My latest Baby Book

My daughter in law's mother has been visiting from Japan since January. She was here to help out with the twins, born in February. She is going home today and I wanted to make her a baby book to take with her.

Since she does not speak much English, I didn't want to put any english titles, but I wanted to do something special for the cover.

For the book, I cut out the pages at 7 x 7, using George and my Cricut. This was the best way to get all the pages the same size (sometimes I'm not the greatest at getting my pages all even!) I used the K & Co. baby stack for the paper. With the help of my Daughter in law and Terri from the Gazelle cutter forum, I was able to cut out the Japanese characters for my grandson and granddaughter's names. Since the characters were very thin, I used the "negative" cut out, cut in yellow, with blue behind it to show the letters. I used a Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page punches for the mats. The book was pretty thick, so I used Binder Rings to bind it together, adorned with lots of colorful ribbons.

I made sure there was plenty of space to add photos. I made a pocket and tag on the right side page.

These are "Z" folders to hold more photos.

Here is the one folder shown opened.

Here are pockets with tags to hold photos and/or journalling. The pocket will also hold a photo. I made sure I used lots of photo corners or ribbons or borders to make it easy to insert and hold the photos in place.
These pages are folders that hold a photo on the front and opened hold two more photos inside. (love those little faces!)

On this page, I made corner pockets for tags to hold photos and plenty of space to write down dates and journalling. Teddy bear and train were cut using my Cricut.

Here is another page with two more folders. The book holds a total of 30 photos!

I had fun making this book. I hope it is a nice keepsake for the other grandmom to take back to Japan with her.

Im currently working on a new project for the Cricut Mini Album's Design Team and I have a few Mother's Day projects to complete!

Hope spring has sprung where you are and have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Cricut Mini Albums Design Team Project

Here is another project I've completed being a member of the Design Team for Cricut Mini Albums Blog.

I chose the Cupcake from Sweet Treats to create the pages of the book, cutting the shadow feature at 6".

For the cover, I made the cupcake. I used Stickles to give dimension to the frosting and I used Paper Glaze to give a glossy look to the cherry. SWEET{IES} was cut using All Mixed Up.

For various embellishments throughout the book, I used EK Success or Martha Stewart border punches.

Pages throughout the book are brown and pink and I used paper from DCWV Sweet Stack. Added bling here and there. On the left side page, it is an accordian folder that holds 4 pictures. The ribbon goes around the book, and the closure is made with Basic Gray magnets sewn into the ribbon with a dot of FabriTac glue to hold in place.

This is the accordian folder shown open, with places for 4 photos.

These pages are made with pockets to hold tags for more photos or journalling.

Another accordian folder on the left, and tag pocket on the right, with a place on the pocket to place a photo too.
Accordian folder shown open. Each photo mat has either corners, ribbon or border to hold the photo in place.

Last 2 pages of the book.

I enjoyed making this album and I'm going to put my grandchildren's photos in it!

Thanks for stopping by. Please come by again for more of my creations!

Koal-t hugs,

Cathy

Gatefold Mini Book

Happy Saturday everyone. Hope you are all having beautiful spring weather and getting a chance to spend some time outdoors. I went for a walk earlier and it was nice to see the tulips in bloom, the trees exploding with green and the grass looking lush and verdant.

I was looking through my photos of projects completed this year and realized I had not posted this particular mini book. So this is today's feature.

I was searching the internet one day and saw a gatefold book kit on one site. I liked the look of it and thought "I could make that". In fact, I made a couple this style!

I cut the chipboard by hand. It was fairly simple because I used the scraps I had left over from another book I had made. The complete book measures 8 1/2" wide by 5 1/2" high. The first three pages of the book are 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". The last pages are slightly smaller in width than the entire book, just so they would fold in correctly.

I used the Rustic Stack by DCWV. LOVE this paper. I've always loved earth tones and this paper has a great variety of earthtones.

The front of the book is decorated with Petaloo flowers on the right and used the EK Success border punch (Bracket) to make the border on the left.

Another border punch used on this page and cut this frame from the Accent Essential cartridge and the Cricut.

I enjoy using elements that make it easier to just slip the photos into. Here I used a ribbon for photo corners and on the right an EK Success punch border.

Here I used EK Success border punch for the corners and the top of the pocket to hold the tag.

The postage stamp edged frame was cut using Base Camp and Cricut.
This is a wide shot of the first full page with the two smaller pages on the sides. Makes it easy to display photos in your book. The middle page has a pocket made using a Martha Stewart deep edge border punch.



This is a photo of the back of the book, with the last pages open on either side.

I like the look of this style book and I hope to do more in the near future!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great Saturday.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Happy Easter

Whatever your beliefs or however you celebrate the day, may it be one of joy and new beginnings. I'll be leaving for my sister's in a couple hours to spend the day with family....including my 4 grandchildren (haven't seen the twins in a few weeks! They are growing nicely!) I wanted to post a project I finished Friday night.

Although my "kids" are adults, I still like to do something for them for Easter. I don't like the traditional Easter basket for them, so I do something a little different.

George - the Bunny

Using my Gypsy. I incorporated various shapes from the George cartridge to create these bunnies.

Here is a closeup of one of the bunnies. His ear kind of looks cut off because of the black background, but its just curved. I used Copic markers for the highlighting and each bunny carries their own Happy Easter sign. I attached these to empty almond containers (you know, the ones that have the plastic label with the daily serving marks on the side) I filled the containers with candy and made one for my son and daughter and each of their spouses.

Here is a smaller version of the bunny, this one I put on a card I made for my grandchildren.

Hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy the emerging of spring! Its MY FAVORITE time of year!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Cricut Mini Albums Design Team

I am pleased to announce that I am a member of the new Cricut Mini Album blog. We will be creating mini books with our Cricut to showcase on the blog. Here is my first challenge. We were asked to use any shape from the Cricut. I used the Apple shape from Doodlecharms. I cut it at 6" from chipboard and used apple colors - red, apple green and golden yellow.

Leaf and stem were colored in with Copic markers. I didn't want too many layers since this is where the book was bound.

For the cover, I used Don Juan for the title. I cut a smaller sized apple from Coredinations paper and embossed with Cuttlebug folder D'Vine Swirls. Small apple was cut using Doodlecharms and I used Paper Glaze to give it a shiny look.

Since its a smaller book, I wanted lots of space to add photos. I made pockets that are also photo mats. In the pockets, I put tags. Each tag can have a photo added on one side and journalling on the other.

Don Juan was used to cut "sweet". I used ribbon for photo corners.

On the left side page, this is a folder that will hold two photos inside, with a magnetic closure. I used Basic Grey magnets..these are VERY STRONG magnets! I also used border punches for added design. The border on the left and top of pocket and photo corners on the right were created using EK Success Border Punch called Brackets.

This is the folder show open.

I like using border punches to create paper ribbon. I used this on the left side. I

Another folder holding 2 photo mats, with Basic Grey magnetic closure.. CUTIE PIE cut using Don Juan

This is the folder, shown open.

Hope you enjoyed today's feature! I am excited about being a member of the Mini Albums Design team and look forward to more projects!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Saturday!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy