Finland Mini Album (Front Cover)

I've had quite a few techniques to share with this mini album that I've created as a DT project for Clear Scraps. Therefore, I've decided to share each page separately in different posts. This project is created using Clear Scraps 6x6 chipboard 3 tab album and acrylic sheet.

I've created this album about my trip to Finland in October 2008. It's such a beautiful place to visit.

Here are the steps to create the front cover.

1) The front cover is created using a Clear Scraps acrylic sheet. I've cut out a 6x6 piece from the acrylic sheet which is in 12x12.

2) I've created a decorative masking template for the middle of the acrylic sheet. Use various alcohol ink (cranberry, butterscotch, espresso, gold mixative) and blending solution to stamp all over the acrylic sheet (while the mask is attached) using an alcohol ink applicator.

3) Paint the edges of the acrylic sheet with some black acrylic paint and outline the masked image with a black paint marker and some gold Stickles.

4) Use the "Distressing with Random Magic Mesh" technique all around the edges of the acrylic sheet.

5) Add a rub-on on the right of the cover and a ribbon on the bottom of it. Add 3 brads to dress it up.

6) To create the frame, I've cut out a decorative frame from some black card stock and use the "3D Stitching" technique on it before attaching it to the cover. I've also use a black paint marker to draw the same decorative shape inside the frame.

7) Then to create the flower, I've used the Texture your Flowers with Magic Mesh" technique. I've used this technique on a vellum flower that I've cut out and later layer another flower on top of it. I've used some Stickles to detail it. For the middle, I've use a metal embellishment which I've alcohol inked to match the album.

8) For the word "Finland", I've used a piece of Clear Scraps acrylic sheet to cut it out and stamp on it using some white acrylic paint and highlight it's edges using a paint marker. Attach this title piece somewhere on top of a page in the middle of the album.

9) Lastly, for all the extra photographs that I hate to exclude from the mini album, I've used the "Picture Bracelet for your Mini Album" technique to solve the problem. I've attach the bracelet on one of the ring which holds the mini album together. A reader had asked me about "should we cover the photographs to protect it?" It's really up to you. I've not covered mine with anything as are all the photographs in the mini album. But if you want, you could use some protective spray that I've once read about which can be use of photographs, or you can use some glossy accents, UTEE with melting pot, acrylic sheet, transparency or even fragment tiles. Which ever method you choose to use, be sure to experiment it on a smaller scale first.

I hope you all like the start of this mini album. Be sure to check back to see the rest of it.

The January 2009 Get Inked! Kit from Queen Kat Designs are officially sold out! Thanks to all of you who had supported me. For those of you who are interested, the February 2009 Get Inked Kit are now up for pre-ordering. Check it out at Queen Kat Designs site.

Sources: Clear Scraps Chipboard 6x6 Tab Album, Acrylic Sheet; Card stock: Bazzill; Inks: Ranger Distress Ink, Ranger Alcohol Ink; Stamp: Stampin' It; Rub-On: Basic Grey; Others: EKSuccess Zig Painty, Ranger Stickles, Ranger Blending Solution, Making Memories Acrylic Paint, Magic Mesh, Prima flower, vellum, metal embellishment, paper ribbon, yarn for stitching, ribbon, brads, Helmar glue, Zip Dry, glue dots and other adhesives.

My first happy news in 2009!

A couple of my projects had been published in Scrapbooking.com Magazine this month. Here's the link if you want to check it out. It's free.

January 2009 issue Scrapbooking.com Magazine

Just click on the bar code and it will take you to the registration page for the magazine. I hope this will be my first great news to many great news in 2009!! Hope everyone had a great start in 2009!!

Picture Bracelet for your Mini Album

Have you come across problems with too many pictures that you wish you could include in a mini album? I've actually created a mini album on a trip that I've made to Finland this last October 2008. There are too many gorgeous pictures of the scenery there that I hate to exclude from the mini album that I've created specifically for it.

Therefore, I've come up with this idea of creating a picture bracelet that I could hang on the ring that holds the mini album together. Just print the pictures in small thumb sizes (you could use your thumb size prints that normally come with your photographs developing) or it would be more interesting to have various sizes. Back them up with some thin chipboard and ink it's edges with distress ink. You could use anything to tie them together. Isn't it awesome that you could see all your favourite photographs for a certain occasions all together. This technique can be use for any kind of mini album. i.e. family photo shoots, Christmas, vacation, babies, graduation, prom, seasons, pets etc. Next time if you can't decide on which picture to use on your mini albums, why not use this technique.

Texture your Flowers with Magic Mesh

This is another technique that I've used in my recent project. It's very easy to add texture to your flowers using Magic Mesh. Simply just paste any type of flowers i.e. fabric, paper, plastic, chipboard, vellum, etc, onto some Magic Mesh and cut it out. You can also ink or paint the Magic Mesh to get your preferred colours or there are various colours of Magic Mesh available in the market.

Isn't this a 1, 2 and voila! technique? Try it.

3D Stitching

This is a very simple technique. Simply just add a strip of paper ribbon in between the stitches. To ease the process, try to attach the paper ribbon down to the card stock or project first. Then, hand stitch over it.If you don't have a paper ribbon, simply just get a piece of scrap and twist it till it's in a strip. I just love how this technique add so much dimension to the project.