For Love of Paper

Thrifty Thursday: Baby's Firsts Mini Scrapbook Album

What is Thrifty Thursday?

With the economy still on the rebound we all need to get as much bang for our buck as possible. So each Thursday I'll show you inexpensive ways to use your paper crafting supplies.

Today's Project

Every mother has the best of intentions when it comes to scrapbooking their new baby. But then reality sets in and time flies. This mini album is a quick, cute and simple way for any new mom to record their baby's firsts and would make a terrific gift in itself or to add to a pack of diapers.

I picked up the mini photo album at Walmart for $1. Then I made a decorative insert for the front and cut a coordinating piece of Pretty in Pink Cardstock for the back cover. On the inside I wanted the new mom to have a place to write a little about each of baby's firsts and a place for a photo. For this I cut a 4" x 6" piece of Pretty in Pink Cardstock and then printed the words for each topic and punched them out with the new XL Decorative Label Punch (Holiday Mini page 25). This punch is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

This album is small enough to leave out on the coffee table, side table or to tuck in a purse or diaper bag. This would also be a great brag book for grandma. Instead of titling it "Baby's Firsts" you could change it to "Baby Jack".

Here is the list of firsts I came up with.

• Coming Home
• First Bath
• First Outfit
• First Food
• First Word
• First Smile
• First Tooth
• Rolling Over
• Sitting Up
• Crawling
• Standing
• First Steps
• First Haircut
• First Easter
• First Halloween
• First Thanksgiving
• First Christmas
• First Birthday

How thrifty is this project?

Mini Photo Album                 $1.00

4-12x12 Cardstock              $2.20

2- 8 1/2 x 11 Cardstock       $  .58

Total Cost                           $3.78

Supplies

Stamps: Baby Tee's Jumbo Wheel

Inks: Basic Black, Basic Gray, So Saffrom and Pretty in Pink

Paper: Pretty in Pink and Whisper White Cardstock

Other: Blender Pen, Sizzix Big Shot with Scallop Circle #2 Die and Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, Circle Scissors, 5/8" Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Two Way Glue Pen, Sticky Strip and Dazzling Diamonds

 

Whatever Wednesday: Baby Girl Card

I was in need of a baby girl card and was low on time and mojo so I decided to CASE myself.

This is the original card I made several years ago. I have always liked it. I just didn't feel a lot of creative mojo this morning so I thought why reinvent the wheel? Instead I copied myself.

Any time I try to copy something exactly it always ends up a little different. This time was no different. I thought the organza ribbon would be nice for a girl but when I put it in place like on my original boy card it seemed like too much. So I tried moving it a bit and liked it there.

If you really like the background stamp used on both of these cards get it while you can. It is called Tres Chic (109258) and is on the Last Chance/Retiring List. It is only available through June 30th.

Click here to shop now and be sure to check out all the great deals on Last Chance items and the Clearance Rack.

Supplies

Stamps: Fun and Fast Notes (113500) & Tres Chic (109258)

Inks: Pretty in Pink (101301), Melon Mambo (115656) and Basic Gray (109120)

Paper: Whisper White (100730) and Pretty in Pink (100459)

Other: Blender Pen (102845), Organza Ribbon (114319) and Mini Glue Dots (103683)

Build A Bear Explosion Box

Yesterday when I posted all the info about the Explosion Box Class on Sunday, April 25th I was still waiting on one of the supplies to finish up this box. So here it is. The Build A Bear version of the Explosion Box.

Again all class participants will have a choice of the Bugs n' Kisses or Build A Bear Explosion Box.

See the previous post for all the details and a link to register.

Whatever Wednesday: Doesn't it look just like Shaun the Sheep?

As I was surfing around online one day I came across the most adorable sheep and lamb cards done by Lynn Pratt. When I saw them I immediately thought of Shaun the Sheep. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with Shaun the Sheep the show is currently a short on the Disney Channel. Shaun first appeared in Wallace and Gromit where he was sucked into the Knit-O-Matic. Now he has his own show and is totally hilarious. You can learn more on www.shaunthesheep.com.

So back to the card. This card is super simple. It uses the Scallop Circle Die, Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch and Small Oval Punch. Oh and the Boho Blossoms Punch to make a puffy little tail on the back.

I am always amazed at the number of things you can create using the same tools. Punches are definitely worth the investment because you can make so many things with them.

Here's a little challenge for you. Create something using a punch in a non-traditional way.

Make Over Monday: Distressed Circle Scrapbook Layout

First I apologize for being MIA for a few days. First I had a sinus and ear infection, okay I can work with that. Then I came down with the flu. The flu won and I had to lay low for a couple days.

I have to say I am totally happy with how this layout came out! Here is where I began. I spotted this layout in the January 2008 issue of Scrapbook Trends Magazine by Angela Maggard. Her layout was done digitally. When I saw the circles my mind immediately went to the Circle Circus stamp set and that is what I planned to use. Then when I actually sat down to make the page I looked over and saw the circle paper from the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper pack and the light bulb popped on. This paper was absolutely perfect. I just cut out sections of circles.

As you can see I turned my layout into a two page spread using nine photos. I really wanted the photo of my son falling asleep on the rug to be the last one so I also had to change up the layout to have the hanging photo on the right instead of the left.

I created the background paper by stamping the Sanded stamp onto 12x12 Whisper White several times using Sahara Sand Classic Ink, then inked the edges with a stamping sponge. Have I mentioned the Sanded stamps is one of my all time favorites! It is awesome for adding texture and also great for more masculine looks.

I really liked the look of orange journaling on the original so I kep that on my layout as well. Using a color for you journaling is a great way to add just a little more pop to your project and something I totally had forgotten about.

Another thing I had forgotten about was stamping on patterned paper. The small strip of DSP just below the photos begins as a diagonal strip. Then I rolled Sweet Swirl with Basic Black Classic Ink over it to give it a whole new look.

Here's a closer look at each page.

Supplies Used

Stamps: Sanded and Sweet Swirl Wheel (rolled on the DSP strip below the photos)

Inks: Basic Black and Sahara Sand Classic Ink

Paper: Whisper White and Sweet Pea DSP

Other: Sizzix Big Shot with Button's #5 Sizzlit, Hemp Twine, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon and a sponge

Remember looking at other's work is a great place to learn new tricks or jog your memory for tricks you'd forgotten. If you're looking for inspiration or a few memory joggers be sure to stay tuned. Later this week I'll be introducing a new product that will get you going.

Sweet Little Lion

One of the first sets that caught my eye in the Occasions Mini Catalog was Fox and Friends on page 31. I love the simple and sweet look of the animals. They are perfect for baby projects. This was a really quick card I whipped up for my cousins new baby, Austin. You really can't go wrong with blue and brown or pink and brown, so I used some Bashful Blue DSP I had left from a scrapbook project and the new Scallop Trim Border Punch with Chocolate Chip Cardstock. This card literally took about ten minutes. 

Remember things don't always have to be comlex and take a lot of time. Give simple and try and see what you can whip up.

Baby Bootie Box

I was cruising through the grocery store the other day and came upon a display of clearance items. Clearance, sale, percentage off, all words I can't resist! Unfortunately it was tiny baby stuff and I don't have a tiny baby . . . but I do need baby things to display at Mama Cents (read my previous post about Mama Cents here). So yeah for me I had a "valid" reason to purchase the tiniest little bear baby booties! I had seen another wonderful stamper make a similar box for a pair of baby booties so I knew just what I was going to use these sweet little shoes for.

This is one thing I love about paper crafting. You can take an average gift and turn it into something extraordinary with a little paper and stamping.

Here is another view the project.

They also had little girl booties with a flower and another pair with baseballs on them. I sooo wanted to buy them all but tried to behave and told myself one pair was enough. But I was thinking you could easily change the colors and image on the box to go with anything.

These booties are tiny newborn size and they just fit in the box. I actually put the booties in and then added the crinkled paper around them to make it all fit. So if you decide to make one of these for larger shoes you'll need to increase the dimensions on the box a little.

Try making a box for your next gift following the directions here.

January Technique Club Recipe Cards

So I have been trying to add links to the January Technique Club Cards since I did the post weeks ago and to no avail everytime I try the whole window goes crazy.  I decided I would just do another post and attach the card recipes here. 

So here are the three cards we did at the January Technique Club Meetings.

 

Seaside Stair Step Card Recipe (one per page)

Seaside Stair Step Card Recipe (four per page) 

 

Criss Cross Pennant Die Valentine Card Recipe (one per page)

Criss Cross Pennant Die Valentine Card Recipe (four per page) 

 

Bundle of Joy Scallop Bib Card Recipe (one per page)

Bundle of Joy Scallop Bib Card Recipe (four per page)