Welcome to my crafty blog... a "garden" of colourful cards, quilting, sewing projects, knitting...and what ever else happens along the way!!


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Inspired by SAF: Mini Album

Papertrey Ink held a "Stamp-a-Faire Summer Camp" event on July 21st,
highlighting many techniques, videos and tutorials and encouraging 

crafters to enter cards and projects for each of the challenges. Even 
though I had planned to participate, I didn't get my projects finished 
in time for  the challenge deadlines!!  I will be highlighting lots of 
projects - all inspired by the Stamp-a-Faire videos and techniques. 
I invite you to join me all this week, for a look back at the challenges.

I've always wanted to make a mini album and this challenge presented the ideal opportunity. I actually finished my album in September, after I had completed several of the other SAF projects. One of the things that really inspired my 'theme' came about after making Handmade Embellishments described by Heather Nichols here. You'll see a few of my stitched felt circle badges throughout the album and later on when I post all of my projects from that challenge.

My mini album highlights pictures of Gingerbread Houses and Cookie Trees from previous Christmas celebrations. Many of these were taken before the digital camera era, so the quality isn't the best, but I decided to incorporate what I had. I used many of the elements from Heather Nichols'  mini album tutorial.  


I started by cutting Kraft card stock with the Tabbed Mini Book Page. Each page was outlined with faux stitching using a white gel pen. I knew my main colour scheme was going to be red and green, so I chose the gingham and bitty dot papers from the Pure Poppy Pattern Pack and Cottage Ivy ink (Memento) to stamp a green 'gingham' paper (Background Basics: Gingham).

Every layout uses an image from Postmarks with 
the appropriate year (Mini Scrapbook Series: Library Ledger). 



The front and back covers were cut from chipboard and covered with Pure Poppy gingham papers. Green and red accents were added: Stamping Bella Dots and Donuts and 2 strips of scallops on the top of the page (Heart Border Die)




The house (Waltzingmouse Stamps: Sewing Box Hugs) was stamped onto a variety of papers with Fresh Snow ink and then embossed with white embossing powder. I then paper pieced all of the details and mounted this onto many layers of paper and card stock.  I also wanted to use elements from the Friendship Jar series, especially the Holiday Fillers. The title Homemade Gingerbread was stamped in Kraft ink.






Page 1
An outline describes the theme of the mini album on the first 
page.  Holly Jolly dies were used to create the embellishment.

Many of the other details were decided as I moved along in this process. If you have any questions about products used, please leave your question in the comment section and I will respond to them. Since I used so many different elements andl there are so many pictures, I will give a brief overview for each layout below.

Pages 2 & 3: 1995
Red felt "badge" -  Little Bitty Bird Additions house 
die cut in Fine Linen Bitty Dots paper and a felt heart. 
Sentiments (various Friendship Jar Fillers) stamped in Rich Cocoa.

Pages 4 & 5: 1996
Candy and jar - Friendship Jar: Holiday Fillers. 
Green felt badge uses the star from Tiny Tags 
die, along with a star from Love Lives Here: 
Holiday die and a smaller star punch.

Pages 6 & 7: 1997
Background paper - bough and berry stamps - Love Lives Here: Holiday.
Sentiment and candy canes - Tiny Treats: Christmas
Word Punches - Stampin'Up

Pages 8 & 9: 2004
"Star Cookies" - Friendship Jar: Holiday
- coloured with copics and decorated 
with red, green and yellow Stickles

Pages 10 & 11: 2007
Sentiment - Tag-Its #9 
Mistletoe stamp - Tiny Treats: Christmas & copic markers

Journal entry - under the Postmark image on Page 10

Pages 12 & 13: 2010
Amy R: Winter Sentiments
Love Lives Here: Holiday - tree stamps and dies


Page 14  & Interior of Back Cover
Blank page will allow me to record additional memories.
Back page highlights a funny story about a gingerbread house 
adventure and another paper pieced house (Sewing Box Hugs).



This is the 3rd project in this series.
Stamp-A-Faire posts can be viewed here.

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

2 comments:

craftmates said...

I love love your mini book Karen! Beautiful. -Irma

Leigh Penner said...

This is amazing, Karen!