Birdcage Mini Album

Hiya folks! So I wanted to try my hand at a mini album and worked on this off and on for many weeks. I've finally finished it! I absolutely adore it and wish I had a little girl or niece to give it to (instead, it's in my Etsy shop). There are a lot of photos - click on each one to view the full size!

The base of this album is Prima Build-A-Book acrylic album. I really like that the pages are nice and sturdy (vs. paper bag albums). All of the papers are from Echo Park's Victoria Gardens line. I used both the 12x12 sheets and pages from the 6x6 pad.

Here is a look at pages 2 and 3 with photo and journaling tags in place (top). Almost all of the tags are sewn on each side, and many have embellishments. The album includes enough self-adhesive photo corners to put one photo on each tag.

Here are pages 2 and 3 with the backs of the tags showing. The journaling tag on the top left is meant for an album title or other identifying info so the photo shows the lines on the tag front.

Pages 4 and 5 with tags in place. See the beady baubles hanging on the green tag on the left?

Here are the backs of tags on pages 4 and 5. The "You" tag is plain on the reverse side, without sewn edges.

Page 6 doesn't have pull-out tags but it does have a large space for photos. Page 7 has 3 tags - I had a lot of fun with the text on the Echo Park papers throughout the album.

Pages 6 and 7 showing the reverse side of tags on page 7.

The back cover

Thanks for visiting today!

Cheers,
Susan

Dia De Los Muertos Birthday

Hiya bloggers! As promised, here are two of my most recent projects. The first project I want to share is a mixed media piece made for my sister's birthday. Her birthday is November 2nd, which is also a part of Dia De Los Meurtos festivities - and she's a big fan. I had a lot of fun with this!

I like all the skellies, but the singing one on the far right cracks me up! I made all the "lanterns" with bead and bits, and scoured my backyard for sticks that would bend just right. The grass is shrubbery greens I found in the model train section of the craft store. It's really cool stuff and I can't wait to use it again.

The second project is a "chunky Halloween house" I made for my sister. I used Pink Paislee's Hocus Pocus paper - love this line!

This is the front - click the photo to see more detail. It's about 7" tall. The skeleton is 3 layers: background, full-oval cameo and the skeleton on top. The fly is also dimensional with little raised wings. The crystals are all Swarovski flatbacks.

And here's the back. The background is from a 12x12 sheet and the cut-out frame is from a 6x6 of the same design.

If you want to see a small sampling of her art, go to CalliopeDesignStudio, her Etsy shop. You can also find her on Craftster.org - her user name is "cackle" and she makes incredible art!

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm going back to Christmas cards now. Have a swell day!

Cheers,
Susan

TBS DT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

Hey there crafty folks! This week the Beary Scrap design team is continuing with whatever strikes our fancy, since it's a challenge Free for All!

I'm having loads of fun with my chunky Halloween houses - there's a village now! This week's house is made using Authentique's Glowing paper. Sadly, I didn't realize it was sold out in the shop and I don't have another project to inspire you. I hope this can give you an idea or two anyway. :) There are tons of available 6x6 pads to choose from!

It's a simple house, really... with a big, hairy occupant. (No, I'm not talking about Aunt Hilda, the poor dear...)The spider web was "painted" with Glossy Accents, as was the spider body (which was then covered with a Swarovski crystal). I covered the chimney with a scrap of the same paper left over from another project, so the right wall has a spider, also. This was a fun project and I'm really looking forward to a Christmas village!

Thanks for visiting today! Our Free for All / Anything Goes challenge continues through Friday the 14th. Come join us - you could win a $20 gift voucher from The Beary Scrap!

Cheers,
Susan

TBS DT: Mini Album Pages

Hi folks! I'm rushing to schedule this TBS design team post on Saturday before we lose power due to Hurricane Irene. I'll get photos up and hopefully will be able to talk a little about my project, but I can't guarantee good details yet. I hoped to have all my mini album pages completed for this post, but the earthquake and this darn hurricane rearranged my week.

For our Tic-Tac-Toe challenge I used lace - embossing - pearl. Here are the first two pages:

Each page has pull-out photo tags with journaling space

Page 2

Tags on the left show front and back;
On the right is the center tag for name and\or occasion info

Page 3

Tags show front and back;
I used the collection's journaling cards on the back

Card Recipe
Paper - Echo Park Victoria Gardens, including the fabulous sheet journaling cards
Embellishments - Prima Build-A-Book; Seam Binding in Ivory and Lemonade; Pink Rosette ribbon; miscellaneous lace and flower from stash
Medium - Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo; Ranger Ink Blending Tool; Stickles Star Dust
Adhesive - Scor-Tape; Fabri-Tac

I'll come back with more details later. There are still a few days to join our Tic-Tac-Toe challenge - won't you come play? You could win a $20 gift voucher from The Beary Scrap!

Cheers,
Susan

TBS DT: Mini Album (Cover)

Hello crafty friends! This week the Beary Scrap design team continues with our Tic-Tac-Toe challenge samples. This has been the most fun!

For the longest time I eyed up the Prima Build-A-Book albums (40% off right now!) and wondered if I should take one on. Could I do it? Would I have the patience to complete all the pages? I didn't know... until one day I decided to take the plunge. I could do it! Why not? I'm a crafty sort of gal, right? It's only 8 surfaces to design and cover, and I had confidence.

I received it and it sat on a shelf for weeks. I told myself I didn't have the right paper collection for it. Really, I was chickening out. Haha! Luckily, Echo Park's Victoria Gardens came along and I knew it was the perfect collection to use on this album.

For this challenge I've used lace, dry embossing and pearls. I have the cover completed and the inside pages will follow in the next few weeks. I'm so happy that I've finally started this album and am ready to plan another one. Can you believe it?

If you saw my message on The Beary Scrap Facebook page last week, you might recognize the teal flower. I used the Retro punches to punch out 3 large and medium flowers, spritzed with water and scrunched up. After they dried a little I carefully opened them back up and glued the layers together. Once they dried completely, the tips were tinged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and Star Dust Stickles. It's not bad for a first try *wink*. I think I'll work on lighter card stock and use more Distress Inks to color them in.There are so many possibilities! The large Retro punch is currently out-of-stock, but you can easily achieve the same kind of results with the medium and large Daisy punches. The daisy's pointy tips would work perfectly - have fun with it!

The "Today I wish you..." banner is from the Victoria Gardens Elements Stickers sheet. I cut it out -backing and all- and used Scor-Tape on the left and right edges to elevate it over the crochet lace.

Card Recipe

• Paper - Echo Park Victoria Gardens: Rose Garden, Garden Trellis on the left edge; Garden Pond for the bird cage; Delightful Doilies for the bird and wing. I also used Bazzil Basics off-white inside the birdcage, which is where you will find my dry embossing
• Medium - Glossy Accents on the bird cage; Stickles Star Dust (just about everywhere); Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo on the edges
• Embellishment - Prima Build-A-Book; EP Victoria Gardens Elements Stickers; Ivory seam binding; lace, flowers pearls from stash; Stick pin and charms are made by me.
• Tools & Adhesives - Medium and large Retro punches; Scor-Tape; Fabri-Tac

Thanks for visiting today! I hope you will consider joining our Tic-Tac-Toe challenge - check out all the fun 3-in-a-row combinations you could use on your project:

Click the pic for all the challenge details!

Cheers,
Susan

TBS DT: Just Buzzing By!

Hello hello, and a hearty "Happy Monday" to everyone! This week the Beary Scrap design team is sharing more samples and hopefully a little inspiration on ways to use our Beary Sweet sketch in our current challenge. It goes on through Midnight, Sunday the 14th. I hope you find time to join us!

For my project this week, I've revisited my old friend, the easel card. I adore this style and can't believe its been months. As you can tell, I've been buzzz-y with the new Echo Park Country Drive papers.

Card Recipe

• Stamp: Magnolia 
• Paper: Echo Park "Country Drive" Leafy Tree Top - this 12x12 paper has smaller versions of some designs on the flip side; Bazzill Basics
• Wet Medium: Copic for skin and cheeks; Prismacolor Pencils blended with with OMS; Stickles Star Dust, Diamond; Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo; Glossy Accents on the honey jar
• Embellishments: Prima Trellis Rose in Lemon Creme; Prima Fairytale Roses in Buttercup; Mulberry paper roses - 16mm white; handmade bee charm stick pin; rhinestones from stash
• Adhesives: 1/4" Scor-Tape; Fabri-Tac

Thanks for visiting today, and see you at the Beary Sweet sketch challenge!

Cheers,
Susan

TBS DT: Fairy Sweet August Sketch

Hello Hello! It's Monday *and* the first of the month so I have the new Beary Sweet Sketch Challenge to share with you.

I used the lovely and fun Echo Park Country Drive papers and the Belles 'n Whistles "Fairy Flight" stamp. Isn't she adorable? I used both a 12x12 solid pink design and a smaller 6x6 floral design found on a 12x12 "Sundress" sheet.  The white layer behind the sweet fairy is from the 12x12 "Journaling Cards" sheet.

Card Recipe

• Stamp: Belles 'n Whistles "Fairy Flight"
• Paper: Echo Park Country Drive: Sundress, Petunia Raspberry and Journaling Cards
• Medium: Copic markers for skin tones; Stickles Star Dust and Fruit Punch (my new favorite color!); Faber-Castell watercolor pencils
• Embellishments: White Mulberry paper roses; Decorative stick pin from my Etsy shop; From stash: all other flowers, lace, pink ribbon, laser cuts 
• Adhesives and Tools: Brush2O Water Barrel Pen (used with watercolor pencils); 1/4" Scor-Tape; 3D Dots - 1/8" and 1/16"; Fabri-Tac; silicone

Thanks for visiting today! Please check out the challenge and enter by Midnight, August 14th. You could win a $20 gift voucher from The Beary Scrap - good luck!

Cheers,
Susan

TBS DT: Pretty In Pink

Hi folks! This week the Beary Scrap design team is showing more samples for our Beary Sweet "Closet Inspiration" challenge. I've been a little worried about my *ahem* dullness-on-hangers, but guess what I found in my closet? Pink! A pink sweater with a cream strip down the sleeve, to be exact. It's a favorite although I can't imagine donning a sweater these days!

Anyway, here's what came of my pink and cream inspiration:

I used Stickles and Glossy Accents on the hand to make it pop.

Card Bits

• Stamp - Magnolia Tilda with Umbrella
• Paper  - Echo Park Be Mine 6x6 stack; Bazzill Basics
• Medium - Copics for skin:  E000, E00, E11, R20; Prismacolor with OMS; Ranger Stickles in Fruit Punch, Star Dust, Icicle; Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo
• Embellishments - Pearls; My Mind's Eye Market Street rhinestone brad; crochet lace and flowers from stash
• Adhesives - Scor-Tape; Glue Dots; Fabri-Tac; silicone
• Tools - Ranger Ink Blending Tool; EK Success Empressor; sewing machine

Thanks so much for stopping in today! There's plenty of time to get your "Closet Inspiration" challenge project linked up HERE! You could win a $20 gift voucher to The Beary Scrap. Good luck, and i hope you have a great week!

Cheers,
Susan