Graphic 45 Mini-Album

WARNING....very picture heavy!

 Happy New Year to everyone!  I cannot believe it has been so long since I posted on my blog!  Thank you for being patient and not dropping me if you are one of my followers!  I will try to do more posts in this new year!

I joined a new group and immediately wanted to join a swap.   The swap I chose was for a mini album made out of any Graphic 45 collection.  I did not have any such collection so went shopping online and ordered the Secret Garden set.  This is the first time I have ever used a collection of any paper company.  I have never purchased things like stickers and chipboard and such but knew I had to have almost everything so ordered it all!!!  lol 

The other requirements were you had to make at least four pages and it had to have a chipboard cover.   You had to use at least 9 embellishments.  It could not measure more than 4x4.

The first thing I did was decide what type of book I wanted to make.  I had purchased the tutorial on making a box book from Paper Hoarder Disorder's shop on Etsy.    The directions actually make a book that measures about 5x7.  I adapted it to make this little 3x4 album.   

                                                                              

This is the top of the album.  It has a pull out mini album which has a little pull out tag.   The 

little bird cage charm is one I thought went perfect with this paper line.

This is a side view that shows the metal embellishment I bent to fit over the edge of the box.  It attaches to a magnet to hold the box closed.

When the lid is lifted the sides fall down exposing the mini album. 

On the first page I added a pocket which houses a mini circle album. The little journal tag is a chipboard piece from the collection but I added a key charm.

 Front of circle album

Back of mini circle album.

This photo is of the next pages but the color is totally off.  lol  The other pictures depict truer colors.

 This is a fairly simple pocket page that hold two small tags.

This page is also a pocket page with the pocket made by using a MS fence punch.  It also hold a mini pocket which holds a tiny foldout album. The tiny purple flowers are made from an old punch.  The leaves or from a new die I just got.

The next pages are simple pocket and fold out pages.

 This pocket holds a pull out tag that holds another smaller tag under a belly band.

 The back of tag

This is a simple fold out page.  I popped a couple of the chipboard pieces to form the closer.  The twine bow actually just slips off the side so you do not have to untie and tie.  I added another key charm for decoration.

The next pages are another pull out mini foldout and some more tags type things.

 I used one of my new spellbinder die to make the flap and also for the fold out edges.  The metal bird is just another piece of stash that I didn't know I even had!  lol  I used a couple metal corners to hold the foldout.

 The flap is help down by a magnet hidden in it as well as one hidden in the foldout.

 The inside of fold out.

The next page has a pocket from the collection holding a tag from the collection.  

 The back of the tag.

 This is the last of the two sided pages.  The first one is a very simple pocket and it hold two little stamp shaped tags.

 

This was one of the pages I wanted to do when I signed up.  It has an acetate pocket that the little envelope fits in.   I really thought it would be the best page ever but it did not turn out half as good as my mind said it would!  lol

 Pocket with out the envelope in it.

 The little envelope holds a tiny fold out album.  It is also held shut with magnets.

 Little foldout

 Inside of foldout.

This is the back of the open box album.  The center is a tag from the collection and the other three embellishments are chipboard from the set.

 The last page is made from three stamp shaped squares glued to form a pocket.  It holds one tag.

Each page is actually a pocket and each contains a tag. 

  Here is a front photo of four of the tags and a back photo of the 5th.  Each tag looks the same on the back. I stamped them with a new journal stamp I bought.  I fussy cut one page of the paper to use for the tops of each tag.  I added a belly band to the bottoms so the person who receives it may add photos or more tags or whatever they would want.

As you can see, I held my usage of stickles to a very minimum.  lol  I did ink around every edge for a distressed look.  I sure hope whoever gets this little album will like it.  I can hardly wait to get one in return!!!  I did have a lot of fun working with a collection and also working with the tiny elements.  Almost everything about this album is new......from the tutorial, papers, stamp, and even having to use a collection!  Thank you all for stopping by.  May God richly bless you all in 2014!!!

Challenges:

Heck of a Challenge- new.......all most everything...lol

Crafting by Design- anything goes

Crafty Creations- anything goes

Creative Moments- anything goes

Diva's by Design- anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge- anything goes

Artisitc Inspirations- anything goes

Through the Craftroom Door- anything goes

Hobby Cutz- anything goes

Inky Impressions- anything goes

Simon Says- something new

Crafts 4 Eternity- something new

Hiding in My Craft Room- anything but holiday

Scrap Creations- something new

Little Red Wagon- something new