Altered Playing Cards

I ran across this really interesting altered playing card project on ScrapJazz.com (http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Techniques/Altered_Art/1394.php) and decided to try it out myself. My nephew Jarred was having a birthday, so I decided to make him a birthday card mini album out of playing cards.

I used Marcella by Kay playing card alphabets and spelled out his name, J-A-R-R-E-D. I then decorated each playing card with an assortment of foam die cuts from American Crafts, Autumn Leaves buttons and various matching ribbon and rubons. I used my Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the top lefthand corner of each card and then inserted an eyelet into each hole to reinforce it. I then used a chain to hold the cards together in order. Voila, altered playing cards.

Of course, no ordinary envelope would due for this album, so instead I altered a plain bandaid tin. I used cardstock and glue dots and a matching cardstock tags. Added a few ribbons and rubons and it was ready to hold my mini Birthday Card album.

It was a hit with my sister-in-law and she is planning on putting small sized pictures from my nephew's birthday into the little album and showcasing it at her home. My nephew really liked it, especially when he discovered that there was a gift card to Target nestled inside.