VINTAGE STYLE VALENTINE MINI ALBUM

We have a Valentine Mini Album Swap underway at Bella Creations   I knew right away I wanted my mini to look like something from my childhood i.e. valentine pockets and little themed chocolate boxes. I have used copies out of a book of Valentines circa 1950's to create my mini (psst that is not really my circa!).

My cover is much more successful in real life (IRL)!  The red crepe fringe is made from my precious stash of REALLY REAL vintage crepe paper (1939 Royal Bunting from King Edward's visit to Canada).  A set of double rosettes sits in the center, the bottom made from the old valentines and the top from tissue - sprayed to look aged.  There is another set of pages but you get the idea.  I've left one side of the frames open so that small pictures can be slipped in.  The black rick rack denotes the top of the pocket, intended to hold small pictures or valentines.  Now to just get it in the mail soon!

Do come and check out Bella Creations - lots of fun going on there!  Still time to join the embellishlment swap!  Join soon you and earn a Founding Member's Badge (on the right)  for your blog.

MY SQUIRREL - MINI ALBUM

The blog hop this last weekend at Ch(all)enge Masters inspired me to bring this one to life!  Click on the title of this post to go directly there.

I think I had the first idea of this one about two years ago.  I had just been gifted with a Bind It All and set out to create something that had never been seen before, sometimes confidence and talent don't coincide LOL  What a mess!  If it wasn't for the squirrel I likely would have trashed it.  I had the beginning of a cover and 2 inside pages.

I loved this line of Crate Paper especially the die cuts.  This little squirrel was so like a tattered and torn squirrel that frequented our yard and often hung out at the patio door waiting for food!  So this week I have created some additional pages, keeping them simple as I like to do the final embellishments when I've decided on the photos.  I know how to use the Bind It All now and binding a variety of page sizes can be tricky but I get it!  My Squirrel was looking pretty flat then I realized he had to be bronzed.  Micro fine glitter on top of Glossy Accents, I pulled a bit off the edges when it was still wet and then sanded off the edges when dry for the shabby, tattered look.   A few pieces off my stash of autumn stems (90% off at Michael's last year!) and now he can stay out of the trash!

HALLOWEEN GREETINGS - A MINI ALBUM

The challenge this week at the Alphabet Challenge comes from the letter "U" - use your unused stash! I've spent the summer challenging myself to do just that.  Click on the title of this post to go directly to the Alphabet Challenge site.

The structure is an 8x8 portfolio (Sarah's Surfaces) that I bought in Las Vegas a year ago.  The autumn foliage I took apart to decorate the top with I bought at Michael's a couple of years ago when it was 90% off.  The papers are from the "Spider's Web" line by My Mind's Eye, I have had in my stash for a couple of years I think.  The post card I used for the front is from a Crafty Secrets set I bought earlier this year at our Scrapbook Convention.  The fringe - isn't it sweet - is from a local store and I bought it earlier this summer.  The buttons are vintage that I had - black ones which I wiped with copper ink and then topped with old velvet covered ones.  Before I adhered the papers I sprayed the portfolio with Mimosa Glimmer Mist - I think that might have been the first mist I bought (Mimosa is orange - the pic looks a bit pinky to me but isn't).  The stickles on the web, glitter, ribbon and the Sharpie I used for the faux stitching are all items I had.  So I bought nothing new to go on this cover.  Surprized myself!

L IS FOR LUCY - AN 8X8 MINI PORTFOLIO ALBUM

The Week 24 Challenge at The Shabby Tea Room was to use ``a little bit of metal`` on your project, an inspiration photo was provided (below).  Double click on the title of this post to go directly there or see Challenge Sites under my Links.  I used silver leaf to outline the alpha tiles on this project cover.  I think I`ve also captured the color ranges of the inspiration photo.  This little sweetie will hold the pics from Ms Lucy`s first birthday - another post!