Folded Mini Album/Journal

     A while back, on a sleepless weekend night,  I have decided to try to create something a bit different from just a regular card. I have started with a luminary with hand stamped and colored vellum panels, but after getting almost everything cut, colored and ready, I’ve put it aside… That project is still gathering dust today; maybe I will complete it while I am recovering from surgery…

     The second project I have started that night was a folded “Mini Album or Journal“… I had some Stampin’ Up textured cardstock in Always Artichoke and decided to work with that color as a base for the mini album and its coordinating box. Then, the hunt for coordinating pattern papers started… Anyone who took a peek inside my craft room becomes quickly aware of the huge amount of “goodies” packed in that room… I did – ever so briefly – considered getting rid of some of those items, but I could not decide what should go and what should stay… So, I am keeping it all!

     But I’ve digressed…

     After about 90min of looking through all my pattern papers, I have final decided on three patterns that were muted enough for my taste and worked well with each other… So I started with a template that I had to rework and resize; then I had to decide on what pattern papers would work best on the inside pages (where I had envisioned photos and even journaling…)  The cream and light olive seemed perfect, especially layered on the funky rustic plaid! The front of the Mini Album got the muted, rusty stripes…

     As for the box that the Mini Album goes into, creating that simple item seemed to be the biggest challenge: the measurements were off, the folds were less than crisp, the Tacky Tape would find its way on the wrong side of the template… Quite frustrating, until I realized I was completely caffeine deprived! A fresh pot of java perked my brain right up, and the Mini Album/Journal and its box were finished and done before sunrise! And I had to embellish that box a bit, without adding lots of bulk and weight, so I have added a strip of patterned paper that I’ve punched with a Scalloped Doily punch…

     Bit new and different for me, as well as out of my comfort zone – but what would life be without a personal challenge every now and then…?!

     Hope you have enjoyed your stay… Happy weekend!