My Mind's Eye Blog

Mini Albums with Monika | February 2015 Edition

I'll let you in on a secret, I have a crush on Chipboard Elements! They never fail to elevate a project to just right or even, if you dare, over-the-top perfect. Chipboard Elements add dimension, color and texture and can either take the stage as the star of the show or fall back into the chorus line and be easily as effective.



Hello friends, I'm Monika and for today's mini album project, I hope that you'll join me in pulling out your stash of chipboard elements so you can play along with me.

Supplies Used | Chipboard Elements:  Find Your Wings and Fly "Sky's the Limit", Find Your Wings and Fly "Up and Away", Kate & Co. "Cambridge Court", Jubilee Sherbet "Peace", Jubilee Mint Julep "Live It Up", Just Sayin', All is Bright,  Enamel Dots and Shapes: Just Sayin', 6x6 Designer Paper Pads, Vellum, Foam Dots, Post Attachment

I invite you to create your own "Good Words" mini album using Chipboard Elements. I realize more and more every day that sometimes it's nice to be reminded of the good things in life and how lucky we truly are. And I do love good words.

Gather Your Supplies

1. I began my project by first choosing a selection of yellow themed papers from a variety of new and old 6x6 Designer Paper Pads, but feel free to choose a color that makes you happy...and what might work best with your collection of Chipboard Elements.
2. Dig through your My Mind's Eye Chipboard Elements and pull them all out. All of them. This will help you to see what you have to work with and if you can develop a theme with color, shape or words. 
3. Trim your 6x6 papers to 4x6 and again trim the remaining scraps so that you can add a thin, contrasting strip to the bottom of your 4x6 album pages. 

 

Let's Create!

 

 

1. For your vellum cover, select a few thin paper strips to adhere and cut into each of the ends to create a pennant. Now add a Chipboard Element on top.
2. Using your color scheme, begin layering Chipboard Elements to create pleasing vignettes on each of your album pages. I started with just two elements per page and then added bits and pieces and played around until it seemed finished to me.
3. Don't be afraid to mix and match collections and varying shades of the same color. In real life, I'm kinda sorta a matchy-matchy kind of girl, but when it comes to my creative side, I like to be mixy-matchy and sometimes even add in something that doesn't even relate.

 

JUST A NOTE | While creating my mini album this month, we were in the middle of an ice and snow storm with no power for over 4 days. I had to think quick to come up with a creative mini album project with no photos to scrap and the topic of good words, and seeing the good in life, came to mind.

Have a lovely day,

Mini Albums with Monika | January 2015 Edition

Thirty wonderful days of 2015 are now behind us. And how lucky we are to have had the gift of another new day, each and every day! It's something I remind myself of when my day just didn't go the way I had planned.

Hello My Mind's Eye friends, I'm so happy that you dropped in today for another...

 

This month's mini album project is a little bit of a stretch, but as I work toward living my word of the year, which is simplify, I've been keen to use up my stash and clear my work space of the clutter. And that's how this idea popped into my head. In my effort to simplify, I've used a frame and paper I've had in my stash and documented my One Little Word in a 3D mini album


Supplies Used | Chipboard Elements: Just Sayin', Jubilee Mint Julep "Live It Up" and Sherbet "Peace ," Alpha and Word Stickers: Just Sayin', Transparent Frames: Just Sayin' Flair Pins: Jubilee Mint Julep "Wild" Enamel Dots: Jubilee Mint Julep "Beautiful" 6x6 Decorative Paper Pads: Find Your Wings and Fly "Up & Away" Meadow, A Mother's Love, The Sweetest Thing "Lavender" and "Honey

This isn't something you don't already know, but it does bear repeating...so many MME collections coordinate and blend and work so well with one another. After going through my older stacks of 6x6 Designer Paper Pads, I chose muted patterns {all of these are B side papers by the way} because I knew that I was going to use decorative elements from the current Jubilee and Just Sayin' collections.

Can I show you some detail shots?



Flair pins are not just for pinning anymore. I used some foam dots to attach it to my decorative chipboard pennant flag.




I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike. I added this cheerful little piece of chipboard goodness just because it makes me smile. I added some enamel dots to the flowers and the wheels just because I could.



And now, my one little word. Simplify. Even though I've used multiple decorative elements in creating my 3D mini album, it feels calming and simple and open to me. And here's a little secret I'll share, it's hiding lots and lots of paper behind there that's not nearly as nice to look at as this cheerful piece of art.

Have fun exploring your word of the year in a 3D mini album!

 

 

 

Mini Albums with Monika | December 2014 Edition

Happy New Year's Eve to all our MME friends. We wish you all that best and here's hoping your 2015 brings you peace, contentment, health, happiness, hugs, laughter, love, giggles and lots of time to be crafty!

Hi, I'm Monika and I'm a paper planner addict from way back. You know, before there was such a thing as a Google calendar or smart phone apps to keep you organized. And today, I'd love to share with you how you can trick out your paper planner with items from your scrapbook stash...why should layouts and mini albums have all the fun?

Supplies | Jubilee: Mint Julep "Journey" Journal Cards and Rub Ons, Wild Berry "Hey You" Rub Ons, "Live It Up" Sticky Notes and Chipboard Elements, "Peace" Sticky Notes and Chipboard Elements, "Tangerine" Sticky Notes, "Ride" Love Paper, "Ride" Bike Paper; Just Sayin' "Beauty" Paper, "Garden Party" Paper, Chipboard Elements, Transparent Frames, assorted Decorative Tapes

That's right, why not use your chipboard elements, enamel dots, decorative tape and cute scrapbook papers to personalize your planner to show your creative side. I began personalizing my planner by choosing my favorite papers and tracing the tab divider page onto the back side of patterned cardstock and trimming to size.

I recommend punching your holes now, before embellishing them with chipboard, especially if you are using something other than a hand held hole punch.


And who says we can't embellish our divider tabs? I love opening up my Filofax and seeing all that gold glitter! And the floral deer head just makes me smile!


Rub-Ons are a perfect embellishment for those of us that don't like a lot of bulk on our planner pages. You can still write on each side of the page without obstruction. And how do you like the way I added the colorful enamel dots to the Bike paper?

It always seems that I need to do forward planning when planning vacations and appointments, so I use a vertical pull-out calendar for the following year and made a top tab page so I can easily flip to this pages when I need to jot a quick reminder.


Sometimes a girl just needs to jot a quick list on a sticky note and not actually write it in her planner, right? I love that MME has designed some super cute options for adding journaling to a layout or mini album, but the sticky notes are so, so perfect for your planner or calendar, too!


And because I do use sticky notes, I've found that the transparent frames, trimmed down, are great to add between my weekly pages. I can still see the notes for the whole week, but I'm greet with an upbeat message and awesome design each time I review my day. Plus, the transparent frame is the perfect spot to hold my sticky note collection...yes, there may just be more than one note on here at one time!


I like to embellish the edges of my weekly pages with Decorative Tape to add a bright outlook and it doesn't add any extra bulk. By trimming an envelope, and reinforcing it with tape for strength along the cut edge, I am able to store my coupons here, thereby reducing the bulk in my wallet.

NOTE  | To find free Filofax planner downloads, like the perpetual calendar you see above, visit with me on my blog here.

Mini Albums with Monika | November 2014 Edition

Who's ready for some daily story documenting this December? Welcome Friends to...

I'm Monika and I'm tickled to share with you my largest "mini" album to date. Well, size wise anyway! Sit back and let me share my approach with this Holiday Memories mini album.

Supplies:Sleigh Bells Ring | Patterned Paper: “Noel” “Christmas Confetti” “Reindeer” “Blitzen", 6x6 Designer Cardstock Paper Pad, Alpha & Word Stickers, Decorative Tape, Gift Label Stickers, Treat Bags, Decorative Tags,Joyous | Patterned Paper: “Red Reindeer” “Carols” “Joy” “Dear Santa”, 12x12 Paper Crafting Kit, 6x6 Designer Cardstock Paper Pad, Mixed Bag, Alpha & Word Stickers, Decorative Tape, Decorative Tags, Gems Miscellaneous | sewing machine, adhesive, jute twine, Bind-It-All, glassine and kraft bags, kraft cardstock, paper doily

THE PROCESS
I've done December mini books in the past:

1. ranging in size from 3" thick, starting on the day after Thanksgiving when we decorated the tree all the way to December 31st
2. just jotting notes into a smallish embellished spiral bound notebook and not even including a story for each day
3. that aren't finished...and it's been years since I began them...but that's okay because I was able to capture stories and photos for at least part of our December and something is better than nothing

If you're thinking, "Who has the time for that?" then how about this...choose a few activities this month that have meaning for you. Take some photos. Jot down the story about why these photos have significance for you and voila, you now have a snapshot in time of some lovely memories.

So this year, I'm giving myself permission to document our December story just on days that I want to. Or have time to. Because as you all know, December is so very busy and full of joy.

 

I'm not sticking to a rigid schedule, but we do have some annual activities that we do as a family and I've included pre-made pages into my mini album to help me document those events.

 

THE PAGES

THE DETAILS

I'm making the glittered advent tags work for me and pre-designing pages for activities that I know are going to happen. 

 

• 14 is for the year 2014
• 8 is glued on a Polaroid Frame chipboard element that has foam dots on the back allowing me slip a small photo behind...we'll be attending our town's Christmas tree lighting on this evening
• 5 is part of a two page design and has been embellished with a Gem and a Decorative Tag...I'll add in our #5onthe5th photos {a monthly project I do} and we're going to document our favorite ornament
• 2 is for the "2" of us - this page is just before my December 24th page and might appear to be out of order, but...my husband proposed to me on Christmas Eve and I'm going to try to get him to write a little note to tuck inside the Treat Bag along with mine

I love little surprises!

 

REPETITION FOR THE WIN

How gorgeous is that Dear Santa paper? 

 

I adore it and actually used it for three pages in my mini album. 

 

Yes, three times! 

I have three kids, aged 9, 11 and 23 so I've inserted those Santa pages for the 9th, 11th and 23rd of December.  

 

The Glittered Advent Tags were added to glassine bags {for the 9 and 11 year-olds} and then I added the 23 tag right on top of the 25 next to Santa for something a little different. 

 

I can't wait to look back on these pages years from now, seeing their handwriting and their thoughts. And the glassine bags are perfect for holding pages from circular ads showing what they've circled to be added to their Wish Lists.

 

 

DESIGN TIP | adding pages to a spiral bound mini album

Drop by my blog where I share a quick + easy tutorial showing how to add photos, ephemera and more pages to an already bound album here.  Because we all know that if you give a girl a mini album, she's going to have tons more stuff to add!

 

Enjoy your holidays, however you celebrate them or choose to document them, and may you have love and joy in your homes.

Mini Albums with Monika | October 2014 Edition

Our Canadian friends have already celebrated their Thanksgiving and here in the US, we're just weeks away. As we head into the season of thankful thoughts and counting our many blessings, I wanted to share a free download along with my project today.

 

Hi, Monika here and welcome to another...

 

Supplies | Jubilee Mint Julep -  "Wild" patterned paper + flair pins, "Beautiful" patterned paper, "Journey" rub ons + journal cards, Jubilee "Live It Up" transparent frames, "Ride" label stickers; Jubilee Tangerine - "Awesome" patterned paper, "Adventure" flair pins, "Honor" label stickers; Jubilee Sherbet - "Enjoy" patterned paper, "Pretty" flair pins; Just Sayin' enamel dots and shapes, transparent frames; Other - binder rings, doily, glue stick, stapler, tab punch

 

 

I'm adding a little twist to this month's mini album project, actually it was a first for me, but this entire mini album has been created without a single photograph. Gasp! I challenged myself to let the awesome array of My Mind's Eye products "stand in" for places where I would usually use a photograph.

 

 

The Setup

The left side of the spread has a thankful journaling card {in a colorway that works well with the Jubilee collection} and the right side of each spread has a different patterned paper embellished with flair buttons, transparent frames, letter stickers, chipboard elements and journal cards...and sometimes a combination of two or three items...making for a chunky, layered, colorful mini album.

 

The Design Elements

I had a vague idea of things I wanted to include in my Thankful mini album, so when browsing through the Jubilee collection, I noticed that I could create and craft my album with just the supplies I had on hand.

My thinking was that I could incorporate the design elements from the MME collections to help the reader picture what I had journaled.

 

Let me show you how I did it.

 

Using the Transparent Frames from the Just Sayin' and Jubilee Live It Up collections, I inserted frames between my thankful journal card on the left and my patterned paper on the right side. I even added Rub Ons and Letter Stickers to the frames!

 

Layering Chipboard Elements is one of my most favorite ways to add depth and dimension to layouts and mini albums.  For the feather page, the coral rectangular shape had a sentiment that didn't fit my project, but served as a perfect anchor for my other elements. 

 

The polaroid frame comes with the photograph chipboard, but I separated the two items, and added the chipboard arrow between the two by adding foam squares to lift the frame off the page.

 

I might just be a little bit in love with the Rub Ons. I used them in a few projects earlier this month for the October challenge and haven't stopped playing around with them since. Here, I used them on a transparent frame and on patterned paper to highlight a flair button.

 

 

The Album

 

One can never have enough layers, I think it adds a bit of surprise and makes me want to keep turning the pages to see what comes next. Sure, I could have begun with just the thankful journal card, but instead I opted to add a transparent frame that I stapled a chipboard element to.  I lined it with patterned paper so that the raw chipboard wouldn't show through to the back side of the frame. I popped a chipboard frame atop the journal card and it fit perfectly. And no, I didn't plan it...it just happened, lucky me.

 

 

All these little pieces come together to help me tell my thankful story: life is an adventure, the good life...all a part of what I want to document.

Using journal cards is always a favorite way to jumpstart a story for me. So many times, they spark a memory of a moment that needs to be documented.

 

And the butter that holds this biscuit together are the awesomely gorgeous patterned papers, don't you think. And who says you can't cut into your favorite piece of paper? Not me...here I've trimmed the gold glitter nerdy glasses paper to use as journal card.

Go ahead, it's okay. I say it's better to use your paper and enjoy it than to save it and never see it.

The Downloads
Don't forget to download your thankful journaling page. And, I've also included what I journaled on the left side for each right side page decoration.

 

JOURNALING

 

THANKFUL CARD

 

 

Have fun and until next month,

October Challenge | Rub-Ons

Hi, I'm Monika and today I'm sharing the October challenge with all of you- Rub-Ons!

I'd love to show you how I used the new rub-ons from the Jubilee collection to create some darling home decor. Now that I've tried it, I just want to go around and add a rub-on to anything and everything in our home.


And why stop at just plates? Because I have two daughters, I knew that I had to find a way to spice up something in the younger daughter's room, too. If you have more than one kid, you'll know where I'm going with this. Keeping the peace, keeping the peace.


SUPPLIES USED
Jubilee Wild Berry "Hey You" Rub-Ons Item #J81069

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
Before beginning, I suggest giving your plate or mirror or other object a quick swipe with some window cleaner and allowing it to dry before adhering your rub-ons.

I tested the rub-on's on the back of the plate first, just to see if it would work...and it did! I worked from above as the plates rested on my work table. I had little luck using this same technique on a curved glass vase, but I'm not giving up and will try again. I'll use smaller images, rather than the reallllly long string of hearts I originally tested with. The mirror, for some reason, was harder to do than the plates, which could have been because I was too lazy to pull it off the wall and was adhering the rub-on's at an odd angle while it was still hanging on the wall.


Now it's YOUR turn!

The rules (as always) are simple:

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME project. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Tuesday, October 14.

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the October sketch challenge on Wednesday,October 15.

Good luck and have FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

50 Until 50 Album

We have an exciting announcement to make. Our beloved Monika Wright is returning to the MME team. We couldn't possibly be happier...we missed her so much!

While she was away Monika created this extraordinary 50 Until 50 mini album (using almost all MME products). Here's what she had to say about this project:

Some time ago, I had an idea to count down the 50 days before my 50th birthday with lists. I had a few ideas about what I wanted to share about my life so far, but mostly I just took a moment to think and documented my list. Each day, I posted my 50 lists on Instagram and you can find them by searching the #50until50 hashtag.

If you do check out my lists on Instagram, you might notice that there is a gap in the posting of lists. In March, my Father-in-Law passed away suddenly and I halted my posting and documenting. You might also notice though that I did eventually carry on with my project. He would have been 70 in May. 

My motivation for this project were my children. I wanted them to know things about me that I might never have brought up in conversation. One day when they're older, they might find this album, read these lists and perhaps they'll serve as topics of conversation between us. Or not. Who knows, that's the beauty of life.

For more details and insight into this precious album, read Monika's blog post HERE.

Thank you so much for sharing this personal and lovely album. And WELCOME BACK!

Mini Albums with Monika | July Edition

As we scramble to fit in the last days of summer fun {school begins here next week} I took a few moments yesterday to pause and think about how truly wonderful our life is and documented a few words in a mini album. Hi all, Monika here today to share yet another mini album with you. This is my last month with MME and I wanted to share something extra special.

Supplies Used | Kate & Co. Cambridge Court:  Chevron Paper, Striking Paper, Bouquet Paper, Lovely Day Paper, Bright Florals Paper, Mini Florals Paper, Chipboard Elements, Enamel Dots; Find Your Wings and Fly: Alpha & Word Stickers, Other Supplies: adhesive, foam dots, Sharpie, paper doily, binding machine

This month I am using the Kate & Co. Cambridge Court collection, focusing on the polka dotted patterned papers for my mini album. I loved the graphic appeal of those dots and the fabulous colors are so fun. Keeping it clean and simple, I scored my papers at the 6" mark and folded it over to form my pages. 

For the cover, I used the chipboard elements and lots and lots of foam adhesive to make each layer of chipboard a little higher than the layer below.

Because it's fun to have different sized pages in your mini albums, try trimming the journaling cards and placing them between your larger pages.The extra journaling room is an added bonus. For the 4x6 card, I scored and folded it in the middle and chose photos that were then {2011} and now {2013} to reinforce the theme.

Sprinkling a few enamel dots around your page ups the cuteness factor, too!

What can I say, we're still crazy about each other after all these years. We've been lucky in love for 15 years now and looking forward to the next 15!

I've enjoyed my year with you all sharing my first love in scrapbooking, the mini album. Working and creating with all the colorful, lively, inspiring collections from My Mind's Eye has been a true privilege and such a thrilling experience for me. I hope that in some way, I've inspired you to try your crafty hand at making one or two for yourself. Always remember how wonderful life is and find joy in whatever you choose to do!

Have Fun and Craft On,

Paper Kit Week with Monika

Monika here today for Paper Kit Week and I'm featuring the Find Your Wings and Fly collection by Rhonna Farrer. I chose to use the "Sky's the Limit" Paper Kit for my home decor project because when I began pulling all the goodies out of the kit, I was so inspired by the uplifting words and messages found on the sticker accessories sheet.

I began by covering an oval wooden shape I had in my stash with the patterned cardstock,then I die cut more of the gorgeous papers and used foam adhesive to add dimension to my inspirational art that I have been displaying in my studio. This art is especially for those days that I need a little bit of extra sunshine and good words. 

I just layered and layered and layered die cut shapes and stickers until I couldn't layer any more! I even added some of the round stickers at the bottom with a spiral cut flower in the center. 

DESIGNER TIP  Adhere your stickers to a sheet of cardstock and fussy cut around the sticker to make your own die cut accent pieces.

Join us again tomorrow for more inspiration using Paper Kits from My Mind's Eye. And don't forget to embrace your best self today!

 

Mini Albums with Monika- June Edition

Hello friends, are you ready for some crafting because it's time for...

If you've never purchased a Paper & Accessories kit before, you're missing out on a load of fun. To create this month's mini album, I only used items found in the Find Your Wings and Fly "Up & Away" collection so that you can recreate this same project alongside me.

UTILIZE YOUR DESIGNER PAPER

When I saw the sentiments on the Up & Away Dreams paper, I knew I had my cover and it was pretty easy to embellish, too. When you begin with a well designed paper, you seldom have to embellish beyond what is already there for you.

CREATIVE USE OF STICKERS

By adding stickers to your pages, you've added interest, dimension and character. The added bonus is that often times the stickers are a jumping off point for your journaling. On my cover, I added the green banner sticker, but the other graphics are all part of the amazing paper design.

MAKE YOUR JOURNALING SPOTS WORK FOR YOU

Think you won't use all those journaling spots?

• Have you thought about using them to add pockets to your pages? Add adhesive to three sides of your journaling card and pop onto your page, like I did on the inside front cover. 
• For the inside back cover, I used on of the more narrow journaling elements to adhere on three sides, added yet another journaling spot inside the pocket I created and then popped on some arrows from the sticker accessory sheet  as a pull tab. 
• Look in your stash for a cute paper clip to add a journaling embellishment to your page.
• Or even trim a series of journaling spots and add it to your mini book as a page.

TUTORIAL

Using the Find Your Wings and Fly Collection Paper & Accessories Kit

Cover  |  Trim your Up & Away Dreams paper to 12" wide x 8" tall and score at 6". I chose to trim away the banners at the top of the paper, but you do what makes your heart happy. Embellish cover with various stickers from the sticker accessory sheet.

Inside Front Cover |  Trim journaling spot and add to inside cover to form a pocket by adding adhesive to three sides, leaving the top edge free of adhesive to slip photos or ephemera inside.

Scalloped Border Page | Trim the Krafty Floral paper to 10.50" wide x 7" tall and score at 5.75". Choose your favorite border punch and fold over to form an interesting detail. Add sticker from sticker accessory sheet.


Rounded Edge Page  |  Trim Carousel paper to 8.25" wide x 6.75" tall and score in center

Happy Journaling Card Page  |  Trim the Big Top paper to 11" wide x 7" tall, scoring at 5.50". Choose your favorite journaling spots to add to the front, inside and back of page as seen in photo earlier in post.

Journaling Card Flap Page  |  Trim journaling spots from the Always paper, as seen in photo earlier in post, and score where needed. Add stickers from sticker accessory sheet.


I'll be using my mini book to share my thoughts about opening my Etsy shop three years ago and my dreams for the growth and future of my company. What will you use yours for?

I'm happy to answer any questions you leave in the comments!