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Creativity Prompt #24 – Recycled Stitched-Spine Journal

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Stitched Spine Journal Next time you receive a package, don’t throw the box and the padding material away. Instead, turn them into a gorgeous hardbound journal, you can carry in your pocket.

This tutorial is a recycled version of the extremely popular Hardbound Journal tutorial. You can find another variation here.

Supply –

  • Two 2¾” by 3¾ “ cardboard pieces, cut from the box.
  • 50 pieces of newsprint paper (used for padding packages) measured 5” by 3½ “.
  • 4 scraps of patterned paper. Two measured 3¼” by 4¼” and two measured 2 5/8” by 3 5/8”.
  • Glue stick + double sided tape.
  • Ribbon
  • Embroidery floss

Tools –

Instructions –

  1. Flatten the box and cut 2 pieces, measured 2¾” by 3¾ “.
    Cutting the covers from the box
  2. Adhere the cardboard pieces to the larger scraps of patterned paper (3¼” by 4¼”) with the glue stick. Position the cardboard pieces in the middle of each paper scrap (you can also use fabric scraps which are slightly larger). Cut the corners of the patterned paper flaps and allow an 1/8” gap between the edge of the cardboard to the base of the cut. Fold each flap and adhere it to the cardboard, using a bone folder.
    wrapping the covers

    wrapping the covers

  3. Cut the newsprint paper to size (5” by 3½“) and fold each piece in half (creating 2½” by 3½” pages) – use a bone folder to insure a crisp fold. Stack every 5 pieces into one signature (altogether 10 signatures of 5 pages each).
    Folding the newsprint inserts
  4. Measure the height of the stack of signatures to determine the width of the spine.
    measuring the signatures
  5. Position the two covers apart from each other allowing the gap between them to equal the signatures’ height, as you have measured before. Using a double sided tape, adhere a strip of ribbon to both sides of the covers.
    attaching the ribbon to the covers

    Mark the width of the ribbon on the signatures to figure out where to pierce them afterward.
    marking the signatures for piercing

    Repeat with a second strip of ribbon. The second strip will reinforce the journal and increase its stability.

  6. Secure the embroidery floss to the cover with a piece of tape and start sewing the signatures to the ribbon. Start from the outside of the ribbon, into the signatures and through the ribbon.
    Preparing the stitched spine

    Preparing the stitched spine

    Take a peek at the finished spine –
    The journal's spine

  7. Cover the inside of the journal with the 2 5/8” by 3 5/8” pieces of patterned paper to conceal the embroidery floss and give the journal a finished look. This is the time to trim the ribbon’s ends and cover them, if you don’t wish the ribbon’s ends to show.
    Finishing touches

    Here is how the journal looks without the ribbon’s ends –

    The journal without ribbon

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share 🙂

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 13 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #23 – Cards & Envelopes Set

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Cards & Envelopes Set

Many of my most cherished creations are a result of a blunder of some sort. After I pass the self bashing stage I try to make something out of the error and sometimes the result is far better than what I have originally planned to do.

Last week I have posted a tutorial on making a mini album out of a single sheet of cardstock. The process of making this mini album involves alternating cutting lines. I was trying to use the paper trimmer for the cutting and got confused and mistakenly cut the cardstock in the same direction.

Following my mistake the muse came to visit… I decided to make a bunch of 3″ by 3″ cards instead and also created a matching Envelope Template.

So, without further ado, here is the tutorial:

Supply –

Instructions –

  1. Cut the cardstock into 4 strips of 3″ by 12″ and then cut each strip in half to two pieces of 3″ by 6″ cardstock. Fold each piece in half, lengthwise, to create a cute 3″ by 3″ card. You will end up with 8 cards from the single sheet of cardstock.
  2. Use a craft knife to cut a ¾” slit into each card’s spine and weave the ribbon through. Tie the ribbon into a square knot and repeat on each card. [You are completely free to embellish the card in whichever way you wish… Don’t feel obligated to the ribbon, it won’t be offended – neither will I 😉 ]
    Making the card
  3. Download the free envelope template and print it on a letter size paper (8.5″ by 11″). Cut the outline of the template. [You can either print it directly on the backside of the patterned paper or on a copy paper, which you can then cut and trace over the patterned paper – your choice].
    Cutting the patterned paper for the envelopes
  4. Score along all the dashed lines of the template and fold. Adhere the long flap to the small side-flaps with a tape runner (or a glue stick, if you prefer…).
    The completed envelopes

Easy, fun and adorable – my kind of a craft project 🙂

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share 🙂

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 4 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #22 – The “One-Sheet” Mini Album

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Multiple Mini Albums

This week’s Creativity Prompt is to make a cute mini album, or journal – what ever you wish to use that for – using a single sheet of cardstock and a couple of chipboard squares (or recycled cardboard…). For a special touch I covered the chipboard squares with fabric, and it turned out fabulous 🙂

Supply –

Instruction –

  1. Score the cardstock at: 3″, 6″ & 9″ (every 3″). I used a stylus for the scoring.
    Scoring with a stylus
  2. Flip the cardstock sideways and score it at: 3″, 6″ & 9″. You should end up with a grid of 3″ by 3″ scored squares.
    Scored grid
  3. Cut 9″ along the score lines of one side of the cardstock, alternating between cutting top to bottom and cutting bottom to top. The template below might help to understand it better:
    Cutting template
    Cutting along the score lines

    4. If you happen to cut the cardstock in the wrong direction (e.g. cutting from top to bottom consecutively) don’t worry. I had accidentally done that and created a great project out of it. Stay tuned for the instructions on next week’s Creativity Prompt!!!

  4. Fold each score line in an accordion fold (once up and once down) until you are left with a 3″ by 3″ booklet.
    Folding along the score lines
    For making the little booklet sturdier, I adhered the inner pages on one side, using a tape runner (you can also use a glue stick, although it’s much messier).
  5. Cut two chipboard squares at 3¼” by 3¼”.
    Cutting the chipboard cover
  6. Generously apply glue with your glue-stick to one side of the chipboard and adhere it to the center of the fabric strip.
    Adhering the fabric to the cover
  7. Cut the corners of the fabric strip in an angle, and leave about a ¼” (or more) from the chipboard edge.
    Cutting the corners of the fabric for the cover
  8. Adhere the remaining fabric flaps to the chipboard with your glue stick. First adhere two flaps which are opposite to each other and then adhere the remaining two flaps, while tacking in the corners for a neat fold.
    Adhering the fabric flaps to the cover
  9. Position the two covers, wrong side up, about ½” apart from each other. Apply a strip of a strong double sided tape to the middle of each cover and adhere the ribbon to it – while keeping the ½” gap. Make sure the ribbon is long enough to allow tying the mini-album in a nice bow.
    Attaching the ribbon to the covers
  10. Apply double sided tape to both sides of the mini booklet – make sure to cover all the edges.
    Adhering the cardstock booklet to the covers
  11. Adhere the booklet to the inside of the cover and voilà!!!
    Finished mini album

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share 🙂

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 6 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #21 – Making An Accordion Spine Album

Friday, October 17th, 2008

Accordion Spine Album

I love making my own albums and journals. Many times I use recycled materials along with some yummy patterned paper. If you are new to Creativity Prompt, you are welcome to have a look at the different album and journal tutorials I have posted so far:

Album Tutorials –

  1. Circular mini album.
  2. Guided album.
  3. Recycled mini album.
  4. Mini acrylic album.
  5. Circular Pocket album.
  6. Mini chipboard album.

Journal Tutorials –

  1. Hardbound journal. This journal acts as a base for any hardbound album or journal that I am doing.
  2. Matchbox journal.
  3. Tiny hardbound journal.

Now lets get to business and make an accordion spine album – just another fun way of keeping your heartfelt memories.

Materials & Tools –

How To –

  1. First cut the cover of the album out of your chipboard. You will need to cut 2 pieces, 7″ by 7″ each.

    Cutting the cover

  2. Next you need to cover each of the chipboard pieces with patterned paper.
    • Cut the patterned paper at 8.5″ by 8.5″.
    • Adhere the chipboard piece to the middle of the patterned paper with your glue stick.
    • Cut the corners of the patterned paper up to 1/8″ of the chipboard corners.
      Cutting the corners of the patterned paper
    • Adhere the edges of the patterned paper to the chipboard (you can use either the glue stick or a double sided tape). For crisp lines, use a bone folder and work each time with the flaps on the opposite sides.
      Covering the chipboard
  3. To finish up the cover’s look, adhere a 6¾” by 6¾” piece of cardstock on each of the chipboard pieces.
    Covering the inner side of the chipboard cover
  4. Now it’s time to add on the ribbon. Position your chipboard covers one next to another with a gap (1″) between them. Put a strip of very strong double sided tape along the midsection of each chipboard piece and adhere the ribbon to it. Keep enough excess of the ribbon on each side for tying it nicely in a bow. Learning from my on experience, I suggest not to use a wire rimmed ribbon.
    Adhering the ribbon
  5. For the spine you need a 10½” by 7″ piece of cardstock. Score it along the 10½” side at every ½”.

    Scoring the spine

  6. Next you need to fold the cardstock on each score line in an accordion style – one fold up and one down. It is important to burnish each fold thoroughly with the bone folder. When you finish up folding the entire strip of cardstock, secure the spine with paper clips. If you have the time – let it rest like that for at least a day or so.

    Folding the spine

  7. Adhere the spine to the chipboard cover, in a way that creates a mountain fold between the cover and the spine and the other cover (which means the score line is turning outwards). I used a double sided tape for adhering the spine.

    Adhering the spine to the cover
    Closer look at the adhered spine

  8. To control the accordion spine, which tends to get a bit unruly… use your crop-a-dile to punch a hole all the way through it, both at the top and at the bottom of the spine.
    Make sure that you leave enough room for the album’s inserts to fit inside.
    It’s hard for the regular crop-a-dile to go through the spine and the two chipboard covers. So either use a craft drill (don’t forget to protect your cutting mat, when using the craft drill) or punch the spine and secure it with a ribbon before adhering the spine to the cover (that means doing steps 8-9 before step 7).
    Punching holes to secure the spine
  9. Secure the spine by threading a ribbon or a strong thread through the holes and tying it in a knot on each side.

    securing the spine

  10. Cut all your inserts from cardstock at 6¾” by 6¾” (and keep the leftovers for fast card making 🙂 ). I have used 9 inserts in two different colors – you can use as many colors as you wish or make it monochromatic.

    Cutting inserts

  11. Attach each insert to the spine by lining its edge with double sided tape and adhering it to the inside fold.

    Adhering the inserts to the spine

Share –

I really hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial (along with all the others) and that the instructions are clear enough for you to go right into making your own mini album. If not, please feel free to ask any question by leaving a comment.

Please share your creation with us by posting a link as a comment here or by adding a picture to the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group.

Enjoy!!!

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 8 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #20 – How To Make A Circular Mini-Album

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Circular Mini-Album

I love making my own mini-albums. The handmade album is unique and filled with love and attention.

By definition, the handmade album is going to be a “one-of-a-kind”, even if you make a hundred of them – because as long as it is not mass produced by machines it is going to turn up a wee-bit different each time you make it.

Apart from the handmade album’s singularity, there are two more things that make me happy about making my own mini-albums:

  1. Recycling. By making my own albums (and journals) I get to reuse stuff that otherwise would go to the bin and clutter the world… I can recycle boxes, notepads covers, chipboard which is used for flattening shirts and linens in their packaging. I get to literally turn trash into treasure, and I LOVE it.

    2. Flexibility. When I am making something from scratch I am the one setting up the rules. I decide what shape it’ll be (or that it is going to be made out of multiple shapes). I decide what size is it going to be (or multiple sizes – to fit my own personal needs). I decide which materials I am going to use (hence the opportunity to recycle). I am the boss 🙂

In this week’s creativity prompt, I am calling you to use your flexibility and create a circular mini-album for yourself or as a gift for a loved one.

Tools –

Materials –

(for embellishing your album you can use whatever you have in your stash – patterned paper, paper flowers, buttons, glitter, ribbon etc. The sky is the limit when it comes to embellishments. You can be creative and do some recycling for creating your embellishments as well…)

Instructions –

  1. Start by making the album’s cover. Cut 2 circles from a cardboard box (mine are 6″ in diameter). Because of the thickness of the cardboard, the circle cutter won’t go all the way through, but it’ll help you in creating a nice groove that you can follow cut all the way through with either the utility scissors (very sharp) or the craft knife.

    Cutting the cover

  2. Next you need to cover the cardboard circles with patterned paper. Apply a generous amount of glue with your glue stick and stick each of the cardboard circles to a sheet of patterned paper. Then flip it over and cut the excess of the paper with either the utility scissors or your craft knife (what ever works better for you).

    Covering

    Alternatives: you can paint the cardboard with acrylic paints and a sponge brush or cover it with modge-podge or leave it as it is for a natural-recycled look.

  3. Punch the holes for your album with the trusty Crop-a-Dile. Make sure your hole is no farther than a ¼” from the edge, otherwise the pages of the album won’t turn easily (I’m speaking from my own experience here… You can see that in the picture below).

    punching album's holes

  4. Cut the insert circles from your cardstock, using the circle scissors again. You can cut them a little bit smaller than the covers. You may use multiple colors of cardstock to make it more interesting visually.

    Cutting inside inserts

  5. Next punch the holes in your inserts. Use your punched covers as a guide and trace the holes lightly with a pencil. Using the Crop-a-dile, you can punch all your pages at ones to make it quicker and to insure even lining. (Don’t forget the ¼” rule from step 3 above!!!)

    Punching holes in the inserts

  6. It’s time for the fun part – embellish!!! You can cut any excess by flipping the circle over and use your utility scissors or craft knife.

    embellishing

    cutting excess

  7. When all your album pages are done, thread them through with the loose leaf rings (you can also use ribbon or thread as an alternative binding method).

Share –

I would love to see your own interpretation to the circular mini-album.

Share you creations by leaving a link in the comment section below or by adding the pictures to the Flickr’s Creativity Prompt group pool.

Feel free to share your thoughts about this project. I’d love to hear what you think about it.

Book cover of
Book cover via Amazon

Psst… You have got less than a week for a chance to win a copy of the book: Visual Chronicles by Linda Woods and Karen Dinino.

Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment here. Just follow the instructions and secure your place at the raffle.

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 5 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #17 – Tag Book

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Tag Book

For this week’s creativity prompt I have a quick and easy project for you. All you need are 3 sheets of 12″ by 12″ cardstock (OK, and some double sided tape).

With such an easy and low maintenance project I am sure every single one of you can make this beautiful tag book, along with the cute little matching box. This makes a great keepsake for yourself or a thoughtful, yet very affordable, present for a loved one.

So, lets get to work:

Supply-


Tools (optional) –

Instructions –

Tag Book

  1. Score one side of the cardstock every 3 inches and the other side at 6 inches.
    Scoring
  2. Cut 3″ down each 3″ score line on one side.
    cutting
  3. Fold and embellish the 4 flaps of the cardstock anyway you wish. You can get some ideas from this picture:
    creating embellished folds
    Here is another way of creating the pockets for the tags. You can create that with a circle punch:
    alternative pockets.
  4. Optional – Apply short strips of packing tape to seal the tips of the brads and the ribbon on the inside of the pockets to prevent the tags from getting stuck inside.
    Sealing
  5. Apply double sided tape to the seam of each fold line, as well as to the edges of the cardstock. Then fold along the 6″ line and adhere the two sides together. As an alternative, you can run all these lines through the sewing machine, and create the pockets after folding along the 6″ line.
    Adhering the pockets
  6. For the tags, cut 4 pieces of cardstock at: 2 5/8″ by 5½”
    Cutting tags
  7. You can embellish the tags with an ink pad, a corner rounder and some ribbon – and your tag book is ready!!!
    tag book

Cardstock Box

The box tutorial video is given as a courtesy of Jennifer Muraoka. Jennifer is an extremely talented artist and I enjoy following her creations both on her blog: “Kiyomi Krafts” and on her You-Tube channel. Apart from her wonderful creations, she also conveys her great personality through her tutorials and blog posts.

Share

Share your tag book creations on the Creativity Prompt Flickr group or by leaving a comment on this post with a link to your creation. You are also welcome to share your thoughts about this tag book and to suggest ideas on what to use it for. Your comments are always adding so much value to the prompts, so keep on commenting 🙂

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Creativity Prompt #16 – Guided Album

Friday, September 12th, 2008

Guided Album

What is a guided album? let me show you but lets start with a story.

A good friend of mine has recently given birth to her third child. A baby girl named: Noa. Having two more children to take care of (and a job to come back to after the short maternity leave) means she has zero time on her hands. A guided album is the result of me thinking “what can I possibly give my friend for Noa’s birth?”

A guided album is an opportunity. It is a chance to preserve your memories and document your thoughts and feeling without going through the effort of making a traditional scrapbook.

A guided album is basically a mini album with journaling prompts written on premade journaling tags and a designated space to stick uncropped 4″ by 6″ pictures on.

A guided album can be a perfect gift for a busy mom, a bride to be or to serve as a “pregnancy pal”. (Just adjust the journaling prompts to the occasion). You can also make a guided album for yourself, as an incentive to preserve more memories, thoughts and emotions. Make it in advance, on your free time, for a busier time to come.

This week’s creativity prompt is to make a guided album.

Supply –

Tools –

Instructions –

  1. Cut all the pieces of cardstock, chipboard and patterned paper to size:
    • 2 Cover pieces – cut chipboard at 5″ by 7″
    • 2 pieces of patterned paper to cover the chipboard – cut at 6″ by 8″
    • 2 pieces of cardstock, for the inside of the covers – cut at 4¾” by 6¾”
    • Inner pages – cut as many cardstock pages as you wish, at 4¾” by 6¾”

  2. Cover the chipboard pieces with the patterned paper.
    • First adhere the chipboard to the center of the patterned paper.
    • Then cut all the corners of the patterned paper, allowing a gap of 1/8″ between the chipboard edge and the base of the triangular cut.
    • Fold and adhere the remaining patterned paper’s flaps to the chipboard.
    • Adhere the two cardstock pieces to the inner side of the chipboard cover, to give it a finished look.
  3. Punch 2 holes on each cover, a ¼” from the middle edge and an 1″ from the top and bottom edges.
  4. Use the punched cover as a guide for marking the inner cardstock pages.

    You can then punch them all together with the Crop-A-Dile.
  5. Attach the binding rings and make sure they run through all the inner pages and both covers.

    The framework of the album is pretty much done…

    Now we will proceed to what makes this a “guided album” …

  6. On each 2 pages spread, designate one page for a standard size picture (to eliminate the need to adjust and crop the photo) and one page for journaling.
    • Photo page – Take a standard size photo as a template and position it wherever you wish, then trace lightly with a pencil around your template. Avoid positioning the photo where the punched holes are, so you or your recipient won’t have to repeat the punches.

      Apply 4 strips of double sided tape to the corners of the pencil marks and leave the top cover on. This way, your recipient can just peel off the top cover and use it as photo-tabs, for a quick and easy assembling.
    • Journaling page – Write a journaling prompt and include a journaling tag (or stamped image) to write on.

Some journaling prompts to consider –

  • Birth details: date/name of hospital/ weight/ height/ eye color/ hair color; etc…
  • Thoughts and feelings during the last week before giving birth. Worries/ hopes; etc…
  • The birth experience itself.
  • The first moments at home, with the new baby.
  • How did the siblings greet the new baby? What do they wish for the new baby?
  • A letter from dad.
  • A letter from mom.
  • First bath.
  • First smile.

You can browse the entire guided album here.

(To join the Creativity Prompt Flickr group click on the link at the right side bar.)

Share

How did you find the idea of the guided album? What would you use it for? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment on this post.

Giveaway

Only two more days are left. To enter leave a comment here and give me some feedback.

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 6 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #15 – Make Your Own Matchbox Journal

Friday, September 5th, 2008

Matchbox Journal

Making handmade journals has become a special hobby of mine. It all started with with the hardbound journal and kind of evolved with the micro version of journal cuteness. In this post I will show you how to make a matchbox journal and I promise you haven’t seen the end of “Journal Mania” yet 😉

Supply –

Instructions –

  1. Trim the cardstock to a 5“ by 12“ strip and score at 5“, 5½“, 10½“, 11“, then fold all the score lines. Use a bone folder to make crisp folds (you can also use the bone folder to create the score lines if you haven’t got a stylus).
  2. Cut 20 pieces of handmade paper, measured: 4¾“ by 4¾“.
  3. Now we have some measuring to do – lazy people style … Collect all the inserts together and position on top of the small 1“ flap. Make sure all the “layers” are aligned and centered and put the ruler on top. Now mark 2 points which are equally separated from each side.
    (I am sure the picture will do the “measuring method” much justice than all the mumble jumble of words)
  4. For marking the punch marks inside, just use the marks on the flap as a guide.
  5. Punch all the marked points with the Crop-A-Dile. As you can see, you can easily punch through all the inserts at once.
  6. Thread a ribbon from the flap, through the inserts, into the back cover and back.
  7. The matchbooks journal is actually done, but I have an extra tip => after tying up a nice knot in the ribbon, apply nail varnish to the tips of the ribbon to prevent fraying.

Enjoy your journal:

Front –


Inside –

What do you think about the matchbox journal? Did you find the instructions comprehensible? Please leave a comment to this post!!!

New Feature –

I have started a Creativity Prompt Flickr Group
 to which you can submit your creativity-prompt inspired projects and you can also initiate a conversation on any relevant subject (including some Q&A or suggestions). You are all welcome to join.

Giveaway –

Do not miss your chance to win a free copy of my new e-book. Leave a comment with some feedback on this blog here to preserve your place at the giveaway.

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Creativity Prompt #14 – Making A Teeny-Tiny Journal

Friday, August 8th, 2008

This prompt is a variation of the hard-cover journal tutorial. This time the journal is teensy-weensy and can easily be carried around in your pocket or your handbag. As an added bonus, the cuteness factor makes you want to actually use it all the time 🙂

Supply –

Instructions –

  1. Cut 3 pieces of chipboard, measured: 3×3, 3×3 & ¼ x 3 inches.
  2. Repeat the same process of making the hard-cover journal tutorial for covering up the covers and the spine and then adhering them together.


    3. The picture features a different micro-journal, but the technique is the same. I made a bunch of these cute minis and didn’t take pictures of each one separately.

  3. Adhere a strip of double sided tape along the middle of the journal’s binding, widthwise, to secure the ribbon on it. Adhere the ribbon and make sure it is long enough to be wrapped around the journal several times, when it’s closed.
  4. Cut the handmade paper to size (10 pieces measured: 2¾x5½ and one piece measured 2¾x6½).
  5. Fold each of the 10 pieces of the handmade paper in half and burnish the fold with the bone folder.
  6. Score the longer strip of handmade paper at 2¾ on each side, to allow an ½ inch spine in the middle. Burnish the folds with the bone folder.
  7. Pierce each of the 10 pieces of the handmade paper at the middle of the score line (fold) and again 1 inch to the top and to the bottom of the middle hole. All together, each piece should be pierced three times along the middle fold.
  8. Pierce the spine of the longer strip of handmade paper, as follows:

                  Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°
    « 1 inch »
    middle       Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°

    « 1 inch »
                  Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°Â°

    Basically what you need to end up with is a corresponding hole to each of the signatures’ holes
  9. Use the needle and thread to sew each separate signature to the spine.
  10. Attach the bound signatures to the cover of the micro journal, using double sided tape



Voilà!
Now, don’t be surprised if the journal starts multiplying …
Consider yourself duly warned 😉



Please share your own micro journal creations with me and don’t hesitate to ask for more information, either by commenting or by using the contact form.

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 3 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #13 – Recycled Mini Album

Friday, August 1st, 2008

Mini Recycled Album

Due to the vast popularity of the former “turn your trash into treasure” post, I have decided to make a series of posts, concentrating on using recycled objects to create art.

On this week’s creativity prompt I am going to show you how I have made a beautiful mini album, featuring my 3 nephews and niece, also known as “the elite squad“, using a USPS priority mail box.

Instead of throwing the box to the bin I salvaged it by taking it apart and cutting it to 3½ by 3½ inch squares. After covering the squares, punching them and putting a ton of embellishments on them, no one can tell they were taken out of the garbage bin 🙂

By making the album out of this box, I am not only helping the environment by the mere act of recycling but also by not using a brand new album or a new chipboard sheet, made out of newly chopped trees… I guess I can call it a mindful use of finite natural resources and the results are pretty cool, as you can see yourself.

So here goes this week’s tutorial:

Supply –

  • Cardboard box (not necessarily USPS’s box).
  • Patterned paper and black or craft cardstock.
  • Adhesive – glue stick, tape runner and double sided tape.
  • Basic – ruler, scissors, craft knife and a cutting mat.
  • Crop-a-dile
  • Binder’s rings

    • Embellishments – clear your stash & go crazy!!!

    Instructions –

    1. Take the box apart and flatten it up
    Cardboard Box
    Flat Cardboard Box

    2. Measure and cut the squares
    Cardboard Squares

    3. Cover up the squares the same way you’d cover a journal bind – cut a bigger piece of patterned paper and apply glue stick to the cradboard square. Adhere the square in the middle of the patterned paper piece and cut all the edges in an angle, then adhere the flaps you have created to the cardboard.
    Covering Cardboard Squares

    4. Cut 3½ inch squares from the black cradstock to cover up the other side of the cardboard squares. (As I was using a very colorful and busy patterned paper for covering the cardboard squares, I chose to cover up the other side with a black cardstock. I would have used craft cardstock, had I had any…. but the main idea is to use the supply you already have.)

    5. Adhere the cardstock squares to the uncovered cardboard with double sided tape, to insure a sturdy hold.
    Cardstock Cover
    Covered Squares

    6. Punch your finished covered squares with the crop-a-dile (¼ inch from the side edge, 1¼ inch of the top and bottom edges).
    Punching holes

    7. Attach all the squares together with the binder’s rings and start adhering the pictures and writing the stories to go along with your pictures.
    Mini Album

    You can take a peek at my finished mini-album here.
    Finished mine album pages

    Please share your recycled creations with me by leaving a comment!

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    Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial | 13 Comments »

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