Everyday Eclectic Pieces of Me Mini

  I discovered minis less than a year ago, and am completely addicted.   This time, I went with Everyday Eclectic by EP, because I’ve been hoarding it and I just had to take the plunge and use it. I gathered the paper, some ribbon, doilies, toothpicks, etc. No real clue as to what I’d do, just willing to go with the flow. You can’t imagine my surprise when the entire album took about an hour and a half to make. That’s a record for me, usually my mini albums come together over a couple of WEEKS!

 

After cutting all the paper to 6x9, the pages were a snap. I kept them very simple so I can embellish more after I add photographs, or maybe journal more. I machine sewed all the chevron ribbons instead of using adhesive, it gives them a fun little line of orange thread down the middle. I attached the flags with wood grain washi tape, and added butterflies randomly throughout. Lastly I bound everything with my zutter and voila! A fun little album, in less than two hours!

The best part is: I only used half my collection in making this. I’m not sure how one package went so far, but I have another stack of 9x6 pages, a bunch of large scraps, lots of sticker elements, and one 12x12 sheet that I didn’t use at all. I think there may be a travel mini in the near future. J

Design Team Tryouts Part 2

My second project for the tryouts was my favourite, because I've never done an altered book before.  I've never highlighted or even dog-eared a book page before...books, and especially hardcovers, are pretty sacred to me.  So when I decided on this project, I couldn't bring myself to desecrate any of my own books...I went to the library and bought one of their old books (50 cents to a dollar for any book, great deal).  It was the story of how a little boy saved Cleveland.  I couldn't help but skim through the entire book before setting about to alter it.

First I covered the book in MME Stella and Rose paper, I believe it was the Gertie collection, and used some of the embellishments that coordinated with the paper.  Luckily Cropchocolate.com sold it all in one package, the paper, embellishments, ribbons, lace trim, etc.  Made it SO easy.

I have faux library cards lying around, and since the book started life in the library, I felt it was an appropriate embellishment.  It states that my daughter 'checked out' my heart on the day of her birth, and never returned it.  :)

Inside the front cover I wanted to mention my husband, because after all, he was instrumental in bringing our little girl about.  I distressed and stamped a plain little manilla folder to make it look old.  I also pleated and edge punched the first page of the book and tied it out of the way with a ribbon.

 I used an exacto knife to cut out sections of pages.  There was no method to it, just randomly opened the book to different sections and cut with the exacto as close to the center as possible.  I pressed firmly so that several pages would cut out at one time, then I'd move on to the next section. Then I went through distressing the pages and randomly stamping images onto the background.  Below is my favourite page because it holds a sweet pic of my daughter and I when she was two weeks old.  I trimmed the bottom with lace from the collection.

When I'd thinned it out enough, I started sewing 'pocket' pages using the WRM Sew Easy tool. This tool punches the holes through paper so that you can easily thread

Then I simply cut out photo mats and pennants and such and decorated the pages in a casual way without over thinking it.

I was surprised by how quick and easy this project was and highly recommend it to anyone who finds cheap hardcovers at libraries or yard sales.  It could also be done with vibrant colors, or in a graffiti style, and have a completely different vibe. 

 Enjoy the possibilities!

Design Team Tryouts Part 1

So, I have wonderfully exciting news...I made the Cropchocolate.com Design Team!  Which is fabulous because 99% of the scrapping supplies I buy are from their site.  I'm so honored and excited to help showcase their products.  As part of the tryout process we had to submit a couple of projects, so I'd like to share those with you. 

The first project I did, were two mini albums out of one package of Echo Park paper.  The collection is called Country Drive and it just makes you HAPPY.  It's colors are vibrant and fresh and the patterns lend themselves to all manner of subjects: Summer, Spring, kids, road trips, garden work, family or friends. 

The covers are made out of plain chipboard, cut to 4.5 x 5.5 inches and covered with EP paper from the same package.  I then bound the mini with the Zutter BIA (a recent acquisition I absolutely LOVE).

Each album has three pages, and each page is made with a 12x12 piece of paper that's cut, scored and glued in such a way as to allow for four tags and one two pic fold-out per page!  This offers tons of real estate for pics and journaling.  I can't wait to fill these puppies up.

The inside cover has a slim double slider.  I enjoy double sliders because they're quick and easy to make, add interest and have a fairly slender profile that can fit in anywhere.  Here you can see it in closed position:

And here you can see it in open position.

Overall these albums are fairly slim but full of color and fun and, I was startled to discover, capable of holding 30 pics each!

Tomorrow I'll post pics of my second submission.  Until then, do something creative and enjoy life!