The Last of the Christmas 2011 Albums!

 I started this album back in November, at the CK Convention that Jackie and I went to.  We saw these lovely papers and embellishments in the Melissa Frances booth, and I couldn't resist.

 I got the base album from that booth as well.  It has two envelopes with closures for the front and the back, and top opening pockets for the pages.  Each page has a huge tag in it.

 I got these cute little bags with tags in them, and used them for the album.  On the page on the right, I layered some die cut embellishments to create a "mini page" to add a little interest.

 Aren't these papers delicious!

 On the  page on the left I created a pocket out of die cuts, and added tags to it.

 I also used a couple of die cuts as little mini tags in the rings in a couple of places.

 I loved all of the vintage stickers that I bought at this booth.

 The only thing I had to add to the book was some bling and ribbons.

 I didn't put the large tags in the covers of the book, instead opting to make them another page.  There are tags in the pocket pages, however.

 This is the inside back cover.

And the back of the book.

Stay Crafty and Jolly, My Friends!

A Valentine Never Ending Mini Album and Tutorial

I have made a couple of mini albums that I call "Triple Fold Never Ending".  There are links here. They are all over the internet, using envelopes to create multiple pages with different folds to them.  I came up with another configuration to put one together.

 I wanted to use envelopes in their full size.  So I got a bunch of Bazzill 7 1/4" x 5 1/4" envelopes and went to work.  First, take three of them, seal them, slice a wee bit off of the LONG side of them, and then score, leaving a 1/4" gusset in the middle as shown.  Set aside.

 Take two envelopes, leave one open, seal the one on the left.

 Use score tape to the back of one of your folded envelopes already prepared...

 Adhere the envelopes to them, so that the openings are on the "inside" as shown above.  These will create more pockets.  I made two of these, the one with the open envelope on the left is the "front" of the book, then I turned the other over so that the open envelope was on the right for the back of the book.

 I took two envelopes, sealed them, and then sliced the top of them open to create pockets.  (You can better see them in the photo below).  I took the last of the scored pieces we made at the beginning, added another score line 1/2" to either side of the scores already made, then attached the sealed and opened envelopes to the scored one, leaving the pockets of the scored envelopes on the outside, as shown above.

 This is what it looks like so far.  the cover pieces we did are in the back, and the last piece we made is in the front of the photo.

 This is the flap of the front cover, I added ATG to it like I was going to seal it, but instead...

 I put another envelope on it, effectively sealing both and creating another page.  I did it to the back cover also.

 This is what I ended up with...I also decided to slice open the pages just added at the top, to create another space for a tag.

 I used some papers, bling, tags and flowers and this cool metal watch I got today at Michael's to decorate it..

 See the pockets created with the envelopes we used to attach the envelopes together with? I made large tags for these pockets.

 The back cover.

 The middle of the book.  The tags on the left are adhered on the side and bottom, so I can slip pictures under them.

 This is the front cover opened...

 ...then opened again.

 This is the back cover opened...

...Then opened again.  I have 16 pages and 10 tags in all! It used 11 envelopes in all.

I sure hope this tutorial made sense!  I love how the 1/4" gussets made for more room for embellishments and made the book lie more flat when all decorated.

I did add ribbon from my stash, used punches from McGills and Martha, and some extra bling from Prima.

Bring on the Valentine's Day date with my Husband!

Stay Crafty, My Friends!

Super Cool Mini Album!

I came across this awesome video tutorial, and had to try it.  You can find the tutorial here on the MyLilTreasureTrove's Channel onYouTube.  It is wonderful!  It makes a cute little compact 4x6" album with tons of space for pictures and pockets for tags.  I am thinking brag book for my purse with this one!

 It is made from two sheets of cardstock, and I used up leftovers from my Echo Park paper pack "For the Record".  I left the embellishments flat, which is necessary for the inside of the book, but if I am going to put it in my purse, the cover needs to be flat as well.

 The cover page opens left and right, with a pocket in the middle where I put three tags.  I adhered the "registered" piece on three sides, leaving the green tag able to come out.

 So, close the left and right pages and flip the cover up...another pocket that I created for more tags.

 Then that bottom page opens up to the left and right as well, with another pocket.

 Close that up, then flip that piece down!  I told you there was a whole lot of space for things.  The middle section (black polka dot) has a pocket, and I adhered another piece on three sides for two more tags to be placed.

This is the back of the book, with another pocket!

Go check out her tutorial, and have a crafty day!

Grandma's Brag Book

Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson came to visit during the end of December and the first week of January.  When I get back to work, I have to have a brag book to show everyone...so I made this today.

 I was inspired by this book I found on the  Crate Paper Blog.  But, I decided to do it a little different.

 I took out all of the pages out of a book I found at the thrift store, then painted the book black.  I added paper to the inside of the book to cover, then used 8 envelopes and made this file book.

 I used 8 envelopes, so there are 8 tags, each with a picture on each side.  I wanted to highlight our visit and things we did together.  I did all of the pictures in my December Junk Journal.  Above is me, my awesome husband, DJ, and Cooper, our first grandson.  He is 3, and we are on the zoo train ready to see the Zoo Lights.

 This is Grandpa and Cooper putting together a puzzle.

I used Cosmo Crickets Circa 1934 paper line ( I had leftovers from another project and they worked perfectly for this), Recollections cardstock, and Bazzill envelopes.  I used some 7 Gypsies and Recollections bling on the cover as well.

I think the folks at work will like looking at this, what do you think?

Stay Crafty, My Friends!

A Dabble into Art Journaling

I have never been a journal writer, although I would love to be.   I have been looking at tons of art journals on the internet.  I have purchased books about the subject.  I wanted to try my hand at it, it looks like so much fun, and it looks like a style of journaling I may be comfortable with.  This is my first attempt...DON'T LAUGH!!  LOL!

I decided to turn a composition book into an art journal.  I found this tutorial on Lil Blue Boo and gave it a go.

 This...

 ...became this.  I had a ton of emphera papers and items that I did a collage with to make the cover.  There is some glitter paint on the edges, and I used rub ons from 7 gypsies for the "title" of the book.

 This is what the pages looked like after I glued three of them together, then used gesso on them to prepare them.  IT TOOK FOREVER since I decided to do the whole book first.  Some folks do a page or two at a time.  I may do that next time.

 I still need to cover the back of the book.  Now, here's where I am asking you not to laugh.  This is my first ever art journal page.  I saw a couple of WONDERFUL videos by Pam Carriker, the link to her videos is here.  I tried to follow her steps to making a journal page.  This s what I came up with.

 I had no idea what this was going to become until I was done with it today, and I have been working on it for a week.

 The images are from an OLD (11 years to be exact) stamping magazine I had that I finally cut up.  I added Tim Holtz stamps, and a film strip die cut from him as well to highlight some of the stamp images.  I love the vintage lady in her bathing suit.  I decided this had to be some sort of travel page.  I think I messed up on the "frame" around the quote, but that is ok, I am still learning.

I did a quick list journaling style, since I am not too comfy with journaling.  I am hoping that doing this will help with that.

So, that is that.  I am going to keep trying and see what happens.  I love the style of using paint, stamps, and collage.

Stay crafty, my friends!

A Recycled Mini Album

I made this mini album out of a roll of paper that my Christmas Wrapping paper came off of...

I found this cool tutorial here, at Artfull Crafts.  They used an A4 piece of paper, but I wanted mine a little bigger, and I wanted to use this paper.  I made another, using another roll of this paper, to make my Christmas album, you can see here.

 So, this is what the roll looks like after you use all of the wrapping paper.

 This is what it looks like after you cut an fold following the tutorial I linked above.

 And, this is the finished project!

 Twelve pages, six pockets made from the base papers.  I ended up making more as a way to close the pockets preserving their full size.  Instead of gluing the base pages together to create the pockets, I glued papers over the ends and bottoms (the brown print papers), and created more pockets on the pages.

 I used a variety of  things...Paper, a sticker, and tags from 7 Gypsies, Tim Holtz butterfly sticker and tickets, lace tape from Creative Imaginations, tags from Tattered Angels, Distress Ink, and Glimmer Mist.  The ribbon was from my stash.

 I made large tags, big enough for 4x6" photos, in every pocket and punched file tabs for them.  In two of the side pockets are the Tattered Angels tags.

 This is Ace...he is helping Mommy with the photos.

 So here are the pages.  I edged the papers with a Fiskars punch.

 The smaller brown tags I got in a grab bag.

 I bound the book with some Score tape, but also with a pamphlet stitch tied in a bow at the front.

This is a tag that goes into one of the four top pockets.

I hope you enjoyed this post!  Check out the tutorial, and grab some paper and make one for yourself!

Stay crafty in the NEW YEAR, my friends!