagination, you can customize a box that is sure to add shabby chic charm to any craft space without breaking the bank.

So find an old, sturdy box, get out your matchbox templates and get creating! I may have to try this myself! ;)

Note: This post is reblogged from Viola's Vintage Home Decor and Art. Images associated with this post remain her intellectual and copyrighted property. 

Shabby Chic Box Frames

Shabby chic box frames come in every delicious flavor of inspiring! Still on the prowl for attractive ways to display my paper dresses, I came across this tasty treasure.

iron key attached to French script fabric background

Although this is an actual box, I could very easily adapt the idea to a shadow box style frame I can make myself!

vintage looking key holder box $42

This has an air of sophistication to it that I think will add an upscale quality to my art work plus it will also satisfy my craving for an antique, shabby chic finish.

Note: Images reblogged from weddingbee.com

The Paper Dress Armoire

Could you see this as a paper dress armoire instead of a sewing armoire? Not only does this provide just the right amount of shabby chic inspiration but could very easily be reproduced in a paper version.

miniature sewing armoire

This miniature version actually stands about 7 inches high by 4 inches wide so it's a bit larger than your average doll house. I simply adore it!

miniature sewing armoire outside

Since I plan to begin offering my paper dresses for sale next year, I figured I had better start thinking about attractive ways to display them.

Merry Christmas

Kell Belle Studio wishes you and your family a very merry Christmas!

Miss December - Christmas Prom

I missed out on putting tulle on the first Miss December paper dress so I couldn't help making a second one just for laughs. 

Miss December II - Christmas Prom

This one definitely has that youthful prom dress look about it but still pretty. Look for my dresses to come up for sale next year on Etsy!

Kama Sutra Acquiescence

My latest Etsy treasury is filled with symbolism that express ideas. The presence of your imagination is required in order to achieve the full climactic effect. Enjoy!

Little Black Dress

The little black dress will make a perfect theme for January especially with New Years Eve being only a few short weeks away.

Victoria Beckham silk & cotton blend mini dress

Ax the bolero like jacket look on this, bastardize those already beautiful, clean peplum lines with a few gathers and you'll have some idea about what I have in mind for next month. Oh my!

Paper Couture XVIII: Red Velvet Bustier

Paper Couture is proud to offer the bustier template as part of the paper wardrobe project for December. For help with downloading, visit How to Print Templates.

template is 3 x 5 inches

You may have noticed that the back of the bustier was modified slightly from the one shown in the video. I thought you might like this template better.

The video will show you how to overcome cutting/covering challenges with the back of your top being lower than the front. The techniques presented can also be applied to other templates. Enjoy!

Miss December Paper Dress

The simplicity of the Miss December paper dress is the very embodiment of understated elegance. This is proof that sometimes it is better to resist the urge to embellish further.

paper couture: miss December

I was tempted to add a rose at the waist and some glittered red tulle but both would have altered the look of this dress entirely. Look for the template and video to be posted hopefully tomorrow.

Christmas Dress Calling the Azteclady!

I followed a suggestion I received in a comment from azteclady that I wanted to share with you with regard to adding trims to your paper outfits.

finished Christmas bustier

 You know me, I'm not big on unfinished edges especially when it comes to putting paper on top of paper as in ruffles and fringe. I will usually try to hide them in some way with glitter or ribbon.

very polished look to the ruffle

 There is another way to go about this that I've been aware of but just never tried until now. The technique is to sandwich your trim in between layers of your papers during the covering process.

leave openings to allow space for trim

 This is very easily accomplished by not adding glue to the places you want to leave open. This will allow for trims to be placed in between them later.

ruffle fits nicely in between layers

I will go over this in the video. This technique works very well if you are only applying the trim to one side. If you want it to circle the entire piece with no gaps in the sides you are still better off placing it on the outside. Thanks for the suggestion azteclady! It works great!

Photography 101: Reflector Cup Clamp on Light

A BIG thank you to Elaine for finding this Incandescent Clamp Light. I think this is exactly what I should be using with the light box instead of the lights I bought. Guess I'll be making a trip back to Home Depot this week to return the other lamps.

the perfect clamp light with reflector cup

Don't let the word incandescent throw you. You can still use your daylight bulbs in this. The item is an "online exclusive" so you won't find it at your local Home Depot. For $9 they look like they will be worth the investment so I'm gonna give them a try.

How to Make a Collapsable Light Box II

Yesterday I attempted to make a collapsable light box using foam board and transparent duct tape. Needless to say that didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.

1 inch wide interlocking cuts similar to a puzzle piece

After a brief search I discovered Snickerdoodle Creations blog has a free, very nicely written tutorial with easy to follow illustrations called "how to make a collapsable photography light box."

pieces lock easily together & come apart for storage

Really, only the sides need to be interlocked since two uncut boards can be used as a top if you want one and a bottom that the box sets on top of.

foam boards reflecting lots of light already

Once you have your box constructed you can drape fabric or poster board down the back and bottom to create a seamless background. Look how light this looks even before lights are placed! Awesome!

look how good your cat would look

My little world traveler, Phoebe serves as my quality control on this project. Of course she was looking all over the place which is why her head is blurry. Have fun with your light box!

Photography 101: How to Make a Light Box I

Etsy seller Leanna of Seams Victorian was kind enough to provide me with instructions on how to construct a light box. Since I happen to like her product photographs, I thought it would be worth trying this out on my own product shots.

foam boards found at Michael's craft store

There are some items you will need before you begin so I'll go through the supply list today and give you the opportunity to gather your materials before I bore you to tears trying to spit this all out in one article.

um . . . I suppose the English side would have been nice

What you will need:

• Foam core boards in a size that meets your subject height requirements
• Transparent duct tape - my local Home Depot had never even heard of this. I actually found a roll at the Container Store - who knew!
• Clip on lamp with reflector cup around the bulb. I have no idea what the reflector cup is but I imagine the lamp I found will work just fine
• CFL daylight bulbs of the highest wattage you can find
• Optional: mirror panels for reflecting light

daylight bulbs 27 watts but looks like 100

Home Depot had a display so that you could compare how your normal incandescent bulbs stack up against a daylight bulb. WOW! I had no idea just how much of a difference there is in the yellow cast factor of the former! (say that 3 times fast)

clip on lamp found at Home Depot

I'm not sure how well the lamp will work but that's the whole point of experimentation right? The next article will post Saturday where I will unveil the construction of my light box and expand on how I put it together. Happy shopping!

Introducing Photography 101

Since opening my Etsy store I've been beaten over the head with the importance of taking good photographs. Nobody wants to buy something that looks like complete crap right?

see Carnivale Venezia on Etsy

Since you may be interested in selling your work (emphasis on the YOUR part :) you could benefit from my vast photography wisdom. Haha! Well, not really. I'm a complete amateur but I'm getting better. It's all a process of trial and error.

see Audrey Hepburn free standing paper art doll on Etsy

If you missed my first post on photography you might want to start with the Photography Lighting Tutorial. Some parts of this work and some parts still need tweaking at least for me. You will need to discover what works best for you with the tools you have.

The Scent of Paper Couture

Either I'm a day late and a dollar short or there is simply nothing new coming out in the way of paper couture that actually turns my head.

Andrea Maack paper dress 2009

To top it off, it would appear that in order to get attention with your paper garment you have to do something outrageous or work for Dior Couture before you get noticed.

line drawing pattern for dress

As near as I can determine, this dress was created in 2009 for a gallery exhibition introducing a new perfume called Craft. Andrea Maack made a line drawing simulating muscle fiber which serves as the pattern for this paper dress.

Andrea Maack & Cedric Rivrain collaboration

Ha! You know I'm always up for a good design challenge and I say poppycock to big name association before fame so here's what I'll do. I'll assign myself the task of coming up with my own "high fashion" paper gown. Care to join me in that endeavor?

Red Tull Dress - Confection Perfection!

I just had to post this magnificent red tulle dress. With winter being so full of holidays I may not be able to be able to stick to making just one dress. 

shop Windsor to find this dress

That said, why would I want to limit myself to one when confections like this divine dress exists to ignite my paper couture creativity.

gorgeous weaving effect on the bodice

The weaving effect on the bodice might be a bit much for our purposes so I'll probably just opt out of doing anything like that. Although, if using 1/8 inch satin ribbon, this could work!

blue glittered tulle and white instead of red?

I really like this! What do you think about exploring this idea and turning it into a winter dress? It would be very easy to simply use some sparkling white papers and a little glittered pale blue tulle, yes? We'll ponder that for awhile.

Note: I am unsure of the original source of these image since they seem to appear on multiple sites online vendors so I have linked these photos to an online retailer called Windsor in case you decide you can't live without this dress.