Altered Band-Aid Box and Mini-Album, Part One

By Charity Hassel

While looking at the booths at a local scrapbook convention I came across a table with an altered Band-Aid tin box. Inside was a small mini-album.  The idea was wonderful.  Here is how I altered my Band-Aid box at home. 

1. I bought a tin Band-Aid box for about three dollars from a local Target.  There are also some very cute tin boxes (about the same size) that are used for gum and candy so you may want to check out the candy section as well.
2. After sanding the box with sandpaper I used Making Memories acrylic paint to cover the outside of the box. I had to do two coats of the paint.
3. The entire outside was sprayed with clear, matte finish that I bought from a local craft supply store (less than two dollars).

4. Once the paint was dry I began adhering strips of patterned paper to the tin.  I was able to use pop dots to get the paper to stick, but I believe Mod Podge or a spray adhesive might work better. Then I sprayed one more coat of the clear, matte finish.

5. I made a small flower for the top of my tin and used a button covered with material for the center of the flower.

6. The inside of the tin was measured and there would be room for a small album approximately 31/2 inches up and down and 21/4 inches across. 
7. I cut a piece of 12*12 heavy patterned paper to use as the base for my accordion album.  Make sure you use paper that is sturdy for your base.  I cut a 31/2 inch by 12 inch strip.
8. I folded the strip into 21/4 inch pages and cut off the slight excess at the end. Once this was done it was time to add pictures and decorate the mini album.
9. I printed out black and white pictures that were 2 by 3inch in size and mounted them on pink cardstock before adhering them to the album pages.  I cut out words from a preprinted sayings list from Wild Asparagus and attached them at the bottom of each page.
10. The title page was made using various patterned paper, stickers, a flower die-cut and Doodlebug Designs candy hearts.

This project would make a great gift for someone and is simple enough for teens and pre-teens to make.  Other options for decorating the Band-Aid box include:

1. Use spray paint to paint the outside of the box.
2. Stamp the outside after painting.
3. Wrap ribbon or strips of patterned tape (such as Heidi Swapp) around the entire tin.
4. Use a picture on the outside of the tin. Use Mod Podge to protect the picture.
5. Make a title on the top or sides of the tin using rub-on letters.

The mini-album you make can be as diverse and creative as you choose.  The album I made resulted in only four pages plus the title page. If you would like a larger album you may want to make a tag book and tie the tops of the tag with ribbon.

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Altered Band-Aid Box and Mini Album, Part Two

By Barbara Snyder

Charity inspired me to make this altered Band-Aid box with a mini album.

This is a very easy and quick project.  I spent maybe three hours making the whole project from start to finish.  I started in the morning, and sanded, cleaned and spray painted my box.  While it was drying, I went back inside and prepared my album.

I used PSE2 and made little 2 inch by 3 inch layouts with photos of my family. I knew I wanted to use one of Cristina Blomberg’s papers that she made for the August Heart Snip, so I color coordinated the box and the album to the colors in the paper.  I printed out my layouts, carefully cut them out and matted each photo first on Cristina’s paper, then on color coordinating cardstock. I used scraps from the paper on the back of each page for a fun embellishment.

 Then I made my cover page, on which I just hand-printed “My Family” with a permanent marker. I hole punched each page and used a 2 inch book ring to attach them all.  I used many different ribbons and yarns to embellish the ring.   In hindsight, I would have used a much smaller ring, and as you can see in the accompanying pictures, the ring and all the fibers overwhelms the mini album.  I am still quite pleased with it, though, as I love fibers and ribbons. 

The last step was embellishing the painted band aid box.  I cut out a small wavy-edged template from a piece of paper, and spray painted the front and back with the template first in white, then in black. On the front I used various alphabet stickers to print out “My Family”.

On the top of the box I attached colorful buttons, unusual paper clips and alphabet stickers, as well as two alphabet beads of my initials.

I am often asked to show pictures of my family, and this little box fits the bill.  It is small enough to carry in my purse, and the album is well protected by the box.