Big Paper Sack Scrapbook

I spent the past 3 days at a B&B for a fabulous scrapbooking weekend. I worked on a couple pages, and completed this book. I wanted to see how a big paper grocery bag would work to create a big "album". I love using the smaller paper lunch sacks, but have a ton of big bags in my closet! I co-worker just had a baby boy they nicknamed Gio (cute Italian), so I thought I would make a book for him. I don't much like the soft blues of usual boy baby lines, so I went with Simple Stories Snap Studio. Archivers is closing [SAD FACE] so they only had a pack of pocket page cards and stickers--no pattern papers to coordinate. It turns out I really like working with coordinating pattern paper..it's SO much easier to create when I don't have to rummage through my papers to find ones that coordinate. I was at a crop, so I brought limited papers and decided to leave the pages white. The book has 10 pages, 2 pull out tabs and 2 3x4 pocket pages. I lined up all the white card stock, 2 pocket pages and two paper sacks and sewed the whole stack down the middle to make the "binding". I left the pages with lots of space so they can fill it with journaling or pictures. Turns out it was just as fun to make as the lunch sack books! :)

happy creating,
melissa  

Date Book



I needed a date/appointment book for work and I didn't want to spend $14.99 for one at Walmart. So I took my old date book from last year and made pages for this year (using white out and a copier). You can find them here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5EHbpKDNr1mbk5HSFpSYTRtNlk/edit?usp=sharing
I got the binder (Recollection) from Michaels for $6.49 (I had a coupon). My work day is from 7:30am to 4:30pm, so I made time slots for that time frame on Monday through Friday. For Sat and Sun I just did little boxes. On the side margins I created little spots for journaling about the week. "I love..", "Seriously..ugh" and "highlights". I wanted to start documenting a little more about my week..it seems I can't remember what exactly went on three weeks ago! :) I'm planning on going scrapbooking this weekend and one of my projects will be to finish decorating it. I just hope it lasts all year being toted to and from work!

happy creating,
Melissa

Organizing My Craft Stuff

Over the years I've collected a lot of craft stuff. When I'm out and about thrifting I see an item and think "I can make that into  ________ ." Then when I get home with said item, it goes into a drawer. I had so many plans for so many things, and of course no time to go along with those lofty plans.  I cleaned out all my craft items, scrapbooking stuff, fabric scraps and ephemera. I organized all the stuff into bins and made a fabric shelf where I can iron stuff on top. (I got the idea off of the Happy SiL FB page I belong to) I HATE getting out the ironing board every time I need to iron fabric, and I needed a place to store my fabric. I don't have a lot of it, but this space was just right! I want to do a little more sewing in the coming year :) Next I'm going to be making my own date/appointment book. Today is a "cold day" off from school for the kids so, I'll be working on that later on :)

Project Life Cards

I did my first set of homemade Project Life (or pocket page) cards. It's fun working with the small spaces. Kinda takes the pressure off filling the big 12X12 space. I did these for another 2Peas swap :) I signed up for a "Family" themed group and "Holidays" group. For the family themed one I used my Silhouette to cut out the card outlines and then used Amy Tangerine paper to embellish a little bit.  I did the holiday themed ones with Heidi Swaps' Christmas "Believe" paper (which i totally love!). They were so much fun to make.

happy creating,
melissa

Thankfulness Scrapbook Journal Completed!

I made some changes to my original "28 Days of Thankfulness" book. I was at Archivers and got a Heidi Swapp album for only $13. It was just the book and pages, but I thought that was pretty cheap. I even used my coupon so it was cheaper :)  I decided to go with a 3 ring binder so I could put more pages in and I also like the sturdiness of a 3 ring.  I took the pages out of the original book and viola here is what I came up with. I have to say it was much harder to keep it up than I thought it would be. I started out really good, but then slacked off and ended up finishing it this week. It was really fun do to though..it made me really think about what I appreciated in my life and just how darn lucky I am! Now to start on my Christmas projects tomorrow! I have a December journal/scrapbook to make. Although this one will more than likely be a weekly thing..not quite a daily thing.
Happy Creating,
:) Melissa

 

Christmas Tags





I went to my monthly crop yesterday and had a great time as usual! I planned to work on swap tags , swap PL cards  and my Thanksgiving thankfulness scrapbook. But I only got as far as the swap tags :) I signed up for a vintage group and sliver group. Somehow it's a bit more fun for me to make something for someone else in a swap! I bought some snowflakes a few weeks ago at Michaels on clearance..so I planned to use them when I signed up for the silver group! I started out by cutting silver corrugated paper into my tag shape, then adhered it to white cardstock (so the back would be blank white cardstock). I stacked the snowflakes on top of each other and spaced them by using a pop dot. I cut one blue snowflake out on my silhouette and glued that one on top of the stack, followed by a gem on top.  I then printed out "merry & bright" on the same blue paper as the top snowflake. For the vintage tag I used Heidi Swaps Christmas paper stack from Michaels. I started out with numbered pattern background, and added a snowflake/flower shape patterned background paper strip and to the bottom of the tag. I then glued ric rac to the top and bottom of the snowflake/flower patterned paper strip. It reminded me of a Christmas  or winter sweater!  I used plaid pattern paper for a large circle, then I scalloped punched the "25" and glued that on top of the plaid pattern circle. I then cut two strips od music paper and stamped Dec 25 on one and glued them underneath the scalloped 25. I really like how they both came out! I may make a few more to keep for myself. I promise to post next on my Thankfulness scrapbook!

Happy Scrappin,
melissa

Daily December

I'm so jazzed right now...I just completed my second swap project on 2 Peas in a Bucket chat forum. I'm totally addicted to swaps now! I made a Daily December page front and back. My friend Wendy gave me the idea for the free standing envelope. She was working on her December daily book at the last crop I went to. She had some really awesome pages, and a big free standing pocket. It was as big as her pages, and really cute! I had some velum so I made the envelopes out of that. I just hope everyone likes them! I went to Michaels last Friday and couldn't believe they did not have any Christmas..I couldn't believe it!! I am actually AHEAD of myself and the season--it's unbelievable and feels GREAT!). So I ended up getting red glitter paper, green lined paper and white cardstock.
I didn't have time to go to Hobby Lobby or Achievers before my crop so I thought I would make that stuff work. I used the red glitter paper to make the rosettes, the green lined paper to make a pocket and the white cardstock to print out the 25s for the rosettes. I used sheet music boarder punched to go on the pocket. The sheets of paper in the pocket are lined note book paper, sheet music and black cardstock. I typed out "Makin my list and checking it twice.." on the lined paper and stamped Dec 25 2013 on the sheet music. On the second page I started out with green ledger paper I had and a red snow flake boarder at the bottom. I  cut little strips of dictionary paper, washi tape and the green lined paper (that's on the other side) to go with a red button in the left corner. For the velum envelope I folded a 8 1/2 x 11 piece in half and sewed the top flap on, then sewed around the edges. Turns out velum is not fond of the sewing machine. On the envelope I put a library card pocket with 3 coordinating cards. I also cut little strips of the same paper and washi tape to put under the Merry Christmas Santa circle. To finish it all up I inked the sides. I can't wait to see what I get in return! I just need to make myself 11 more pages. I want to record something everyday..ambitious I know..but my 28 days of thankfulness will get me going..happy scrappin!