Vintage Telegram Mini Album

Marion just released a new Mini Album Printable called Vintage Telegram.  If you love her Romance Novel Line with Prima Marketing, you are going to love this printable.  It is a mini album that compliments that line. You can purchase the kit at MarionSmithDesigns.com.

I couldn't wait to play with it, and I think it is an all time record for me - From printing to decorating - I created this mini in 8 hours.  WOW - can you believe it. 

 

I used the Tim Holtz vintage typewriter die for the cover.  I used utee and gold ink to give it that brass look.   Then I used several of my Spellbinders Grand Caliber Labels dies to make pockets and die cut insert pages.  Love how they add a little interest to the book.  Below are some of my favorite pages in the book.  

 

Here is a video of a page by page walk through of the mini.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com

2013 Calendar Display

Hi everyone just a few more days until Christmas.  If you are looking for a last minute gift idea, I hope I can inspire you today.  

I love to make these calendars for co-workers, friends, and family and they are always well received.

It only takes a few hours to whip one out, and look at how elegant they are for a desk or counter top.

 

For my base I started with a MyTeddyBoo Eiffel Tower chipboard mini album page.  I covered it with Pion Designs Studio of Memories Paper.  Then softened the paper with some gorgeous lace trim.  I embossed the tower with Frantage Shabby Gold embossing powder. The gorgeous floral spray was made from a mixed selection of Prima flowers, a few Tim Holtz metal embellishments, a button and some stamped tickets from the Prima Songbird stamp collection.  The calendars are adhered with a spiral Christmas Tree hook that I got from the dollar store. 

 

 

 

 

On the back, the Tim Holtz Small Easel die was used to make the panel sit on desk.  I made a pocket to house the extra calendar pieces.

 

I created this Calendar printable as a thank you to all of my followers.  I hope you find a use for it in some of your 2013 projects.  You may download it on my blog. 

 

Thanks for stopping in today, I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com

 

 

Resources:

 

MyTeddyBoo - Eiffel Tower Mini Album Panel

Pion Designs -  Studio of Memories Patterned Paper

Tim Holtz: Clock, number plate, Easel die

Prima: Flowers - Wrinkle Rose Cream, Mini Roses white, and Rosebuds Light pink from the classic collections.   and Leaves

Stampendous - Frantage Embossing Powder Gold

Lace

 

Grand Mini Album

 

I am having so much fun playing with Marion Smith's Grand Mini Album Printable.  A few weeks ago I shared a layout that I created. Today I would like to share a mini album.   Here is the link to the  Grand Mini Album collection for you to download.

 

 

 

For the cover I decided to keep the design simple. This journal is being given to one of my interns at work. She is going to Italy to finish up her degree in a few months. I thought this would make a perfect travel journal, so I didn't want a lot of things on the cover that would get in the way. The cover has a jewel from Fab Scraps in the center of the bow and some of Marion's Vintage Trinkets are dangling down the ribbon.  The ribbon and jewels can be removed and replaced once the book is complete. I also included a Tim Holtz word plate that says "Enjoy the Journey".  

 

Below I wanted to share of few of the pages that I decorated.   

In this photo I wanted to share that I used a Grand Nestability die to cut some edged pages.  This gives interest, and they make great pocket pages if you want to break up some of the lined pages.

 

 

I included several pocket pages in the book, so that she may tuck memorabilia in them. I also incorporated some of the envelopes from Marion's other collections.  Garett's Tranes, Planes, and Automobile collection works great with this theme and printable.

 

 

This is one of my favorite spreads.  I love the Polaroid and banner that I cut from scraps. The frame is left open for her to add a picture. There is plenty of journal pages for her to document her journey.

 



 

This is a pocket that was an add on to the kit.  I had this butterfly die cut that someone had sent me, and it fit perfect on the page.  I used my Tim Holtz file folder on the edge die to give the note card interest.   Then finished off the page with a few Prima flowers, and a butterfly.

 

Here is a video giving detailed page by page descriptions and views.

 

 

 

I can't wait for her to return home and show me the finished mini. 

 

Thanks for stopping in today,

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

3D Bird House Ornament

While pulling out my Christmas decorations this year, I ran across this cute little bird house that I had made using one of Marion Smith's printables.   They were so much fun to make. I think I made dozens the a few years ago. With everyone preparing to decorate for the holidays, I thought it would be fun to share them with you today.  You can download the pattern here...

 

 

I printed my pattern onto a transparency then cut it out.  I then embossed it with a  Sizzix folder, and alcohol inked it green to give it a coke bottle effect. I used  crinkled basket paper in kraft to create a nest on the inside.  The roof was made with aluminum foil that was embossed then inked brown with alcohol ink.   I decorated it with some holly and a few Prima Fairy Tale Roses that were died red.  The sign was a small oval balsa wood shape that was stained with walnut ink and I hand wrote Home with a white gel pen.  I added a little mushroom bird that I'd gotten from the floral section, then sprinkled a little snow here and there for a winter look.

 

This little guy has been living on my tree since 2010. That Christmas my husband and I had bought my daughter a car, and we hid the key in the little house.  Since such a sweet gift was enclosed. I kept this one for myself, and every year we talk about the gift as we drag the ornament out of the box.

 

I love making these, and I've given some away with gift cards tucked inside. If you are careful how you attach the roof, it can be opened and closed.

 

I love having hand made ornaments on my tree. If you make these, I would love to see yours on the Artsy Addicts Facebook wall. Please be sure to tag me.

 

Thanks for stopping in today,

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com



Happy Thanksgiving

Today the United States celebrates Thanksgiving.  This is a time for us to reflect on the blessings in our lives, and a time for us to give thanks.  I for one am thankful and blessed for so many reasons personal, professional, and in my hobby.  As you move about your day today I hope you stop to think about the little things as well as the big. 

 

One of my biggest blessings is the friendships I have made in the crafty community. I have been a follower of Marion since before Brooke was born. I had the chance to take one of her classes a few years ago, and since then our relationship has blossomed. It is awesome to now call a mentor friend.  I recently had the opportunity to meet with Marion and her family at the Arsty Escape. I wanted to create a layout of the two of us together. 

 

 

 

 

A few days ago Marion announced her latest printable the Grand Mini Album collection. I fell in love the second it was downloaded.  The patterns are in rich turquoises, teals, tans, yellows, greens and blacks with chevrons, news ads, damasks, and her signature distressed vintage style. 

 

I couldn't wait to make something with it.  This layout uses 2 sheets of the patterned paper, the note cards, and an envelope.  I used my punches, dies, and Spellbinders to give the individual pages interesting edges.  In the background I distressed the card stock and added some paint to match the colors in the mini. Then drew a grid on the paper leaving some of the grid unfinished for interest.  The scraps were punched with label punches and butterflies.  I collaged the pieces and made this 12x12 layout from mostly 5x7 designs.  To draw you eye to the center. I cut the Chevron strips and made the flags/arrows pointing to the photo.  The photo was an Instagram photo that I cropped to look like an old Polaroid.  I then painted some Prima Pillar White flowers to match the flowers in Marion's designs. 

 

I love the look of this layout, it was so fun playing with these patterns. I'm in the process of making a mini album now, that I can't wait to share with you. 

I hope you guys have a fantastic day with family today, and take sometime for yourself.

 

Thanks for stopping in today,

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com

 

Resources:

Marion Smith Designs: Grand Mini Album Printable

Prima: Flowers, and Leaves, Distress Tool, and Song Bird Ticket stamp, Romance Novel Washi Tape

Hampton Arts: Remember This Background stamp 

Spellbinders: Large Square Nestabilities, Grand Nestabilities Labels 4 Die

Sizzix: Tim Holtz dies: Butterflies, On the Edge File Tabs,  Type Set Alpha die.

EK Success: Label Punch, corner rounder

We Are Memory Keepers: Curly Bracket Tab punch

Golden Gesso

Liquitex Gold Ink

Martha Stewart Paint: Pool, Butterfly Punch

Ranger/Tim Holtz: Archival Ink Sepia, Distress Ink Gathered Twigs, Tiny Attacher, Tissue Tape - Definitions

 



Project Life | Inspiration & Freebie

I've been obsessed with all things Project Life  lately. Honestly I've been amassing a huge collection of journaling cards, page protectors, binders, and the like. You know......preparation.

And with all that preparation I've been readying my album, organizing my plastics, and  getting embellishments sorted and selected.

After hoarding collecting for the past few months, I've finally started printing photos. The everyday little moments of life that we cherish for a few minutes then forget and move on to the next task of the day.

With Project Life I get to revel in those moments, examine them, dwell in the still moments of life, preserve the memory, and capture it in my mind, in my heart, and in my Project Life album.

That's what I love about it. It challenges me to slow down and really be present....Show up in my life in an intentional way.

Shimelle Lain posted this video last year detailing her inspiration and a little bit about her life of scrapbooking everyday. I was so inspired. With this hobby that I love I definitely want to scrapbook everyday but I don't always get the chance. With the little pockets of memories in the Project Life system it gives me that opportunity to do a little crafting every day if I wish.



And with my love of crafting I want to share a bunch of freebies with you. The Project Life community is huge (do a Pinterest search for Project Life to really see what I mean) and there are many many fantastic digital designers creating awesome things to incorporate into the memory keeping system. The great thing about that is you can use these thing for anything. They are great for quick and easy cards, adding embellishments to scrapbook pages and mini-albums. The best part is that they're free.

Have fun downloading all of these freebies. They are all stored in my Dropbox folder waiting to be printed and prepared. So much fun!!!

Love these from Valorie Brown Designs.

Persnickety Prints has great freebies.

Loved these by Smitha Katti

Pictures should be linked directly to the post where you can download them. Enjoy.

Here is my very first Project Life spread. It chronicles my trip to San Antonio with my in-laws.



It was so so easy to put all this together, just working in the little spaces of the 3x4 and 4x6 spaces. It took me a few days to jazz it all up like I wanted it but it was oh so much fun filling the pockets up with memories and mementos.

Simple Stories just release a new memory keeping system called  SN@P Studio that is very similar to Project Life except it's on a smaller scale.  All of these products just hit stores.

Whatever system you choose to preserve memories, keep on doing it. The experience of creating and the joy of having those memories to share for years  is so worth it.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.

Angela

Something Wicked - Mini Album

Something Wicked is Marion's latest Mini Album Printable themed around Halloween.  You can order the download here.   Although this mini has a gothic feel to it, many of the designs could be used with her other printables.  

 

I created this little mini in just a few hours.  My daughter wants to use it to display her Halloween costumes from the past, and incorporate some of her future costumes for years to come.  She has always loved Halloween, and playing dressup, so it should make for an interesting book when it is filled.

In addition to Marion's downloads, I was able to incorporate a lot of dies, and vintage Prima tube flowers, with scraps of lace, and fibers.

When making the album, I cut some tickets from the scraps to make extra journal spots - so save those scraps!


Here is a video showing each page in detail. 

Did you download this mini?  If so please share your version with us on the Artsy Addicts Facebook Page. 

Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com

Garment District Printable Contest/Mini Junk Journal Part 1

Are You Ready for a Contest?
That's right Marion Smith is offering another contest with "Garment District Printable".
Contest rules are:
-purchase printables (either or both 8 1/2 x 11 or Mini set)
-create a mini album
-video response (to the video below)
-email a link to your blog to marion@apieceofcraft.com (about your entry)
Contest runs from now to October 16th.
The winner will receive a "goodie box of Marion's favorite things" ($100.00 value worth)

Marion shows how to a new design from Marionsmithdesigns.com website.
This item is the lovely mini book Garment District.

The link is http://www.marionsmithdesigns.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=garment+district

Garment District: Mini Junk Journal by Peggy Lee
Part 1-prep work
While being sick this past weekend it gave me a chance to cut out all my printables, ink the edges to start my mini junk journal. I choose to use the Mini printable set along with some of the 8 1/2 x 11 pages that I printed on the back sides of the mini pages...and to use for my cover.

 Here I have gathered more supplies for the guts of my mini junk journal: mini file folders, shipping tags, label tabs, doilies, graph paper, sketch paper, old book pages (from a Charm School Book) how fitting, Kraft card/envelopes...and I have so much more to add later.

 I have prepared my mini junk journal covers, at 6 x 8 chip board pieces covered with thin brown paper. Inked in vintage photo distress ink with splashes of glimmer mist in tattered leather and patina. Now the hard part deciding which digital printable to use on my cover...oh man...that is going to be hard!!!!

Next Monday Part 2: Mini Junk Jouranl by Peggy Lee

So what are you waiting for head over and purchase your desired printable and start creating!!! We can't wait to see all your creations.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a creative week,
hugs
Peggy Lee
http://pegbaker.blogspot.com

more inspiration see Tonya Gibbs Youtube video
http://youtu.be/wfUE0hL8DZQ



 

You Make Me Smile - Garment District

Seriously this is one of my favorite printables by Marion Smith Designs.  The Garment district paper is just awesome and so versatile.  I shared with you guys a mini album, and layout.  Today I want to share with you a card I made from the scraps from both the Mini and the layout. 

 

 

I sewed some of the smaller scraps together to create the background, and then proceeded to layer a few of the other journal cards, ephemera, and scraps together to form the focal point of the card. I used a spell binder's label die to showcase the sentiment. Then added some sprigs of flower pieces from a left over Prima vine.  The tiny roses are one of my all time favorite Prima flowers, and they are awesome for cards because of their size.

 

It is so fun using my scraps up, and creating such a wonderful piece.  The tiniest of pieces can be used as banners, or peeking from a layer.

 

Thanks for stopping in today,

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com