...School Picture Keepsake Album...

The girls have been back to school less than two months and already they've had their school pictures taken.  Our school system has some sort of deal worked out with the photographer because they return in the spring for another session of school pictures...obviously to take advantage of those parents with way more disposable income than the average Joe Schmo (like me).  With that said, we get two opportunities to amass a collection of wallet size photos, and I don't know about you, but no matter what package you purchase you're always left with more 'wallets' than you can get rid of.  Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of the school picture.  It's nice to look back on them (and wonder what you were thinking), but let's be honest, they're usually scattered about here, there and everywhere.

So, I decided to create a little keepsake album for each of my girls where all their wallet size school pictures can live...orderly and in one place, and I used something you can find in your local office supply store...coin envelopes and shipping tags.

Unfortunately, the coin envelopes I happened to have on hand were too small, so I created a template by opening one up and tracing it just a bit bigger onto regular card stock.

It adds a little extra work having to make your own envelopes, but you can also create them using your favorite papers. 

Once you've traced and cut, you can glue them together...leaving the top open.

The first thing you want to do when preparing to assemble is to fold the top flap back (as shown in the top two envelopes. 

Then you're going to apply glue to the top flap of one and place it on the open side of another so that you're in essence sealing it closed (the following photos show the process).

The last envelope will be your cover so keep that in mind during assembly.

Now it's time to add the slits that will become the pockets for your shipping tags.  The tags are for any journaling you want to add for each photo such as date, grade, or teacher name.

I chose to place them on the sides of each page...towards the bottom.

In my original album (photo below), I cut the slits at the bottom of each page, and although I thought it was cute, it wasn't easy to stand up.  Where you want to place your tags is completely up to you.

I used standard shipping tags for my album, but it really doesn't matter what size you use as long as you cut a slit large enough to hold your chosen tag.

Now the fun begins...embellishing!

I embellished just along the edges of each page so that I had room for the photos.

I stamped each tag and added a bit of ribbon on the ends, but you could add any sort of embellishment you want.

The entire album measures approximately 3.25"x3.75" and holds a wallet size school photo perfectly.

A cute little keepsake album that organizes all those wallet size school pictures...and it utilizes standard office supplies.  What's not to love?

I'd love to see your take on this project.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope I've inspired you to create!

...Round 3, baby!...

It would seem that my 'Autumn Memories' card and all your votes have pushed me through onto the next round in the card contest hosted by Practical Scrappers.  I am extremely grateful and humbled by this entire experience.  Grateful that there is enough interest in my creativity to warrant the time and effort to vote, and humbled that I'm among such amazing talent.

The competition is fierce, people!

This week we were asked to create a card that included flags or banners and the word 'happy'.  Love love love flags and banners.  Here is my submission:

Materials used:  card stock, We Are Memory Keepers, Crafty Secrets and Scarlet Lime paper, printed vintage image, grosgrain ribbon, Tim Holtz Distressing Ink in Tea Dye, vintage buttons, baker's twine, Prima pearls, Melissa Frances mica flakes, American Crafts felt flower, TPS Studios clear sentiment stamp, miscellaneous embellishments from stash and hand stitching.

So there it is, and here I am again asking for your votes.  All you have to do is click here and make a comment that you'd like to vote for my card.  You can vote once each day until October 20th (with no anonymous votes).  If you're having a hard time voting within the comments section, you can always send an email to practicalscrapperscards@gmail.com. 

I appreciate each vote.

As always, have a wonderful day!

..."Well, hello Autumn"...

My favorite time of the year. 

 Cool, crisp morning air...wrapped up tight in my favorite sweater.

Smudges of yellow, orange and red like paint on a canvas pass beneath my feet.

The sun bounces between the nearly bare branches and warms my face.

Thoughts of hot apple cider quicken my stride.

Soft whisps of chimney smoke welcome me back home.

What's not to love, right?

In the spirit of Autumn, and for a card contest at Practical Scrappers where I made the second round (whoohoo!), I created this card:

We were asked to use twine on our Autumn themed cards.

The pumpkin was created by drawing it out onto plain paper and cutting into pieces, tracing the pieces onto my desired patterned paper, cutting the pieces apart and reassembling them in order to simulate a stenciled look.  A little Tim Holtz Distressing Ink smudged here and there gives the pumpkin some depth and adds to the vintage feel.  The stamps are from Pink Paislee and the paper from My Mind's Eye and Lily Bee.  I think my favorite element is the natural ribbon.  I honestly can't remember where I purchased it, but this was the last of my stash, so I'm on the look out for some more.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you'll visit Practical Scrappers to check out all the talent hanging out over there or to participate in a challenge.  If you see my card, leave some love.  The more votes I get the closer I am to winning the contest.

Have a wonderful weekend!

                     

... A Magnificent Obsession...



I love paper.  I swear you can create a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. out of it.  Anything!  It's an amazing medium simply because it's inexpensive, easy to manipulate, it's everywhere in all sorts of colors and textures, and it can yield a variety of surprising results.  Some of those said results completely blow me away...

From the pages of a telephone directory is born a stunning dress.  Designed by Jolis Paons.

Paper Mache Mary Janes...how cute are these?  By savedbylovecreations

Laser-cut paper jewelry...no paper dress should be without it!  By Sarah Kelly of Saloukee Designs.



A testament to absolute patience.  By British paper-cut artist, Julene Harrison.



Wagonalls Wheels.  Who knew a set of encyclopedias could be so...magnificent!  By Brian Dettmer.



And I have the nerve to call myself a paper artist?!

But in all seriousness,  I've said it before and I'll say it again...I'm addicted to paper.  If you saw my collection of paper (glorious paper), you would have to agree.  I don't need an intervention and there isn't a planned guest appearance on Hoarders, but I can not go without creating something out of paper for more than two days.  Addiction or obsession?  Semantics, really.

"Give yourself permission to have a magnificent obsession."

~B. Seigel

Ha!  It would seem that someone else agrees with me. ;)