*special delivery*- mini album PART 2

A number of you have emailed me or left comments on my last post requesting instructions for the toilet paper tube mini album. I found the tutorial on the demonstrator side of the Stampin' Up website, which explains why many of you are not able to find it. I'm not sure if I have the right to post a link to the tutorial directly here. Julie Griffith wrote the tutorial, and if you go to her blog, you can see a few of the toilet paper tube mini albums she created and a video of different ways she binds them together. It really is super easy to make, and I'm confident that you can do it without the instructions. In fact, I jumped right in and didn't really even read the instructions step by step myself. I'll outline a few things that are good to know, and you'll have no trouble creating one of these on your own.

Start off by flattening 3 or 4 toilet paper tubes. I just smashed them down with my hand and then ran a bone folder across the edges. You can either completely cover the flattened tubes with patterned paper or you can paint them with craft paints and then partially cover them, which is what I did. I opted to use papers from a spiral journaling album by Making Memories, and they weren't big enough to cover the tubes completely. Here's a suggestion if you're planning on stamping most of the pages: Stamp the pages BEFORE you adhere your paper to the tube. That way if you make a mistake, at least your paper won't already be glued down to the tube. I used my crop-a-dile to punch two holes in the left side of the tubes to bind the little album together. That leaves the right side open to insert little tags inside of the tubes. I don't know the exact size of the inserts because I just held up a piece of cream colored cardstock to one of the tubes and marked it a little bit smaller than the tube. Here's another suggestion: Punch the holes and insert the eyelets into the tubes BEFORE making the inserts. Otherwise your inserts (tags) will be too long. I bound my mini album together with binder rings. I originally used small ones and discovered they were so small I could barely turn the pages. The next size I had seemed way too big, so I tied matching ribbons around them. It's times like this when a nice ribbon stash comes in handy!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thanks so much for your interest in my little project and all your sweet words. They really made my day!

*special delivery* mini album

I spent a little time today creating this mini album for my mother-in-law. She just had surgery, and I wanted to send her something special. I found a tutorial for a toilet paper tube mini album on the Stampin' Up website, and it's the perfect size! I'd really like to get this in the mail this weekend, and I knew if I picked something too big I would end up putting tons of time into it, and I'd be lucky if I got it in the mail by the end of the month!

Here's a peek at each of the tubes... I mean pages. Do they look familiar? I *borrowed* a few ideas from some of the cards I've made recently. What a time saver!

The next three pictures show the inserts that fit inside each of the pages. I *borrowed* the idea for this flower from the talented Julie Ebersole.

I think I'll have my write a little something to their grandma on the back of this insert. Grandmas love notes from their grandkids!

I will definitely be making one of these again! It's kind of funny that the pages are made out of toilet paper tubes. They make for nice sturdy pages, that's for sure! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fun weekend planned... with some time for stamping, of course!

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Toilet paper tubes. Folk Art vintage white and linen craft paints. Patterned papers by Making Memories. Snail, tall grass, and flower stamps; special delivery, just because, miss you, hoo loves you, and feel better soon sentiments; pink tutu sheer ribbon by A Muse. Flower eyelets by Oriental Trading Company. Fruit punch stickles. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist. Clear spica glitter pen. Stampin' Up kiwi kiss, riding hood red, tangerine tango classic inks; blender pen; markers; watercolor paper; dimensionals; owl, branch, and mouse images. In our thoughts and prayers sentiment by Melissa Frances. Ketto images by Stamping Bella. Binder rings from WalMart office section. Peach satin ribbon by Ribbon fx. Green grosgrain ribbon by JoAnn Craft Essentials.

*hello, friend* - GRAC19

I had some brackets left over after making this card for the A Muse Lounge Challenge yesterday. Then I remembered Glenda's latest Random Amusing Challenge to use up those scraps, and I just had to play along! I stamped Ivy Ketto on a scrap of watercolor paper and punched out the little tag from a scrap of natural cardstock. This was a great challenge and the perfect opportunity to put some scraps to good use!
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A Muse notecard, kitchen orange cardstock, ribbon, and sentiments. Ivy Ketto by Stamping Bella. Rich cocoa memento ink. Timber brown stazon ink. Stampin' Up blender pens, reinkers, markers, sanding block, and dimensionals. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist. EK Success brackets punch. Marvy scalloped rectangle punch.

*snail mail* - ACM04

The latest A Muse Lounge Challenge is called *Think Simple, Think A Muse*. How appropriate! After all, that's what A Muse is all about! I whipped up this card in no time, probably 10 minutes or less, and what took me the longest was deciding on the color of brackets! It's a fun and easy challenge, so when you get a minute, why not play along?
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A Muse notecard, pink chiffon paper, images, sentiment, and ribbon. EK Success bracket punch. Stampin' Up kiwi kiss, tangerine tango, and riding hood red classic inks; blender pen; chocolate chip marker; and dimensionals. Timber brown Stazon ink. Canson watercolor paper. Fruit punch Stickles. Clear spica glitter pen.

*you make my heart sing*

I was visiting Kristina Werner's blog today, and she mentioned that she was obsessed with rounding corners on everything. She asked if there was anything crafty her readers were obsessing over at the moment, and it got me thinkin'. For me, there are actually several things. The first thing that came to mind was how much I love adding grass to my scenes. I think it's because it adds such fun texture. No, I don't normally add *pink* grass, but I do love pink, and since this is card is a bit on the whimsical side, I think it works. Another one of my obsessions is pop dots. I love the dimension they create, and they just make your card more visually interesting.

I bought the coolest wrapping paper a few weeks ago, and I liked it so much I decided to use it on this card. It's the black background paper with the big white polka dots. It's a little bit flimsy, which makes it kind of hard to use, but it's a fun way of using up your scraps of wrapping paper. It's also hard to sand, and you can definitely notice the sanding marks. I like them to be more subtle, but oh well.

Maisy Ketto is so cute! I think it's her cute little bloomers and those big shoes that I love so much! And I adore this tree! It took me a while to cut out all those leaves, but it was worth it!

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Maisy Ketto by Stamping Bella. Branching Out set by Taylored Expressions. Bella Rose designer paper, kiwi kiss cardstock, white craft ink, blender pen, markers, dimensionals, and sanding block by Stampin' Up. Timber brown stazon ink. Clear spica glitter pen. Tattered Angels pearl glitter mist. Wrapping paper. Canson watercolor paper. A Muse twinkle stickers, pink chiffon paper, and sentiment. Rich cocoa memento ink.

*another thank you*

Aren't these daisy hippos fun? I couldn't resist adding them to my last Stamping Bella order. They would be cute for lots of occasions, and I can't wait to use them on a baby card. The funky little flower stamped in the background is from My Cute Stamps. I've been eyeing a few of their sets and just couldn't hold out any longer! I made this for some dear friends who surprised my daughter with the sweetest dress. Cindy's favorite color is purple, so I just HAD to find a way to use it on her card. I'm somewhat challenged when it comes to the color purple, but I have to admit that I love that purple hippo!
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A Muse notecard, papers, and sentiment. Daisy hippo by Stamping Bella. Spunky Nature set by My Cute Stamps. ColorBox ice blue ink. Stampin' Up sanding block, dimensionals. white craft ink, blender pens, watercolor paper, and markers. Rich cocoa memento ink. Stazon timber brown ink. Clear spica glitter pen. MayArts pink gingham ribbon. Deco scissors from Michaels.

*thank you*

I made this card for a little boy in my daughter's kindergarten class. To make a long story short, Livi lost her glasses at school last week, and Noah ended up finding them. That wonderful little boy saved me from having to buy her another pair, so I'm extremely thankful! I'm not sure that he'll appreciate the card, but I'm certain he'll love what's inside... a WalMart gift certificate. Livi says he loves Star Wars, so it's my guess that he'll be picking himself out a new Star Wars toy... and he deserves it!

The background was inspired by this beautiful card by my fellow Muse, Novell.
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Sentiment and papers by A Muse. Miles the Dragonfly (Huggabug) by Stamping Bella. Branch, balloon, blender pen, markers, crystal effects, sponge dauber, sanding block, and dimensionals by Stampin' Up. Marvy circle punch (used as template). ColorBox ice blue chalk ink. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist. Clear spica glitter pen. Heidi Swapp edge distressor.