Welcome to the Winter All Things Altered Blog Hop organized by Pam Bray of Scrapbook Flair! Head over to Pam’s blog to see the complete list of designers.
I found an old oak shelf in a thrift store for $4. I really liked the trim but the backing of the shelves was made of some cheesy paneling. I decided to make a mosaic of matboard tiles embossed with my Sizzix Textured Impression folders to back it with. 
- Gather matboard scraps in coordinating colors.
- Cut a stack of of 2 1/2″squares.
- Emboss each square by running through Big Shot die cut machine using Sizzix Textured Impression folders (I used folders that I designed :-)). Distress each square using a blending tool and brown ink, shading the edges darker and leaving the middle light.
- Cut matboard backing boards to fit each of the three shelves. Distress them with brown ink.
- Line up squares in alternating rows, staggering the positioning. Cut where needed to continue pattern from shelf to shelf.
- Use an ATG gun to adhere squares to backing board. Start with the middle row and work out to the sides. I added some thin matboard strips to each side to fill in extra space on the sides.
- Adhere mosaic panels to the back of the shelf using ATG gun.
This was a fun project- I always love rescuing a piece and giving it a second chance.
Head on over to Candice Windham’s blog to continue the All Things Altered hop! Pam has a nice giveaway too so make sure to visit her
I really love this. what a great idea. I spend many hours in the second hand shops looking for goodies to create with. I got a Pinocchio today, hes just little but so cute 🙂
Great idea for those thrifty finds. Ourredtrucktravels@hotmail.com
I am with you Eileen, I love to recycle thrift store finds, this is fabulous. I love all the texture folders you used, will have to try this out on some of my projects. TFS and being a part of The All Things Altered Winter Blog Hop. pammejo1@yahoo.com
You did a beautiful job on this piece. I love to see old things made beautiful just by doing what you did. It is just plain beautiful. correnaingraham@hotmail.com
Eileen, I love the revamp of this piece. Your texture pieces really make a beautiful background for an otherwise plain shelf. TFS. Great idea! Threads18@aol.com
Lovely Idea looks great.. take care
you’ve put a whole new sping on shelving. i don’t think i’ll ever ‘pass by’ one again without re-considering the buy. thanks. this is very nice. i’m a new follower
Eileen, now aren’t you a think outside the box artist!!! Great ideal and really love the fact that you dry embossed the pcs.
cottagerca@yahoo.ca
ava g
Cool idea with the background! Altering older items is always fun 🙂 phenis2031 at yahoo dot com
Oh my goodness Eileen! I LOVE this shelf! What a difference you have made to that sad little piece 🙂 Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
rebeccadunham at hotmail dot com
awsome job on the repurposing… great job
Way to go!!!!…yummy repurposing!…and a great way to use the embossing folders for a quilt look!
Love…love..love this embossing technique…my eyes loved looking at all the different strips of colors & designs.
Oh this turned out so cool! Love the small textured squares! Really let’s the embossing stand out!
What a fab idea – really great effect
WOW! What a wonderful transformation! I love the different embossed patterns and the beautiful colors!
This is so gorgeous, Eileen! I would hate to put things on the shelves that would hide the design! It’s totally dreamy!
What an awesome project and special with using the impression folders you designed.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com
I luv what you did to the shelf! What a great idea and the embossed pieces sure give the shelf some amazing texture. TFS 🙂
What a great find! Love the use of embossing folders!
Great project!!!
Very fresh–a wonderful idea. I love the colors.
kristainmn at gmail dot com
Beautiful work. The colors remind me of spring TFS
What a great way to give that shelf a new look! Love all the embossed panels!
This is so neat! Love the idea of using the embossing plates to alter it.
You really gave it a facelift! Love the colors you chose, and I bet the texture is wonderful in person!
Your rescue worked out great! I love the look of the up-cycled shelf!
esthert119 (at) yahoo (dot) ca
What a great use of your embossing folders! I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a mosaic with embossing folders on a canvas…this is definitely giving me a great visual of a finished project. Thanks so much for sharing!
What a great steal at $4! It turned out really cute. Thank you for sharing!