BOXED MINI ALBUM

Hi there! I have posted about the wedding gift I made for a friend last December on my tumblog, but I have made some changes to it. Since I haven’t given it yet to her (Gaaad, it’s almost March!), I decided to change the photo folio into a mini album.

If you might recall, I received a commission for a guestbook last month and I made something like a mini album to hold some photos of the event as well as doodles and what not from the guests. I loved working on that particular project which got me to think of making a smaller version with more pages for Miss Karen. I was done with the original photo folio, but I didn't quite like how it turned out so I made a mini album. Hah! It doesn't look that good (hey, I only started making them), but it is way better than the folio!

Okay. So I had made the box first.

I altered a box from my stash of Papemelroti boxes. I coated it with several layers of gesso until I was satisfied with the coverage. I then stenciled the sides of the bottom with molding paste and used a different stencil on the lid. After which, I applied distressed crackle paint on the sides of the lid. When everything was dry, I inked the edges of both the bottom and the lid. I also used an ink pad to color the stenciled brocade on the lid. Before putting the decorations, I stenciled some dots on the surface of the lid with different colored ink pads.

I adhered wooden flourishes to the corners and put down the embellishments one by one. Of course it wouldn't be complete without the pearls and the crystals. I just love it! Maybe I’ll also alter the round boxes that I've been keeping for almost two years now. Hmn. Perhaps I’ll do it this weekend.

As for the mini album, the page assembly was the same as the one I used on the guestbook. If you haven’t seen it yet, I got the idea from Brenda Bliss on one of her video tutorials. You can find it here. 

This is the back part of the mini album. I didn't put anything else so as not to get in the way when writing on the pages.

The cover, though, was a bit different. Instead of using patterned paper to cover the chipboard base, I coated it with gesso, added a length of lace trimming and coated the whole thing again with gesso. I stenciled on the spine (the same one I used on the box bottom). Like the guestbook, I also wanted to add a detachable set of charms on the spine which I did by affixing a piece of lace trimming with a jump ring on the top part of the spine.

I made a video of the different parts of the mini album so you can also see what the inside looks like.

Thank you for looking today! Have a great weekend!

*NOTE: I've written this post a month ago, but then I missed to publish it that's why the side comment on the first part of the post says 'It's almost March.' I hope you don't get confused. Thanks again for stopping by!

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: (For the box: Papemelroti box, Marie's Gesso, Golden Molding Paste, Ranger Distressed Crackle Paint Rock Candy, ColorBox Cat's Eye Queue Pigment Ink Stucco, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, The Crafter's Workshop Stencils Mini Brocade, Art Is and Mini Swiss Dots, Eno Greeting Wooden Embellishments, wooden flower, paper flowers, metal charms, self-adhesive crystals and pearls, Kaisercraft Pickled Pear Collection Sticker Sheet, Graphic 45 8x8 Secret Garden Collection, paper scrap, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Botanical Odyssey, Elmer's White Glue, glitters, Stanley Glue Gun, glue sticks, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Fancy Framed Tags One, Cuttlebug Machine V2); (For the mini album: Multi-purpose board, Elit Board Paper Pale Cream, My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two 6x6 paper pad Blush, Kaisercraft 12x12 Forget-Me-Not Collection, Bo Bunny Etc Collection, The Edwardian Lady's Diary, stationery sets, ColorBox Cat's Eye Queue Pigment Ink Stucco, lace trimmings, paper tapes, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Kaisecraft Clear Stamps Botanical Odyssey, double sided tape, Glue Stick, hot glue)

COMMISSION #3: Once Upon A Time

Hi! The commission I received this time was a guestbook/ wish book for a first birthday. I was excited about this project because it was the first time that I received a custom order for a guestbook and I rather love the idea of making something for a sweet girl’s first birthday.

On the onset, I thought the guestbook should be in line with the Little Red Riding Hood theme of the party so I started with a cover that has a subtle background, lace trimmings for the spine, felt doll and embellishments, etc., but after talking again to the client, I found out that she wanted it to be more of a storybook and she’d like earth colors. These got me to thinking why not make it vintage and a little mixed media to boot. The second time around, here is what I came up with:

I forgot to mention that I also thought of making it some sort of mini album as well so they can tuck several photos, doodle stuff, write messages. It would be a perfect keepsake for the occasion. Thus, the pockets, sleeves, tags and whatnots.

I was inspired by the works of Michelle Mooney. She is such a talented and awesome person to have created so many beautiful art journals, mini albums and all sorts of other things. You can check out her videos on YouTube under The Paper Addiction. I got the idea for assembling the pages from Brenda Bliss.  I so love how generous they are for sharing their talents and their tricks on making these wonderful projects.

Going back to the commission, I made the cover to resemble more of my style—layers, texture, dimensions and a lot of details. I covered the chip board base with patterned papers and added lace trimmings at the spine to cover up where the papers meet. I stenciled on the bottom right corner of the cover with molding paste and dabbed metallic ink onto the dried surface. I then added the embellishments- an assortment of beads, buttons, crystals, pearls, paper flowers, etc. I printed the title onto a patterned paper that complements the background and cut out the label outline. I attached a jump ring on the lace trimming before adhering it onto the spine of the cover so I could later on latch a set of charms there. I love the charms which I made from a couple of jump rings, chains, beads and metal embellishments. I wanted to put an eyelet on the spine, but I didn't have an eyelet setter tool. I couldn't find my screwdriver bits so I just made use of a jump ring.

Before adhering the pages onto the spine, I placed a length of twill ribbon for the bookmark. I decorated one end with beads and a charm.

There is nothing going on at the back of the book so let us go take a look inside. I made a video of all the components of the project. Here it is.

I covered the back of the front cover with another patterned paper. I added a pocket for tags or photos (whichever the client would like to put in there). I left the pages blank except for occasional sleeves and pockets. They would have plenty of space to write and put pictures. The back of the back cover I made pockets as well.

As for the embellishments-random flowers, butterflies and paper clips—I thought it best to not put them inside myself. It would be up to the client to decorate the pages to her preference.

What else is there? Hmn. There are big and small tags which I stamped with a couple of images. I tied a ribbon in some of them. Ooh. And I decorated a pen to go with the book.

That was an awesome project. I’m starting to get new addiction-making mini albums! Remember the gift I made for Miss K’s wedding? I am thinking of changing the photo folio into a mini album. I don’t quite like how the folio turned out. Gad. It was the second folio that I made, but it still looked off. Gah. I’ve wasted a pad of Graphic 45 patterned papers. Tsk. I will post the final boxed mini album as soon as I get it done. I still have some decorating to do on the pages.

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a great weekend!

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: (FOR THE COVER:  Chipboard #50, Tim Holtz Paper Stash 12x12 paper pad French Industrial Revolution, paper flowers, beads, pearls, self-adhesive crystals, rhinestones, buttons, metal charms, Eno Greeting Wooden Embellishments, brad, lace trimmings, jump rings, printed image, HP All-In-One Deskjet Printer, ink pad, double sided adhesive sheets) (FOR THE PAGES: Elit Board Paper Pale Cream, All About Scrapbooking 12x12 Timeless, Daisy D 12x12, , Tim Holtz Paper Stash 12x12 paper pad French Industrial Revolution, Papemelroti stationery pad, lace trimmings, ColorBox Cat’s Eye Queue Pigment Ink Brown, ribbons, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Madame Boutique, Botanical Odyssey, Windsor, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps Flourishes and Such) (FOR LOOSE EMBELLISHMENTS: book pages, paper scraps, buttons, brads, craft scissors, black ink pad, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Botanical Odyssey, Imaginisce Clear Stamps Bird House, Inkadinkado Clear Stamps Lift, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Ranger Distress Crackle Paint Rock Candy, paper clips, pearls, Stanley Glue Gun, black felt

FREEBIES

Hello there reader! Well, I don't know if there is someone out there somewhere who actually reads what I post here. Anyhow, I still want to keep this blog up.

It's a new year so it is a new start and with a new start comes a lot of changes. I've decided to change a bunch of stuff with regards to my little venture—from the name to packaging and what not. I have yet to get the supplies for the packaging though so at the moment I am still using the same materials and method except for the label. Instead of the customer's name, the shop's name is written on the tag attached to the bag for the card. One other thing I wanted was to include a freebie in each order. A couple of months ago I stumbled upon this tutorial which shows how to make a pretty bookmark using scraps of patterned paper. I just thought I could make several batches of them to give away and perhaps sell. If you're interested to see the tutorial, you can go to Anne's blog Anne's Paper Creations. You can also find a lot of other awesome stuff there. Her works are stunning!

Enough said. Here is the first bookmark I made for my first customer this year. I'll make some charms for the other bookmarks later tonight. I'll be posting updates on my Instagram and on Facebook.

There is a card inside where I can write a Thank You message to the recipient. The 'envelope' that holds the card would then become the bookmark.

I prettified the envelope with 3D stickers.

Here is the bookmark itself without the card. I made the charm with the supplies that I have on hand.

I have tried using it on a book (a copy of Jane Eyre, one of my favorite books). Look how pretty it is. I just love it!

The charm would dangle on the side like so.

What a great idea from Anne! I will be making a lot of these in the next couple of days. They are easy and fast to make. Well, it just took me some time deciding which paper and embellishments to use. Having a horde of charms would make it easier to decide on the papers. I'm so happy right now. Thanks so much for looking today. I hope you visit again soon.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Bo Bunny 6x6 paper pad Enchanted Collection, Rives Board Paper Tradition Black, Graphic 45 8x8 paper pad Typography Collection, Eno Greeting 3D Stickers, beads, jump rings, eye pins, metal charm, ruler, bone folder

P.S. I originally wrote this a couple of days ago, but I entered it onto my old blog (Hodge Podge Jenna). Please don't be confused with the date and time. Thanks again for stopping by!

UPDATED ON 15 FEBRUARY TO ADD: Thank You card and bookmarks for Thea

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Two 6x6 paper pad Sunshine, Prestige Board Paper Zulu Black, Elit Board Paper Pale Cream, Eno Greeting 3D stickers, jump rings, beads, metal charm, ruler, stylus, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps You're Invited

Thank You card and bookmarks for Sheila:

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: All About Scrapbooking 12x12 Timeless, All About Scrapbooking Embossed Stickers, jump rings, beads, metal charm, ruler, stylus, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps You're Invited

UPDATED ON 25 MARCH TO ADD: Thank You card and bookmark for Janrell

 

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Bo Bunny 6x6 paper pad Enchanted Collection, Rouge de garance 6x6 paper pad Nympheas, Eno Greeting 3D stickers, charms, beads, jump rings, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps You're Invited