March 20, 2015

Graphic 45 Design Team Audition 2015

Hello everyone.
Today I am excited to be applying for the Graphic 45 Design Team for 2015!

I love to make books and three-dimensional paper projects, and the Graphic 45 paper collections are always a great source of inspiration. I have selected seven projects which I believe best represent my style and would like to share them with you.


1. By the Sea Tunnel Book

Paper Collection - Graphic 45 By the Sea
Type of Project - Specialty Book
Video Tutorial - YouTube

This tunnel book is a triptych with a gate-fold cover.  The center section features a seaside scene  constructed with four separate panels, each with a portion of the scene, and then a background.  The panels are attached to accordion bindings which give the scene depth and create the "tunnel".  The left and right sections feature additional images from the paper collection.


Book Cover - Magnetic Lighthouse Closure & Fussy-Cut Shells

Closeup of Seaside Scene
Panel 1: Shells    Panel 2: Children, Sign, Logo    Panel 3: Lighthouse    Panel 4: Ship



2. Secret Garden Star Book and Slipcase

Paper Collection - Graphic 45 Secret Garden
Type of Project - Specialty Book and Slipcase
Video Tutorial Series - YouTube
This project has two parts - a Star Book with five different garden scenes, and a Tree Slipcase in which the Star Book can be stored.  


Secret Garden Slipcase
The Slipcase is built around a Graphic 45 Matchbook Box and features a large tree with roots and branches and lots of leaves all made from chipboard and pattern paper/embellished cardstock.  On the side of the tree is a knothole which is an actual hole so you can reach in and push out the drawer that contains the Star Book.  


Secret Garden Slipcase - Back

Secret Garden Slipcase - Tree Details
(Embossed Bark and Secret Garden Key)

Secret Garden Slipcase - Leaves Detail

Secret Garden Slipcase Knothole Detail


Secret Garden Star Book
The Star Book has five different pages that each consist of three layers.  The scenes each feature several papers from the Secret Garden collection.  All but one have a mirror-image diecut panel cut with Spellbinders Shapeabilities dies.

Secret Garden Star Book - Open

Secret Garden Star Book - Cover with Magnetic "Belly Band"

Secret Garden Star Book - Blue Roses Page

Secret Garden Star Book - Fairy Flowers Page

Secret Garden Star Book - Fence & Flowers Page

Secret Garden Star Book - Beautiful Blooms Page

Secret Garden Star Book - Leafy Treetops Page


3.  French Country Portal and Mini Album

Paper Collection - Graphic 45 French Country
Type of Project - 3 Dimensional Paper Project with Mini-Album
Portal:  Video Tutorial Series - YouTube
Mini-Album:  Snapguide Tutorial

This project features a look through a series of windows (the "portal") for a glimpse of a French Countryside scene.  The base of the portal contains a drawer in which a Tag Mini Album is stored.


French Country Portal
This portal is a type of tunnel construction based on the theory of nesting boxes or dolls.  There are four boxes in the portal, each with a window opening in the front to which part of the scene is attached. The boxes are all open on the bottom so they stack inside each other.  They can be displayed separately and have elements that are only visible when viewed that way.


Portal - Closeup of Portal Scene

Portal -The Individual Boxes

Portal - Box Closeups

French Country Mini Album

The Mini Album is made with Graphic 45 Large Black Tags and chipboard covers cut in the shape of the tags.  It features many decorative elements and pockets, and can store at least fourteen small format (2x3) photos.  Chipboard "charms" provide added decoration to the front and back covers.


French Country Mini Album Partially Open

 French Country Mini Album Opened All the Way (Inside of Tags)


French Country Mini Album Opened All the Way (Outside of Tags)


4. Christmas Village

Paper Collection - Graphic 45 Twas the Night Before Christmas
Type of Project - Seasonal (Christmas) 3 Dimensional Paper Project
Video Tutorial Series - YouTube

This Christmas project features 25 numbered buildings which can each be opened to enjoy a treat as you count down the days until Christmas.  It has three levels, and two different kinds of stairways connect those levels.  Several different sizes of trees decorate the village.  The church lights up.


Christmas Village - Opposite Side

Christmas Village - View from Above

Christmas Village - Closeup of Buildings

Christmas Village - Closeup of Buildings

Christmas Village - Closeup of Buildings

Christmas Village - Retaining Walls

Christmas Village - Treat Boxes Inside Buildings


5. Dr. Dreadful's Apothecary (aka the Wonky Halloween House)

Paper Collection - Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells
Type of Project - Seasonal (Halloween) 3 Dimensional Paper Project

This Halloween decoration piece is full of lots of odd angles and weirdly shapes rooms.  All of the windows can be lit with LED tea lights.  The roofs and some windows open for access to those lights.  The half-round tower on the left pulls out to access space for a Book of Spells.


Apothecary - Front Door with Lighted Lantern

Apothecary - Left Side Closeup

Apothecary - Back Left Closeup

Apothecary - Right Side Closeup

Apothecary - Tower Removes to Access Hidden Space for Spell Book


6. Chemistry Laboratorie

Paper Collection - Tim Holtz Laboratorie
Type of Project - 3 Dimensional Paper Project with Accordion & Tag Books

The Laboratorie is a fun and functional piece.  The top is meant to look like one of the safety hoods found in a lab.  The hood flips back and the side shelves pivot apart to see a lab setup with Bunsen burner, flasks, bottles and test tubes.  On the outside of the shelves are different sizes of accordion books which include samples of various ink and paint products with all their colors.  Underneath the lab, the "lockers" front a drawer that contains all the tags from Tim Holtz Chemistry 101 & 102.


Chemistry Laboratorie - Hood Closed
Chemistry Laboratorie - Closeup of Lab

Chemistry Laboratorie - Drawer With Chemistry Class Tags

Chemistry Laboratorie - Accordion Book "Bottles"


7. Countdown to Christmas - North Pole

Paper Collection - Bo Bunny Elf Magic
Type of Project - Seasonal (Christmas) 3 Dimensional Paper Project

This Christmas project features many of the buildings at the North Pole.  It includes numbered tags to hang from the North Pole to countdown to December 25th.  Each window & door has a treat box drawer.  Part of the Claus residence opens to a space under all the snow and buildings that hides a recipe album.


North Pole - View from Above

North Pole - Barn Side 
(Countdown Numbers are Inside the Barn and Santa & Rudolph are inside their Doors)

North Pole - Reindeer Barn - Each Door Opens to see a Reindeer

North Pole - The Claus Residence
(Bottom Floor Facade Removes for Access to Hidden Recipe Book)

North Pole - Jingle Bell Tower

North Pole -  Countdown to Christmas

North Pole - Window Drawers Hold Treats to Enjoy each Day



Thank you!

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my projects!  Thank you Graphic 45 for this opportunity, and good luck to all who apply for the 2015 Design Team!

3 comments:

Linda FS said...

What an incredible collection especially when you see them all in one place. I certainly have so enjoyed your blogs and videos about all of them! The best of luck with your application.

Anonymous said...

Hello April. Loving your original home decor pieces. The nesting boxes, Christmas village and all your projects really make Graphic 45 papers shine bright. Thank you for sharing your inspiration for our DT call. Happy Papercrafting! -Charee & Joanna

JustMyThoughts said...

Spectacular! Hard to pic a fav but I'd have to lean towards Dr. Dreadful's Apothecary and the Secret Garden Slip Case - just love that.