Mini album Envelope book

 One of the facebook groups I am in was holding a fun little challenge.  Two of us in the group were to make mini albums including items sent to us by 8 other ladies.  This is the book that I created to fulfill this challenge.  We have both finished our books so we put the names of the 8 contributors in a drawing and two won the albums.  I was very pleased to see my niece won mine!  She seemed very excited when I called to let her know who the two winners were.  I do apologize for such a long post but wanted to get all the photos in for you to see.

This project is also way out of my comfort zone!  I love the antique looking projects but have never felt I could do justice to one. I am sure I have a long way to go and a lot to learn but this was fun. I used so many things that I purchased years ago and just was not brave enough to use.  I tried new things as the hinged binding as well as other techniques. This album was a new experience in so many ways but I do like the outcome for my first attempt at something like this.   All edges in this album have been inked in brown Chalk from ColorBox and a lot have been sewn around.  I had a lot of fun using everyone's items.  It was a great challenge!

This is the front cover.  The beaded spray, large white flower and some of the brown leaves were sent in by one of the ladies.  I used MS butterfly punch for the little critters.  They are punched out of the same paper as the cover.  I then inked them in brown and gave them a coating of Glossy Accents.  When they were dry I inked them again in copper.  The lacy edge is from a Magnolia border die.  I really like the pattern it is.

 This is the first pages.  One lady sent two large flowers and I could not decide just what to do with them until  my friend, Lyn, told me to just use them as a page.  This album is created from envelopes so I  glued a plastic scalloped circle to the flaps and then added the two large flowers.  The stamped images are from another wonderful lady that sent us a set of CTMY stamps. 

 

This shows the drop down album and the tag lifts out of the pocket.

 

 This is the flower page 2.

 I added a tiny circle album as the center of the flower.  It is held on with magnets.  The other side of the circle album has two flowered with a green center.

 On this page I used some mesh, papers, beads and a small clipboard that was sent in.  These pages are made form cards so they also unfold from the center.

 This is the small mini album that sits under the heart.

 Back of mini album.

 This page consists of some papers one of the ladies sent as well as the circle paper clip.  The lacy jute ribbon was sent in by another lady.

 

There are two pull out tags as shown here.  The smaller one is obvious but the larger one hides itself well on the page.

 

 I was running out of ideas by the time I got to this page so it is fairly plain Jane.

 The flaps do lift to expose pull out tags.  They are held shut with magnets.

 This page contains another mini clipboard from the lady that sent the other one!

 This photo shows the tag album opened.  Again you can see the stamped images from the set of stamps I received.

 

 This shows the pull out album from the second page.

 Reverse side of pull out tag.

 Here is the little pull out album from the clear pocket.

 Coming to the end is this set of pages.  The rose paper and butterfly ribbon were sent to me to use.  The key and lock are some from my old old old stash.  The frame on the bottom of the green half page is a Spellbinder die that I cut out of brown cardstock and inked the edges in black.  I then applied a layer of glossy accents.  When it had dried completely, I inked it in copper.

 On the top of the green half page is a sticker I received.  The two frames are from Spellbinders dies. 

 Mini album out of the pocket.

 I used Kathy Orta's hinge binding tutorial for this book.  Since it turned out quite thick I wasn't sure how to decorate the spine.  I played with some twine and finally ended with this.  The twine also seems to hold the hinges tighter against the spine so pages are not sneaking their noses out the front.  lol  I used quite a few charms and a MS butterfly punch..

 On the front of the album are three charms hooked on to the pull out tab.  I love the tiny purse one  and knew I needed to use it somehow on this book.  It measures 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch.

 Yes, I just had to make a tiny book to make it's home in this purse charm!

 Just another photo showing the spine charms a little better but the coloring is off.

Thank you all so much for stopping by.  May God be with you all!

Challenges:

Card Crafters Circle-die cuts

Hot Shots-anything but a card

Jelly Park- it's about a book.....am hoping a book will qualify

Raise the Bar- door/key/lock

Simply Create Too-old stash.  Almost everything is from my old stash other than what the ladies sent in to use. 

Chalk N Stock- use chalk....the inks I use are Chalk inks from ColorBox.  Not sure if they count but thought I would try!  lol

Charisma Cardz- tags.....this book has a few!

Cute Card Thursday- Butterflies

One for the girls FF challenge #58!

This fortnight at Forever Friends, our challenge is "one for the girls"! Our sponsor for this challenge is Saturated Canary.   I won some wonderful FF stickers and wanted to use one for this card.  Thanks Diane!     I made this Easter card for my Mother-in-law and hope it may give her a smile while she is convalescing from shoulder surgery.  I also belong to a small private group on facebook and this card will fulfill a challenge posted there.  We were to use the sketch provided and the color purple somewhere on our creation.  The papers are from one of the  LOTV NitWit collections.  I just love their papers.   I inked the edges as well as sewed them.  I used a MS punch for the heart border. The sentiment stamp is from Studio G and the shape is a die from Whimsy.  "Mom" is from a Quickutz die set.  The image is popped for added demension.  The little heart charm is out of some old old stash of charms.  The flowers are also some that I have had since the beginning of my scapping life.   The leaves are from a punch.  Added some pearl hearts and some stickles and called it done.  lol  Please come a play along with us at Forever Friends!!!

Thank you for stopping by and may God always watch over you.  Hugs.

Challenges:

Shelly's Images- anything goes

Fussy and Fancy- spring......Easter always lets me know spring is here!

My Sheri Crafts- Easter

Sweet Stampin'-lots of layers

Creatalicious- Easter

Charisma Cardz- die cuts

Oldie but a Goodie- Easter...Everything but the pps circle die and the image is over six months old.

Glitter and Sparkle- Animals

Sentimental Sundays-stitching

All that Stickles- must use lime green which so happens to be the stickles I think I use the most.  I love it on leaves!

2 Sisters- Easter/Spring

Crafty Calendar- Easter

Forever Friends shaped card

Over at Forever Friends this fortnight we have a fun challenge to make shaped cards.  I decided to make this little step card for one of my grandsons whose birthday is next month.  He likes Pokemon so when chosing a stamp from our sponsor, Kenny K, this little fellow was perfect.  I used my nesties to but the circles for the PokeBall.  I cut his name out with my Cricut.  Another grandson that is also into Pokemon donated a few cards that he had several of and "were not worth anything" to my cause.  His brother loves Pokemon and has a birthday coming up in April so I will be making another card of this type I am sure.  I colored the image with copics.  The ball is paper pieced with the center popped.  The sentiment stamp is from Studio G.  I added stickles for a little more dimension.  I think both grandsons will like their cards with this little image......at least I hope!  lol  Thanks for stopping by and may God watch over you and yours always.

Challenges:

Kenny K's- birthday

Eclectic Ellapu- birthday

No Matter Which- anything goes

The Craft Place- anything goes

Digi Designs- all about children

Marks Finest Papers- shaped cards

Sweet Stampin'- male

V's Sweet Ideas- masculine

Bears for Forever Friends #56

At Forever Friends this fortnight, our challenge is bears!  We are being sponsored by Bugaboo  and I chose this darling Birthday Bear image to use.  I also stamped the balloons from a Popcorn Bear stamp set and fussy cut them.  I colored with copics and highlighted the words with stickles.  The papers are from my scrap drawer from paper that I bought years ago when I first started scrapping.  I thought the two worked well with this theme and image.  The little sunshine charm is from an old stash of charms that I had ordered years ago and have never used any of them.  The little Birthday sentiment is from Whimsy.  I made this for one of the grandsons who will be having a birthday in the next couple months.  I have 6 grandsons that all have birthdays in the next couple months so want to get a jump start on them.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please come and join us for such a great challenge at Forever Friends!

Challenges:

My Creative Moments- sketch

Here Come The Boys- lots of layers

One Stitch at a Time- use a digi

Pan Pastel- Birthday

Sweet'n Sassy- for a child

Shopping Our Stash- oldest design paper (not sure it is the oldest but if not....darn close)

Shelly's TTT- sewing

Crafts and Me- use a charm

A Gem of a Challenge- bow

Allsorts- animals

One Stop Craft Challenge-kids

Inky Chicks- Mother's Day or Birthday

Card for Michael

I am finally making another card for my dear brother!  I wanted to send him flowers or something to let him know I was thinking of him.  Barb told me that he said he didn't want flowers,  balloons or a stuffed animal and for me to send nothing!  Well, I decided I would send all three on a card.  I picked this little Popcorn Bear stamp because of all the balloons he is holding.  With the balloons and the bear, I have covered two of the three "do not send" items.  I will work on the flower thing with a future card or project for him.  lol  The patterned papers are from my new pad I bought from LOTV.  I really love their papers!   I inked and sewed the edges.  The little banners are from a Whimsy die and glued to some homemade twine.  The circles for the sentiment are from Quikutz and the sentiment is from Clear Dollar stamps. I fussy cut around the bear and balloons and then popped  him off the ovals cut from Spellbinder dies.   I think my brother will get a kick out of this card.  At least I hope it will lift his spirits while he is in the hospital.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs to all and God bless.

Challenge:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday- sketch

365 Cards- fussy cutting and stamped image.

Shelly's Images- sewing

Sourthern Girls- waving in the breeze- banners

Crafting for all Seasons- dies and punches

Crafts and Me- add a charm

Creative Moments- shades of blue

Little Red Wagon-totally teddies

Penny's Paper/Crafty-anything goes

Whimsy- metal

DRS- plaids

4 Crafty Chicks-twine

New items I just had to use!

I ordered some new stamps and paper pads from LOTV.  I just love their products.  They were having a nice sale on some of their older stamps as well as special on a new release.  Needless to say, I just had to take advantage of a bargain! lol    When I received my new things, I decided to make some thing immediately.  So the stamp is new, the papers are new, and some of the flowers are new too....all from LOTV.  The greenery is from an old Quickutz die. I used my nesties for the ovals and thh little banner is a die from Whimsy (I think).   The little heart pearls are  from my old old old stash.  As I was looking for embellishments I saw the little heart pins.  I have never used pins on any of my creations yet so decided I would try them on this. I inked and sewed around the edges.  I do think I did a touch of overkill on the flowers but just couldn't seem to quit. lol  Anyway, not too sure what I will do with this card except add it to my ever growing stash of cards!  Some day my daughter will be so happy to have to sort all this junk out!  lol  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs and God bless you.

Challenges:

Guylou's- BINGO.....bling, flowers and ribbon

Alphabet- anything with wings

Crafty Catz- BINGO.....pearls dies and ribbon

Cream Valley- bling and ribbon

NMWC- 2nd entry Ribbons and bows

OSAAT- make it girlys

A Gem of a Challenge- dies or punches

Allsorts- anything with wings

Catch the Bug-BINGO.......sewing, players choice-(stickles) and heart

CMC Copic- girly

Cute Card Thursday- and eye for detail

'Just a note' for FF

This fortnight challenge is again....anything goes at Forever Friends!  Our wonderful sponsors for this challenge are MilkCoffee and Rick St.Dennis.  I chose to use this little singer from Milk Coffee.  My daughter was born on the day Elvis died and she has always kind of been his fan.  I thought I would make her a birthday card with him but her birthday is not until August and she would see it once it posts.  lol  So, that put a whole new dilemma  for me........just what kind of card should have the king grace it!  lol  I finally settled on the kind of 'thinking of you' and used the 'Just a Note' stamp from Studio G.  I had also recently watched a video on how to make a shadow box card and wanted to give it a try.  It has about 1/4 inch recess from the top of the card front .  I did enjoy using this new technique (at least new to me).  "Elvis" is colored with copics and the silver is the Sharpee paint pen. 
The flourishes were cut with my CE and the Lovely Floral cartridge.  The little tags are from Magnolia.  I inked the edges with chestnut roan chalk.  The little charm is one I just received last week so was happy to get one used so quickly.  The flowers are from a private challenge I am in where one lady sent out flowers to participants and we have to use them all within a month of receiving.  I used 5 on this card!  Thanks Michelle for such a fun challenge!  Thanks so much for stopping by and may God be with you always.

Challenges:

One Stitch at a Time- anything goes

Brown Sugar- anything goes

Lady Anne's -anything goes

Stamping for the Weekend- metal

Crafty Ribbons- anything goes with ribbon

Catered Crop- polka dots

Crafty Sentiments- anything goes