Steampunk Spells Pocket Album

I've recently joined a Friday morning scrappers group, which is fairly informal and while most are creating pages for their albums,  not everyone is scrapping a page, especially me as I don't tend to scrap very often.

After viewing Graphic 45's blog a couple of weeks ago, I was really taken with the Bird Song Pocket Album that Arlene had put together using papers from the "Bird Song" collection.  It is so pretty and I watched her  how-to video with great interest before making one for myself using the "Steampunk Spells" collection.

I got started on this mini album last Friday, firstly creating the pages from black cardstock, then cutting the Steampunk Spells papers to fit each page.  I then realised that I wanted to go around the edge of each page with Distress Ink and of course, I didn't have any with me.  So since our two hours was almost finished, I packed my bits'n'pieces away and headed home.

This week having found myself with two extra days at home, as a couple of other things had been cancelled, I was able to continue with the pages and set about putting it all together.

For the closure I used some seam binding ribbon dyed with Dylusion inks to co-ordinate with the inside pages.  Seam binding ribbon takes dyes really well and it is wonderful being able to colour match.

Each page has three pockets - on the front, in the centre and on the back.  I've placed black mats into each pocket for photos to be added.  The front mat is double matted with some ivory cardstock for journalling.  Each of the centre mats has a tab top.

I picked up the 'winged key' at the Stitches & Craft Show I attended recently, simply because I liked it, and it has proven to be a perfect match for this album.

I'm sure I'll be making a few more of these mini albums as they would make beautiful gifts for Christmas.

As always, thanks for visiting and if you get the chance, pop over to Arlene's blog and have a look at her gorgeous book.

Happy crafting!

Elegance for a 70th

Brrrrr, it's been a bit of a brisk day today and our house is a cold hole in the winter.  Mind you I could put on the air-con, but I just can't justify it for one person, so I guess I'll just have to put up with being cold (silly me). 

Anyhow before I realised how cold (hungry too, 'cause it was lunchtime) I was, I was busy making a 70th birthday card for a friend's mum.   She said her mum likes 'autumn' colours and although this isn't strictly autumn, I hope she'll like the elegance of this card.

If you're a Graphic 45 fan, you'll recognise this paper from "A Ladies Diary", one of my favourites although the paper is getting much harder to find now. 

The card itself is made using 'A Ladies Diary' cut down to approximately A5 size (folded) (ie flat, it's A4).  The lady is then fussy cut twice and layered.  The flowers are also fussy cut and layered with some ivory ribbon added.

The inside has a piece of ivory cardstock on both sides, partly for stability but mostly for decoration and somewhere to write a message.

Since this card is an unusual size, a matching envelope had to be created too, from a full sheet cut down by an inch for the flap.  Hopefully this card will be hand delivered otherwise a large envelope will need to be purchased.

Purely by chance, last week I put together a little brag book using the same collection of papers and so I thought I would ask my friend if she would like to give this to her mum as well.  There's sure to be photos for a 70th birthday which could be added to the book, along with anecdotes from the day.

I'll be handing this over to my friend in the next day or two, fingers crossed she approves (otherwise I could be starting all over again, sigh).  Happy 70th Birthday!

Anyhow, I must away as the sun has gone down for the day, the furry feline is meowing for her dinner and I'd better do something about our dinner as well.  Home made vegetable soup with crusty bread, I think - mmmm yum!

Until next time, happy crafting!
 

The "Paper Doll" story continues ...

I can't believe a whole week has passed since I last posted the Paper Dolls.   I decided I would do a set for my September class at Pages 2 Scrap at Tuggerah, so yes, I'm still making them (well, another set of them anyway).  I'm certainly enjoying them, but they do take a bit of time with all the fussy cutting, and I'm also doing two sets of them - one for Pages 2 Scrap to display, the other to keep with the instruction sheet.  If I don't do this, by the time I do my class, it's very hard to replicate them because even though I take photos, it's the small details I miss - so I do two sets.

This is the finished set that will be delivered to Pages 2 Scrap later this week, same girls as before but with different outfits.  I now have another two dolls but haven't had time to play with them yet, but it won't be too long!

A work in progress at the end of my dining table, as you can see two of the girls are wearing different outfits and these will be the ones accompanying the instruction sheet which I still have to do, SIGH!

I think it's going to be a busy week, as I would also like to drop off my October samples as well.  For once though, I actually know what I want to do.  Now that would have to be a first for me (hee hee)!

So, I'm planning on heading up the coast on Thursday night with my BFF (as she will be in Sydney before going home) and on Friday we're heading further north to Newcastle to browse at the Stitches & Craft Show.  Then on Saturday morning my next class at Pages 2 Scrap is scheduled.  It's very handy having this shop only 5 minutes from my home away from home (BFF's house).  On Saturday afternoon, I'll hop on a train and have a relaxing trip home.

But now I must away, the sun is going down and the clothes need to come off the line.  It's been a beautiful winter's weekend here in Sydney, more like spring really!

Happy crafting!