Into the Wild Archives - 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.

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!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Ciao Bella Into the Wild
- 12×12 papers (sold out at A Cherry on Top)
- A4 Creative Pad (sold out at A Cherry on Top)
- 12×12 Patterns
Reneabouquets
- Fabulous Fall Tiny Acorn Corners
- Woodland Trinkets
Mixed Media
- Distress Paint
  - Antiqued Bronze
  - Tarnished Brass
  - Gathered Twigs
- Clear Gesso
- Distress Ink
  - Ground Espresso
Brown Tartan Ribbon
Mixed Earth Tone Magnolias
Burlap String
Bits and Bobs from my stash

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;