Valentine Mini Album

Earlier this week I shared a quick look at a Valentine Mini Album I created with a Kaiser Craft mdf album and February's Petite kit from Scrapbook Heaven.  Here's a little closer look at the pages and the process:

  I used an album by Kaiser Craft.  It's made from super sturdy mdf board.

I started by painting all the edges with white acrylic paint.  The pages covered quite easily: trace onto paper, cut out just inside the pencil lines, Mod Podge to the mdf, let dry, poke holes, and sand edges.

I love all the size and shape variety in this album.  I slid in some printed transparency pieces to add a little more dimension--simply punched them and reinforced them with 3/8" eyelets.

I just love the peek-a-boo heart window:

That pink lace is self adhesive paper--swoon!

"I want to say quite sweetly, I Love You most completely." {sigh}

The "together" tab is self adhesive canvas.

That last photo is the day we got engaged, before he popped the question (I think he looks a little nervous!).

 How about you?  Do you have any fun projects planned for Valentine's Day?

National Hobby Month and Sketch

Another post from last month's crop event that mysteriously went missing (aka, I lost my ridiculous mind and forgot to post).  The crop is over, but there's no saying you can't take on the challenge or use the sketch!

January is National Hobby Month. So my challenge to you is to create a layout about hobbies. You can do a page about your favorite hobbies, or the hobbies of your loved ones.

And here's a sketch for you. You can include any number of photos in any sizes you choose.

Tea Bag Holder

Somehow the following post got lost in the shuffle last month.  I would have had no idea I hadn't posted it, but I went searching for the directions for this tonight, and huh, they weren't there!  Geesh, my mind sometimes??  Well, here's what I forgot to post:

Who knew? January is Hot Tea Month! There's nothing like a hot cup of tea to warm you up on a frigid January day. So go brew yourself a cup and then take on this next challenge in the crop: create a tea holder.

1. Cut double sided paper (or make your own) to 3 1/2" x 11"

2. Score at 3 1/2", 7" and 7 1/2"

3. Hold paper as shown and cut third panel at a diagonal to create a pocket.

4. Adhere pocket to second panel.

5. Embellish!

In love: SMASH

Have you seen this?  I am in love with this concept.  I guess I've had this concept in my head in pieces for a while now--the idea of keeping snippets of your life in a book.  Not a traditional scrapbook b/c it's not all prettied up with store bought papers and embellies.  Not exactly an art journal b/c it's not all splattered with ink, paint, and drawings.  Not exactly an inspiration journal b/c it's more than just things that inspire you.

Check it out:


I love that this has smacked me right in the face.  I think I needed to see someone else put it together like this for it all to click in my head and make sense.  I'm on it, and I'm excited with the possibility!

Smash by EK Success Brands

Embellishing Patterned Paper

It's challenge time!  There are so many beautiful papers on the market, and from all the peeks I've seen from CHA, there are many more to come.  My challenge to you this month is to kick up your patterned paper a notch by embellishing it.  Try stamping it, misting it, distressing it, punching it, stitching it, doodling on it.  Whatever you can think of.  On my LO below, I stitched buttons to the center of the patterned paper's motifs, adding in a flower here and there.

Have fun with it!  And if you take on this challenge, I would love to see what you created!