Un-Winter Mini-Book

We are in the midst of un-winter around here. The weather is warm and rainy, however DH went to get the snow tires put on today.  Nary a flake of snow in sight.  At least if /when we do get snow, we'll be ready!
I've had my own kind of sudden change, too.  I am suddenly making mini-books.  If I were a tv station, I'd be called "All Mini-Books All the Time".
Don't know where these sudden changes come from, but I'm just having fun following my creative journey.
Here's a mini I made using Graphic 45 Curtain Call papers. This was inspired by Susie McGuire's wonderful tutorials over at Creative Cafe.
I called my mini "Director's Cut".  Love the very retro feel of these Graphic 45 papers.

By using kraft cardstock throughout, there's lots of journalling space, which I love.

There are gorgeous tags tucked under flaps like this page:

I kept very close to Susie's tutorial.  

Below left you see an envelope with a private journalling tag inside. On the right are two photo flip books for recording special moments:

This is my favourite page because it's a single image which cleverly splits into two half-pages at the centre point:

There's even a tag holder made out of a coffee cup protector sleeve.You can see it below on the right -the top of it is outlined with black lace trim. See the slightly curved shape of the kissing couple image?

Final page has photo tags as well as some journalling tags:

Two photo tags tuck easily under the long black pocket:

And here's the back cover:

In theory, this was supposed to be bound with a Zutter Bind-It-All.  However, I used O-rings and a Crop-a-Dile for binding, and I was pleased with the result.
I love this mini so much that I've already started writing in it and adding photos.  I have more mini-albums underway, and they will make some nice Christmas gifts.
Do check out Creative Cafe, Susie has lots of unique and easy-to-follow tutorials.
Thanks for stopping by today!

Sweet and Simple Vintage Christmas Frames

I love the simple life - especially at Christmas time.   I discovered that by keeping things very simple and streamlined,  it makes Christmas much more enjoyable when it arrives!
Here are some super-simple, sweet, and charming vintage Christmas frames that I made this week:

I got the frames from the dollar bins at Michael's - grand total $4.00. The frames are already painted such beautiful colours,  I only added some coarse glitter to make them shine.

Then I added some jump rings on the backs of the frames, and attached some pearl dangles.  I made the bling-y parts by de-constructing a Christmas garland and attaching pieces of it for an added vintage touch.

And then the most fun part -  I added these beautiful vintage pictures cut from Melissa Frances paper (Attic Treasures collection).

Here's a picture of all 4 frames.

I made two with simple Christmas twine loops, and two with metal swoop hooks. The frames can hang on the tree,  or with the stockings, or anywhere a little Christmas touch is needed.  And that's it - so simple and fun.

Fall Layout: Sketchabilities #57

Hello Lovely Blog Friends,
It does feel as if autumn has finally come to town.  I'm not a fan of fall temperatures, but I do love the beautiful colours!  Here's a fun fall layout which features all my favourite autumn colours:

This is a photo of my sister-in-law (who is a true fan of fall weather) and my niece in the apple orchard.  For the paper strips, I used the wonderful papers of the Farmhouse Collection by Crate Paper.
I purposely cut the photo into a smaller circle than its orange frame just so that the beautiful colours of the pattern strips could peek through (similar to the way that the colours of the apples peek through the photo of the orchard).  I added three TH clock faces for some contrast and metallic texture.

Who can resist a fresh from the tree apple? Can you see the semi-eaten apple in her hand?

I then fussy cut a few flowers. layering them on some sweet chipboard pieces from my stash. (I even used ledger paper as my background - this is unheard of for me!)

I added three TH clock faces for some contrast and metallic texture. And here's the beautiful sketch from Sketchabilities:

This was a fun sketch to work with, and one which I will use again.

Thanks for stopping by today - if you have a moment to leave a comment, it is very much appreciated!

Vintage Montreal Style

Hello Lovely Blog Friends

Here in Toronto these days we are so lucky to be having bright sunshine and the clearest blue skies outside of Taos, New Mexico - in November, no less!  

(I seem to remember creating this l/o for a challenge some time ago at OUAS... but I missed the deadline.)  Since we're having such glorious weather,  I thought I would post this summery vintage layout:

"Oh, never mind the fashion.  When one has a style of one's own, it is twenty times better."

The two photos are of my mother and her friends in Lafayette Park in Montreal on a sunny June day. The year is 1946. They are celebrating the end of school and the beginnings of new jobs, new lives right around the corner.

Montreal women (and men, too) are known for their sense of style. I just love their darling outfits and clutch handbags - which you can see in the photo on the left. The Webster's Pages summer handbag motif was perfect for this layout. I added white eyelets and did some lacing with satin ribbon, which I finished in a twisted rose.

I used tiny classic roses and slid this Summer Land poem (Glitz Layer) under the chartreuse chiffon flower.

Dusty Attic frames are painted with white crackle paint.

Looking at these pictures makes me want to go outside and take a walk in the park!
Hope that everyone can enjoy some lighthearted time with good friends this weekend or spend time outdoors.


Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Materials List:
Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages, Pink Paislee
Book Page: Glitz
Chipboard Frames: Dusty Attic
Spellbinders Dies
Journalling Cards: Prima
Flowers: Prima, Recollections