The accordion mini album was actually made a couple of years ago. It was back in the day that I thought I would be able to get it all together to put kits together and then share ideas using those kits. I would make the project and then finally order the pieces to complete that project, only to have the intended date for completion rocket past me. So rather than putting kits together you are seeing odds and ends, 12x12 cardstock and all sorts of various oddities showing up in our store as we find time to get them on-line. The collections are old, but they are still oh so wonderful to create with. What's old is "new again" - LOL!
This is an album idea that I thought would make a wonderful valentines or Mother's Day gift. I made it with the intent of giving it to my mom once I had finished putting the kit together. Hopefully it is not too late to share it now. This book was put together using 12" x 12" pieces of Blush paper that you can now find in our store - LOL! Start on this page and go to the next as well to find this collection.
It all begins with four pieces of 4"x6" Craft-a-board. This whole book was created based on the Folk Heart stamp. When Karen shared this image with me I totally fell in love with it. I stamped the image on Arturo paper and watercolored it with Lyra and Stampin' Up! watercolor crayons. I don't know how many of you remember the good old days when I actually had the time to hand watercolor every single thank you note I sent. Those must be collectors items by now - totally LOL! If you have one then this is the exact same coloring I used on that image. I covered a die cut letter C with coordinating paper and used my Snap Stamps to complete the word Cherish. Yep, those were the good old days - Snap Stamps - who would have thought they would disappear from existence. I still miss being able to use them. They were SO very flexible!
OK, enough reminiscing about those golden years Ü
To begin I covered each piece separately, beginning with the "back" sides as shown. I love the fact that Basic Grey's papers all coordinate so beautifully - it makes it a piece of cake to complete a project. Cut these pieces to 5"x7". Adhere them to the Craft-a-board back, miter the corners, wrap the paper around to the front side and then adhere the paper to the front side.
Next cut the brown "spines" to a size of 2" x 6". I attached the dark brown "spines" on the back side first and then wrapped them around attaching them also to the front side.
To create the sentiment tags I used Cuttlebug dies and the pink cardstock - yep, this was the day before Nestabilities and the awesome tags (thanks to Debbie for those!) we now have. If I remember correctly I believe the sentiments were A Muse, but I'm not certain if they still manufacture these.
I then cut four 4"x6" pieces from pink cardstock. Before attaching these I added the layers to them as follows:
- page 1 - 4"w x 2 1/2"h striped pocket. Insert brad with flowers before attaching to pink cardstock using staples. Create two polka dot tags 2 1/8"w x 4 1/4"h in size. Add a decorative accent to the top edge using scalloped decorative scissors and piercing.
- page 2 - cut right edge with scalloped decorative scissors. Put sentiment piece together and staple in place. Create decorative corners from coordinating paper.
- page 3 - attach 3/8" x 6" dotted paper to 1 3/4"w x 6"h brown cardstock strip. Embellish with staples. Attach to left edge. Create secret "pocket" from 2"w x 6 3/4"l damask paper. Embellish with pierced scalloped pink accent strip. Use small Basic Grey magnet to keep it closed.
- page 4 - Cut 3 1/4"w x 5"l heart paper. Attach sentiment tag embellishing with staples and a mini heart. Stamp Lock Heart on decorative paper centering on design. Color key to accent it.
Once you have all pieces adhered together mark the location for the holes using a pencil . These were centered 1/2" from each edge. Use a Crop-a-dile to punch the holes and then insert the large eyelets. Add eyelets to the tags as well.
Place your pieces down on a flat surface and tie them together using ribbon. Tie the center two together with the knots on the interior. Flip and then tie the two end pieces in place. Add your photos, hardware and fibers.
As a side note I just have to tell you the story of my girls. As toddlers we played the "kissing game" with our girls. As they would climb up the stairs we would stop on each step and rub noses or give them a little kiss between each set of bars. With each new set of bars we would do it all over again until we would reach a point where we were standing on our tippy toes and could no longer reach them. We would then laugh and reach for their little noses with our finger with the final kiss from our fingertips. Needless to say they would always say, "Again! Again!" We are so blessed to have two beautiful, sweet, healthy girls who love one another. It just gives me warm fuzzies to look at these pictures once again and see the love shared between them. I'm one very lucky mom!
