Wedding Mini Album

Hi there. This week's big project is a mini album that I did for my lovely helper. Remember a few posts ago when I made a wedding layout for her, this time I made a mini album for a few of her favourite wedding photos. Just a few but they highlight the ceremony. I just love the outfits and colours of the wedding party and I wanted to echo that a little in the album. Where the layout was brighter and paler, I went with more romantic, muted colours for the album.

Wedding Mini Album

I created a 6.5" x 7.5" album with a 3" spine, which I covered in black cardstock. I then cut out patterned paper panels to cover each page and the outside of the album.

A lot of the flowers and trim were already in my stash.

I glued in two white ribbons under the cover papers to fasten the album.

I love all the romantic flowers, lace and trims. The metal accents and cabochons are also from my stash.

You can get a glimpse of the inside, where I die cut some doilies and also used lace to trim the photos.

Each photo is accented by a flower cluster and I added a pocket to the back inside page so she can add notes or more photos.

I finished with some metal corners to make the album more durable.

My helper absolutely loves the album and she is so happy with it. It's already been packed away for her to take home.

Products Used

Patterned papers from various designers, including Prima and Marion Smith

Flowers, wooden veneers and metal 'love' tag from Prima Marketing

Metal accents, lace, bling trim, pearl trim, sequins and sequin flowers all from stash, locally sourced

Metal corner accents, metal date label tag from Tim Holtz Ideo-logy

Distress Ink Hickory Smoke by Tim Holtz for Ranger

Thanks for dropping by,

Happy Mother's Day

Short post today. Happy Mother's Day to all those who celebrate today. It's a day to show appreciation to Mums everywhere and this is one that I made for mine. She loves looking at my layouts and I realized I haven't really made that many projects for her and I haven't done a mini album in a while. The kit I used had loads of diecuts and embellishments, so it came together very quickly.

Mother's Day Mini Album

Just a few papers and flowers layered together make a pretty cover.

 Sweet tag from Miss C.

I gathered up a bunch of reprints that were used on layouts already and quickly cut them to size. Each page is a 12" x 4" piece, folded in half with a punched edge.

From there, just pour out a pack or two of embellishments and get sticking away. 

Products Used

Papers, die cuts, chipboards, stickers from Crate Paper Oh Darling collection

Flowers from Prima Marketing

Silver Thickers from American Crafts

Cinch binders from We R Memory Keepers

Pumice Stone distress ink from Tim Holtz

Now, go out and spend the day with your Mum or get a little pampering from your littles (or bigs) and enjoy the day. Oh, and just to say that my Mum loved the album.

Thanks for dropping by,

Gifts and Farewells

Hello all,

The end of June brings the start of the summer holidays for Miss C. It also means the end of a school year and saying goodbye to classmates and her beloved teachers. Apart from all the gift coupons and spa vouchers that are an inevitable part of the teacher's gifts, we thought we'd add a personal touch with something handmade. There are so many ideas out there and I sat, scratching my head for two days, wondering what to make. I finally settled on a magnet board.

Magnet Board

 A 12" x 12" framed magnet board, covered in school themed papers. I added a layer of clear contact paper, so it can be used with non-permanent markers.

I made some magnet buttons with clear glass bevels and more school themed papers.

Sweet little message from Miss C under the photo. This can be removed so her teacher can use the whole board.

Products Used

Papers from Bazzill Papers School Days collection and cardstock

If you read my title, you see I wrote farewells, with an S. It was also the same time that I had to say goodbye to a friend who is leaving Hong Kong for good. Our kids went to playgroup together and we always stayed in touch as a group even when our kiddies went on to different kindergartens and grade schools.

I wanted something for her to remember her time here and what's better than a mini album. Been a while since I did one, so I was very happy to get one going.

Friends Mini Album

You know I love my flowers. Couldn't resist covering the album in them.

I love the scallop album, even if I can't remember which brand it was.

I combined two paper lines for the album, added flowers, bling and lace to bulk it up.

 

Unfortunately, I don't have the full products list as I forgot to mark it down, although there are Webster's Pages papers from two years ago, Prima flowers and Petaloo flowers.

It was enough to see the look on my friend's face when she got the album. I hope it will help her remember the good times we all had together.

Thanks for looking,

Ribbon Spool Mini Album Class

Hi there,

It's been another busy few days here. I finished a couple more layouts - again, I need to wait to show them as the papers haven't actually been shipped yet, but let's just say, that they are the cutest papers from Echo Park. I can't wait to share the layouts with you.

My other project, which I'm absolutely in love with and couldn't keep to myself, is this ribbon spool album. I'd been dying to do this for ages and ages, ever since I saw a version of it online and wanted to do it as a class. I cannot remember where I saw it though. December and January have been looney, but finally, I had time to sit down and do it. It's all flowery and dreamy and romantic, lots of bling and glitter. So gorgeous in real life. I'm really in love with this. Did I say that already?

Ribbon Spool Mini Album

The spool measures 4" wide by 3" tall. I love the papers used - Prima Fairy Belle. So soft and beautiful.

I added machine stitching as a decoration. This is optional as the papers are actually reinforced on the inside.

Love all the gorgeous flowers and accents.

The album itself, when unwound, is approximately 34" long. It's up to you how long you want to make it, depending on what photos you want to use.

Another angle of the album. I haven't opened it up fully for the pictures as it would be too long to fit in one shot.

 

I placed the album title on the inside panel as I wanted the album to not look like an album, if you know what I mean. It just looks like a decorated spool from the outside. That way, your viewer gets a surprise when they open it up.

I'll be holding this class at the HKMC shop in Sheung Wan. Again, you can contact Erika at info@hkmemorychestonline.com or ring the shop at +(852) 2559 0175 if you would like to join me in making a beautiful keepsake. You can bring photos in if you want or mount them at home once the album is done. If you do bring photos, they should not be taller than 3". The ones I used in my album are 2.5" tall by 1.6" wide.

Class Dates

21st February (Thursday)

7pm to 10pm

26th February (Tuesday)

7pm to 10pm

Class Fee
HK$500.00, including all materials. Photos to be brought in by student, if used. See above for photo sizes.

Hope to see you there,

Art Journal Album - The Inside Pages

Hi all.  Sorry, it's been a while since I posted. It's been a bit hectic these last two weeks with Miss C back in school and having to arrange her activities and play dates again. Seems like there is no time for myself. I've also been creating layouts for HKMC in between all this but I can't show them to you yet. It's all a surprise for now. I promise I'll be able to share them after they are launched.

For now though, I'm posting the insides of the art journal I did last week. I find art journals are very personal and when creating them, be as honest as you can in what you want to convey. They are illustrated diaries in the end.

As I said previously, this art journal will be my September and October class. Why two? We will do the covers and assembly in the first class and concentrate on the contents for the second. It will be up to you whether you want to just do the first one or both.

Here are some sneak peeks on the insides. There is a lot of inking, stamping, embossing and die cutting.

The details for the classes follow. Both parts are taught twice so you can choose which of the two dates you want to attend.

Part 1
Creating the covers and putting the album together.
Dates: 25th (Tuesday) and 27th (Thursday) September
Time: 7:30pm to 10pm

Part 2
Creating the inside contents of the album
Dates: 4th (Thursday) and 9th (Tuesday) October
Time: 7:30pm to 10pm

You can book a class through HKMC with Erika at info@hkmemorychestonline.com

Looking forward to seeing you then.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for more blog news as the HKMC team and I will be doing some Ellison eClips classes to showcase this wonderful machine. Classes will start in September, with the first on on the 18th.  Details to come.

A Little Art Journaling

What a lovely night last night. We went out with friends to celebrate my birthday. Got lots of wonderful presents and hubby was wonderful to take Miss C home to bed while I got to stay out with the girlfriends for a few drinks in town. It's been a while since I did that and it was really nice. Thanks, girls.

My lovely birthday cake. Gorgeous vanilla slice Napoleon from Agnes b.

Yesterday afternoon though, I spent time finishing off the cover of my art journal project. I think I 'll make this my September class. It's a tissue paper covered mini album with a concertina-folded interior. The pretty girl is actually a stamp by Suzi Blu. I attended one of her workshops during the Winter CHA 2012. Very eccentric free spirited artist. I love her drawings and she does online workshops teaching you how to draw her girls. It was in her workshop that I was introduced on how to create art journaling. I'd heard of it but not really done any and her class gave me the confidence boost needed to try it.

You know what? This is what art journaling is about. Feelings. Art therapy. Putting down your thoughts in imagery and colour. Doesn't matter if you're an advanced artist or someone like me who can't even draw circles properly. Just express yourself.

Now, I've only done the front and back covers and assembled the inside of this mini album and I will be filling it soon with lots more journaling. I'll do another post once I finish the inside.

Gel Medium Transfer Class

Hey there. I finally got to teach my mini album classes where I used gel medium over canvas to create these unique pages that look like they have been printed on. It's so lovely as you can see the canvas pop through and yet keep the image you want nice and clear. Everyone learnt how to use the gel medium as a transfer technique and also got to play with lots of flowers and trim.

I brushed on a layer of medium on the canvas before covering with paper, right side down. Let it dry completely and then, using water, soak the paper before rubbing it to reveal the underside, which has transferred to the canvas. Seal it with another layer of medium and you're good to go with the embellishments.

I added lots of flowers, bling, trim and doilies to my pages. The pictures were taken at Disneyland where Miss C got to dress up and get some pro pictures done. Look at her pose.

Miss C = Miss Cuteness

Here's Pam who's done with her cover.

Pam's cover. Isn't it gorgeous?

Angela, who is also one of our instructors at HKMC layering on her embellishments.

Another cover from my first class. I love the way she's cut around her photos before sticking them down.

I have one more of these classes on 19th June from 7:30 to 9:30pm so if you'd like to join, please email info@hkmemorychestonline.com to book.

Products Used
Canvas albums from Maya Road
Papers are from a range of companies
Multi Medium from Claudine Hellmuth for Ranger
Flowers, ribbons and trims sourced locally. (For my own album, there is a mixture of generic and Prima flowers)

Canvas Mini Album Class

I thought I'd give a sneak peek into a canvas album I'll be teaching in June at HKMC. This month, I taught a canvas mixed media class on how you could use gel mediums.

For this mini album, I will again be using gel mediums to teach a transfer technique. The album I've done uses a mixture of Pink Paislee papers and Prima flowers, however, since I used papers from my kit club, I may need to change them for papers stocked by HKMC for the classes.

Lots and lots of Prima flowers make me happy.

Pretty trim to frame your pictures.

A closer look at the transfer onto canvas.

This class will be held at HK Memory Chest in Sheung Wan on 6th (Wed) and 19th (Tue) June from 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Sign up early as I will only be able to have 6-8 students per class.

Products Used (will be different from class kit)
Canvas mini album from Maya Road
Papers from Pink Paislee's Sweetness 2010 Collection (discontinued)
Flowers various from Prima Marketing
Jewelled swirl bling from Zva Creatives
Ribbons, trims and doilies sourced locally

On the same note, for my May class, I will be teaching the Authentique treasure box class on 15th and 22nd May, again from 7:30pm - 9:30pm so don't forget to sign up for this one too.

May Class project