For the Record

I love to pick up old binders from thrift stores and give them a make-over!  I just finished this cute binder to record my daily efforts to exercise, take my vitamins, read my Bible, etc.  Echo Park Paper Company has this pretty collection called For the Record.  It's bright, funky and fun!

You can do this with any size binder.  I simply take an exacto knife and strip off all of the vinyl cover.  That leaves you with three heavy chipboard pieces: front, back, and spine.  Then I carefully put the binder back together after covering all of the pieces with scrapbook paper.  I use Thermo-Web adhesive sheets to attach the covered spine, wrapping the paper around to the front.  The adhesive sheet adds strength.

It's fun to embellish the front of the binders.  I try to keep them fairly flat.  If I glue big flowers on the front and they get caught on something, they can easily get torn off, leaving a mess behind.  I used crochet lace, stickers and chipboard pieces on the front to add some texture and interest.  Here's a peek at some of the dividers.

The cute little tabs are from Basic Grey.  Love these!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  

Best Friends Mini Album

I love scrapbook retreats!!  I also love a special place here in Wisconsin called Camp Joy!!  Our family has been attending Camp Joy's Family Camp every summer for the past 15 years.  The camp is located on a beautiful lake in Whitewater, WI, and they have recently added an annual scrapbook retreat to their  schedule.

I am blessed to have the opportunity to teach a couple of workshops at Camp Joy's Scrapbook Retreat on May 10-12, 2012.  In one of my workshops we will be making one of these cute little one-page mini albums:

Here is one of the samples I've made for the workshop.  This mini is about my daughter's friendship with a little girl named Corrin.  They have been friends from the time they were very little and are still good friends today!

I used My Mind's Eye Bloom and Grown papers to make my mini-album and the little photo mats peeking out behind each picture.

For the little journaling cards opposite each photo, I used Bo Bunny Gypsy Cut-Outs.  I trimmed them down to fit my mini pages.

I added only a few embellishments in order to keep the mini album simple and easy.

 I used some dies to cut a felt flower and some paper buttons to add to a few my pages.  Love this one:

I decided to leave the tops of two pages open and make tags to be pulled out of those pages.  The tags could be used for journaling and/or more pictures.  Cute, eh? 

I can't wait to share these cute little mini-albums with the ladies at the scrapbook retreat next month!  Thanks for visiting today!  

In Everything Give Thanks

The Bible tells us "in everything give thanks."  This is not always an easy thing to do.  When life is smooth sailing, it's easy to give thanks, but when the trials and difficulties come along (and they do come along for all of us), having a thankful heart can be a tough challenge.

One thing I have learned is that all things happen for a reason, and we may not know that reason right away.  However, one thing is certain-- God is still on the throne, and He makes no mistakes.  God is reminding our family to be thankful even during a difficult time that we're going through right now.  So, I am thankful.  I am so thankful that I know Him personally, and that He has given me His Word to encourage me during this trial.  

I was reminded yesterday to look at all of the good things God has done for me and be thankful for them!  As for the trial...."this too shall pass."  And by God's grace, I'll be drawn closer to Him, because He took me through it.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye So Sophie Collection
Brads: MME Miss Caroline Collection

One-Page Mini Album

I had a blast making this little mini-album- made from one 12x12 piece of paper!  There are many tutorials on the internet to show you how to make different versions of these little cuties, but I followed the one on Lowri McNabb's blog.  I pulled out my scraps from my last project and went to work.  

All of my papers are from My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline" collection.  Stickers, borders, and banners are a mix from MME, Sassafras, K & Company, and Basic Grey.  For the banner on this last page, I hand trimmed a banner from Fancy Pants "Wishful Thinking" Banner paper.

Such a fun, quick project that would make a sweet little gift for a friend or relative!  Give it a try!

So Happy Together!

I finally made time to enter a layout challenge at my LSS!  It was fun driving to The Scrapbook Store today and submitting my layout based on this Page|Maps sketch: 

I recently got some of the new My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline Dolled Up" collection and used it on this layout.  The distressed barn wood look of this paper is perfect for the picture of my daughter Anna fishing with her Daddy.  

I love the fan-folded rosettes that are so hot right now.  I made three half-rosettes for my layout.  I think they're pretty cute!

Look at this great butterfly (or is it a moth?) from the Crate Paper Random collection!  

I'll find out next Friday who won the layout contest, and I'll let you know if it's me!!  Have a great weekend!

Supplies: 

Patterned Paper, Layered Chipboard & Stickers, Journal Tag:

My Mind’s Eye “Miss Caroline Dolled Up” collection,

Stella and Rose (teal dots, green photo mat);

Chipboard Butterfly: Crate Paper “Random” collection;

Scalloped Border Sticker: Sassafras;

Felt Leaves: Papertrey Ink;

Doilies: Wilton

Other: rhinestone gems from my stash

Valentine Treat Bags

I thought it would be fun to make some little Valentine Treats to share with my Bible Study class tomorrow.  I like to use my scrappy supplies to make cards and gifts to encourage others.  Inside these treat bags are glassine bags filled with chewy cinnamon hearts.

I LOVE all kinds of paper crafts!  Card making, scrapbooking, altered projects!  Sadly, I'm really not a very creative person.  I have to get ideas and inspiration from other crafters to help me get started on everything I make.  Otherwise, I just sit and stare at a piece of paper and have no idea where to begin!  I am simply in awe of talented women like Melissa Phillips.  In fact, Melissa is my absolute favorite blogger in the paper crafting world.  My little treat "bags" were inspired by Melissa's Valentine Treat Envelopes.  If you haven't seen her work, you MUST visit her blog!

These bags are just folded pieces of paper.  I used a Martha Stewart heart border punch at the top of each bag.  The papers include Basic Grey Kissing Booth and Bittersweet, Crate Paper Paper Heart Collection, Echo Park Yours Truly, and Little Yellow Bicycle Love Letters.  Embellishments include    K & Company, Making Memories, and The Paper Studio.  I punched holes at the top of each bag and used sheer ribbon to make "handles" for my bags.  

  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Special Friend

Welcome to my second Mojo Monday 224 entry.  Here again is this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

Once again I used My Mind's Eye papers (Quite Contrary and Lost and Found Two).  Seriously, I just love MME!!  I love the weight and texture of their papers and their designs are beautiful and even papers from different lines coordinate beautifully together!  For this second card, I was stumped as to what kind of  round embellishment to use.  Then I thought about making a folded rosette!!  I LOVE how the rosette turned out! 

 While searching through my punches, this square "inchie" punch with pretty edges caught my eye.  It's from Creative Memories, and I think I've only used it once.  I love how the punched square looks on the rosette!

The adorable rose ticket is from Made by Janet, the sentiment is Inkadinkadoo, and the paper border across the middle is from Girl's Paperie.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!  :)