Wedding Anniversary Trip

 Hi Friends,

  

This morning I'm sharing an  easy mini album you can make using your 4x6 post cards and 3x4 Artist Trading Cards (ATC's).   This little treasure will have you thinking up all kinds of occasions you can stash in this beautiful, yet simple, easy and fun way to keep memories! 

Let me start by saying that this is a companion to a vertical paper bag tutorial I did of our Wedding Day.  Both albums are made from Prima's Stationer paper and embellishments. The Wedding Album has a step by step tutorial and is for more advanced crafters.  This mini album is for all skill levels, so a little something for everyone! 

While I still need to add journaling to this mini, lets get take a look at some close ups then I'll finish up with a few simple "how to" instructions.

       

29th Wedding Anniversary Dinner View

Beachfront Restaurant and Hotel

Dini's by the Sea Restaurant, South Carlsbad, CA

Richard and I all fat and happy from dinner!  lol

Sunset at Camp

Morning Lookout Over the Cliffs

Enjoying the Surf

Four Hours of Surf = One Happy Guy!

Cloudy Evening Sunset

Home Sweet Home

Cliff Side View

Sunshine & Rummy Cube

Beautiful Evening Sunset

Sunset Over the Campground

Evening Fireside

South and Southwest Ocean View

South & Northwest View

Northern Fence Line View

Back Cover and Trinket Chain

Well Friends, that's it for my goodies today.  The remainder of this post is for a supplies list and a few simple steps on how to create one of these mini's.

Thank you  for dropping by to have a look.  If you haven't been by before, please feel free to "follow" this blog or sign-up for emails to see whats next.  If you have a minuted to leave a comment, I'd love to know you were by for a visit!  Enjoy your day and I hope your inspired to create something from the heart!  Hugs ~ Dawna
 

Supplies List

1 pk 4 x 6 Post Cards
1 pk 3 x 4 ATC Cards
Adhesive Runner
White Glue
Eyelets
Crop a Dillie
Paper Trimmer
2 ea 2" Clasp Rings
Prima Resin Frame
Two Wooden Doves Stained Walnut
Wink of Luna Pen in Metal
Walnut Stain to Antique Metal Colored Frame
Foam Tape to Lift and Adhere Frame on Three Sides
3 ea. Black Roses
2 ea. Red Roses
2 ea. Cream Roses
Stickles
3 ea. Green Leaves
4 ea. Stick Pins
2 ea. Brass Corners for Front Cover Edges
Tim Holtz Clasp Chain & Selection of Personalized Trinkets - Attach to Chain with Jump Rings 
Jute Sting
4 Types of Ribbon to Finish Off Rings & Use on Tags
Corner Rounder (optional)

Directions

Chose your favorite images for the front and back covers and set aside.  Using a 4 x 6 scratch card stock to create a template for your front cover.  Use your Crop a Dille to make 3/16" hole at 1 and 1/2" from the right side and left side of the card at 1/2" away from the top edge.  Mark both spots for holes and set your orange Crop a Dillie slide stop at 1/2" to stop the top of each card at the same depth with each punch.  You will use this set up to punch all your cards after they are prepared.  Note that pictures are mounted directly onto these cards, there is no special framing or matting, making this super easy!

Now lets assemble all your pages for punching.  Beginning with your front cover card, adhere two 4 x 6 cards together with adhesive tape, use a corner rounder, if you wish.   Keep your adhesive close to the edges throughout this process.  Set your front cover aside to decorate when your done adhering all your 4 x 6 cards together and punching them. 

Now decide which cards you'd like to use for photos and which cards you'd like to use for pockets.  To create pockets, take your 2 x 3 ATC's and turning them sideways, using your paper to paper glue (not your adhesive tape as it will not hold anything in the pockets without falling apart) glue 3 sides down leaving the top open to tuck in tags.  Repeat until you have created all the journaling tag pockets you'd like to have in this album. 

To make your journaling tags, punch a 3/16" hole with your Corp a Dilie and set an eyelet in the center 1/2" from the top.  Take a 5" jute string, folding it in half, push the fold through the back toward the front of the tag then pull the ends through the loop created.  Pull the jute string until it is snug against the tag.  You can create a 1-3 tags per pocket until you are happy with what you have.  You can alternate the jute for ribbon as you like.  These ATC cards are the perfect size for making these simple journaling tags. 

One you have all your pages punched and pockets made, distress all the pages and their pockets and tags.  You can even use some walnut stain to 'antique' any cream ribbon you choose to use.  Slip a piece of scratch paper into the tag pocket to distress the edge without getting ink on the whole pocket. 

Now its time to do the fun part, the front page!  First take your Wink of Luna "Metal" colored pen and paint the whole front of the frame.  Then use walnut stain to antique the metal color being sure to hit all the nooks and cranny's.  Once dry and allowing enough room for a picture to be inserted into the frame, trim your foam tape along three sides (leave top open) and center it onto your front cover.  Working with your flowers, leaves, and stickpins arrange them into the desired cluster and affix them to the front at the corner of the frame.  Finish off with some Diamond stickles to give it a bit of sparkle.  Add your Claps chain and desired trinkets and voila!  

 

Well there you have it, sweet and simple!   I hope you were able to follow along and create your own mini album to enjoy. If you have questions please feel free to ask and I'll get back with you.  Again thank you for dropping by and may I wish you a perfectly wonderful day! ~ Dawna

Daddy's Girl

Morning Friends,

Catching up on a few posts this morning and here's a very simple layout I did for my Dad's Family Heritage Album.  I was working on this one when I went to visit him in July, and he asked if I could make him one for his book.  

So I decided to do this one and two others, my Great Grandpa William Henry Spencer and my Grandpa Ira Spencer too.  I have two new pictures of them both which would be great additions to his book.  

 

I used Graphic 45's older collection ABC Primer for this layout, which dad really liked, so I kept it quick and easy for him.   Here's just a few more close-ups of these lovely open fret work leaves and flowers, new Prima dies, that I'm totally crazy about right now:

 

I need to add a little journaling tag to one of the flower clusters to make note of the title and my age.  I look like I'm wearing a school dress, but I'm only three so just wishful thinking I'm sure. 

Well friends that's it for this post.  Thank you for dropping by and may I wish you all a perfectly wonderful day!  Big Hugs ~ Dawna

Friendship Swap Gifts from ILovePapalons

Morning Friends,

Today I'm sharing goodies I revived from my dear friend Glenda (aka ILovePapalons at sb.com) for our recent friendship swap.   She is so talented, always inspires me and is such a sweetheart.   I am very lucky to have her in my life and enjoy her friendship.   When this package arrived, well she sure out did herself  on this swap!   So much goodness, I oohed and awed for weeks while I had these on display for everyone to enjoy.  

Let's take a close look at the hanging banner she made.  Its oh so shabby with so many fine details, it deserves a few close ups to take it all in.  By the way, my favorite color palette is soft aquas.  She certainly nailed this on the head!   

Here's the first "Follow Your Heart"  panel which shows off so many pretty elements, including this stunning  peacock dress form:

"Follow Your Heart Panel" 1

There are so many beautiful elements to this panel, the lovely lace, zig-zag trim, organza ribbon, gold tassel, pretty roses, and the lovely organza bows tying them all together.  I have no idea where she found this fantastic peacock dress form, but she knows I love everything vintage too so I can see why she featured this beautiful element.  Then there is the vintage key and sweet sentiment, I love them both! 

Here's the next panel:

"Its the Journey not the Destination" Panel 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh so true!  Now it doesn't get more angelic than this!  beautiful papers, fairies, pillars, even a vintage "D" for my name, lovely roses, pearls, music (which is my favorite past time) and more organza bows tying everything together.  Love the stickpins, petite rose buds, and the framing of pretty pearls, everything is so elegant!  

Next Up:

"Laugh Often, Love Much" Panel 3

Knowing Glenda she handmade the beautiful stickpins and that amazing organiza flower on the dressform, oh so pretty!

Love the header with the beautiful gold overlayed swirls, the beautiful cameo, vintage tape measure and stunning frame and dress work!  Again, so elegant!  And see that tiny, itty bitty gold shoe peaking out from behind that skirt?  Perfect finishing touch! <3 p="">
Last banner: 

"Enjoy Life!"  Panel 4

There is no end to Glenda's inspiration!  Love that peacock dress form, vintage lace, organza flowers and ribbons, handmade stickpins, beautiful sentiments, tulle butterfly and all the finishing pearl touches.  Just lovely my friend, just lovely!  <3 nbsp="" p="">

Then if that wasn't enough, she also sent me these three lovely gifts also, yes, she totally went overboard an spoiled me!  

"Keys to Our Hearts" Pillow

Mini Pearl Bottle

Watering Can Pin Cushion

You can't see the pin at the top of the watering can but its a blue butterfly, perfect way to top off such a love set of gifts!  I can assure you Glenda that these beautiful gifts will inspire me for many, many years to come my dear friend!  Thank you so much for your amazing generosity! 

Well that's it for me today.  If you liked this post, please feel free to follow this blog or sign-up for emails to see whats next.  If you have a minute to leave a message, thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you dropped by!  Until next time, create something from your heart and be inspired my friends!   Big Hugs  ~  Dawna

First Love - Daily Stories Collection by Teresa Collins

Morning Friends,

Today I'm sharing two sweetheart layouts of my grandson, Cade and his first girlfriend, Destiny.   They just started high school together this year and he is so smitten with her its adorable to see them together.  She is so sweet and beautiful and they are always posting how much they care about one another.  lets take a close peak at this ...young love:

Kissey, kissey!  Puts a smile on my face and makes me swoon just thinking about them! 

I kept it pretty simple here, treated the backgrounds with gesso and a one has a brick background and the other has a chicken wire background.  Did random areas then smeared them off to the side with my palette knife and let them dry.  Then I used a little bit of Prima Bloom Spray in light teal and stormy sky and did a few random spritzes here and there.   I sewed the edges randomly straight and zigzag, then distressed them.  Then I cut a few circles, one in teal the other in white.  I used the Martha Stewart corner punch of the Scalloped Teardrop to punch out the aqua circle.  Then for the white one, I embossed the circle, then hit the highlights with Wink of Luna pen in Silver. 

I hand made the flowers using flower shoppe for the Cricut.  But my favorite element on these pages are the wonderful open fret work leaf dies from Prima.  Gosh they are so pretty and delicate.  They shape very easily and add simple elegance to any layout.  Here's a close up with a few flowers, a few sequins and bingo cards.  You can see some of the brick work in the back ground and see these lovely leaves:

I love the way these two layouts compliment one another but do wish I had lighted both pictures up to the same tone before I glued them down!  Ugh...oh well scrap and learn!  lol  Destiny described their relationship on another picture she posted of these words written on a chalk board hanging next to a phone.  And, I have to agree, these definitely describe their young love!

Nothing creates a focal point like placing a circle around it.  Doing this makes them the center of attention of thee layouts.

Makes me feel young at heart again.  Well friends that's it from me this morning.  I hope you enjoyed these simple yet playful and fun layouts!

If you're new to the site, please feel free to 'follow' the blog or sign up for emails to see what's next.  If you have a minute to leave me a comment, I genuinely appreciate knowing you were by for a visit.  Thank you for dropping by and wishing you all a perfectly wonderful day! ~ Dawna

Dad's Britday Card

Hi Friends,  One more card to catch-up on posting my cards.  Here's a little something I made my Dad for his birthday in July.  Can't believe this one almost got a way from me.  I used the Tim Holtz Old Jalopy Car and modified it to make this great truck.

Kind of ironic since my did the same thing only in real life.  He took and old camper, cut off the camper shell, added a big sheet metal flat bed, side rails and viola!  He had an amazing truck!  I did a "Now and Then" layout of his vehicles when he was 15 and when he was 65, I just love the time lapse of these amazing pictures: 

Well he loved his card, and had a very special birthday!  Thanks it for me today friends.  Thank you for dropping by and may I wish you all a happy day! 

August Britday Card Club

Hi Friends,

Three of my friends from our birthday card club enjoyed birthdays in August.     First up is Susie Martin's or (aka scrapsmart) card which is featured above.  I used the Botanical Tea collection from Graphic 45 to create this pretty little card.  I layered the pretty rose card, gave it a peak a boo curl with some tucked in lace and pearls, and ruffled some lace around the pink flower.  Distressed the edges, popped up the card, and added a few embossed leafs for a finishing touch.  For the inside, I dd a little fussy cutting and punching here's what you get:

 

Then below is Heather's pretty pink flower and heart card.  Kathy taught these cards at our card class and I loved them!  So sweet, I knew my friends would love them too.  Which they did.

 

 Then this pretty soft purple lattice work card when to my pal Sandra.  I love the softness of this pretty card.  And it has the added surprise of a card within a card for your sentiment. 

Well friends that's it for my August Birthday Club.  Hope you have a wonderful day and may I wish you all a happy day!