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Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2

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Ciao Bella-Into the Wild-Reneabouquets-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2: Making the Mini Album

Hello, Friends! Today we’re going to share the tutorial for our Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2.  If you missed Part 1 of this series where we created the mixed media book box case, you can find it HERE.

Ciao Bella-Into the Wild-Altered Mini Album in a Box-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Creating this two-part project was a lot of work, but boy, was it fun!  First, the papers are so gorgeous that they are a real treat to work with.  Squirrels, fall colors, acorns, falling leaves and plaid patterns make me ridiculously happy!

Ciao Bella Into the Wild-Mini Album Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Next, I enjoyed the challenge of creating a layered cover that was not too dimensional to fit inside the box.  This led to a lot of creative fussy cutting, which I also happen to enjoy.

Since I had a little bit of burlap left over from making the box, I decided to add it to the album spine.  Texture makes me happy, too.

A Peek Inside

To keep with my Throwback Thursday goal of using up goodies from my stash, I went on a treasure hunt in the Closet of Inspiration and Delight.  This was also lots of fun, and yielded some great pockets, mini file folders and tabbed dividers that added a lot to the album pages.

The album is made with a really easy to construct stacked spine design.  Each spine in the 3 page sets is scored a little smaller than the previous page.  This gives us the opportunity to add lots of little flips, flaps and pockets.

Here’s a peek at my favorite page.  You will learn how I did this in the YouTube tutorial.

Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2 on YouTube

If you’re ready to join me for today’s crafty adventure, please enjoy this video tutorial.

Did you enjoy watching this little album come together?  Do you think you’ll give that easy peasy stacked spine design a try?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Mini Album in a Box

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Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Mini Album in a Box Tutorial Part 1

Hello, Friends!  Today I’m starting a two-part tutorial for this Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Mini Album in  Box project.  We’ll make the altered book box today, then on Thursday we’ll make the mini album to go inside.

A Walk in the Autumn Woods

Growing up in Vermont, our family would often go for a weekend walk in the autumn woods. With a blazing blue sky over our heads, crunchy leaves under our feet and brilliant fall colors all around us, it was like taking a walk in Heaven.  Leaves gently floated down to the ground as light breezes blew, and you could hear the sound of tiny creatures scurrying around under the cover of pine needles and fallen foliage.

When I saw this paper collection, it took me right back to those glorious rambling adventures, and I could not resist adding this collection to the Closet of Inspiration and Delight.

Mixed Media Prep

Speaking of the Closet of Inspiration and Delight, that’s where I found this Papier Mache book box.  I think I picked it up at a yard sale some time ago for a few pennies and tucked it away until inspiration came knocking.  And it did knock, eventually!

This mixed media adventure began by painting the edges of the box (inside and out) with Gathered Twigs Distress Paint.  Each step in this process takes a few minutes longer than usual, because you have to let each color of paint dry before you move to the next one. Here’s the  process:

  • First, paint all the edges and corners inside and out with Gathered Twigs Distress Paint.
  • Next, paint a smaller section of the edges and corners with Antique Bronze Distress Paint. Brush the section of the box that would be the gilt “page ends” with a more generous coat.
  • Now, randomly dry brush the edges with Ancient Brass Distress Paint.  Use an old, stiff paint brush on the page ends to create the illusion of page ends.
  • Let everything dry thoroughly, then apply Ground Espresso Distress Ink to the cover, spine and back cover.
  • Apply Prima Clear Gesso to the covers, spine and page ends (the sides).
  • Let everything dry thoroughly.
Cover Art Prep

Stitch a 4 3/4″ x 7″ panel of the green plaid paper to a 5 1/8″ x 7 3/8″ panel of the orange ledger pattern. Distress the edges and ink with Ground Espresso.

Fussy cut the images and small leaves, etc. to cluster around the squirrel and the window.

You can watch this process in this YouTube video;

 

I’ll be back on Thursday with a tutorial for an easy to make mini album to tuck inside the box.

Do you like this paper collection as much as I do?  Working with it is making me very happy!

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Pumpkin and Spice Loaded Library Pockets Tutorial

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Prima Pumpkin and Spice Loaded Library Pockets Tutorial for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  It’s Throwback Thursday and I have the sweetest Pumpkin and Spice Loaded Library Pockets Tutorial to share with you.  These little cuties are so quick and easy to make that you are going to want to make stacks of them to have on hand for quick gifts, table decor or party favors.

This design is easy to adapt for birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, or Christmas.  Wouldn’t they make the cutest stocking stuffers ever? (Note to self: make these in a Christmas theme!)

Each loaded library pocket measures 4 1/2″ x 6″.  I’ve tucked a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ note card, vintage demitasse spoon,  Pumpkin Spice teabag, honey stick and bookmark into each pocket.

If the weather was cooler, you can bet I’d find a way to add chocolate to the pocket, too.

Use scraps leftover from previous projects to line and decorate your pockets and the card inserts.  That’s a double-win in my book!

These would be so cute displayed in a pretty basket as part of your fall home decor.

You can change up the items you tuck into the library pockets to make customized gifts for your friends and family.  How fun is that?

Pumpkin and Spice Loaded Library Pocket Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see how quick and easy it is to make these darling little library pockets, please enjoy this video on my YouTube channel.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and  have loads of fun making these cute little pockets!

To see more Pumpkin and Spice projects, please click HERE.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Simple Stories Little Things Box Pocket Folio Tutorial

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Simple Stories Little Things Box Pocket Folio Tutorial for Make & Take Tuesday

Hello, Friends!  I’m a little late getting this Simple Stories Little Things Box Pocket Folio Tutorial out to you for today’s Make & Take Tuesday.  I took a couple of days off over the weekend because I was tired!  It felt good to get caught up on laundry, read a book, go for a drive and relax for a bit.  Even though I’m late getting this out today, I think you will still really enjoy the project.  It’s a darling little box style folio  that’s really easy to make.

Transitioning a Summer Collection into a Fall Project

Simple Stories Little Things Box Folio Kathy Clement

Little Thing is technically a summer collection filled with lemon images, and soft summer colors.  But I didn’t get the collection until summer was nearly over, and even then I didn’t have time to use it…until now.  I needed to find a way to make this summery collection feel appropriate for the current season.

So I focused on the yellow gold, black and red tones, plaid patterns and used just a touch of floral papers.  I think it worked really well.  If you die cut the  shaker frame from yellow gold cardstock, back with strips of black cardstock and accent with the cute black floral teapot, it really sells the changing of the seasons.  Or at least, I think it does.  What do you think?

A Peek Inside: Flip Flap Folio

This is a very easy folio base to create, but easy doesn’t mean boring.  It’s loaded with fun flips and flaps.

There’s even a hidden pocket behind the gatefold closure.

And a fun mini waterfall feature, too!

The Box Pocket

The box pocket is scored into the folio base design so it’s super quick and easy to make: just add the sides!  Then you can fill it up with cute goodies like cookies, a vintage demitasse spoon, ladybug tag, honey stick and a mini folio.

Simple Stories-Little Things-Spellbinders-Eyelet Lace Frame-Shaker Box Folio-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

There’s room inside the mini folio to add a Pumpkin Spice tea bag…which also  helps with the seasonal transition!

Simple Stories Little Things Box Pocket Folio Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to learn how to create this fun folio base, please enjoy this video over on my YouTube channel.

NOTE:  Embedding the videos into my blog has been using too much disk space and costing me too much money.  So I’ll be linking to my YouTube channel instead of embedding from now on.  Thanks for understanding!

I hope you all enjoy this fun to make folio design!  You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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How to Store and Organize Paper and Scraps

How to Store and Organize Paper and Scraps: Craft Room Organization Part 2

Hello, Friends!  Today you’re invited back into my studio to see How to Store and Organize Paper and Scraps.  This is another installment in my Craft Room Organization Series.  Last month I shared tips and tricks for ribbon storage.  Y’all enjoyed that series so much that you asked me to share more storage and organization ideas with  you.

Your number one request was for paper storage ideas and solutions, so that is what we will be tackling today.  I’ll also provide links to paper storage tools that I enjoy using in my studio below this post.

I hope you will join me in my studio again today!

Organization Tips

Have you ever noticed that everyone has their own system for organizing a kitchen?  Well, the same holds true in your studio.  What works for me won’t necessarily work for you.  But there are a few general tips that I think work across the board, so I’ll share them here.

  • Keep your papers stored in a way that makes them easy to access.  If you can’t get to them, you won’t use them.  And that’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it?
  • Group cardstock paper scraps by color and by size. This makes them quick and easy to find, and you’ll be more likely to use them.
  • Create a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. This way, you’ll be able to find it!
  • Label your paper folders with Post-It tape.  You’ll be able to tell what’s in a paper storage box, but if you need to change things up, the label removes easily.

I share more helpful tips in the video.

What storage solution are you the most interested in hearing about?  If you leave me a comment below, I’ll put it on the list!

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

FAVORITE PAPER STORAGE SOLUTIONS