My First Mini-Album

My husband and I took a short overnight trip for our anniversary this past weekend.  We went to Peddler's Village in Lahaska, PA.  It's a quaint shopping village with unique stores, restaurants, and an Inn.  We had been there once before last October, and really liked it there, so we went back.  After we had returned from that trip last fall, I knew I wanted to preserve the memories we had made with the many photos we took.  I had been wanting to make a mini-album for some time and this was the perfect reason to do it.  I had just gotten my Cricut Expression back then, but hardly had any experience with it.  Since I already owned a Sizzix BigKick, I decided to get a die that was an "Album Cover and Page" to make a mini-album. 

This die was perfect.  I liked the shape of it, and it punched 3 holes down the left side on each cut.  So all I had to do was put 2 diecut pieces of cardstock together with adhesive, and voila, a two-sided page.  Then I added my pictures and embellishments. The size of each page is 3" H x 4-1/4"L.  Now remember, I made this mini-album last fall, not just now upon our return from our mini-trip!  That would be pretty amazing if I had made an album in one day, now wouldn't it!!  Here's the cover page.

All the patterned papers came from the DCWV Amber Autumn matstack, 4.5x6.5, so not much waste of paper.  I used textured cardstock for all the solid color pages.  Here's a few more pages.

My husband is on the left and that's me on the right.  Notice all the beautiful flowers.  The landscaping was so beautiful throughout the whole village and so well maintained.  I used butterfly and dragonfly mini-punches to decorate the edges. 

I did some journaling (typed on my computer) and created a pull-out card from behind the picture.  Had a few of these throughout the album. 

The flower shapes were cut using my Cricut and the Accent Essentials cartridge.  I probably only had 4 cartridges then--the ones that came with my original bundle!  The back cover is green to match the front cover, and left un-embellished. 

So that's my first mini-album; in total there were 19 2-sided pages, and 32 pictures!  Glad I could share it with you. Yes, it's simple, I know.  But that was my first one and now I kinda know what I'm doing, so I should be able to improve upon the next one!  Thanks for looking; appreciate all your comments. 

My 14th Wedding Anniversary

My husband and I will celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary this weekend, and I made this card for him.  I love how it turned out, and I think he'll love it, too.   It was fun to make!

 

Here's How I Did It

White base card is 5 x 6.5".  The black patterned papers are from Making Memories 8x8 B&W Paper Pad that I picked up at Tuesday Morning for $1.99 (one of my good finds!).  Ribbon is from Michael's $1 bin.  His & Her towels and towelbar are cut from Sweetheart cart at 3".  Used Cuttlebug Paisley folder to emboss the towels.  Some red bling to show up the towelbar.  The sentiment is computer generated. Popped up the towels and sentiment.  Inside I used the same paper and punched the black with my heart border punch from Recollections (I'm really liking that punch).  "Happy Anniversary" is stamped with Hero Arts clear stamp set, Everyday Sayings.  It has 20 nice sayings-all on the small size, but really nice fonts.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!  Appreciate your comments.

Fun Silly Card!

OK, you're gonna laugh at this -- I have to share it.  I made a trip to Tuesday Morning the other day and rooted through their craft items, and found a couple good bargains, I thought.  Picked up this Marvy punch, wondering what it was supposed to be.  I thought it looked like a spout of water, or a squirt or water, or a splash, and started thinking of several ways I could use it.  So I bought it.

Tonight, I pulled out my Create a Critter cartridge, and cut out the cute whale (at 3 inches).  I cut off the spout that was there because I thought the punch would look better.  Stamped some Peachy Keen eyes on it and drew in a mouth.  And I just made a small note card (3-1/2" square).   Here's my card.  I think it turned out cute, don't you?

Well, here's the funny part.  The punch had a sticky label on it that I pulled off.  I hadn't noticed this at the store, but the label said "lily" on it.  Ummm, maybe it's just me...but I'm still having trouble seeing a lily in this punch, even when I tried this.  What do you  think?

Thanks for reading my li'ly story!

I Made an Easel Card!

Finally, I made an easel card, and it was easy; well at least the easel part was!  I had the same technical difficulties usually experienced with making a card.  Didn't cut the image large enough at first, cut the wrong color for the layers, paper shifted on me because my mat is worn, yada yada yada.  BUT, in the end here's what I produced!

I started with red cardstock cut at 4-1/4" x 11", then scored that at 5-1/2" and 8-1/4".  Fold the first score inward and the second score upward or in the opposite direction.  In  the end, this makes a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card.  Then I cut another piece of red cardstock 4-1/4"x5-1/2". layered it with the stars paper, and adhered it to the upward fold (see Split Coast Stampers for full instructions).

All cardstock was from scraps.  Used the Block Party cartridge to cut the rocket which wound up being 5-1/2" with layers.  Used glitter glue to sparkle the explosion and the rocket.  The sentiments are a Studio G $1 stamp. The white paper inside is punched with Fiskars Americana 3-in-1 punch, and the blue paper is punched with Fiskars In Stitches border punch (I think I love this new punch!).  How did I do?

I want to enter this card into the following challenges (there's so many going on this weekend!!):
     Scrappy Moms Stamps - Use Stand and Salute cartridge or something similar
     Cupcake Inspirations - use red, white, and blue
     Fantabulous Cricut Challenge - Happy 4th; use red, white and blue
     Part Time Tuesdays - 4th of July card
     Celebrate the Occasion - 4th of July (red, white, and blue)
     Scapbookaholic by Abby Challenge #8 - use red, white and blue
     Paper Issues Link Up Party - Share your red, white and blue project
    
Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July holiday weekend!  Enjoy!

I won a Cartridge!

What a way to start my weekend!  I just learned that I won the Cherry Limeade cartridge from Joy of Obsessed with Scrapbooking.  Can you believe that!  I'm super excited, especially since she had 785 responses on her post about the new Hello Thursday carts.  What are the odds of that?!  You all know Joy, I'm sure, but go see the wonderful projects she made with the new carts.

AND a big special thanks to TAMI B for letting me know I won!  What a good blogger buddy she is--sorry you didn't win this, Tami! Hope you're not too mad at me!  Tami makes such adorable cards, go visit her blog and show her some love.

Thanks, Joy!  Thanks, Tami!  Looking forward to the 3-day weekend!! Woohoo!!