Graphic 45 February Place in Time

It's no secret that I love designing with Graphic 45.  The vintage themes are so inspiring!  

When I saw the "Place in Time" collection, I wanted to use every single piece of paper, so I decided to create a 12 x 12 album for my mother, using photos from her scrapbooks.

My mother's precious scrapbooks

Her birthday is in November, so I have lots of time  to design the layouts.  Although I am teaching this album as a class at The Urban Scrapbook using double page layouts, I will only share the single pages and some techniques here on my blog each month. 

Here is my February layout...

Whoa Mom!  Two men...not one!

The large distressed heart in the top right is made with Tim Holtz Ideology Tissue Wrap and chipboard.  Here is how I created this special page element.

First, I cut a heart template from scrap paper and traced it onto a piece of chipboard.

 I tore off a piece of Tissue Wrap that was larger than the heart.

Using a foam brush, I applied Mod Podge all over the heart in a thin layer.

Crumple the Tissue Wrap and press it down all over the heart, scrunching it into wrinkles as you do so. 

Flip the chipboard heart over and apply Mod Podge to edges only.

Trim off excess Tissue Wrap and press down flat along the edges of the heart. 

Rub the entire ink pad of Aged Mahogany Distress ink across the Tissue surface of the heart.

Because the Tissue Wrap is somewhat resistant to colour, I rubbed off the excess ink with a dry baby wipe.

I wanted the colour to have more of a brown tone, so I added some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Remember to wipe off the excess ink.  You can continue to layer the ink like this until you achieve the desired colour.

On my layout, I backed the heart with a heart doily, that I found in the Dollar Store.  

I hope you have someone special in your life that you can give your own heart to this month :)

November Sketchy Challenge

The beginning of the month means there is a new sketch by Sue Sykes over at the Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Gallery.  This time Sue designed a double page sketch...

Here is what I created using Pink Paislee's "Indigo Bleu" collection...

This year BoyGenius was agreeable about our annual Fall photo shoot, and I managed to get some decent pics of him.  I had been thinking about designing a layout about him to document the significant transformation he has undergone in the past year.
  
Gone is the selfish moody teenager.  His view of the world has dramatically changed, and he has embraced a new philosophy of peace and love, wanting to take action and make a difference somehow.

I am so excited about the possibilities ahead of him and finally feel confident that he is finding his way in this confusing world.

Here is the journaling spot...

These layered journaling spots on the two pages are actually speech bubbles in a package of die cuts, but I cut off those little pointy things to change the shapes.

I cut the title with a Sizzix Tim Holtz alphabet die from grey Bazzill card stock.  

The Itty Bitty alpha stickers are Pink Paislee. The twill measuring tape ribbon is Harmonie.

The Indigo Bleu tags come in a package of 6...and I used all of them for this sketch!

The little wood man is Studio Calico.

This quote by Jimi Hendrix is exactly how BG is thinking these days.

Sue Sykes surprised us with a 2-page sketch, and at first I was worried about the number of photos I needed, but now I do think this layout seems to capture a really happy time in the life of BoyGenius.

Click HERE to visit the Sketchy gallery at the Canadian Scrapbooker website and join in the challenge! 

Graphic 45 Happy Haunting Mini Album

I have waited awhile to post this Halloween Mini album on my blog after teaching it at the Canadian Scrapbooker Carnival in September and then another version of it at The Urban Scrapbook last weekend. A big thank you and shout out to Graphic 45 for sponsoring my class at the Carnival!  Everyone really enjoyed making the album.

Lots of photos coming up...so grab your pillowcase filled with candy, munch away...and enjoy :)

The full moon is embossed with a Tim Holtz Sizzix folder and then lightly inked with Vintage Photo Distress ink.

  The bats are cut from Clearly For Art black modeling film, using a Sizzix die.  When you heat the bats with a heat gun, you can curve their plastic wings.

The cheesecloth fabric clouds are coloured with Black Soot Distress Ink (you can also use Stain)

Now let's look inside... 

I cut the stars with a Sizzix die and also embossed them.  The Oct. 31 is a Graphic 45 stamp.

This pocket insert has a fussy cut moon tab.

 Each page is made from a 6" x 12" piece of black cardstock folded in half into a pocket.  The pages alternate pockets opening at the top and at the side in the album.  A big thanks to Michelle who advised me how to make these pages!  Click HERE to visit Michelle's blog, where you will find more fabulous mini albums! One of my favourites is her travel mini album designed with Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue.

Pages 2 and 3

Page 2 has a slide out pocket as well.

A paper pieced pumpkin I designed using Bazzill cardstock in Raven and Marigold

Space for photo and journaling

Page 3 side pocket has this clock pull-out

Pages 4 and 5

The clock is also a Sizzix die and the corner webs were stamped with an Inkadinkado set called "All Hallow's Eve" (and embossed with Clearsnap)

The clock is on a paper hinge and flips up.

The page 5 pocket has a tag with stamping on it.

 The black manila tag is stamped with more Graphic 45 stamps, pumpkin and vine border.  Then I used Clearsnap Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx in "Leather" to achieve this copper effect.

The reverse side also has Graphic 45 stamping.

Pages 6 and 7

The spider web is cut with my Cricut from the Teresa Collins Halloween cartridge "Chic & Scary"

The web flap lifts for more photos.

The doors open with paper hinges.

I used Black Soot Distressed card stock and embossed it with a Sizzix wood grain Tim Holtz folder.  Then I sanded it and lightly inked with brown.  

The door knobs are Graphic 45 brads glued onto grunge board pieces that are painted with metallic Gold Adirondack dabber by Ranger.  I clipped the corners of the grungeboard piece with a hole punch and inked a little with black.

Page 8 and the inside back cover

The fence is a pocket, and this page is a side pocket that holds 2 tags.

 The tags are tied with black ribbon and black tulle.

I cut some words from one of the patterned papers to add to both tags.

The crescent moon is cut freehand and then embossed in a Sizzix folder and lightly inked.

 This beautiful black cat is another Graphic 45 stamp.  Did you know that this Happy Haunting Halloween collection has THREE amazing stamps sets?  Beautiful images and all rubber cling mount!

I cannot wait to fill up this album with photos of Halloween....I was able to snap pics of all 3 teenagers before they left for school this morning in their costumes.  

BabyOfTheFamily is a 1950's Diner Waitress...

Serving up a bloody finger hot dog...

DramaQueen is Annie....well, a more "grown up" version of Annie

She spent ALOT of time curling her hair

And BoyGenius...uh oh.  Please don't judge me as a mother for his politically incorrect costume [or send me hate mail].  

Oh look. It's Bob Marley.  [eek]

Happy Halloween!