My Mind's Eye Blog

Mini Albums with Stephanie | December 2013 (part 2!) Edition

Hi!  Stephanie here with you today to share another fun mini this month!!  I really love the new mini album starter kits and wanted to use one for a "year-in-review" type of album.  Although I do Project Life throughout the year, I always love making a mini album or photo book to finish the year off.  I love that the books are usually smaller, easy to hold and are kid-friendly.

The Lost & Found Record It albums are the perfect size for this project!  And bonus...they include all of the page protectors, inserts and dividers that you need to put together an album.  The only thing else you need are your pictures, a few journaling cards and some embellishments!  So easy!

1. Gather your supplies

I decided to use the Lost & Found Record It album since I wanted to keep the outside of my book fairly neutral.  I debated painting the beautiful embossed front white, but in the end chose to go with a full photo collage.  I wanted the book to be jam-packed with photos and having a collage on the cover was the perfect starting point.  

I created my photo collage in PicMonkey.  You could easily create one in Photoshop, but I find PicMonkey to be so user friendly that I didn't want to bother with opening up my Photoshop program.  And best of all…PicMonkey is free!

To create a collage in PicMonkey, simply select "create a collage" from the main screen, upload your photos and drag and drop them onto your canvas.

Tip // If you are using PicMonkey, size your collage at 1800x2400 pixels.  That will ensure that you picture prints at the 6x8 size for the album page protectors without being blurry or pixelated.


Once you have added all of your photos, all you have to do now is save and print.  


2. Print your cover

Here is a look at my finished collage for my cover.  It is sized a little larger than the 6x8 size, so be sure to measure your cover and decide how large you photo should be prior to printing.


3. Attach your cover

Use strong adhesive or Modge Podge to attach your photo to the cover.  I printed mine on matte photo paper and adhered it with my tape runner.  

And now you are ready to start the inside!!



4. Print photos for the inside of your album

I created a few picture collages for both of my children, my husband and myself.  I wanted my book to be pretty picture heavy since I already have tons of journaling and thoughts recorded in my Project Life album.  I save all of my photos by month on my computer, so I went through each month and chose a few for the collages.  I also created these in PicMonkey!  In addition to the collages, I pulled out some 4x6 photos and square instagram photos from my picture pile to use in the album.


5. Create journaling and filler cards for your page protectors

Whenever I start a project like this, I always like to assemble my inserts and journaling cards prior to working on the album.  I find that the process runs much smoother (for me) if I have everything all ready to go.  I tend to get sidetracked easily if I have to run to my computer, to my typewriter, etc.  Having everything already made is a real plus!

For this book, I typed up highlights and memories from this year, 2013.  I created one for each of us, and also created a few filler cards.

And now for a look at my finished album!  I just love it and I hope you will too!!  

Grab a cup of coffee and settle in!  I've got lots of pictures to share!



I used one of the tabbed chipboard dividers as my opening page.  I added my photo on top of a doily and then the "happiness" sticker in in the middle.  It's the perfect title page!


I followed the same pattern for each person throughout my album to help keep it simple and easy, as you will see.  Each person has a photo collage or two in a 6x8 pocket, as well as two additional divided page protectors.  Making these decisions and setting up my book prior to beginning the project kept me from being indecisive as I added in my photos and journaling cards.
 

Like most parents probably do , I have way more photos of my children than I do myself or my husband.  To keep our photos simple, I printed out one larger photo onto a piece of 6x8 photo paper and then added it to the backside of the collage photo.  I actually really love the balance the white adds to the book.


The best thing about albums with page protectors is the "peek-a-boo" effect.  I love adding smaller photos, confetti and stickers to the plain pockets.  Don't feel like you have to fill up every single slot with a photo or journaling card.

To end the book, I added two photos of our family onto the chipboard divider.  Simple and perfect!

Quick tips //

1. Add stickers to the outside of the page protector.  It gives your book a little bit of texture and dimension without being too bulky!



2. Create confetti pockets to add a little color and fun to your pages.  



3. Use smaller pictures, embellishments or cards inside of your pockets to create a fun peek-a-boo effect.

And that's our 2013 all finished!!  
Thank you so much for joining me today!  As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

A Day in the Life (of a Dog) | December Edition

 

Hi!  Tina here today with my first installment in my A Day In The Life (of a dog) Sn@p Binder project.  

Before I start, I must say that this is probably one of my favorite project I've ever created and I never thought in a million years I would love creating a pocket style project.  I am completely obsessed and actually finished the entire binder in 1 day.  (but you have to wait until February to see the entire binder)! ;)

Today, I'll share a my title page, a few photo pages, a couple of my 'just because' pages.  :)

The Lost & Found, Record It collection is so perfect for this type of project.

The ephemera packet and Journal Cards make creating super easy and super quick! 

 

You can add little embellishments to each journal card to make them unique or use them as they are for really fast scrapbooking!

For the chipboard inserts, I didn't want to add any paper embellishments to the dividers, so instead, I added my own touch by embellishing each of them with my favorite stencils and embossing/modeling paste.  It really adds a unique, fun touch to the album.

Stay tuned next month for my next share on the inside of my binder!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

December Album with Valerie

Hey! Valerie here with you today. It's the week before Christmas already….how did that happen? How's your December documenting going? Back in November I shared with you the cover for my album using the Record It Antique Sn@p album.  Now I'm back to share a few of my inside pages. 

 

Supplies: Lost & Found Record It collection: Antique enamel dots, Antique decorative tape, Antique 6x6 paper pad, Antique Record It! cards, Heirloom alpha & word stickers, Heirloom pockets. Mistletoe Magic collection: "Snow Flakes" paper, "Countdown" paper, "Trees" paper, stickers, decorative brads, chipboard elements, enamel dots, & decorative tape. Vintage Christmas collection: chipboard.Cut & Paste collection: Charm "Sweet" tiny word stickers, adorns "loved" clear stamps. The Sweetest Thing collection: Honey "One of a Kind" paper, Bluebell "Bright" tiny word stickers. Other: Merry & Bright cut file (Hello Forever), American Craft Thickers, vellum, wood veneer (Studio Calico), shipping tag, window envelope (Maya Road), small green alpha stickers (Jillibean Soup), gold sequins, doily, white & gold tiny alpha (Dear Lizzy), slide frame (Crate Paper), metal number (Tim Holtz), grungeboard 3 (Tim Holtz), Cameo (fonts: Cartwheel).

 

I chose to mix and match supplies from a few different My Mind's Eye lines.

 

My introduction page is a cut file from Hello Forever using a patterned paper from The Sweetest Thing collection. I find that when cutting blocks of text out like this, it's best to stick with solid colored papers or soft patterns as opposed to bold, contrasting patterns. The phrase will be easier to read.

 

I adhered the die cut to a sheet of vellum and added some enamel dots. The vellum adds some strength as well as adding interest with it's translucency. 

For day one, I put my son's first paper snowflake into the album using a 6x8 size page protector. The back side, as you can see in the next photo, shows more snowflake making photos and shares some fun details about this time. I added the number, chipboard, and wood veneer shape on the outside of the page protector with a little hot glue.

 

Where's day number two you might be wondering? This was the day we did my son's pre-K homework after school. I'm waiting for the decorated paper Christmas tree to return home before completing that page. I don't always work in order when I make albums like this.

 

I also might not always record events on the exact day that they happened (I think I might have heard a few of you gasp).  There's always a few days of the month where we don't do anything particularly festive, so I use these days to fill in with something general that could have happened on any day like pretty wrapped gifts, the advent calendar, decorations, or where our Elf has been hiding.

 

For day three I stamped a simple pattern on vellum using a gemstone stamp from the Cut & Paste Adorbs "Loved" clear stamp set and Brilliance gold ink. Then added my photo, number, and a little journaling with a black Sharpie.

 

This chalkboard message is so special and totally made my entire week. I'm so glad I snapped a photo of it and got to record it in my album.

 

So simple. I used a page protector with two 4x6 slots. In the top went my photo and on the bottom went one of the Lost & Found Record it! 4x6 cards.

 

Here we are with the vellum again. This page is similar to my introduction page. It's a die cut backed with vellum. The pattern is a lot more intricate, so I stitched around the edge to keep it all attached. 

 

A full page photo kinda day with gold sequins and star confetti. So much fun! The chipboard banner is from the Vintage Christmas collection and was just adhered on the outside of the page protector. I like having these thicker embellishments on the outside as opposed to the inside. The plastic lays better with the thicker embellishments on top of it. 

 

These are a couple of the filler pages I was referring to earlier. They could really fit into any "empty" day and numbers were intentionally left off until I figure out where they will end up in the album. The Dear Santa page is a window envelope where I'll put letters to Santa. I love using a variety of page sizes in my mini albums. 

 

Another page that doesn't have purpose yet. It's a pocket from the Lost and Found Record It! collection. There's a whole pack of these library card style pockets in both the Heirloom & Antique color palettes. 

 

Another hot chocolate page. It's such a special treat for my boy. This one uses a page protector with a 2x8" slot and two 4x4 slots. The title is being held in place with two little staples to keep it from shifting around.

 

One last one to share with you. I cut a coin protector page down to a size that would fit in the album. It's so much fun to fill the little pockets. I'm not sure if the number 18 will stay there yet, but it fits so perfectly so I'm going to try and make it work.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Are you documenting your December with My Mind's Eye? We'd love to see it.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

December Sketch Challenge

Hello all!  It's Ronda here bringing you your December Sketch.  This month's sketch is all about playing with lines & shapes.  You can change out the single photo for multiple photos or one large photo.  Here are examples of what it would look like with two photos:

or one larger photo:

Think of the sketch as a jumping off point.  Envision the pieces and see how you can make the sketch your own with embellishments, paint, patterned paper, and other wonderful My Mind's Eye products. 

Supplies:  Cut & Paste: Charm - Sweet 'Spin' Paper, Charm - Hey You 'Trend 'Paper;  Charm - Flair 'Forever' Enamel Dots, Snapshots Decorative Buttons; Lost & Found Record it: Antique - ''Charming' Paper, Timely' Paper, Sticker Sheets, Die-Cut Embellishments;  Cupid's Arrow: Sticker Sheet; Misc: The Crafter's Workshop Stencil, Golden Paints & Molding Paste, Black Pen, Maya Road Mist, Neocolor II, DMC Floss

Here's my take on the sketch.  Spending time with my hubby is ever so precious these days since I only get 6 weeks a year right now.  This recent photo was snapped while shopping for some household items for our upcoming life together.  I am happy I captured the everyday moment. 

I started this layout by making a colorful background using mists and watercolor crayons.  I used molding paste with black paint pushed through a stencil with a palette knife.  A touch of black always adds a nice touch to any layout.  The neutral papers and all the cool embellishments from Lost & Found Antique look great layered on the reds, oranges, pinks, & yellows. 

The papers make it easy to combine with other lines too.  I started by layering the neutral papers with the Cut & Paste line in rectangle strips.  Next i added the pictures and stickers to the page.  Always feel free to play with the sketch.  I added a few more strips than in the sketch. 

I also opted to have the circle on top of the photo instead of behind it. The papers from the Lost & Found Record It die-cut pack are perfect to layer into my patterned paper pieces.  The red sticker from the Cupid's Arrow line is the perfect pop of red I needed for the page.

I decided to hand stitch around the page using two different colors of DMC floss.  I stitched the glitter paper and the chipboard title.  I love the way the stitching looks on that title providing that pop of color.  I also stacked the button on top of the chipboard button and stitched them together.  I sprinkled enamel dots across the page to finish the layout. 

This month I asked Laurel to join me by making a card for this sketch. Here's what she came up with.

 

Supplies: Mistletoe Magic: patterned papers, chipboard, stickers, enamel dots

 

Laurel says: I really like this month’s sketch for a card.  I love all the layering and the little cluster at the top of the sketch.  I am just creating the last of my Christmas cards for this year so I pulled out the Mistletoe Magic collection for this challenge. 

I love to mix the different elements for dimension and interest and am so glad that My Mind’s Eye always comes out with such fabulous chipboard pieces for their collections! Thanks for coming up with another fabulous sketch, Ronda. :)

 

Okay. Now it's your turn.

A random winner will be chosen and shared with our next challenge on January 6 . You have until the end of the day on Sunday, January 5 to share your project.

Please link your sketch via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of this post. Your layout must feature MME products. Only one entry per participant, please. The prize is any MME collection.

Have fun and good luck!

 

Ashley Part Two

Yesterday we introduced to you to Ms. Ashley Horton, our December guest designer. If you didn't get a chance to read the post, you don't want to miss it! Go and check it out HERE. So much inspiration!

Today Ashley is back to share the remainder of her guest designer projects. We are so very impressed with each and every one...and we hope you'll take the time to leave her some encouragement (both here and on her blog)!

 

Q: What is your favorite mme collection of all time? Why? 

A:I think my favorite collection would have to be On the Bright Side!  There were so many fun patterns in this collection and the bright colors were a perfect fit for my style.

 

Q: What did you have the most fun creating with? Why? 

A: I loved working with the Sticker Accessory Sheets and Chipboard Elements from each collection.  They were great for creating  just the right embellishments for my layouts and projects.

 

Q: If you could create your dream MME collection what would it be like? 

A: My dream collection would include the colors Teal, Yellow, Gray and Black, and would definitely have to include star, arrow, and triangle shapes!

 

Supplies:Lost and Found Record It -Antique:Dashing patterned paper, Timely patterned paper, Charming patterned paper, Elegant patterned paper, Cards, Gold Decorative Tape, Chipboard Element Pieces, Sticker Accessory Sheet, Decorative Brads, Enamel Dots, Ephemera Pack, Alpha & Word Stickers

 

Ashley says: The Record It "Antique" collection definitely took me out of my comfort zone, since I work with a lot of bright colors on my layouts. 

But I loved finding a way to work with the collection that fit my style.  I loved the black & white polka dot paper and made it the background for my page.  Then I built a base for my photo, by layering a heart cut file over the chevron glitter patterned paper. 

The gold washi tape added just the touch of color I needed to to draw your eye into the photo.  Instead of layering the washi tape right over the polka dot pattern, I adhered it to white cardstock and then trimmed it to get a border to add to my page.

 

 

Supplies: Vintage Christmas:Red Damask patterned paper, Joy patterned paper, Multi Dot patterned paper, Tree Trimmers patterned paper, Dictionary patterned paper, Holly patterned paper, Faceted Gems, Decorative Brads, Chipboard Elements, Sticker Accessory Sheet, Stamps;Lost and Found Record It -Antique: Cards; Misc: Ink:  Stampin' Up, Die Cut Machine:  Silhouette Cameo

 

Ashley says: Even though I use a lot of non-traditional colors at Christmas, it's definitely nice to also use a vintage collection, like Vintage Christmas.  The colors in this collection, couldn't have been more perfect for the photo of our kids visiting Santa.  I added several layers of patterned paper, a card, and vellum behind my photo.  I used my Cameo to cut the star shapes and title from the patterned papers in the collection.  I also used some of the stamps from this collection, to add a little touch of whimsy to my layout.

 

 

 

Supplies: Mistletoe Magic and Vintage Christmas: 6x6 pads,Chipboard Pieces, Sticker Accessory Sheet, Enamel Dots, Decorative Brads, Faceted Gems, Decorative Buttons, Cardstock:  American Crafts, Die Cut Machine and Sketch Pens:  Silhouette Cameo

 

Ashley says:What kid doesn't love writing out their Christmas list to Santa??!!  I had the idea to browse through the Silhouette store for a folder shape and create a Christmas Wish List for each of the kids, using a mix of the Mistletoe Magic and Vintage Christmas collections. 

Once all three folder shapes were cut on my Cameo, I decorated the front cover and inside pockets with patterned paper from the 6x6 papers pads. 

I used different embellishments from both collections to decorate the front covers and I added a small pencil holder to the side, using a small slip of patterned paper, adhered to the front and back of the folder.  The inside pockets can hold your child's Santa list and an addressed envelope to Santa.

Ashley! You went above and beyond! Thank you so much for taking the time to make such beautiful things with MME, we are thrilled!

Introducing our December 2013 Guest Designer!

We are so excited to introduce you to our December guest designer...Ashley Horton!

We asked Ashley to join us because, quite simply, we can tell she loves My Mind's Eye! Ashley is always joining in our challenges and posting layouts to our Facebook wall. We love her enthusiasm for our brand and the way she uses MME is always inspiring! 

Let's get to know Ashley!

My name is Ashley Horton and I live in the Southern US, with my husband Tyler and our three kids ages 7, 5, and 4.  I've been Scrapbooking for over 7 years, and I love documenting the antics of my children on my layouts.  I have had the privilege of serving on several Design Teams over the years and I am currently designing for American Crafts, Silhouette America, Chic Tags, The Paper Bakery, Life.Paper.Scrapbook and Get It Scrapped.  I have been published in Creating Keepsakes magazine, Life.Paper.Scrapbook Magazine, and PaperHaus Magazine.  I describe my style, as 'cutesy eclectic' and I enjoy using a mix of products and techniques on my layouts.  Other than scrapbooking, I enjoy cooking, reading, spending time with family, and watching movies with my hubby.

 

 

Supplies: Lost and Found Record It-Heirloom:  Glamorous patterned paper, Sweet patterned paper, Formal patterned paper, decorative tape, layered stickers, decorative brads, sticker accessory sheet, ephemera pack, enamel dots; Lost and Found-Record It! Antique: Delightful patterned paper;Misc: Studio Calico spray ink, American Crafts date stamp;Silhouette

Ashley says: The Lost and Found Record It! Heirloom collection has a great mix of pinks and some adorable embellishments, so I knew it would work perfectly for an adorable layout about our adorable daughter!  I took a monochromatic route with the different shades of pink from the collection and mixed in a few contrasting colors, by using some of the red embellishments and a few touches of black.  I also loved how easy it was to layer behind my photo, using the stickers, chipboard pieces, and PL cards.

 

Supplies: Lost And Found Record It-Antique:Charming patterned paper, decorative brads, alpha & word stickers, Lost and Found Record It -Heirloom: Heirloom patterned paper, cards, layered stickers, enamel dots, alpha & word stickers, pockets, twine

Ashley says:The Lost and Found Record It Heirloom collection is also perfect for creating Valentine themed cards, layout and projects, or for just an everyday I Love You card.  I used one of the brads, some enamel dots, and layered stickers to decorate the front of my card.  And I thought it would be fun to add one of the pocket envelopes to the inside of the card. You can see it peeking out of the top! This is a great spot for adding in a gift card or just a little love note to your sweetie!

 

Supplies: Mistletoe Magic:Collage patterned paper, Ledger patterned paper, 6x6 Paper Pad, Decorative Tape, Decorative Buttons, Decorative Brads, Layered Stickers, Sticker Accessory Sheet, Enamel Dots;Misc: Spray Mist:  Studio Calico, Thickers:  American Crafts, Die Cut Machine & Sketch Pens:  Silhouette America

Ashley says: The Mistletoe Magic collection is so fun, and I love the non-traditional colors.  It has a great retro feel, and I knew I wanted to use it on a layout recording some of our favorite Christmas shows.  I used my Silhouette Cameo Sketch Pens to draw the large snowflakes on my background paper.  Then I embellished the snowflakes with some of the Stickers, Brads, and Chipboard pieces from the collection.  The grid design for my photos, allowed for some layering around my photo square.  And I added the fun Gold stars, by using the Gold Washi Tape from the Antique collection.  Just adhere the Washi Tape to White cardstock and run it through your die cut machine to cut out the star shapes.

 

Supplies: Mistletoe Magic: Santas patterned paper, Collage patterned paper, 6x6 Paper Pad, chipboard elements, layered stickers, enamel dots, decorative tape, decorative brads, die cut machine & sketch pens: Silhouette Cameo

Ashley says: I think it's fun to create altered home decor pieces for Christmas decorations.  It's also a great way to upcycle something that maybe doesn't have a place in your decor anymore.  I recycled an old pink baby frame, to create this altered project using the Mistletoe Magic collection. 

I started by drawing the frame shape off onto my patterned paper and then cutting out the shape.  Next I painted the inside and outside edges of the frame with white acrylic paint.  Once it was dry, I painted over the frame face with Mod Podge and placed my patterned paper (cut to fit) right over the front. 

I removed the glass from the frame and added patterned paper and the chipboard Santa to the backside piece of the frame. I embellished around the edge of the frame, using several of the stickers, chipboard pieces and brads from the collection.

 

Wow, wow, WOW Ashley! We love what you've done. And believe it or not, dear readers...there is much MORE where this came from. Come back tomorrow for the rest of Ashley's fantastic projects.

Happy Monday!

December Color Inspiration

TGIF, MME fans!

It's time for our monthly color inspiration! Each month I send out an image to our designers. They use this image to inspire them to create.

We share their creations here and ask you to join in. This is not a prize-based challenge, just a fun inspiration piece. We'd love to see what you come up with, too! Just link in the comments section.

Enjoy!

Stephanie

 

source

 

Hi!  Tina here today with my take on the December Color Challenge!  I LOVE the color challenge this month and I knew the perfect collection for creating, the new Lost & Found- Record It Antique range!

I wanted to create a project perfect for the Holidays, so I created a home decor frame that can be displayed throughout the season!

Supplies: Lost and Found Record It!- Antique:6x6 Paper Pad,Die Cut Embellishments,Pockets;Misc:
Frame: IKEA Embossing Powder:  Lindy's Embossing Ink:  Watermark Twine:  Etsy Adhesive:  Scor Tape, Imaginese (foam tape) Cardstock:  American Crafts Die Cut Machine:  Silhouette Cameo Clip:  Tim Holtz


I used a 6x6 sheet from the paper pad, cut down to size, then layered a Lost & Found pocket on top of a journal card for a simple, yet elegant look.  I die-cut my sentiment and added a couple of stars for glitz and glamour!

Another special tip:  Want to dress up a plain photo mat?  Try embossing it with a simple patterned stamp and coordinating embossing powder.  The look is subtle, but so much more than a plain photo mat.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

 

Hi, everyone! This is Missy.

 

I was very happy to get to play with this month’s Color Inspiration piece!  As soon as I saw it, I knew that the Lost & Found Record It “Antique” collection would be perfect.  The colors are a great match. 

 

I was also inspired by the shimmery glittery table cloth and the black & white stripes in the woman’s skirt.  This collection is full of glitter, so I had to sort through and decide which pieces to use.  I also incorporated some Chalk Studio pieces and a few more other bits from other collections.

 

I decided to scrap a silly photo of my husband and me in the car.  He was on the phone and I was bored, so I took out my phone and just started taking goofy pictures.  He was in the middle of a serious conversation and I decided to photobomb him…and it turned out completely funny!  This is how most of our “romantic” dates go these days…haha!

 

I started with some washi tape from the Lost & Found collection and some gesso.  I used one of the cute frame stamps from the Cut & Paste collection as well as an older stamp from the Collectable line.  I used a template and some modeling paste to create some texture on my background.  I then layered some patterned papers underneath my photo.  I went for the bits & pieces next…finding various embellishments to place around the photo.

 

Supplies: Lost and Found Record It!- Antique:Decorative Tapes, Paper – “Timely,” Layered Stickers, Ephemera Pack, Sticker Accessory Sheet, Decorative Brads, Chipboard Elements, Word & Alpha Stickers; Chalk Studio:Chipboard Elements, “Chalk Talk” & “Pictured” Paper;Cut & Paste- Adorbs: “Loved” Decorative Stamps;Find Your Wings & Fly -Sky’s the Limit: Layered Ephemera Paper; Decorative Tapes :Pink & Charcoal;Collectable:Decorative Stamps;Misc: cardstock, floss, Heidi Swapp Color Shine – Tinsel, Liquitex Gesso, Golden Modeling Paste, Crafter’s Workshop template, black pen.

 

I love the silver glitter…it gets everywhere, and I’m okay with that!  I like that it’s scattered over my page.  This big chipboard “Bliss” is one of my favorite pieces, and it was perfect for this page.

 

Here you can see a lot of the texture and layers I created.  Building layers is a great way to add interest and depth to your pages.  I really love the “This is how we roll” layered sticker…it suits us to a tee!  And I love that the stripes on it mimic the stripes in the inspiration photo.

 

 

I hope you’re inspired by this color scheme…it’s great for just about any type of photo.  The embellishments are what make it unique!

 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

 

My Hanukkah Memories | Aliza

Yesterday we introduced our first Hanukkah guest blogger, Keshet. Today we would like you to meet Aliza. Enjoy!

Hi! It’s Aliza Deutsch here, and I was so excited to work with MME products to help document some of our Chanukah traditions, as well as to take the Deutsch Family Chanukah décor up a notch.

I worked with the Cut and Paste and with Lost and Found- Record It collections. I was pretty shameless about mixing the two lines together; I couldn’t get enough of the grays, and vintage elements in Lost and Found, and then I liberally added pieces from the Cut & Paste collection for pops of holiday color and cheer.

Among the many Jewish holidays and traditions, Chanukah, first and foremost is just, plain fun. Compared to some other holidays, the preparations are minimal, there are presents involved, parties abound, and we traditionally eat food fried in oil. You can’t really go wrong with that culinary guideline.

Each night of Chanukah we light the candles together, and sing the blessings and the prayers. In my layouts, I like to capture the event, but I also liked to add a little detail that captures a little something about us as a family. So, I felt it important to record for posterity, that we are not very good singers- especially by day 8 of Chanukah, when the novelty has long worn off.

Supplies:Lost and Found Record It: Antique paper, chipboard elements, ephemera, alpha words and stickers, sticker accessories, decorative tape;Cut & Paste: enamel dots, decorative brads, chipboard stickers, buttons

As I mentioned, Chanukah food is pretty dang tasty, and while latkes get all the press, jelly doughnuts are a family favorite. We are lucky to live a block from a kosher bakery that sells fresh doughnuts each day of the holiday, and we are usually there first thing in the morning to buy our daily dose.


Supplies: Lost and Found Record it: cardstock paper;Cut and Paste-Charm:patterned paper, enamel dots, decorative brads, chipboard stickers, journal card, labels, tiny word stickers, layered stickers

Since there are so many traditions that happen every year, I decided to make a mini album as a home for this year’s photos. And just because it’s Chanukah, I made eight topics for my album; Thanksgivukkah, candles, singing, gifts, latkes, doughnuts, chagigah (a party), and a Chanukah story.

I tore right into the Lost and Found 6x6 paper pad for the base of the pages, and layered on elements from both collections. I am not an avid mini album maker, but this process was so quick and easy- everything just looked great together right away.  All of my pages were ready before Chanukah even started, and as soon as the holiday is over, I can pick out my favorite photos and pop them right in.

Now here’s something you might not know about lighting menorah. It can be a messy ordeal. There are menorahs, matches, and candles. At our home, we also light an oil menorah, so we have a bottle of olive oil and wicks that we use each night. So, this year, after many years of good intentions, I decided to make all this “stuff” look prettier.

First I created a decorative bottle for the olive oil:
Supplies:Lost and Found Record It: ephemera, alpha words and stickers

Then a tin for all those little tiny wicks:

Supplies: Lost and Found Record It: Cardstock paper, ephemera, enamel dots;Cut and Paste: chipboard stickers;Decorative tape: Emerald and Blue

Inside that tin fits a cute, matching match box.

Supplies:Lost and Found Record It: Cardstock paper;Cut and Paste: buttons;Decorative tape: Emerald and Blue

Or the matches can be left out for this adorable little tableau.


And just because I was having fun, I made another matchbox too:

Lost and Found Record It:cardstock paper, sticker;Cut and Paste: Buttons, chipboard stickers;Decorative tape: Emerald and Blue

Thank you MME for giving me the opportunity to play with these collections! For years to come, Our Chanukahs will be prettier for it!

Happy Hoildays to All!

-Aliza

Tina Takes on the Sn@p Album!

Hi!  Tina here today with a project that that I am super excited to be able to share with you.  This project will be created over the next several months and you will see it as I add to it each month.  

Supplies:Lost & Found Record It- Antique:Sn@p album,Sticker Accessory Sheet,Chipboard Elements, Decorative Brads,Decorative Tape,Die Cut Embellishments,Enamel Dots,Layered stickers;Misc:Adhesive - Tombow (tape runner), Scor Tape, Imaginese (foam tape)Twine: Michaels

Today we will start with how decorated the cover of my Lost & Found Antique Sn@p Binder.  The inside pages will be created and shared in the next few months.  This will be a new type of project for me since I've never created a Project Life,or daily type of project before. I am so excited to create something new and share it with y'all.  I hope you will enjoy it!  I'd love to hear your comments and ideas for how to keep adding to my binder.

I had originally wanted to 'get messy' with my Sn@p binder.  I wanted to cover it with paint and ink, but then changed my mind.  (we are allowed, right? )  :)

I love the ephemera packet that is included with the Record It collections, so I thought it would be fun to create a collage on the front with various die-cuts, chipboard pieces, and stickers.    I really love how it turned out and how the ephemera die cuts are perfect for the theme I have in mind.

How are you going to decorate your binder?  Please share them with us!

Stay tuned next month for my first share on the inside of my binder!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Documenting December with our Sn@p Album!

Hello! Valerie here with you today with one of the Lost & Found Record It Sn@p Albums. I'm so excited about this collaboration between My Mind's Eye and Simple Stories! I love the size, versatility, and endless customization opportunities of these albums. I get to share with you how I customized (or fancied up) one of the albums.

Supplies: Lost and Found Record It Antique Collection—Sn@p Album and alpha & word stickers. Mistletoe Magic Collection— "Trees" paper, chipboard elements, enamel dots, and decorative brads. Vintage Christmas Collection—decorative buttons and faceted gems. The Sweetest Thing Collection— Bluebell "Smile" enamel dots. Other—embroidery floss and Prima Chalk In

I've been tossing around the idea of tackling an album to document our December this year. I haven't done this since 2009, for our son's first Christmas. I love that album and am so glad I did it, but the three years following 2009 I just made some layouts about December and Christmas and that was good enough for me. No regrets about not having an entire mini-album devoted to December. Now that we have a little one in house again and will be celebrating another first Christmas, I think it's time for another album. I'm ready and looking forward to it! So here we go, a couple days before December and I'm off to a great start (first time around I made the cover last). 

I decided on the Record It-Antique album for my base. The embossed pattern is so lovely. To bring the pattern out a little more I lightly rubbed some white chalk ink over it. I didn't want to do too much because I'm a fan of raw chipboard and wanted that natural color to show through. After the ink dried, I sealed it with a layer of matte gel medium just to add a little protection. 

 

I picked a striped patterned paper from the Mistletoe Magic collection and cut it to size to fit the window. I slid the paper into the slot and traced around the window onto the patterned paper with pencil. Next I removed that paper from the slot and filled in the square I just traced with various circle shaped embellishments from the Vintage Christmas collection and Mistletoe Magic collection. The "Merry Christmas" chipboard piece is from the Mistletoe Magic Decorative Buttons embellishment pack. I attached it with a bit of hot glue then used my paper piercer to carefully punch holes for the thread. I like to keep my album covers simple with very few layers. I feel like less layers=more durable. There's less to fall off and get damaged.

 

For the spine I added a little tag, trading out the brad for an enamel dot because I didn't want to punch a hole in the spine. Last but not least, I added the date with the Record It-Antique alpha and word stickers. ...And now I have an album ready to be filled with our memories, traditions, and activities from December 2013. I'll be back next month to share some of the inside progress with you. Can't wait! Until then, how will you customize your Lost and Found Sn@p albums? We'd love to see them!