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Monday 1 April 2019

Mini Album Makers April Blog Challenge

Hello Creative Friends,

Welcome to another month and a new Challenge over at 
Mini Album Maker's as the Design Team bring you inspiration 
in the form of handmade books and journals.



This month see's Eileen Hull as our sponsor offering the prize 
of a $35 GC to spend in her Etsy Shop for one lucky winner.

Please pop on over to our Mini Album Maker's April Challenge, 
be inspired by the Design Team and share your ALBUMS with us. 

Here's what I got up to and how it came to be..


There's no measuring this month as Eileen Hull's 
Passport die kindly does all the measuring for us. 

Shamefully not having a scrap of grey/mount board left to hand I
had to improvise and use a cereal box and corrugated cardboard.

Cutting 2x inside cover's - 2 x outside covers - 
2 x spines each glued together to reinforce.


When constructed a mix of fibre paste and pearl medium was scraped on to 
those outer covers and painted with acrylics. A gypsy Soul laser cut was 
trimmed to size, painted in the same way then glued to the book front.


Cutting another set of dies this time using Kraft Card this helped
hide ribbon used as the journal closure, acts as extra support to 
strengthen the corrugated card and neaten everything inside.


Last year I came across this Vintage beaded necklace.
I'd Loved and looked at it but always intended to repurpose it.

With Easter approaching it seemed ideal for this project 
and the pendant size was well matched to that aperture.


Measuring the spine I cut an extra strip of card and glued down lengths
 of the vintage necklace to add a decorative edge to the spine cover.

Those pre-cut holes give us our thread guides 
which hold our signatures inside.


Gluing the outer spine in place I added the last of the outer 
detail by edging around the cover with gold ranger liquid pearls.


Spraying Eileen's credit card sleeve die cuts with 
Distress Oxide Spray, paint and a dab of gilding wax


they fit like a dream inside the front cover, 
holding those small tags to be used as page markers. 
Teamed up with Tim Holtz stitched slots they work in harmony.


Three signatures cut from Kraft card simply sprayed with Distress 
Oxide Spray I created three notebooks adding a word to each.. 
Hopes, Dreams and Fears.

If your like me it helps to write thoughts down 
and keep them close to hand.


Slotted neatly inside, each signature is 
held shut with a decorated paper clip.


Tied closed with ribbon 
my April Mini Album is complete...


Thank you for stopping by today 
it's always lovely to see you all here.

Please pop on over HERE and see what the 
Design Team have created for you this month. 
We'd love you to join in with the challenge

Our theme is anything goes... leaving you to create the magic!

Take good care everyone 
and look out for one another.

Creative Hugs
Tracey xx

I'm playing along with:

Altered Eclectics: April Challenge
Country View Crafts: Easter and/or Spring.
Paint Party Friday: Wk5 Y9
LTCCB #33 : April Anything Goes

45 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

This is an absolutely fabulous piece, Tracey, love how you made it, and the lovely antique patina you gave it - a real little treasure! Have a great week and a wonderful April! Hope your little doggie is doing well, hugs, Valerie

Nancy Wethington said...

That cover . . . be still my heart! This is an amazing project.

Mia said...

What a stunning album, Tracey!!! It's masterpiece!!! Kisses!!!

Jennie Atkinson said...

Wow! love the cover with all those fabulous textures and the beads on the side are just stunning. And then the inside ..... what a wonderful Eastertide book for all your thoughts. Jennie x

HMax said...

Gorgeous Tracey!! I totally love how you detailed the spine! Beautiful inside and out!

~ Heather

Dorthe said...

Simply so stunning, dear Tracey - both front and back cover are gorgeous, and the spine with the beautiful vintage necklace ,too.
I love your 3 signatures , each to hold different thoughts , a lovely idea, and the sleeves so wonderful , too . Your cross really makes a statement on the front,- I so love your book, dear friend. Biggest hugs to you - xoxo

Redanne said...

Oh wow Tracey, you have stolen my heart with this fabulous journal, I am completely in love with the exquisite cross, you have re-purposed it beautifully and I am sure it will be seen more often this way. The frame is gorgeous and fits the journal beautifully too. It is simple I know but I really love how you added the paperclips as closures, they look so effective. Love, love, love this so much!! Hugs, Anne xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

This is simply out of this world. You certainly make a good argument for buying a die cutting machine. Your mini book is incredible. What a fabulous project, dear Tracey. I love it.

Meggymay said...

Tracey this is a gorgeous mini album. The cover is awesome and all the photos showed the the great details inside.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

Gorgeous Tracey. It has a great vintage feel and almost says southwestern US. You sure used all those dies nicely together. hugs-Erika

aussie aNNie said...

Wonderful and amazing project, your mini album is gorgeous, wish I was this clever.xxx

Cyndi L said...

Wow! What an amazing use for a cereal box and regular cardboard...you have elevated them far beyond what they were in their first lives <3

Brenda Brown said...

Love the gorgeous layers you put together on this brilliantly finished journal Tracey. The signatures, the credit card wallets and the grunginess of the inside are all scrummy and then the beautiful details of the beaded spine and fabulous pendant bring it together beautifully. Love it xxx

Words and Pictures said...

What a fabulous journal, Tracey - amazing grungy textures and details. I love the file holders on the inner covers, and the intricate decorative panel on the front. Brilliant work!
Alison x

froebelsternchen said...

Our of this world beautiful and inventive - I am absoltely in aw of your amazing mini album Tracey - it' simply gorgeous and I love all about it!
So clever and so beautiful!
Have a good rest of the week - thinking of you and Bonita!

Big hugs,Susi

Mac Mable said...

What a real treat for us. Such a wonderful project and perfect for this time of year. The vintage necklace has been put to fabulous use and is stunning. The inside of the album is super cute and absolutely unique and wonderful. Yes I love to write down notes too. One special little album, so artsy and absolutely stunning....I love it....x

JFM said...

Fantastic mini-album!
Gorgeous cover and very creative with your materials!
Love it Tracey ❤❤❤

Karen Petitt said...

Absolutely stunning - and it's no shame not having the mountboard as you were so creative with your re-purposing huni. Thank you for the lovely comment, I have missed your beautiful creations but hopefully now I will be upto visiting everyone again! I'm ashamed to say that I have this die and haven't used it yet. I must try it out, thank you lovely lady xx

Valerie-Jael said...

Happy PPF and have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

sirkkis said...

Your mini album is incredible gorgeous. A deep bow from my corner.
Happy PPF and weekend xx

Linda Kunsman said...

This is such a gorgeous little book Tracey!! I love the whole vintage look and the details in the colors and bits are super. Happy PPF!

Ayala Art said...

Totally gorgeous!

Maura said...

What a cool album! Wow, so much in here to look at! It really has the feel of something very old. Thanks for sharing with us at Sandee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenges! Maura

carol l mckenna said...

What a truly beautiful and divine creation ~ Wonderful!

Happy Days to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

DVArtist said...

Tracey this is just magnificent. You have created something that speaks volumes to people. Your creative spirit shines through with this. Plus I love that you showed step by step.

Anonymous said...

Your art work is not only beautiful, but very creative at that!

Astrid Maclean said...

A stunning album with amazing textures,gorgeous patina colours too, each little corner looks amazing, - wish I could touch it :o) How wonderful Eileen is sponsoring MAM!
Happy Sunday and have a good week!

Anne (cornucopia) said...

This is beautiful. Great use of the cross from the necklace. Nice vintage look to this.

craftysahmiam said...

Stunning project, so much time and love went into making it. Terrific way to repurpose "trash" into treasure, too. Thank you for sharing your process and project with us at Love To Craft.

sarascloset said...

Wow, Tracey! Your mini is maxi on style and vintage beauty! I love how you improvised (Those Lucky Charms are magically delicious!) not having any greyboard on hand. And that necklace has been given a very wonderful second life as a stunning centerpiece on the front cover and spine! Sensational work, my friend! Hugs!

BLOGitse said...

Amazing! Beautiful! You rock! :)

craftytrog said...

Wow! A fabulous project Tracey, and great use of that gorgeous jewelled cross! xxx

Darnell said...

I mean, what can I say?! This creation just blows me away, Tracey! Thank you so much for doing the photo tute so I can sit and follow along with my jaw laying on my keyboard!! Hugs, Darnell

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a stunning mini journal! I'm in awe of how you transformed all those mediums, the finish is so beautiful - I love it 😁. You are such an amazing artist! Thanks for the inspiration and wishing you a happy new week! J 😊 x
p.s. Sorry I'm so late visiting, it was my birthday on Wednesday and I've been celebrating with family and friends every day, I just need to catch up with everyone here in blogland now ...lol 😉. Creative wishes! J 😊 x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Just gorgeous, love it to bit. Happy creating, Angela xXx

NatureFootstep said...

Wow, I´m impressed. Such beautiful mini jornals. Truly work of arats :)

Jane said...

A lovely journal! So much texture on the cover. Thanks for joining our Easter/Spring challenge over at Country View xx

Lace Age Girl said...

Tracey, your journal is unique and stunning. I love the recycled jewellery you've used here. I bet you had such fun putting it together. Wishing you a creative week,
Hugs,
Jesse

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

This looks amazing! That laser cut frame if perfect for the cover!

AO Creations said...

Super cute!!! Thank you for joining us at LTCC, good luck!!! Amy DT

Corrie Herriman said...

Great project ! Thank you for joining our April Challenge over at Country View Challenges !
Corrie x

Jane Elizabeth France said...

Oh well, I love all things eileen hull atm, and I can't tell you how much I adore your Easter journal, I too have started to collect old bits of jewellery to add to my new obsession... Eileen hull treasure box!!!. What a fabulous find that beautiful cross is, and as usual... you done it proud. The signatures are so cute, and the spine is gorrrrrgeous. Xxx

Judy McKay said...

Beautiful mini book. Love the design and texture. Thank you for joining us at Altered Eclectics this month. Judy DT

Diana Taylor said...

This is just stunning - I love the paint effects and the beaded necklace is just amazing - what a fabulous find. And it just goes to show it's all about the creativity and not about having the 'right' products - how talented to make something so beautiful out of a cereal box, and who would know? Next time I'm not going to shelve an idea, I'm going to improvise! Fabulous and inspiring.
Diana x

Claudia N. said...

A beautiful project - inside and out! Love every detail and you have paid so much attention to detail with this amazing piece of art! Thank you for sharing it with us at SanDee&amelie's Steampunk Challenges!

Claudia x