12 x 12 Pre-made Baby Album
I used a hugmongus 3" D ring binder to create this over-sized album. The covers were white vinyl and I had several failed attempts to adhere the paper to it without success. I ended up stripping all the vinyl off down to the chipboard and remaking the front, back and inside covers so the paper would never come off! There are 10 embellished pages not counting the 2 inside covers and easily holds 50 photos.
June 21, 2014
Haberdashery Mini Album - The Paper Studio Collection
This is gorgeous paper with rich colors on a kraft color stock. The Mother who bought it to give to her daughter gave me some of her old jewelry. I included some of the pieces in the embellishments I made. I like to re-purpose old jewelry and findings whenever I can. The black velvet closure that is on the front and back used to be a choker I wore!
The left side of the page has two magnet closures and a photo mat under the belly band (behind the chair). The pages are open below.
The right side of the page is a magnet closure and has a nice large clock tag for journaling or a photo mat.
The back inside cover has a clear pocket with a booklet in it that holds 9 photos. I used modeling paste for x-tra texture when I did the diamond pattern at the top.
November 8, 2013
Altered Book: Rhett's Journey
I finished painting all the background pages for Rhett's altered book. That is my favorite part of the whole project! I thought it might be fun to show you how the pages look before I fill them up with the mementos from his school years. There are 13 double pages to cover kindergarten through high school.
This will be the kindergarten page. All the pages will have his age and the school year on them. The 5 is a page that turns.
My Mom like to do crewel stitch work and one of her favorite patterns was the flame. I had that in mind when I painted this page.
Most of the paper I added to this were printed on my gelli plate. I tore off sections of those sheets and glued them down, overlapping as I went.
September 29, 2013
Altered book: Brandon's Journey
This is my first altered book project and I hope to make many more. I've had so much fun making this for a Christmas present for my son, Brandon. It has been a labor of love for sure. I've included photos from the entire process so you can see the transformation.
Here's some more views of the finished book. (appx. 9" x 12")
Here's how the book looked when I started. Heavier pages are better than thin and must be sewn in, not glued together.
This book had almost 600 pages and I only wanted 13 thick pages (or 13 signatures) since it was going from K to Senior years. The unused pages are torn out one at a time being careful not to damage the thread binding it together. The remaining pages are glued together, maybe 5-6 pages in each section, to make each signature.
Once I had my 13 signatures (pages) I added reinforcements over the center so nothing would seep into it later. The paper gets saturated when I am painting and using mists and I don't want it to get on the pages underneath. I apply it down or either across the center seam and use everything from masking or washi tape to strips of those super strong white envelopes like you get from Fed-X. Then the pages are painted with a light coat of Gesso.
The front and back covers are not glued to the signatures (pages) next to them until after the covers are completed. Any unsightly holes or attachments showing through on the inside will be hidden underneath when the signature (page) next to it is glued down. The backs of screws and brads are covered with a little card stock and taped down.
I painted all the signatures like I would in any art journal or on a canvas. I used acrylic paint, gelatos, ink sprays, Pan Pastels, Inka Gold, stamps, even markers. Playing with all the colors and stencils until I liked the look really took me to my happy place! Come on, you know what I mean!
Here's a few before the ephemera was added.
Here's a few before the ephemera was added.
Like a lot of you probably did, I kept some of my son's school work, school photos, drawings, awards, etc. from the time they started kindergarten to graduation.
I finally got to put all these things to good use to make Brandon's "Journey" of his school years. I had everything saved in folders (by grade of course) and the memories are just so sweet! Some of this collection is 24 years old! I made a few pages interactive so that means an attached booklet can be opened or a tag is pulled out of an envelope with more photos. It will be something he can always treasure. I hope you enjoy it!
I finally got to put all these things to good use to make Brandon's "Journey" of his school years. I had everything saved in folders (by grade of course) and the memories are just so sweet! Some of this collection is 24 years old! I made a few pages interactive so that means an attached booklet can be opened or a tag is pulled out of an envelope with more photos. It will be something he can always treasure. I hope you enjoy it!
Kindergarten
I designed and hand cut the cupcake and school bus. The cupcake image folds down to reveal recipe.
I designed and hand cut the cupcake and school bus. The cupcake image folds down to reveal recipe.
This is the cupcake folded down to reveal recipe.
1st Grade
On the right, the 3 pg. blue booklet "I like to learn" is attached. It opens to include stories and drawings he made.
The red diamond pattern at the top of the page is flexible modeling paste to add texture. I tinted it with red paint. The same diamond
stencil is used on the front of the blue book but red Inka Gold was used.
On the right, the 3 pg. blue booklet "I like to learn" is attached. It opens to include stories and drawings he made.
The red diamond pattern at the top of the page is flexible modeling paste to add texture. I tinted it with red paint. The same diamond
stencil is used on the front of the blue book but red Inka Gold was used.
Close up of open blue booklet.
Close up of another page in the blue booklet. Partially beaded down the side of the tab on the right.
2nd Grade
File card pulls out. Always do both sides of any pull outs.
File card pulls out. Always do both sides of any pull outs.
3rd Grade
Photo pulls out of "stuff that matters" and under "Aweso(me)" the page turns.
The alphabet running down the left is modeling paste. Also all the years (1992-1993) in the book are done in modeling paste.
The ruler at the top of the page is actually paper that I distressed using Burlap distress ink. It is stapled to
a torn piece of a box that the paper has been peeled off, also distressed.
Photo pulls out of "stuff that matters" and under "Aweso(me)" the page turns.
The alphabet running down the left is modeling paste. Also all the years (1992-1993) in the book are done in modeling paste.
The ruler at the top of the page is actually paper that I distressed using Burlap distress ink. It is stapled to
a torn piece of a box that the paper has been peeled off, also distressed.
I did several bead edgings in this book using a thin jewelry wire that was flexible enough to use like thread. To start, I laid a piece of paper down on my work surface and marked the length of my page on it. This book was 11-3/4". It worked out evenly and for the size of my beads that I space the holes 1/4" apart. Then I made tic marks every 1/4" on the clean paper, using a ruler to stay on a straight even line. Then I laid that paper on the edge of the book and made little pencil circles every where I had a tic mark. If you have to make any adjustments it is easier to mark up the paper than your page, right? The holes were punched where I made my pencil circles using the Crop-a-dile Big Bite. Next, I cut a length of wire 1-1/2 times the length of the page. I start at the top and use about 1" of wire to triple whip through the hole to secure it. Then proceed adding beads, twisting the wire around itself before going into the next hole, until you get to the end. Again, on the last hole secure that wire and run it up and tuck it under a bead before cutting it off.
4th Grade
Left pg. has school pass that can be pulled out of the striped pattern envelope.
On the right "Recess" is a 3 pg. booklet that opens.
"Take Your Place" opens out to show his ideas on changing the world. (You know, chocolate milk coming out of the fountains, etc.!)
Left pg. has school pass that can be pulled out of the striped pattern envelope.
On the right "Recess" is a 3 pg. booklet that opens.
"Take Your Place" opens out to show his ideas on changing the world. (You know, chocolate milk coming out of the fountains, etc.!)
These are the pages in the "recess" booklet when open.
This is "take your place" opened for the "If I could change the world" assignment.
5th Grade
On the left, the school house is a tag that pulls out of pocket to show his i.d.
On the right the small page in the middle opens up for a photo.
On the left, the school house is a tag that pulls out of pocket to show his i.d.
On the right the small page in the middle opens up for a photo.
6th Grade
7th Grade
Edge of page has jute weaved on it.
Edge of page has jute weaved on it.
8th Grade
COOL DUDE are faux scrabble letters I made from instructions on what a beautiful mess blog.
COOL DUDE are faux scrabble letters I made from instructions on what a beautiful mess blog.
Freshman
Flexible modeling paste was used on the peacock feathers stencil (crafters workshop) and yellow circles for more texture.
Flexible modeling paste was used on the peacock feathers stencil (crafters workshop) and yellow circles for more texture.
Sometimes the background colors seep into the modeling paste tinting the white.
This worked perfectly for peacock feathers!
If I want the paste to be true white though I just trace over it with a white artist pen.
This worked perfectly for peacock feathers!
If I want the paste to be true white though I just trace over it with a white artist pen.
Sophomore
Title is letters I cut on my Cricut. They were glued on a piece of cereal box stock, covered with foil tape, then aged with paint and Inka Gold.
Title is letters I cut on my Cricut. They were glued on a piece of cereal box stock, covered with foil tape, then aged with paint and Inka Gold.
Junior
I omitted the thickness on this title and glued the letters right onto the page, then the foil tape was aged and colored with Inka Gold.
I omitted the thickness on this title and glued the letters right onto the page, then the foil tape was aged and colored with Inka Gold.
Close up of the bead edging.
Senior
The streetlight is a Marianne die. This last page (signature) is glued directly to the back cover of the book.
The streetlight is a Marianne die. This last page (signature) is glued directly to the back cover of the book.
Thanks for taking a peek!