Meow… the Book

Last year I made a going-away booklet for a friend who loves cats. This was so fun and easy! I gave all our co-workers pages to decorate, then put the book together using my (We R Memory Makers) Cinch binding machine.

Take a look at a few of the pages:

The front and back covers were made the same way. I cut down chipboard to 5×6 and covered them with pages from an old book. I cut out these fabulous cat pictures from a piece of Cavallini Vintage Cat gift wrap (bought at the Paper Source). The pages were edged with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress ink.

Here’s the inside of that cover:

And the back cover, inside and outside:

Here’s one example of an inside page. I used scraps to create the background then stamped this Magenta cat, cut her out and glued her on.

(for more on this mosaic background technique, go here and here.)

This was such a fun project, and a true labor of love. Sadly, I didn’t take any photos of the book when it was put together. Bummer.

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A Stitch In Time … Creates A Book

I recently learned a new book binding technique, and it’s so easy and fun that I’ve been going crazy making books! You start with a 12 x 12 piece of cardstock (I used Close to My Heart’s For Always Paper), trim it and score it for the spine.

Take a look:

I haven’t decided what to do with the book … give it away? Use it as a journal? So I left the label (cut using Spellbinders’ die label 8) blank.

Here are closer looks at the spine:

And some of the inside pages:

(The details: Paper, embellishments from Close To My Heart. I used three small Zots dots to adhere the metal piece, which is from the Mini Medley Accents set, as is the paper clip on the inside. The rose is from the Love Blooms set C1511 embossed in Stampendous! PEARLustre Moonstone.)

After finishing the book, I had a few scraps leftover — just enough for a card and a tag, which I’ll post tomorrow.
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Using Journaling Cards

I don’t often enter challenges, but this Journaling Cards Challenge in the Moxie Fab World sparked something in me. The challenge was to use scrapbook journaling cards to create something else. I have quite a few of these cards and since I rarely scrapbook, I didn’t really have much use for them. But then I was inspired by the Moxie!

These large cards from Bazzill Basics made me immediately think of a mini book! So I took the eight horizontal ones from the School Days set, added some plain cardstock cut to size, and used my Cinch machine (We R Memory Keepers) to bind them into a book!

(The apple was stamped and embossed in red. I think that’s an old Hero Arts image, but I’m not sure. Everything else is from Bazzill)

Check out one of the inside pages:

Then I cut apart this journaling card ….

To create this card:

(paper is still from Bazzill, Miss Teagen Sue Collection; woman with shades is AB10G from American Art Stamp, embossed in copper powder from EK Success. You can’t see it, but there is a touch of Stickles Diamond in various spots)

You know I can’t stop when I’m on a roll. Here’s something cute from Basic Grey’s Aspen Frost collection:

The papers are from Basic Grey, the ornaments from Heartfelt Creations and embossed in red and teal; sentiment from Hero Arts, die cut using a Lifestyle Crafts die and edged in Ranger Distress Ink Bundled Sage. The tiny pieces of sparkly red thread on the ornaments is from Kreinik.

Really… last one….

Journaling card from Bazzill Basics; “age” sentiment stamped using a small Hero Arts clear alphabet set; blue border is a scrap left over from Die Cuts With a View paper. Edges were distressed and colored with blue pigment ink.

Thanks for coming by!