Category Archives: Mini Books

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album Tips and Tricks

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album Tips and Tricks for 3×3 Craft Basket Challenge

Hello, Friends! Today I’m sharing a Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album with Tips and Tricks that you can use in your own crafty adventures. I created this as a G45 Brand Ambassador Project for a fun 3×3 Craft Basket Challenge. The challenge was never shared due to time constraints, So today my teammates Katelyn Grosart and Marina Blaukitchen , and I are sharing our projects as a sort of mini blog hop. I hope you will pop by their blogs to see where their creativity led them in this challenge. Both are fabulous artists, and I know you will be inspired by their work.

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album

What would you make if you could only work with an 8” x 8” Graphic 45 paper pack, matching Tags and Pockets, the Tag & Pocket Album of your choice and minimal other supplies? That’s the challenge that 3 G45 Brand Ambassadors faced in this month’s 3×3 Craft Basket Challenge.

For this fun exercise, I chose to work with my 8×8 Fairie Dust Collection, Tags and Pockets. The Black Butterfly Square Tag & Pocket Album is a natural choice to go with this collection, so I grabbed that from the Closet of Shame and got down to business!

TIP: Brush the edges of the album with Versamark Embossing Ink. Then heat emboss the edges with Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Powder. Touches of gold are added throughout the album pages, because…fairies!

TIP: Frame this dancing fairy image from the 8″ x 8″ pad with the doily frame from the Square Pocket and Tag Dies. To tie in with the gold theme, use metallic gold paper.

TIP: Fussy cut around the fairy wings, then gently slip them up and over the edges of the Square Tag and Clock Dies frame. Add thin foam dimensionals behind the wings to add lift and dimension to your focal image.

TIP: Did you know you can insert an image inside the antique label on the Tag & Pocket Album? Simply measure the width and height of the opening, then insert the image through the top edge. Leftover scraps of borders can be used to embellish the top and bottom of the spine.

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album: Stretch your designer papers!

The Butterfly Square Tag & Pocket album contains 18 total cardstock pages: 12 cardstock pages and 6 double sided peek-a-boo pocket pages. Each album also includes 6 sturdy cardstock tags. People…that is a lot of real estate to cover with one 8” x 8” pad of G45 paper! So I had to get creative.

TIP: Stretch your paper by inking the edges with Decades Dye Ink Pads! The inks blend beautifully and react to water, creating a wonderful mixed media background for your pages. I used Precious Pink and French Lilac inks to complement the papers in the Fairie Dust Collection.

TIP: Mix things up! Cover some pages almost completely, while covering others with very little paper. Both look beautiful!

TIP: You can stretch your Fairie Dust Tags and Pockets sheet, too! Cut shaped pockets along the fold line. Then adhere the side tabs as usual. Tuck the “B” side of the pocket inside to serve as a tag or journaling spot.

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album: More Tips and Tricks

TIP: Create pockets for cut apart images by adhering just 3 edges of patterned paper to the album base.

TIP: Finish your tags in a flash with the G45 Square Tag and Clock Dies. Die cut paper to cover the front and back of the tag, then add a simple die cut frame to finish it off beautifully.

The clock face die is gorgeous all on its own as an embellishment. I’ve added it to the top of this pocket filled with photo mounts.

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album Video Tour with Tips and Tricks

To help you see all the ways I used the 3×3 Craft Basket Challenge ingredients in this sweet little Fairie Dust Mini Album I’ve prepared a YouTube Video Tour with Tips and Tricks. I hope you enjoy!

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Mini Album Supply List

Other Products: Flowers, 7/8″ Hyacinth Satin Ribbon with Grosgrain Edge, Blending Tool, Scoring Tool, Versamark Embossing Ink, Stampendous Antique Gold Embossing Enamel

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks, and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures today. If so I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. I’ll be back on Thursday with my G45 Brand Ambassador Farewell post. I hope to see you then!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Magical Unicorn Princess Mini Album for RRR March Blog Hop

Really Reasonable Ribbon March Ribbon Club Blog Hop: Magical Unicorn Princess Mini Album

Hello, Ribbon Lovers! Welcome to the RRR March Blog Hop! You should be coming here from Karen’s lovely blog. Today’s Magical Unicorn Princess Mini Album is a little bit of a departure from my normal crafting style. But my sweet little Julia is turning 6, and she loooooves unicorns. So like any good Nan, I broke out my best unicorn papers and embellishments to make this special interactive mini album for her. Lucky for me, the gorgeous ribbons in the March Ribbon Club Assortment were a perfect match for this playful project.

If these ribbons don’t say “Magical Unicorn Princess” then I’ll eat my hat! LOL

Magical Unicorn Princess Mini Album: The Shaker Cover

Every Magical Unicorn Princess Mini Album needs a shaker element, so I added this one to the album front.

And, it has to be adorned with a priceless pink gem, too!

Don’t forget the ribbon! Every Magical Princess Unicorn Mini Album must have ribbon! The bow cluster is a combination of Sherbet Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon and 3/8″ Garden Rose Select Swiss Dots Grosgrain Ribbons. Both are part of the beautiful March Spring Mix Ribbon Club Collection.

I’ve used more of these lovely ribbons to create ribbon streamers on the mini album spine.

Magical Unicorn Princess Mini Album: A peek inside

I created 4 signatures for this album, with 3 pocket pages. To decorate the pocket pages, I’ve cut snips of ribbon from the club assortment and topped them with a button. Julia loves both ribbons and buttons. It must be genetic!

The inside has a box style pocket with unicorn pencils (what else?) and a mini unicorn clip board. I’ve written sayings and jokes about unicorns throughout the album.

I designed this to be a mixed use type of album. The pages have pockets, flaps and other fun interactive elements. But I also left space for Julia to write stories, add photos, drawings and magazine clippings. I’m hoping she will get hours of crafty fun with this album, and maybe even bring it to the house for us to work on together.

On with the Hop!

From here, you will hop on over to see what crafty goodness Linsey has in store for you. Be sure to visit each blog in the hop, then pop on over to the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog. There, you will answer Bonnie’s question of the month, and be entered into the drawing for your very own Spring Colors Mix Ribbon Club Assortment!

If you’re not already a member of the RRR Monthly Ribbon Club, now is a great time to join! Each month a lovely package of beautiful ribbons will be delivered to your door. It’s like having a birthday every month of the year! With Mother’s Day coming up, it makes a great gift, too. You can find all the information (and a special deal!) right HERE.

I can’t wait to celebrate Julia’s birthday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Graphic 45 Winter Wonderland December Daily

A Country Christmas: G45 Winter Wonderland December Daily and Embellishment Tutorial

Hello, G45’ers! If you’re like me, you haven’t had the chance to document your holiday memories yet. This Graphic 45 Winter Wonderland December Daily is such a great way to store all those precious photos and cherished memories. I’m happy to finally be able to share it with you.

To make memory keeping simple, I broke the album down into 4 weekly sections. This seems less daunting to me than a daily entry. It’s such a great place to record my play dates with the Littles, special family times and even favorite recipes, I can just pop a photo into the appropriate week, jot down a quick note and be done.

Graphic 45 Craft Basket Challenge: Mixed Media Album, 12×12 Pad and Washi Tape

As an additional motivation for this project, it’s my turn to play along in the G45 Craft Basket Challenge. This month, we were asked to create a project with a Staples Mixed Media Album (I chose Ivory) a 12×12 paper collection (I chose Winter Wonderland) and Staples Washi Tape. I have some fun features built into the pages. You’ll learn all about them in the YouTube Video tour below.

You will also find a lot of really cute embellishments made with Winter Wonderland Chipboard and Stickers. There’s a YouTube video tutorial for those, and I think you’ll have lots of fun making them.

Winter Wonderland December Daily: The Cover

Fussy cut flowers, simple paper layers, and a die cut ornament adorn the cover of this 8.25″ x 8.75″ x 2″ album. Each layer is matted with gold and black to keep the designs from becoming muddled.

I could not resist adding this little bottle brush tree to the cover decor. Here’s how I did it:

First, use Glossy Accents to secure the Staples Antique Metal Door Pull to the bottom right hand corner of the cover art. Note that it is upside down.
Now, tap a bottle brush tree with Distress Grit Paste and roll in clear Glitter.
Next, remove the round wood base from the tree and hot glue to the center of the Door Pull.
Then use hot glue to add Spanish Moss and Red Berries to the arrangement.
Finally, tap the berries, and door pull with Grit Paste to resemble fallen snow.

To make the ornament:

Die cut a Spellbinders 2011 Heirloom Ornament Die (retired) from medium weight chipboard.
Now cut again using the green stripe paper in 12×12 Patterns and Solids. Glue together.
Create a washi tape belly band.
Then top with the chipboard element.
Now tie gold string around the top and add small chipboard tag, jingle bells, berries and ribbon.

Tie ribbon around the spine and decorate with large jingle bells and a mini tree ornament. The back cover is decorated with 12×12 Patterns and Solids and a washi tape border.

Winter Wonderland December Daily: A Peek Inside

You’ll find a slash pocket filled with Staples Black Standard Tags and a cheery holiday banner inside the album

Use the tags to decorate cookie plates, Christmas gifts or as fun photo mounts.

This waterfall feature is a great place for all your candid holiday photos. Sew two vellum sheets together on 3 sides to create a large pocket. Then cut the heavy kraft cardstock pages to fit inside. These pages can be used for large (5″ x 7″) photos or even recipes.

The tabbed pocket pages are so quick and easy to decorate. I’ve filled them with 4″ x 6″ images from the cut apart page. I’ve also added decorated Staples Black Square Tags because they make fabulous photo mounts. Create a hinge to attach an ATC sized Policy Envelope and tuck another square tag behind it. This way, you can use the entire page for photos or recipes.

Photo wallets are so much fun to add to pockets, and they make a great place to tuck in a gift card or tickets to a special show.

This Square Black Tag is tucked behind the open side of a 4″ x 6″ photo mount. Interactive elements always make an album more fun!

You’ll find all the details and lots of tips and tricks in this YouTube Video Tour.

Winter Wonderland December Daily YouTube Video Tour

Winter Wonderland December Daily: Making the Chipboard and Sticker Embellishments

As you saw in the video, the final pocket in this Winter Wonderland December Daily holds a festive banner made with Staples Red Alpha Tags. This goes together in about 15 minutes. Here’s how:

First, mat each tag on gold metallic paper and trim around the edges.
Next, re-punch the hole at the top of each tag.
Then thread black and white ribbon through the top.
Now tie a square knot with another piece of the same ribbon.
Next, hot glue a flower to the center knot.
Then, make the chipboard and sticker embellishments following the simple steps in this YouTube Video tutorial.

I’ve used these embellishments throughout the album to dress up tags and decorate pages. They are super simple to make, and can be adapted for use with any paper collection.

Winter Wonderland December Daily Chipboard and Sticker Embellishments Tutorial on YouTube

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use in your own holiday crafting. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. Thanks so much for hanging with me for this long post!

Cheerio,

kathy

Winter Wonderland December Daily Supply List

Graphic 45 Products

Other Supplies

Black and Gold Cardstock for Matting
Ribbon
Mixed Media
- Ranger Distress Grit Paste
- Hot Glue
- Mini Tinsel Trim
Embellishments
- Mini pine cones
- Red berries
- Jingle bells
- Paper Poinsettia
- Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Hinge Clips
Tools:
- Spellbinders 2011 Heirloom Ornaments Die #1
- Spellbinders Large Oval Nestabilities Die #1
- Ticket Corner Punch
- Scoring tool, Scissors, paper trimmer, scissors, ruler

Authentique Sweetheart Valentine Mini Album Tutorial

Authentique Sweetheart Valentine Mini Album Tutorial and Matching Card

Hello, Friends! How are you coming along with your Valentines? If you need a fresh, fun idea for your Valentine party, I have a thought. This Authentique Sweetheart Valentine Mini Album Tutorial will guide you step by step through the process of making an adorable album where you can store all your favorite Valentine photos.

This “from scratch” mini album measures 5′ x 6.5″ with a 2″ spine. I’ve used fresh, fun papers from Authentique’s Sweetheart Collection Kit to make the album. Authentique Spectrum Cardstock in Red Licorice and Tricycle Red is used for matting, photo mounts and on the spine.

The album has a contrasting spine and ribbon closure. I’ve dressed up the spine with some sweet Valentine charms and ribbon.

Don’t you just love these fresh, modern images and patterns? I wanted to create an interactive album that matched the playful feel of these delightful papers.

A fun waterfall cascade starts things out on the right foot, but keep on turning the pages!

You’ll find loads of flaps, fold-outs, flip up pages, pockets, mini file folders and tags inside.

Matching Sweetheart Valentine Gift Wallet

I was having so much fun playing with Sweetheart, that I went ahead and made a quick Valentine to match the mini album.

Here’s how to put the card together:

First, create a 4.25″ x 6″ top fold card base from off white cardstock.
Next, mat the heart paper from Sweetheart on both pink and red cardstock.
Now, paint a piece of corrugate paper with Picket Fence Distress paint. Glue on top.
Then, die cut Tammy Tutterow Prim Hearts from scraps of paper in the collection. I also used a burlap heart my sweet daughter in law gave me for Christmas. But you could easily substitute another die cut heart here.
Now the real fun begins. Fussy cut the Cupid image and cover him in embossing ink. Heat emboss with Shabby Ivory Embossing Powder. Pop up on foam dots or waste chipboard.
Finally embellish with bow, flower, sticker and button.

A Peek Inside

There’s more fun on the inside of this cute Cupid Valentine!

I used scraps to create a little treat wallet.

Inside, I added an envelope die cut with Tammy Tutterow’s Window Mini Pocket Die. Ghiradelli makes mini chocolate treats that fit perfectly in the window. After all, it’s Valentine’s Day and everyone needs a little chocolate treat!

Sweetheart Valentine Mini Album Tutorial on YouTube

So, are you ready to get your craft on? Then grab a cuppa, notebook and pencil and join me for this Sweetheart Valentine Mini Album Tutorial. First we’ll take a tour of the entire album, so you can see how all the interactive elements work. Next, I’ll guide you step by step so you can build your very own album base. You’ll learn how to create the fun tab spine and pocket pages, too! FInally, you’ll get to see all the elements in a photo gallery that will give all kinds of ideas for decorating and finishing your album.

If you enjoy this video, you might like to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. I have dozens crafting videos there. I’d love to have you join me!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial

Tammy Tutterow Creative Crew: Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial

Hello, Friends! We’re getting our Christmas crafts on this month! Today, I have the cutest Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial to share with you today! Little things make my heart happy, and this itty bitty 4″ x 2 x 1.5″ wintry album is filled with all kinds of teeny tiny cuteness!

See what I mean? Who doesn’t love a snow globe style shaker element on the cover of a teeny tiny mini album?

The base of this adorable album is created with Tammy Tutterow’s Mini Tag Album Die. I’ve made several albums with this sweet die, but this time, I modified the design to create a chunky spine and tabbed pocket pages. You’ll see how I do this in my Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial video.

Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial: Shake it Up, Baby!

I forgot to tell you how to make the shaker cover in my tutorial video, so I will do that here.

The focal image on the cover is a sticker from Authentique’s Frosty Winter 12×12 Paper Collection. (Product Links below.) Here’s how I created this fun shaker top element:

First, add the sticker to a circular die cut or chipboard piece that is about 1/2″ larger in diameter than the sticker. I painted my die cut white first to make sure that if it showed, it would look nice.
Now, use the corresponding Spellbinder Small Standard Circle die to cut out a clear acetate circle. This will be the cover for your shaker element.
Next, add 1/8″ Scor-tape to the back side of this die cut circle.
Then, add Kool-Tac clear foam tape around the outer edge of the circle with the sticker.
Now, carefully add some Stampendous Shaved Ice Frantage elements to the center of the snow globe base. Be careful not to get any flakes on the Kool-Tac, or it will not stick well.
Next, remove the liner tape from the Scor-Tape and the Kool-Tac tape and press the acetate cover over the sticker base.
Now, hot glue the snow globe base to the album cover.
Then use hot glue to add the white leaf wreath around the outer edge.
Finally, decorate with die cut felt flowers.

Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial: Add a Chunky Spine

You all know how much I love tags and pockets and dimensional details. I wanted to add those to this adorable album, but to do that, I had to modify the design a little. You will learn how to turn the mini tag album base into this chunky little album in the tutorial.

I also transformed the mini tag album pages into little pockets.

Frosty Winter Mini Tag Album Tutorial: A Peek at the pages

This album is loaded with interactive elements. It would be a super cute stocking stuffer, and a great way to present a monetary gift as there are lots and lots of little tuck spots, pockets and hiding places inside.

Each itty bitty tag is topped with one of Tammy’s Shortie Tabs.

Sticker stamps make great tuck spots if you back them with cardstock. You can also add stickers to folded cardstock to create these mini file folders.