Cereal Box Album

I've been busy trying not to lose my mind and so haven't done too much crafting of any kind.  I have managed to finish an album though.  Here is a quick gander at it.  I won't bore you with a page by page and every single pull out mini book but you get the idea.

The cover is made from a cereal box cut down to size and covered with cardstock.  This is a really, really easy album to create when you are strapped for time, supplies and creativity.  It really doesn't take too much of any of the afforementioned things.  One piece of 12x12 creates two pocket pages.  I chose this album style because it is so quick and easy to make, I am in a creative slump, short on supplies and time and because I wanted the o-rings to stick out on the outside of the spine in order to dangle stuff from them.

That's the album folks.

Brown Bag Mini Journal/Album

Here is a quick look at my latest Brown Bag Mini Journal/Album.  I took five brown lunch bags and alternated bottoms and tops when I put them into a pile before I sewed down the middle to create the basic book.  I then created a cover from some super cute fairy scrapbook paper.   I sewed the cover to the lunch bag book by hand with some needle and thread.  I then went through the book taping down the gusset of the bags near the top openings (optional, but does help to "tighten" up the pages).   At this point your basic album/book is done, all of the fun stuff comes next.

Now that the basic book form and pages are together you simply do whatever the heck you want to it.  I like adding lots of blank white card stock pages cut to fit into the bag openings (perfect little built in pockets).  There are no rules as what you can do or how you can embellish your book.  You can add photos to create an album, you can collage, layer, add more pockets, mini notebooks, blank framed spots for photos, etc.  I seem more inclined to make journal books (that of course you can add your photos to) as I am quite terrible at getting my photos developed. 

I decided with this one that I was going for a cleaner look when the book is closed up.  My last journal/album was more free form with tags, yarns, ribbon, and stuff just sticking out the sides where ever but I found that even though the size was conducive to being portable, as in tucking it into my bag, all of the stuff would be caught or damaged easily.  Though they look super cute with all the dangling odds and ends.   


HERE IS AN EXTRA

 

This here is a toilet paper roll mini journal that I created for a friend.  I did cut out and place white cardstock pages into the rolls themselves for more pages to journal on but I didn't seem to take a picture of this.  That is so like me to forget the last picture.  This is a super easy, fun project where you can recycle those TP rolls. 

Some Handmade Cards, Envelopes and a Mini Journal

I have been busy with kids and other stuff.  Sorry it has been a little while since my last post.  The husband was TDY which always seems to double my duties.

Here is what I have been working on.  I made twice this many Mother's Day card with envelopes but managed somehow to only remember to snap a picture of every other one before they were closed up and addressed to be mailed off. 

It sure can be challenging to pump out unique cards/envelopes on short notice.  I didn't plan out my time or the cards very well.  I just realized that I had to get them mailed out before a certain date so that they would all get to where they were going before Mother's Day. 

As for the Mini Journal.  This was a complete random inspiration while stuffing bags and foil bag into my kitchen drawer after my youngest had a grand time emptying the drawer.  I looked at the brown bags and thought these need a purpose beyond my drawer. 

I haven't used them since I got a air popper for popcorn and I was thinking that I am sure some crafty person has turned these into a mini journal or album so why can't I.  I didn't have any real plan just that I was going to use them folded in half and away I went with my well loved ATG dispenser, white card stock, ribbons, eyelets, brads, my scrap paper bin and various other embellishments/stickers. 

I really, really had a great time making this mini album/journal.  It didn't even make much of a dent in my scrap paper so I imagine I can make quite a few more since I still have some of those brown lunch bags.

Sorry, I will have to apologize because I didn't even think to take pictures of it in its creation but will try to remember to do that with the next one I make since I am sure I am bound to make a few. 

I used a total of six brown bags.  There are about twenty pull out pages to journal or place a photo on and many more spots to journal and place a photo, note, address or number.  It is crammed full of space for writing stuff down and you can always place business cards or receipts in the pockets along with the journal pages.  It is about 6 x 6 inches, so it can easily be stashed in a purse, or handbag to haul around for all of that important information you just feel you need to have with you.