My First Envelope Mini

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog.  Hope you are having a lovely day.

I have to warn you, this is a huge post as I am sharing a Mini Album I made just recently.
I watched a video by Dawn Meadows where she created this little album.  (You can find her on  the BookVandal Shop You Tube Channel).  I loved her album so  much, I had to make one for myself .  This mini uses 3 large envelopes + 1 small envelope.
This is my very first envelope mini.  Have seen plenty on the net that I loved but never had the right size envelope to make them and so never really bothered.  When I saw this one though, I got the bug and as, again, I didn't have the right type of envelopes, I actually had to make them as well.  I won't actually show you how to make this album as I think Dawn's video does that better than I ever could.

The finished album measures 7.75" x 5.5" and the papers I've used to decorate this Album is from a 12 x 12 pad called Memory Lane by Kaisercraft.

There's not a lot of embellishment on the front.   Just a piece of lace and a small collage.  I think the papers are pretty enough that they don't need covering up.

This album actually opens two ways.  The first opening is from left to right and reveals a pocket (on the left) and a notebook (on the right).  I will show the second opening later in the post.

There is a large tag inside the pocket.  

I attached a small piece of lace at the side and added some washi tape, book paper, a digital image by Ephemera's Vintage Garden and a gorgeous handmade seal made by Lizzy Hill. 

Lizzy is one of the crafty friends I exchange Christmas cards with and we usually include a small crafty gift as well.  I sent her a set of wildflower diecuts and she sent me a set of lovely little seals she had made.  I absolutely adore them and was so pleased I could incorporate one into this little album.

A small collage and a piece of lace decorate the front of the note book.

Used my fave stencils and added some stamping on the inside, but I've left the pages relatively bare as they are, mainly, to be used for journaling ..

.. although I have also added a few bits of lace and strips of washi tape.

The booklet is sewn into the main journal using pamphlet stitch.

A little stamping on the back of the note book as well as a small butterfly plate.

 Behind the notebook is another page with a flip out pocket (made with the smaller envelope) attached to the side.

Inside the pocket is a small tag.  The back of the tag is left blank for more journaling or you could add a photo.

That completes the left side opening of the album.
The second way to open the album is from right to left and this reveals a large pocket on the left and a simply decorated page on the right.

This flower is attached to an altered paper clip which can be moved to any other part of the book.

Inside the pocket is a simple, folded card ..

.. which could be used for photos, ephemera or journaling.

And, finally, the back of the album which also has a pocket ..

.. and a tag ..

.. with a little tuck spot on the back.

A final look at the front ..

Yayy!!  You managed to stick it out to the end.   Doing a little happy dance here!! LOL!!

I had such fun creating this album.  I do hope you will pop over to You Tube and take a look at Dawn's videos.  She has so many interesting albums, etc., and her tutorials are excellent!

I did say at the beginning of this post that I made this album for myself but, I ended up gifting it to a friend.  So now, of course, I am making another one.  The album I just shared was made pretty much as Dawn showed it but the new one will have some innovations of my own.  Hope you will come back to take a look at that one when it's finished.

I am entering this album into the Mini Album Makers Challenge for February

Thank you so much for stopping by and for the lovely comments you leave me.  I appreciate it very much.

Have a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #242

Hi everyone!  Hope your day is going well for you!!

Time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.   Judy is our lovely host and the Theme is 

'Add a Critter'!

Sounds like fun doesn't it??

I was having trouble coming up with ideas for this Challenge as I don't really have 'critters' in my stash!   No stamps, no stencils, no dies or chippies!  What to do?  What to do??!!  Then I came across a new video by Ephemera's Vintage Garden.  Debbie shows how to create a floating pocket which I felt would be ideal to add to a Nature inspired Junk Journal I am in the process of making.   As I was hunting through my stash (again), I found a sheet of woodland creatures which had been gifted by a friend ages ago and, problem solved!

 I won't go into details about putting this together.  It is really simple and, if you're interested, Debbie explains it very well in her video.

A few close-ups of the 'Hedgie' pocket.

I used a Tim Holtz stencil (Blossom) to decorate the pocket and added a bit of raggedy lace for texture.

Inside the pocket, I've added a tag, a seed packet and a couple of autumn leaves.

The tags are from the Familiar Trees 1 a Digi Kit by Ephemera's Vintage Garden.  The seed packets are freebies by Nik the Booksmith.  The Autumn leaves are from Meg's Garden.
As you can see, I have also added a few strips of washi tape.

The Squirrel pocket.

This pocket was decorated exactly the same as the previous one.

I simply used a different tag, seed packet and leaf.

The pockets themselves were made from a sheet of A4 paper which had been tea-died.  On the back, I used a Kaisercraft script stamp to decorate.

A last look at the two pockets together.

These pockets were so quick and easy to make and I think they are going to be fabulous in my Journal.  (If I ever get it finished that is.  LOL!!)  I love the idea that you can simply pop them into any page in the book and also move them around if you want to.

I do hope you will join in with this Challenge.  For more inspiration pop on over to the CCM blog and take a look at the fabulous creations by the other members of the Team.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #242 - Add a Critter.

Thank you so much for stopping by and do enjoy the rest of your day.

Take care and God Bless.

ox ox  Marg

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #239

Hello dear friends and welcome to my blog.  

So pleased you decided to drop by.

So, the Crafty Cardmakers Team is back from holiday and the new Challenge has begun!  Lin is our delightful Host and the Theme is 'It's a Bug's Life'!!  

So, we would love to see some bugs/insects on your creations.

I created an all occasion card for my DT project and here are some close-ups.

The base paper is from a small paper pack by 49 & Market.  To add a touch of colour, I swiped the paper through a little pool of Distress Ink which was left on my mat from a previous project.

I stamped the background with embossing ink and then sprinkled on Sea Foam White embossing powder.  Adds a nice little touch of texture.

Added a small strip from the edge of a sheet of Maja papers and topped that with a diecut and a piece of floral lace.

Topped it all off with a Little Birdie flower and then a sweet little butterfly flew over and settled on my project so, of course, I invited it to stay .. and it did!!  LOL!!

I hope you can find the time to join in!  Would love to see what you create.

For all the details of the Challenge and for some wonderful inspiration by the rest of the Team here is the link

Crafty Cardmakers #239 - It's a Bug's Life!

Thank you so much for stopping by and for any comment you may care to leave .. very much appreciated.

Have a wonderful day!

Take care and God Bless.

Marg xx