Crate Paper - Farmhouse Collection - Mini Album - 3 Fun Girls

Back again!  And as promised, I'm here to share a mini album that I just finished today.  I used one of my favorite paper lines and collections ... Crate Paper's 'Farmhouse' collection.  Before I get started I will warn you ... there are lots of pictures!

I called this 4" x 5" album '3 Fun Girls', and I can see this as an album for sisters, friends, cousins, antiquing buddies, all kinds of fun girls!  Here is the front cover ...

Another picture of the front cover ... a little closer in so you can see the letters a little better ...

 

The front and back covers are made from corrugated cardboard, cut from a sturdy box.  I tore one side off to expose the corrugated part, and painted it roughly with an off white acrylic paint.

The image above shows a view looking from the top.  As you can see there are all kinds of ribbon and lace.  Most of the trims from the top are on tags ... there are 11 tags in this album!  The tags can be used for photos, journaling, or just to be pretty!  Here are the first two pages ...

The left page is a photo mat, hiding a journaling tag (see next image).  The right page has a flip mat, which as mats for three photos, and is embellished with some vintage lace,  scrunched seam binding and a sweet button.

The image above shows the journaling tag that fits in the pocket formed by the photo mat in the left hand page. It is embellished with some scrunched seam binding, a button and some bakers twine.

The left hand page is a photo mat.  The right hand page  is a 'treasure pocket', made from kraft cardstock.  The flap holds in place with a bit of hook and loop tape.  The pocket is a great place for hiding small things that you want to protect.  The photo below shows the pocket with the flap open ...

The flowers and gems are by Prima.

The left hand page has a photo mat, framed with a paper doily and some seam binding by 7 Gypsies.  The right hand page has a 'leather look' pocket, trimmed with a vintage button and some Anna Griffin trim.

This pocket holds three rectangular pockets that can be used for journaling or small photos.  They are backed with a coordinating card stock to add extra weight and strength.  The white seam binding is also by 7 Gypsies.

I love these two pages!  The left hand side has a 'gate fold' photo mat that has mats on the inside for three photos.  There is a chipboard settee on the front, with a small bit of hook and loop tape to hold it closed.  The picture below shows it opened up.  The right hand page has a 'criss cross' pocket, or rather 2 pockets.  There is lace trim embellishing each pocket, and two tags backed with kraft card stock that can be used for journaling or small photos.  A photo below shows the pockets with the tags removed ...

Gate-fold photo mats.

Criss-cross pockets and tags.

The next two pages are also pocket pages, and each has three tags for photos and/or journaling.  Each pocket is embellished with a bit of white lace, and the left one has a die-cut of two apples and the other has a sticker where you can jot a note.  The tags are embellished wit black satin ribbon and a creamy colored lace.

Pocket pages with tags removed.

 

The last two pages are simple.  The left hand page has a sticker that says 'Beautiful' and some chipboard canisters with the words 'sugar' and 'spice', and the right hand page has a chipboard frame where you can slip a photo in behind it from the top.

And the back cover has a label where you can write the owner's name or a short note.  The album is held together with a 1.25" binding wire from The Cinch.  I love my 'Cinch' ... it is so easy to punch all of the holes and line everything up perfectly!


And that is this sweet mini album!  I'm going to put it up on Etsy very soon, so if you are interested, let me know in a comment with your email address and I will contact you!  And here are the details ...

Supplies:

• Cardstock - colored and kraft - The Paper Studio, and Core'dinations (yellow mat)
• Patterned paper, die cut elements and chipboard shapes - Crate Paper 'Farmhouse' collection
• Corrugated card board - a cardboard box
• Chipboard (for base of pages) - ebay (about 3 years ago)
• Brown ink - Stampabilities
• Colored inks - Anna Griffin
• Glitter - Stickles 'Platinum' and 'Diamond'
• Alpha Chipboard - Basic Grey
• Acrylic paint - Plaid
• Seam Binding - Miss Myrtle's Sundries, 7 Gypsies
• Ribbon trim - my stash
• Lace - all but teal - my stash
• Hydrangeas and gems - Prima
• Lace - teal - Crate Paper
• White pleated trim - Anna Griffin
• Hook and Loop - Walmart
• Binding wires - The Cinch

Tools:

• The Cinch by We R Memory Keepers
• Craft Knife - Prima
• Scissors, ruler
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Tool
• EK Success border punch 'Arch Scallop'

And that's it!  And I think that's enough!  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think ... I'm still fairly new at this mini album thing, and would love to have your input!  Be back soon, Becky

Somewhere ... over the rainbow!

I love participating in the monthly 'gallery' challenges at Paper Crafts Magazine!   They give you a theme or other challenge, and a link to their Flickr gallery and you post projects there that fit the challenge.  This month's challenge is a rainbow challenge, or if you prefer ... Spectrums. Gradients. Ombré.

And as soon as I saw this month's challenge, I knew what I wanted to do.  Here is my entry ...

Have you ever heard of Roy G. Biv???  Well, Roy isn't a real person, but rather an interesting way to remember the colors of the rainbow ... Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet ... See, Roy G. Biv!  And I used that easy concept to make my card.  I cut strips of cardstock the same width from just small scraps, then used my scallopped circle punch (Recollections/Michaels) and punched one end of each scrap.  Then I bumped each pennan off the page with a foam dot, added a length of lace on top, some Stickles 'diamond' to each pennant, and a sticker sentiment from SRM Stickers, and I was done!  A simple card that packs a punch, color wise.

Thanks for visiting today!  And come back soon to see what I'm working on now ... next up is another mini album I'm making using Crate Paper's 'Farmhouse' collection.  See you soon!  Becky

A Couple of Cards ... and just busy!

Hi there!  I know it's been a while since I shared any projects with you!  In the last few weeks (well, probably 8 weeks, but it's only getting worse) I have a new addiction, or maybe it should be called an affliction ... and yes, it's mini albums!  I've made probably 8-10 minis in the last 2 months!  It's a great way to use up scraps of papers, and they are so much fun to make!  I can't show you some of them because I have submitted them for publication, but I will share them when I can. 

I have made a couple of cards lately, and I want to share them now.  Here they are ...

This one is made from October Afternoon 'Sidewalks' papers, vintage lace and button, Stickles diamond, and seam binding from Bluebird Lane Etsy Shop.  I found the vintage image on Pinterest.

The next card is made using one of my favorite images.  I found it on Flickr and is of a painting by Mabel Lucie Atwell ...

The base paper is by We R Memory Keepers, sentiment by SRM Stickers, button from Buttons Galore, Tulle for border and flower are by Maya Road.  The ric-rack is an estate sale find.  I fussy cut the image and popped it up on foam dots.

Hope you've enjoyed your visit today!  I'll be back soon with a card I made for the March Gallery Challenge by Paper Crafts Magazine.  Have a great week!  Becky

Know Who's Lucky???

Hello!  As you can tell I have been changing things up a bit here on my blog ... I guess you could call it 'spring cleaning' or maybe just boredom as I was watching TV last night, but I like the cleaner, neater look.

As I was spiffing up the place, I realized that I have passed the 40,000 page views mark (huge!) and I am *almost* at the 100 followers mark (also huge!).  Add to that the fact that I have a HUGE birthday coming up soon, and I think it's time for a celebration!!!  I don't know what I'll be giving away yet, but it will be crafting related, and it will be something fun, like bits and pieces from my stash, or maybe a product I just can't craft without.

But while I'm going through my 'stuff' to pick out some things to give away, I need you to do something, too!  If you aren't a follower yet, please become a follower of my blog.  If you are a follower, tell your friends about this blog and ask them to become a follower.  Once I have reached 100 followers, I will announce the giveaway! 

See you back here soon!  Becky

Me!

More True Than YOU Can Know!

Happy Thursday!  Just a quick post to share something with you that means so much to me!  For most of my life I let other people's words steal my joy.  Whether it was in creating, in my jobs, in any facet of my life, I allowed other people and their words have too much power in my life and how I lived it!  I never felt   like I was 'enough' ... I wasn't good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, and on and on and on, covering most areas of my life!


And my artsy/crafty life was no different!  But in that avenue, the words and opinions were about 50/50 mine and other people's.  Inside my head I kept telling myself "You don't have the right tools and products, you can't afford all the expensive classes, you really don't have any talent", and on and on!

And I don't know how or when it changed, (maybe it's an age thing!) but over time I changed, and other people's opinions of me didn't matter so much.   And I began to realize that none of it mattered so much ... especially my own doubts, because I KNEW that I was creative and talented and had skills that were born of creativity and not 'just' skills that I learned at some expensive class taught by some person who made those skills up!  Because of my freedom to make things MY way, I was able to find myself through my creativity, and that is so freeing! 

All of this is a long, round about way to introduce you to today's words of wisdom from Brave Girl's Club ...

Believe it!  Memorize it!  Take it in and make it your mantra!  You are enough, you are YOU, so stop apologizing and start enjoying who you are!  Blessings, Becky

Jinger Adams - Design Team Application - Heartfelt Wishes

Hello Friends!  Today I want to share with you a card that I made for my application for the newest Design Team around ... Jinger Adams!  You may remember Jinger as the spokesperson for the Cricut a while back, but now she has some great things in the works, including her own line of paper crafting products. 

Before I share my card with you, I have to say ... the DT call asked us to create a new project that shows our style, or they type of projects that they could expect from us if we made the team.  That is hard for me because my styles are as varied as the products available out there today!  I try to make each project unique, but using the elements in the papers and embellishments to highlight those products to their best advantage.  I would say my personal favorite style is a blend of shabby/vintage/retro, but as you will see with this card, I also love classy and elegant.

Oh, and I'm not just a card maker!  Making cards was my first love, but I also do altered items, and my newest love ... mini albums!  In the last month or so, I have made at least six to eight mini albums, and I am really loving them!  And no two are alike ... as I said above, when you use the products to their best advantage, you will come up with unique and special finished projects.

Okay, enough of my soap box ... here is the card that I made for my application ...

Supplies:

• Base card stock - Michael's Value Cards and Envelopes
• Patterned paper - We R Memory Keepers 'Cotton Tails' collection - Thicket
• Sentiment Sticker - SRM Stickers
• Seam Binding - Miss Myrtle's Sundries
• Flower - Prima

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Board
• Scissors, ruler, craft knife

I am so in love with this paper collection by We R Memory Keepers!  The colors are so springy and light, and this damask print is just picture perfect for many different types of projects!

Jinger, if you read this blog post, please scroll through the rest of my blog so  you can see more about my styles and my love for paper crafting!  Thank you for this opportunity!  Blessings, Becky

Friendship's Garden Challenge Blog ... Challenge 11 ... Happy St. Pats Day!

Can you believe that March is already here???  I know!  Me either!!!  But it is, and that means spring is very close, the March winds are blowing briskly today, and Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend.  It also means a lot of people will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and that is our challenge for this week ... make a card with a St. Patrick's Day theme and it must have the color green on the card.  And here is my card for the challenge ...

It's such a simple card, but also very cute!  Here are all the details ...

Supplies:

• Base card stock (brown) and cream cardstock - The Paper Studio
• Image - Flickr find
• Sentiment - SRM Stickers
• Brown ink - Quick Quotes 'Mocha Mama'
• Stickles 'platinum'
• Ribbon - an estate sale find

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success paper trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success scoring board
• Cuttlebug and 'Textile' embossing folder
• Scissors, craft knife and ruler

 And that's it!  Sometimes simpler is best, and this card came together in a breeze!  Blessings friends!  Becky

Prima 'Sun Kiss' Mini Album

When the pre-CHA sneak peeks were being shared by manufacturers, one of the first lines that I knew I wanted to work with was 'Sun Kiss' by Prima Marketing.  The blues, yellows and greens are just beautiful, and it's such a springy/summery line!  So, I ordered the 6 x 6 pad and a pack of the matching flowers from The Hens' Den.  Then I got busy going through my stash looking for things I could use in a mini album. 

I found a LOT of silk sunflowers in my silk flowers stash ... I've had them for YEARS, and I know this because they are leftovers from when I did flowers for a friend's wedding and we used sunflowers. 

Then I cut out pages for the album and punched them with my new Cinch, and packed it all up and took it to my LSS on Saturday for a day of crafting madness!  And I bought a few more embellishments for the album there!  And here is what I ended up with ...

Front Cover

Page One

Page Two

Page Three

Page Four

Page Five

Page Six

Page Seven

Page Eight

Page Nine

Page Ten

Outside Back Cover

Isn't it beautiful!!!  Here is a breakdown of all the details ...


Supplies:

• Kraft Cardstock - The Paper Studio
• Chipboard for covers - my stash (came in orders with 12 x 12 paper)
• Designer papers - Prima Marketing 'Sun Kiss' Collection
• Silk sunflowers - my stash
• Vintage lace - my stash (estate sale find)
• Gems and jewels - Prima Marketing
• Patterned flowers - Prima Marketing 'Sun Kiss' Collection
• Yellow Tulle Trim - Maya Road
• Corrugated Dress Form and Canvas Heart - Basically Bare
• Stickles 'Platinum' - Ranger Industries
• Chipboard Frames - Tattered Angels
• Brown Ink - Quick Quotes 'Mocha Mama' Chalk Ink
• Yellow and Green Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads 'Mustard Seed' and 'Shabby Shutters'
• 'Our Story' Tag - K & Company
• Corrugated button - Jillibean Soup
• Brown Twine - Maya Road
• White Chipboard Tag - Heartfelt Creations
• Stamps - Anna Griffin
• Mustard card stock - Core'dinations
• White lace - my stash
• Glitters - my stash
• Black Chipboard - Bo Bunny
• Large Photo Corner - Pink Paislee 'Artisan Elements' Circles
• Mist - Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist 'Iridescent Gold'
• Bingo Card - Jenni Bowlin

Adhesives:

• Glue Glider Pro and Perma Tac refill -  Glue Arts
• Gluedles - Glue Arts
• 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue - Beacon
• Gloss Adhesive - Anna Griffin Clear Glass Finish
• White Glue - Plaid 'Sealed All Over' Paper Adhesive
• Foam Squares - Recollections

Tools Used:

• The Cinch and 1" Spiral Binding Wire 'Bark'
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Carl PRT-100 Rotary Trimmer
• Scissors, ruler, craft knife
• Cuttlebug and 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder

As info, I made the album 3" x 6" so that I could cut the 6" x 6" sheets of paper in half, to get more from the pack.

Thank you so much for visiting today, and I hope you will come back soon!  I will be back tomorrow with a card for the Friendship's Garden Challenge 11, so look for that one!  Blessings, Becky