A Christmas Mini Album

So, when I discovered mini albums awhile back I thought they were the living end.  Small canvas, specific theme, totally control the number of pages ... seemed the perfect answer for a procrastinating former scrapbooker like me.  But surprise, surprise I find these mini albums as challenging as the full-size 12 x 12 ones.  It's hard to walk that fine line between photos being small enough to fit the page and still recognizable by the reader.  The same is true with embellishments - full-size embellishments take up far too much space.  But I found this was a great place to break out my Slice machine - with the ability to cut dies in different sizes using such wonderful discs was just great (pardon me, while I gush about Making Memories and Slice here.)  So for better or worse here they are, photoing the little album was a tough one but I hope you get the idea of "it" all.

Christmas 2009

Details
Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Cardstock: SU Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Bravo Burgundy, Kiwi Kisses (Retired), and Whisper White
Ink: SU Real Red and Basic Black.

Markers:  SU Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue
Embellishments:  Making Memories Slice Mistletoe Disc and let's just say lots of stuff :-)
Ribbon: SU Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon 3/8", Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain, 5/8" (Retired), Whisper White Satin 5/8", American Crafts Light Blue Grosgrain 3/8", and Marcella K Fresh Paint Ribbon Blue 3/8"
Stamps:  SU Mr. Twigster and Cute & Curly
Design: I would say my own but I am sure I "saw" it somewhere.


Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Post Christmas update and wishes

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted to this blog. If intentions only counted, right? It's been a very busy Christmas holiday. I spent over a month making cards and then sent only a handful out the day BEFORE Christmas - next year I will start in May. I did a few other small paper crafting projects forgive the lack of pictures - it would take me another month if I endeavored to add them to this post.

For Christmas David surprised me with a Slice. It's a nifty little machine that is so much easier to use than the Cricut and I am quite taken with it. It does have problem with my beautiful SU card stock but I am hoping that somehow it magically resolves that problem. Shhhh - it keeps me happy to believe my own little illusion. Actually, I received the Slice a few weeks back, David bought it on Ebay and the seller wrote on the outside of the shipping box what it was - since I'm home to bring in the mail ... you can figure it out. He was quite disappointed, I was of course giddy (he really proved that he IS listening when I prattle on about my beloved paper crafting.)

The children have opened and scattered the pieces to EVERY gift they have received. This year David is insisting that we allow them to open and play with whatever they choose whenever they decide. It's about to kill me I was taught to put things up and play with them one at a time ... wisely Christmas could last well into March. Wait, that sounds very un-childlike. Probably explains a whole lot.

Wow, the house has suddenly gone eerily quite and I'm getting nervous. Take care, have a wonderful holiday season and may your New Year be everything you wished for.

the eyes of my child

A Christmas layout?  Yes, a Christmas layout.  A small one ... bear with me.  This LO was taken from the Stampalooza's Monthly Scrapbook Challenge on the SU Demo board on SCS.  When I started this project I had the date set as April 15, 2009 but it was actually 2008.  I was too far in to back so I pressed on.  The sketch was done as 12" x 12" and I wanted to do a 6" x 6" so I reworked it.  I think I kept most of the design elements but you take a look and judge.

As I look back on Christmas there was so much going on that I missed, but it's in their eyes, the fear (holidays were not exactly top priority in their previous situation) the excitement and the homesickness.  We tried to make it as much fun as we knew how.  However, it was our first Christmas with these little people.  Having never experienced a Turner & Baty holiday (tendency to go over the top) we of course overwhelmed them.  They did stop opening presents to go off and play!?!  Add to everything a sudden bout of flu the adults experienced on that morning and the photos will never make it into the hallowed walls of Olan Mills.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps.