June Mini Album Tutorials and Challenge

Welcome to Mini Album Makers Challenge for our June challenge.  We were thrilled to see your beautiful entries in our May challenge and cannot wait to see what you come up with this month.  Our DT is busy at work to bring you a fresh batch of inspiration for all of your book making pleasures.  We would like to take a moment to say farewell to DT members Gina and Maria.  We have loved your work and friendship and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.  And now let's see what our designers have to inspire us this month...

Anne

I decided to create something a little different this month - a piece of book art with an underwater sea theme.  You can see what's inside the box HERE on my blog.

Tracey

This month I'm sharing the beginnings of my Junk Journal. To see how it came to be and a peep of what's within please pop on over HERE.

Nancy

Apparently I've been slacking because I missed a super easy way to create a mini-book cover.  Check out my blog to see what's been going on in Nancy-land.

Heather

Catherine Moore is our sponsor this month! Her Character Constructions stamps, dies, and papers are fabulous and I've used some in my book for this month. Come See!

Inna

Hello mini album friends!  I am very inspired by the summer that came to us in Siberia. And I made a mini album that shows how beautiful the summer is.  I recorded a video tutorial for you. Welcome to my BLOG to see how I made parts of the album.

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Our generous prize sponsor this month is Character Constructions with a $25 gift certificate.  

Website: http://www.characterconstructions.com/

Blog: https://naturestudy.typepad.com/catherine_moore/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharacterConstructions

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/catherine_moore/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/catherine_moore/

Our challenge follows a few simple rules:

Any Handmade Book Goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini albums, scrapbooks, journals and book arts.  Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project.  You do not have to provide a tutorial, but we wish you would.  Feel free to use one of the DT tutorials to make your project and give proper credit where due.  No back linking allowed.  You must add our badge to your post and link to our challenge to be eligible to win the prize.  Combine with any other challenges as applicable.  Please limit to entering 3 (three) handmade books per month in our challenge.  Permalinks only and no back linking.  Share the love by visiting and commenting on other entries.  Please become a follower.  That's it - have fun!

* Make sure to add our badge to your post *
and link back to our challenge. 

*GET SOCIAL*
Submit your entries to our Facebook page for extra love.
Tag us @minialbummakers with your entries on Instagram for a repost.

Please note: This is a public blog and by linking your project you agree to have your name, blog link and the creation you linked shown on this blog and other Mini Album Maker Challenge social media sites. If you do not agree to this, please do not join in the challenge. Also, remember that any comments and/or linked projects left on this blog will be visible/clickable by third parties as this blog is public.  Email addresses are required for entry by InLinkz and accessible to this blog's moderators.  Your email address may be used to contact you regarding your entries.  We will not share your information willingly for any other purposes.  (This was posted to be in compliance with the new GDPR law that will soon become effective in the EU, and will also apply to blogs located in the US if blog visitors reside in the EU.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

May Mini Album Tutorials and Challenge

Welcome to Mini Album Makers Challenge for the launch of our May challenge.  We were thrilled to see your beautiful entries in our April challenge and cannot wait to see what you come up with this month.  Our DT is busy at work to bring you a fresh batch of inspiration for all of your book making pleasures.  Without further ado...

Maria

Here´s my new mini album that is basically just cardstock and paper! I made it by combining two mini album bases by Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, as well as three paper collections by Stamperia and Mintay papers. Check out the super mini tutorial in the end of the blogpost on my blog!

Jennie

I have used Eileen Hull's new Notebook die to make this gorgeous little Vintage Notebook. It was made in no time at all, which was a relief as I had forgotten all about a friend's birthday! Do join me over on my blog if you would like to see how I pulled this all together in less than 30 minutes.

Nancy

This month I'm working with a brand new album from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. Inside, you'll find two pockets with 2 separate mini-albums. Check-out my blog to see all the workings.

Tracey

For the month of May I have created a Butterfly Album, using Sizzix Bigz Dies, old papers and Vintage Lace. The perfect companion for journaling and mixed media creatives. For those how to do's please pop on over HERE.

Anne

I have had a file folder sitting on my desk for ages and decided to use it to create a mini album along with some Tim Holtz dies and some vintage looking papers from my stash.  You can see more HERE.

Heather

It's always a good time to recycle! I recycled various bits from my studio to make these fun little pocket-sized journals. See the process HERE.

Inna

Hello friends!  I found that in my workshop there are many old collections of paper and decided it was time to find a use for them.  Therefore, I made quite a voluminous album and recorded a video lesson for you.  Come to my blog. I would be very happy to you!

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Our generous prize sponsor this month is The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  One lucky winner will receive a fabulous prize pack of assorted art supplies.  If you're looking for even more crafty inspiration, make sure to check out the Frilly and Funky blog.  

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

The Funkie Junkie Blog

Frilly and Funkie Blog

The Funkie Junkie Boutique on Facebook

The Funkie Junkie Boutique on Pinterest

Our challenge follows a few simple rules:

Any Handmade Book Goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini albums, scrapbooks, journals and book arts.  Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project.  You do not have to provide a tutorial, but we wish you would.  Feel free to use one of the DT tutorials to make your project and give proper credit where due.  No back linking allowed.  You must add our badge to your post and link to our challenge to be eligible to win the prize.  Combine with any other challenges as applicable.  Please limit to entering 3 (three) handmade books per month in our challenge.  Permalinks only and no back linking.  Share the love by visiting and commenting on other entries.  Please become a follower.  That's it - have fun!

* Make sure to add our badge to your post *
and link back to our challenge. 

*GET SOCIAL*
Submit your entries to our Facebook page for extra love.
Tag us @minialbummakers with your entries on Instagram for a repost.

Please note: This is a public blog and by linking your project you agree to have your name, blog link and the creation you linked shown on this blog and other Mini Album Maker Challenge social media sites. If you do not agree to this, please do not join in the challenge. Also, remember that any comments and/or linked projects left on this blog will be visible/clickable by third parties as this blog is public.  Email addresses are required for entry by InLinkz and accessible to this blog's moderators.  Your email address may be used to contact you regarding your entries.  We will not share your information willingly for any other purposes.  (This was posted to be in compliance with the new GDPR law that will soon become effective in the EU, and will also apply to blogs located in the US if blog visitors reside in the EU.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Egyptian Wrap Journal Tutorial by Heather Maxwell

I have always been fascinated by Egyptology. All those mysterious hieroglyphs, mummies, and GOLD. Since our sponsor this month is the fabulous Eileen Hull I thought I would use her wrap journal die to cut the boards for this book. Really only one board because, of course, it's a wrap die!

One of the best things about using a die to cut your covers is that you can apply the papers first and then cut the whole thing at once, leaving beautiful edges and corners. For this journal I applied the inner papers using my Xyron for even tack and no dry time. The front side was painted and stamped first. Let's look at the steps I took:

To begin, I used Eileen Hull's wrap journal die and 8 1/2 x 14" 35 point brown chipboard. This die is a bit longer than many and needs a bit of extra length.

On one side I gessoed  using white and two coats (let dry between coats).

Once the gesso was dry I laid down a coat of acrylic paint (Dina Wakley, Lapis) with a rubber spatula to get an even coat with no brush strokes. While it was wet I stamped into the paint with various Egyptian themed rubber stamps (no ink). Since it was gessoed first, lovely ghostly images were created as the stamps 'lifted' the paint.

Next a ran the board through my 9" Xyron to apply adhesive. In this case, rather than cardstock, I used some old wrapping paper that was gifted to me. Since it was less sturdy than regular paper I put the stickum on the board. If you are using regular Scrapbook paper you could run the paper through the Xyron rather than the board. Either way is good as long as you get a mostly flat adhesion.

Now the fun part! Make your sandwich of cut plate, die, board (front side down), cut plate and run it through your favorite die cut machine. Et voila! Your beautiful cover is born. Gently curve the folds over a table edge to create the rounded spines.

To embellish the outside cover I used Lynne Perrella's new Egypt stamps and gold embossing powder (Emerald Creek, mirror gold). The little bugs are from some long lost set I had and the lines are painted with Lumiere acrylics and gold embossed using a straight edge and an embossing pen (and the mirror gold).

I added strong magnets for closure which I later covered to disguise. The little scarab beetles are from my stash of horded curated bits and bobs. :)

This photo illustrates the stringing of the book (and you can see the disguised magnets too). I used gold elastic cord. It's a little heavy but the gold works perfectly for this theme.

I tore paper to size (7"x 4 1/4") and folded to create signatures. You could also use a simple pamphlet stitch to bind the signatures but in this case I left them loose and any of them can be removed or added later. I also cut some heavier paper and used the Xyron and the wrapping paper to create some heavier folders. I stamped the pages randomly throughout with permanent ink.

Slip the signatures under the elastic to complete the book.

Spine detail.

Back cover.

Thanks for sticking through this photo heavy post. I hope you are inspired to create your own masterpiece and enter it in our April challenge for a chance to win a $35 giftcard from Eileen herself!

Heather

April Mini Album Tutorial and Challenges

Happy spring book makers!  As our March challenge closes, we look forward to what April has in store with a delightful array of design team inspiration to get your creative juices flowing.  We do hope you will check out our March challenge entries and be inspired to join us again this month.  Now look with the team has to share...

Inna

Hello, friends! I found that the stamps scattered all over the scrap room began to bother me ... They did not have a permanent place, they lay in different boxes. So I decided to make a beautiful folder for them. I recorded a video tutorial for you, I hope that it will be useful to you. Welcome to my blog!

Nancy

Hi Everyone.  Spring is in the air and I'm thinking about anything botanical.  Trying my hand at one of my first junque journals using Eileen Hull's Wrap Journal die.  Having fun with this journal on my blog.

Heather

Hi all! I have a couple of little treasures to share with you all. I hope you'll come join me on my blog and see what I've been working on. I have lots of pictures to share!

Tracey

Hello Creative Friends!  Using the Passport Die from our Sponsor this month Eileen Hull I've created a Journal to keep all your Hope's, Dreams and Fears within.  For more info on how it came to be please pop on over to my blog.

Maria

Hello! I want to show you a pair of steampunk wedding albums I made. It was a custom order from a young lady. She had a romantic steampunk wedding 3 years ago, and she wanted to have two albums for her wedding photos. The names on the covers are hidden for public as this is what the client wanted. I looked through the wedding pictures and the video from that day, and took inspiration and the color scheme from there. I also enclosed several memorable decorative elements that the wedding couple can definitely relate to. Check out the video tutorial in the end of the blogpost over here.

Anne

Since Eileen Hull is our Sponsor this month, I have made a Journal using Eileen's Wrapped Journal die and two of my new Tim Holtz stamp sets.  If you would like to see how I put this together, I hope you will visit my blog HERE.

Jennie

I have spent the last week treading the boards at our local theatre in a fabulous play I Remember Mama. I decided to make a book for our wonderful director/producer with a page for each of the characters to pen their memories of the play with photographs of Edwardian characters sourced for all the characters and backstage crew. I have used Eileen Hull's Passport die and made a mixed media cover. There are many more photographs on my blog and details of how I made the covers. I look forward to seeing you there!

Gina 

Here's a quick and easy album that I made for a young friend.  The pages are created from 8.5x11 cardstock and made with only 2 scores and a cut.  Come over to the blog and see how they are made and see the fun elements I added to the album.

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Our generous prize sponsor this month is Eileen Hull and she's offered a $35 gift certificate to her Etsy shop for one lucky winner.  Eileen's innovative dies make book making a joy, so do check out her fabulous assortment by following the links below.

Website: http://www.eileenhull.com/

Blog: http://www.eileenhull.com/blog

Facebook Live: http://www.eileenhull.com/video-tutorials

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eileenhulldesigns

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eileen_hull/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EileenHull

Shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/EileenHull?ref=pr_shop_more

Our challenge follows a few simple rules:

Any Handmade Book Goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini albums, scrapbooks, journals and book arts.  Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project.  You do not have to provide a tutorial, but we wish you would.  Feel free to use one of the DT tutorials to make your project and give proper credit where due.  No back linking allowed.  You must add our badge to your post and link to our challenge to be eligible to win the prize.  Combine with any other challenges as applicable.  Please limit to entering 3 (three) handmade books per month in our challenge.  Permalinks only and no back linking.  Share the love by visiting and commenting on other entries.  Please become a follower.  That's it - have fun!

* Make sure to add our badge to your post *
and link back to our challenge. 

*GET SOCIAL*
Submit your entries to our Facebook page for extra love.
Tag us @minialbummakers with your entries on Instagram for a repost.

Please note: This is a public blog and by linking your project you agree to have your name, blog link and the creation you linked shown on this blog and other Mini Album Maker Challenge social media sites. If you do not agree to this, please do not join in the challenge. Also, remember that any comments and/or linked projects left on this blog will be visible/clickable by third parties as this blog is public.  Email addresses are required for entry by InLinkz and accessible to this blog's moderators.  Your email address may be used to contact you regarding your entries.  We will not share your information willingly for any other purposes.  (This was posted to be in compliance with the new GDPR law that will soon become effective in the EU, and will also apply to blogs located in the US if blog visitors reside in the EU.)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter