Boston mini-book 2011

Yep. That title says 2011. I have a ton of unfinished projects around here (head nod, you know you do too). So I'm trying to tackle some of them. And today I finished the Boston album.

Last October, work wanted me to use some of my PTO (paid time off). So I thought I would visit my brother and his fiancee (now wife), But he has a life now, and a rather busy one, and the timing wasn't the best for them. So what's a girl to do with some approved PTO? Go visit her besties in Boston. By herself. Even though said girl (and her husband) were in Boston 4 months earlier for her Day of Love v.19.0.

So, for 4 days, I got to enjoy time with the boys (Freddie and Warren). And had a fabulous time.

Yes I did.

So here is a peek at some of the mini-book pagers:

Front cover (back cover same with map print). Album is actually a rectangle shape (see below).

Inside of front and back covers (paper with paint around edges).

Inside pages are black (book came that way). I added some bright pieces of paper to about half the pages. This is the only embellishment in the book, Otherwise just my awesome white gel pen sharing the stories.

 

I tore half the pages out of the book, then reattached them with that polka dot washi tape. That way, each page folded out for a bigger layout. So, when you flipped out both sides, it was really like looking at 4 pages at once. Pretty cool! (striped background is my desk, not part of the book)

Some pages have photos, others quotes.

And some just have journaling.

I like how this book came together. Simple, yet cute. And I have really been trying to work on the journaling part of my mini-books. To record some of the unique, little moments along with the bigger ones.

And in this book, I even included some research. Yes, I'm nerdy like that. I walked around Harvard when we went into Boston for the day, so I added some history of the school to one of my journaling pages.

Hope you enjoyed. Hope you are finding time this summer to document some of your favorite memories. Either fresh ones or even ones from your past. It's never too late!

Man

Wanted to share a new layout I made based on The Green Frog Studio Sketch Wednesday challenge. 

I was inspired by the layout by Nulka. It is incredible! Mine, not so much. But I did have fun playing with misting with various stencils. And I decided to use a smaller page (8.5 x 11 turned sideways) than the 12 x 12 one in the challenge.

This is a photo of Trevor from the Spring Break trip (from the mini album I created earlier this week).  See this post.  When I looked at the photo, I felt like there was a story to be told, so I wanted to make a stand alone layout rather that including it in the mini album.

Journaling: My little boy man. I took this photo this past spring.  I just can't wrap my brain around the fact that he is all grown up! Even though he no longer lives at home. Even though he has a fiance. Even though he has been taller than me for years. At what point does a mama bear stop seeing the little boy, and start seeing the man?

Hope you enjoyed! Do you have any layouts to share with me?

Carlsbad mini-book

I finally got prints of all my photos and had some time to play.

I started with a basic color theme. And rather than use patterned paper I chose to stencil designs using the 3 paint colors. The goal was to keep it simple, but different from my other projects

However, I did use paper for the covers. I used gel medium to adhere the paper to the book covers and added some rub-ons and a few stamps.

The inside of both the back and front covers are the same polka dot paper.

I attached the photos using tape. Some pages have 1 photo, some 2 photos, and a few even have 3 photos.

They are attached so that 1 side can flip up to reveal journaling on the back of the photos.

The only embellishments used were rub-ons and some inking around the edges.

I wanted to keep the focus on the photos.

I can't believe that I took so many photos in just over 2 days. I originally thought this would be a smaller book. I had to make several design changes due to various factors (such as dropping the Instax idea due to terrible quality of the photos).

The book has about 25 pages, but about 50 photos.

Hope you enjoyed! If you have a fun summer getaway planned, let me know how you are planning to document the trip!

Sketch Wednesday

I linked up again with Green Frog Studio again this week for Sketch Wednesday.

 I tried something new today. I wanted to use these photos from a photo booth at Knott's Berry Farm, so I decided to copy onto copy paper, rather than my usual photo paper. I made 2 copies, 1 color and 1 black and white. I love how they turned out! And they were super quick and easy to print.

Journaling reads: Almost 20 years of marriage. I'm ready to enjoy another 20. With you.

I love that I have made another traditional scrapbook page.

I love the way the page turned out.

I love how easy it all came together. No over thinking.

Now it's your turn to make something. Go check out the Green Frog Studio. You won't regret it!

Sketch Wednesday

I haven't done much traditional scrap booking lately, but I was inspired by the layouts on The Green Frog Studio today, so I sat down and made this layout.

Sorry that the photo of the entire layout is so bad. I will have to practice and find a better way to take layout photos.

Journaling reads:
These 2 really are daddy's girls. He paints their nails, gives them rubs at bedtime, takes them shopping for girlie things at Claire's, takes them lunch at school on brown bag Fridays, and he loves doing it all for them!

Hope you find a few minutes today to do something you enjoy! It will be worth it!