A Fun and Easy Mini Album: Tutorial

Here's a cute little mini album, made similar to the ones the gals on the Alaskan cruise made a few months ago.  I like that it starts with just 1 sheet of 12 X 12" CS and then you add scraps to embellish it.  It will hold 8 little inserts, which can be used for pictures and/or stamped images and messages.
Tip:  All the measurements you'll need are at the end of this post.

Score at 3, 6 and 9" on one side.

Turn and score at 2, 6 and 10" in the other side.

Leaving the 2, 6 and 10" side facing vertically, cut up the middle until you reach the last horizontal score line.  Stop there.

Here's how it will look after you've cut.

 Fold the 2" flaps in on each side.

Fold as shown.

Attach the 2 middle pieces, back to back, to hold it into a 'book' position.

Make the belly band be loose enough to easily slip on and off the book.  You can add a stamped piece to the front of the belly band or, as shown, add a medallion.  (DSP measurements are at end of this post.)
Tip:  See my post on making medallions, along with a wreath, in an earlier post:  November 1, 2011.

I've added a small piece of DSP to the front of the 'book' and then attached a slightly larger piece folded around the left edge of the 'book' like a book binding.

Here are the little inserts that you can use to fit into the pockets.  (Be sure to glue the outside edges of the 'pockets' shut to hold the inserts.

This is a quick, fun and easy project that can be adapted to various seasons or themes to fit most any occasion.  This would make a nice little gift or a brag book for your purse.

Here are the measurements for the DSP pieces:
DSP layer on front of mini album (optional) = 2 3/4 X 3 3/4"
DSP 'binding' to go around spine of album    = 4 X 4"
DSP belly band                                               = 8 1/2 X 1"
DSP strip for medallion                                  = 12 X 1"

CS for tags for pockets                                   = 2 1/2 X 3 3/4"

More Christmas!

I am having so much fun playing with the new stocking die.  I used our Frostwood Lodge DSP and CS (embossed) for the stockings and made several at once.  You can embellish as much or little as you wish.  I'll be showing you more stockings soon that have more of a vintage look, with lots of details and embellishments.
Today's are a little more simple, to show you how you can quickly create several stockings quickly that look great, especially with our new cherry cobbler ribbon!

Here's a close-up of a medallion (lollie) with felt embellishments.  It's on the cuff of the stocking.
Tip:
To embellish and create a loop (for hanging) all in one step, loop your ribbon in 1/2, poke it up through the hole in the cuff to the front and tie a knot.  It embellishes the front and yet has enough of a loop to hang it, too.  Quick and easy!

Here's an ornament I made with 2 medallions attached back to back.

Close-up of how they're attached.
Tip:
Loop your ribbon and hide the ends in the center between the 2 medallions.

Close-up:

I embellished with our cute little felt pieces.  The red felt is such a shade of red that it actually works with our Real Red AND our Cherry Cobbler.