Just a TAD Crafty

You will need two die cut cards & envelopes (Z1738)
these are 3 1/2 x 8"
Open the cards--flat
score at 4" from the straight side,
then score every 3 1/4"
cut 20 squares--3 1/4 x 3 1/2 in the paper of your choice
cover card as shown (disregard the factory score lines)
ON the straight side punch 2 holes (as shown)

Seal the envelopes
Trim the ends off of the two envelopes

so they end up being 8" long and open at both ends
Score at 4"
fold in half
punch 2 holes (as shown)

Cut 8-- 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" squares-- cardstock (mats)
8-- 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares-- patterned paper
Cover the envelopes as shown above
(do not adhere the cardstock right at the score line,
you need about 1/4" give to make them fold nicely)

for the covers
2- 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" chipboard (I use cereal boxes)
2- 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" patterned paper
clip corners as shown
2- 4 1/4 X 4 1/4" paper (for inside of cover)
wrap patterned paper around chipboard
2 12" pieces of ribbon (optional)
adhere ribbon to inside of cover
then adhere the 4 1/4 square over top to cover
rough edges and ribbon

make some tags (3 1/2" w x 3 3/4"l is a nice size)
to insert into the open ends of the envelopes
(I made two, you can make as many as you want)

Assemble the album
cover
envelope page
card page
card page
envelope page
cover
Embellish as desired
this is how mine turned out

envelope page--with card page open

center of the album
with the "card" pages folded in

album with "card" pages open.

Even though this mini uses only 2 envelopes & 2 cards,
it can accommodate over 30 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 pictures
It is an awesome little brag book
And with the option of adding as many tags as you need,
you will always have room for 1 more picture.

Mini album-lucy paper pt 1

This is a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 mini brag book
Made for taking with you

This is the ablum open.
I will post construction details in the next couple of days.

My "footloose" bookmark album-pt 1

You can make this from items in our NEW spring & summer idea book..

Supplies
z1740 bookmark album
x7151b footloose paper
z2195 lagoon ink
z2167 creme brulee ink
d1452 find your style (retired)
b1331 ocean treasures (retired, could use c1500 under the sea)
z1104 clear sparkles
z1349 designer brads
z679 liquid glass
z1702 baker's twine
z1365 basic brad assortment
z1263 bitty sparkles

When covering the cover of a chipboard album,
I cut my paper an inch longer and wider
than the piece I am going to cover
I like to clip the corners and wrap the paper around the edges

When you need to wrap a curve, cut the paper back to the curve multiple times, as shown

I cut 2 rectangles 7 3/4 x 3 3/4 and adhered them to the inside to cover the rough edges, I will also cut a piece to cover the "curve"

Inside of album covers
the photo mats are 3 1/2 x 4

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

only six more days till these items are GONE

Six more days.
That's it.
And then some fabulous products will be retired
And some brand new ones introduced.
Click here for the list of those on their way out.

you can order any of these right now
off of my website
and they will be shipped directly to you.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Pin it!!

Well, I finally figured out how to Pin It! And I love it. This could become very addictive, browsing blogs, collecting pins. I just have to remember that I need to create some of my own for others to enjoy...hmmm maybe later tonight I might see what pin has inspired me.

Smash Book, what is it and how to make your own--pt3, putting it all together

Now that all the pages are covered
I used our 1 1/4 circle punch to cut some
(finger-grabber hole tabby things--there must be a real word for this)
on every page
this will make it easy to grab the pages that you insert into the envelopes

then

I found the center of each cover (and pages)
I cheat.
I know that my pages are 7 3/4" long,
so I stick the end of the ruler over the page 1/8 of an inch
this then puts the 4 inch mark in the center
I also use a post-it not to mark the center
(saves marking up my cover)

I then place it in my bind-it machine
and here is where the beauty of the post-it not really shines
....line both arrows up, and you are binding in the center.

this is the album with all the pages bound together

Now let's get down to stashin, your stash for on the go use.
First
you need some Z4114 4x6 memory protectors flip flaps
and some photo hangers

I found two photo hanges and used them as "pocket closures"
ahere one to each of the inside covers
(I beefed up the adhesive and added two wide strips of strong adhesive
so that these flaps will not move)

then I cut some tags and matts out of my stash of paper
found some stickers that I had lying around
and cut them into bit sized pieces
(so they would fit in the flip flaps)
I made this smash book for my daughter,
so I gathered things that she would find fun to add to her journaling pics, that she might include in this book.

I filled both flip flaps with stickers and stuff

I then added scissors and a pen in one flip flap

and a glue pen in the other flip flap

I then added an appropriate sticker on the front.

I also cut 16 pages (7 x 4 3/4)
to slip into the envelope pockets
(you can see how the half cicles that I cut in each envelope page
will make it easy to grab these extra pages)
You can cut more or less
You can leave some pockets empty
for stuff that you collect along your travels.
I know my daughter likes to write,
so I made lots of extra pages for her.

this is a view of the album spread open

And now,
all that's left is for her
to use it.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Rock the Block Promotion workshop pt 2 (the final piece of the puzzle)

I know, I know,
it looks like a quilter's square
and it is. But it is a beautiful tool to use
when make a photo cube

Simply place the quilter's square over your photo
adjust the 2" lines so you
are NOT dissecting someone's face (it's fine to cut off an ear or two, but it spoils the whole picture if someone's face is split in half)

And voila,
my children.

Another view of the blocks as I have them displayed.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Valentine Cards--using Roxie paper

Thought I would whip up a couple of non-traditional, kissy, huggy cards.
Hope you like them
I used Roxie paper for all of them

Supplies
D1485 Howdy stamp set (retired)
X7140B Roxie paper pack
Z2118 Desert Sand ink

the "ticket" were made using our Art Philosophy Cartrige
rectangle #3--p. 64 set at 1"
I then matted them on a black strip 4 1/4 x 1 1/2
and added another mat in tulip 4 1/4 x 1 3/4
and cut off the tickets that stuck out over the mat

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Well it's time

....time to grab a quick shower and meet up with some crafty ladies in my garage for 12 hours of creating.
Wonder what we will come up with??
Then check back tommorrow when I post the pics

Thursday, January 19, 2012

tick tock, tick tock

Time is running out.
On some fabulous Close to my Heart Products.
I always have mixed feelings at this time of year...
excited to see the NEW products and
sad to see some of my old favorites being retired.
Here is the short list
(the post ---going, going, gone has the complete list
and remember--when you place an order of $25 in retiring products
or even deeply discounted items,you can receive the Rock the Block special for just $15.)

Level 2 Paper Packs only $9.95
X7145B-Believe X7142B-Dreamin’----this is one of my favorites
X7138B-Fanfare X7137B-Lucky
X7136B-Mayberry X7144B-Mischief
X7131B-Sophia X7146C-Wonderland

Workshop on the Go Kits on$29.95
G1030-Believe G1027-Dreamin’
G1026-Elemental G1029-Mischief
G1025-Roxie G1028-Sonoma
G1024-Typeset G1031-Wonderland

Friday, January 13, 2012

Smash Book, what is it and how to make your own--pt2

Supplies
*cereal box (Why you ask, because it makes a cheap alternative to chipboard,
     and works just as well since we are going to cover it anyways)
*envelopes--(I used 4--7 1/2" x 10 1/2")
*paper--(I used the Roxie Paper and then just rummaged through my stash)
*stickers, buttons, ribbon, and whatever else you need to use up
*Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (you can make one without this cartridge,
    but I used it to make a variety of tags and die cuts for the book-
   -I don't know how many times I say this, but...this is the best cricut cartridge out there
and it is exclusive to "Close to my Heart". You can get yours through me if you live in Canada. )
*adhesive of your choice
*paper trimmer
I'm sure I will add a few items as I go along, but this is what I started with.

seal the envelopes

Cut 1/4" off of each end
so you end up with a 7 1/2" x 10" envelope that is open on both ends.

Fold your envelope in half
Your folded piece should be 7 1/2" x 5"
You can use a bone folder to get a nice crisp fold
Do this to all 4 envelopes--set aside

Grab your cereal box
and cut 2 pieces 7 3/4" x 5 1/4"
These will end up being the "covers" of your book
You want to make them slightly larger than your pages.

Now grab a sheet of paper to cover your album

Cut the paper into two 9" x 6" rectangles
(I used this size because I could get two"covers" out of 1 sheet of paper)