Happy Monday!!!

OK, we have two things for you today...

Just a reminder that this Friday starts the official Christmas Blog Hop!

It will start with Elsa at Just a Few Designs, and will continue with a lot of talented ladies.  Please join us!  I have three projects that I am going to share, one each day, that I hope you will like!

Now, I have to share this with you all!  I am swamped with projects that I have to finish.  I have mountains of kits and supplies bought, that are waiting to be assembled.  But, when inspiration strikes, you have to go with it, because you never know what is going to happen next.  So, that is what happened.  Instead of starting to make my Christmas cards, I made a Christmas album, with recycled materials that I came across.  This is cool!

It was our youngest son's birthday, and I was wrapping his present...

I used the whole roll, and this is what it was wrapped around....a huge piece of super sturdy kraft paper!

I made a "zine" fold out of it.

Then I got my Tim Holtz papers and supplies and went to town! The pages of the book are 7 1/2" wide by 8 1/2" tall.  I threaded ribbon through the center of the book to hold the pages in place.  I also turned it "upside down", so that I could fold pages down to make interesting pockets.

There are two diagonal pockets, and two huge page pockets.  Above is the diagonal pocket on the left.  On the right, I added a kraft envelope and a card for a pullout.

Two large tags in the diagonal pocket.

The card is gatefold...

Opened...

The back of the card.

I attached the envelope to the page with the flap to the back, then covered with papers, giving another interactive element.

The huge tag on the next page, and the other diagonal pocket.

This sticker I adhered on two sides, so that something could slip under if I wanted to.

The next page, another envelope and card.

I LOVE THESE PAPERS!!!!

This is the coolest vintage Santa!

The envelope flap opened.

The back of the book.

Top view. The papers, distress inks, charm, and Sizzix die is by Tim Holtz, the ribbon and bling are Recollections, the envelopes and cards are by Paper Accents, and the Kraft paper to back the tags is by Recollections.

So, ladies, when you are wrapping your presents, check to see if you have this kind of paper under the wrapping paper...if you do, make a book!!!

Stay Crafty My Friends!

A wish for you all...

We just wanted to take a moment and say...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Birthday Smash!

When Jackie and I started our CK Convention Adventure, we had stopped at Fred Meyer's for some supplies...we found that they had Smash Books.  We decided to each get one, as a record book of our trip.  Since it is also around my birthday, I decided to make it my "Birthday Smash!"

 I still need to do some more journaling, and I haven't decided about what else to do with the cover, but here it is.  I used some leftover stickers I had for the title.

 This thing is FULL!  I saved every little bit of whatever we came across.

 Inside the first cover I used a calendar and mapped out the week.  We found the vintage linen tape on our adventure, so I used that.  I love the look...just like an old family scrapbook.

Here is Jackie, driving us to Whole Foods.   I didn't use the knife from my lunch, so I smashed it.  I told you I saved all kinds of bits and pieces.

 Jackie and myself during one of our classes.  Please excuse the flash-glare!

 I made this picture a flap with the tape that K and Co makes for the Smash Books.

 I added the packaging/directions for the Christmas Journal we made.  I also used a pocket to house some pictures we took.

 Breakfast...

 This is the page that started the rest of my "vacation".  My husband missed me, I got three dozen roses!  I also included my list of things I wanted to do on my final three days off.

 What our view was on my birthday.  The tree was GORGEOUS!

 My BFF, Jackie, sent me this text, and gave me this BEAUTIFUL orchid!

This was taken a couple of days later, the same gorgeous tree, all bare!  I saved a couple of leaves and laminated them and added it to the book.

There you have it.  Just a few highlights from my book.  I also added all of my birthday cards, pictures of presents, everything.  I loved making this!

Have a SMASHING DAY!

My Halloween Mini

OK, I still have to add pictures to it, and I have to decorate the inside pages, but I have some stuff done.  This little album has taken more time to do than I thought it would, but it is sooooooo cool!

I drew inspiration from Kathy at Paper Phenomenon and from Laura from The Paper Trail.  I also did some of my own little tricks in it as well.  The pages are such that the black tags used (by Recollections) will hold 4x6 photos.  There are two that are a bit smaller, but the rest will hold the full size pictures.  I used paper bags as the base of the book, made gussets to allow for some embellishments, used chipboard to create covers, and used a variety of papers.  The papers used are from Daisy D's, Authentique, Basic Grey and Memory Box.  I wanted the papers to be orange and black.   Some are new, some are from my stash.

 This is the front cover.  I used Prima flowers, some Teresa Collins ribbons, a dollar store Halloween Spider, and some Recollections bling.  The "31" is Tim Holtz, with a banner from his Sizzix line, and the quote came from the bottom of an Authentique paper I used.

First pages...This is our friend, Gertie, our Front Porch Greeter on Halloween Night.  Next, a family portrait.  I made these so that I could put journaling tags behind the pictures.

 Most of the pages have a side pocket that holds a 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" tag.

 Some of the bottoms of the paper bags I put together to create a pull out tag.

 These have pockets at the bottom of the page to hold tags.

 These tags go to the sides.

 Full pages....

 ...That flip up to reveal pockets and more full pages.

 These pages are cool, I made them with packaging so that the tags under can peak through them.

 These pages flip open...

 ...to the side.

In all, I made this album with 34 pages!  There will be even more room for pictures, as you can take the tags out and put pictures on both sides.

Have a most crafty day!

Two things...

First, I want to let you all know that I have been asked to participate in a Blog Hop for Christmas!!!

Elsa, from  Just a Few Designs, invited me to join in on the fun with this Christmas blog hop she is hosting.  It will be for three days, and each of us are doing three different projects.  I am working on them right now.  I can't wait!  Stay tuned, more information will come!

Second...here is the class project by the Button Farm that Jackie and I took on our CK weekend!!

This album was designed to be either a book like I did it, or bound like a pennant.  The papers are Basic Grey, LOVELY!

Friday, I will show you the finished "bones" of my Halloween book.  I worked on that on the Friday Crop!

Stay Crafty, My Friends!

We're Baaaaack!!!

Jackie and I are back from our mini vacation to the Creative Keepsakes Convention held in Seattle!

 Here is Jackie in the "15 Things About Me" album class...

And here I am...This class was fun!!!  Below are a couple of the pages we made.  There are 9 pages in all, and room in the album to add more.  I have some leftover papers, so I am going to come up with a few more pages of my own!  

This page flips up so that you can add hidden journaling!

 I bought a kit to make a 25 days of Christmas album at the Embellish It booth, and made it in our spare time.

Here is the cover.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the papers!

 I also brought a kit with me, by The Button Farm, to make during one of the crops!  The crops are 5 1/2 hours, and it took that long, but it is soooooo cute!!!

One of the inside pages...I love this book!!!

We took another class by the Button Farm, I will show you that one on Wednesday!!

I am sooooo glad I took the day off today, so I can unpack my stuff!!  We shopped until we dropped!  

Stay crafty, My Friends!!!