For my tutorial today, I want to show how to recycle and repurpose the packaging from one of my new favorite Bella Blvd products: The Ciao Chiptm Simply Simona alphabets are amazing! i just love the colors, the printed text, and the fonts!
One way to get the most bang for your buck, is to not only use the actual product, but to use the packaging as well. And the Ciao Chips are a perfect example of some great packaging!
Step 1 - I had used quite a few letters from this red set of Ciao Chips. Even though I had a good amount left, I was already thinking of what I could do with the packaging after the letters were all punched out. It's a good sized sheet (approx. 6x12"), and would look great on a layout. It would sort of give the look of pattern paper, but with a lot more dimension and interest. You could also cut this into pieces, to use in smaller areas or on cards.
Step 2 - There's no need to wait until you've emptied the entire package. Punch out any remaining letters from the packaging, and put them off to the side. I like to store my loose alphas in small, clear baggies, that I simply toss them in with the rest of my Ciao Chip alphas.
Step 3 - Now you will have a full sheet of the chipboard, with all the letters taken out. Normally, this might be something I would throw away. But the printed text on the red chipboard is way too cool to throw away!
Step 4 - To get this piece ready to add to my layout, I trimmed off the top and bottom with some heavy duty scissors. Originally, I left a little bit of the pink scallop showing on the top part of the sheet. But in sizing up my layout, I ended up trimming that part off, so that the entire piece was just red.
Step 5 - Since the Ciao Chips are adhesive backed, this means that the entire sheet of chipboard has adhesive on it. This makes it super simple to adhere to our project. You just peel off that entire backing piece and you're ready to adhere it.
Step 6 - My intention was to stick this directly onto my background cardstock. But after making some other design decisions, I realized this would be going onto green cardstock. I still wanted the empty spots from the letters to be white. So I simply cut a piece of white cardstock, just slightly smaller than my chipboard piece, and adhered them together.
Step 7 - You can see here where I have added my chipboard piece to my layout, along with some cardstock and patterned paper.
Step 8 - To add a little interest to your layout, you can add embellishments to some of the empty areas of the chipboard. I took some coordinating buttons, and added them to the larger spots created from the b, d, g, p, and o.
And here is my finished layout. Another fun idea that comes to mind, when i see these Ciao Chips, is using the large chipboard piece as a mask. After removing all the letters, place the piece on some cardstock, and spritz right over it with misting sprays. You would end up with a really fun misted alphabet block. Try looking at your packaging in a new way. Think of ways you can incorporate them onto your layouts and cards.
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Love how you repurposed the alpha negatives. Adding the buttons really gave it a great look.
Posted by: Tona | May 13, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Great Idea Laura! Love the added buttons
Posted by: Stephanie Buice | May 13, 2011 at 01:24 PM
What an adorable layout and clever use of packaging! Inspired!
Posted by: Jennifer O. | May 13, 2011 at 01:42 PM
This is adorable Laura!
Posted by: Lynn Ghahary | May 13, 2011 at 02:35 PM
SO cute Laura! I love how you put the buttons on.
Posted by: Lisa VanderVeen | May 13, 2011 at 02:39 PM
What a great idea and I love that nothing gets thrown away! Awesome!
Carol B
ciaoitalia2007(at)gmai(dot)com
Posted by: Carol B | May 13, 2011 at 02:55 PM
I love love this idea. The packages of supplies are always fun to work with. I didn't know about the whole thing being sticky on the back, how easy that makes it. The buttons are such a cute and fun way to add a pop of color. Great job laura.
Posted by: dawn | May 13, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Laura, this is so cute! Such a great idea.
Posted by: Linda | May 13, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Um, WOW girl! This is gorgeous!! You are so creative!
Posted by: Carla | May 13, 2011 at 09:34 PM
simply adorable!
Posted by: ShellyJ | May 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM
That is both clever and darling! Luv it!
Posted by: Yoli | May 14, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Very cute, great idea! TFS
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | May 17, 2011 at 01:27 PM
Brilliant! What a great idea this would be a perfect thing to use in a school album too.
Posted by: Amy | May 18, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is fantastic! Love it!
Posted by: janet d | May 19, 2011 at 06:33 PM