You think you are finshed with a project, but sometimes it is hard to actually know when that moment comes...take these two last little memory albums I made...
The "His" album went together, no worries, no second thoughts about embellies and finishing touches...it was simply finished when I added the last cog to the final photomat...however, with the "Hers" album, I just can't seem to get it done...my mind keeps wanting me to get it out of the project box and do more tweeking, and we all know how dangerous that can be, don't we?
For example, ever since I finished the cover I have been in six minds about adding a frame and title, I have actually cut, coloured and assembled four different versions and trialled several sentiments to include...liking none of them, I decided that it would remain plain, made the video...then changed my mind. Last night I made a fifth frame, this one a simple oval, coloured it with a rough silver acrylic paint, cut a couple of inserts, one cream, one from the green stripe paper I used for inside cover lining, and then spent all evening and a large part of the night, (I had a disturbed night and my thoughts kept returning to the quandry of the frame), but it must have worked because this morning I came straight to the craft room and added the frame with the green insert...decision made...for better or worse.
The "His" album went together, no worries, no second thoughts about embellies and finishing touches...it was simply finished when I added the last cog to the final photomat...however, with the "Hers" album, I just can't seem to get it done...my mind keeps wanting me to get it out of the project box and do more tweeking, and we all know how dangerous that can be, don't we?
For example, ever since I finished the cover I have been in six minds about adding a frame and title, I have actually cut, coloured and assembled four different versions and trialled several sentiments to include...liking none of them, I decided that it would remain plain, made the video...then changed my mind. Last night I made a fifth frame, this one a simple oval, coloured it with a rough silver acrylic paint, cut a couple of inserts, one cream, one from the green stripe paper I used for inside cover lining, and then spent all evening and a large part of the night, (I had a disturbed night and my thoughts kept returning to the quandry of the frame), but it must have worked because this morning I came straight to the craft room and added the frame with the green insert...decision made...for better or worse.
Here it is, with it's brushed silver frame and sentiment added...I do like it better, and it does help with the "pairing" of the two albums...
The other thing that had been worrying me inordinately was the photo mats in the top pockets...I decided I did not want to mat them with another pattern or colour as the pages are already over- busy to my eyes, nor could I decide on a decorative thumb pull for this album.
The "His" album was easy, I used a selection of cogs, but I could not find anything that I liked for this one...buttons, a tiny paper bow, tiny butterfly, flat metallic charms...I tried so many things without liking the outcome at all.
Last evening, as I was making the frame I thought of the very simple (and blindingly obvious, if I'm honest!), idea of matting the inserts with the same card...see what I mean...it really should have been the first thing to consider. This had the effect of strengthening the mats without adding any distracting colour or texture...this thought then lead to me embossing an offcut of the cream card stock with a tiny dotted embossing folder I have, cutting small circles from the embossed peice (I wanted them oval but my small oval punch was too large, sadly), I then adhered one to the front of each of the photo mats and now it really is done!
Oh, except I am off to find a couple of boxes for them to reside in...I really worry about their longevity, especially if left standing on a shelf somewhere warm, and these albums will need to stay together for quite some time. I decided that a box to store them in would be a good idea...anyway, apart from protecting them from sunlight and heat etc. I think that if I was making something like this for my children then I would want to include other objects, things that may be too dimensional to add directly into the album, (jewellery, keepsakes, childhood treasures made for mum in preschool, that sort of thing. For example, I still have the flannel needle book I stitched for my mum when I was in Kindergarden...it is completely valuless apart from that association, along with the knowledge that she thought enough of it to keep it safely all her long life through many house moves...).
The box will allow those little things to be tucked away also, over time. Then this project will really, trully be done...maybe...I think so anyway...;)
The "His" album was easy, I used a selection of cogs, but I could not find anything that I liked for this one...buttons, a tiny paper bow, tiny butterfly, flat metallic charms...I tried so many things without liking the outcome at all.
Last evening, as I was making the frame I thought of the very simple (and blindingly obvious, if I'm honest!), idea of matting the inserts with the same card...see what I mean...it really should have been the first thing to consider. This had the effect of strengthening the mats without adding any distracting colour or texture...this thought then lead to me embossing an offcut of the cream card stock with a tiny dotted embossing folder I have, cutting small circles from the embossed peice (I wanted them oval but my small oval punch was too large, sadly), I then adhered one to the front of each of the photo mats and now it really is done!
Oh, except I am off to find a couple of boxes for them to reside in...I really worry about their longevity, especially if left standing on a shelf somewhere warm, and these albums will need to stay together for quite some time. I decided that a box to store them in would be a good idea...anyway, apart from protecting them from sunlight and heat etc. I think that if I was making something like this for my children then I would want to include other objects, things that may be too dimensional to add directly into the album, (jewellery, keepsakes, childhood treasures made for mum in preschool, that sort of thing. For example, I still have the flannel needle book I stitched for my mum when I was in Kindergarden...it is completely valuless apart from that association, along with the knowledge that she thought enough of it to keep it safely all her long life through many house moves...).
The box will allow those little things to be tucked away also, over time. Then this project will really, trully be done...maybe...I think so anyway...;)
The matted photo inserts with the little embossed thumb pull...looks neat and is much sturdier than the single layer...
For the Her album I could find nothing more suitable than a plain kraft coloured box, so I printed off another of the ballet fairy trees onto a stone coloured PTI paper, trimmed it and added it to the top of the box...just to pretty it up a tad...
Here is the Her album, all wrapped in mauve tissue...I also wrapped the dangle with tissue and tied it with some cream seam binding to keep it together and to protect the album while it is in transit to it's new home.
The His box is a lovely chocolate and gold box, lined with black...
The His album is wrapped in luscious gold tissue...there is plenty of room in both boxes for other small items to be added...
I added one of the metallic embellishments I used in his album to the front of the His box as a subtle enhancement...both boxes now have an added identifier...
That's it! This time they really are finished...out of my head and away although I still have to actually deliver them...Tim has gone to the allotment so we may run them up later this evening, or tomorrow...we will see.
I do have a real sense of acheivement with these two...they haven't been easy...I am glad they are done and I am also pleased with the result...(I am not always, so this is nice!).
I do have a real sense of acheivement with these two...they haven't been easy...I am glad they are done and I am also pleased with the result...(I am not always, so this is nice!).
A while back Chris and I made a QR code for this website...there are a heap of YT videos explaining how to make these...I usually print mine off quite small onto label paper, cut them out and add them to the backs of cards, journals, envelopes etc. as a small way of advertising my web page. However, I have never had a comment from anyone saying they arrived at my blog via a QR reader, nor has anyone every verbally communicated this to me and so I don't use them as often now...I think the novelty must have worn off and most folk seem happier typing in a web address. But for me they retain a certain techie magic...
Recently, while sorting through my small stash of spare frames, I found a rather daggy old 16.5 cm black frame and was about to put it in the donations bag when I thought of the poor sad QR code languishing unloved in my web page file.
I printed it out in about a 10cm size and added it to the frame....it is something to put on my wall in the craft room as I really don't have much up there apart from old paper toles, baby drawings, etc...
Recently, while sorting through my small stash of spare frames, I found a rather daggy old 16.5 cm black frame and was about to put it in the donations bag when I thought of the poor sad QR code languishing unloved in my web page file.
I printed it out in about a 10cm size and added it to the frame....it is something to put on my wall in the craft room as I really don't have much up there apart from old paper toles, baby drawings, etc...
An historical document???
Well, that's about it for today, I have beans and peas in large quantities to deal with...can't sit here in my jimjams chatting all day!
Bye now,
Dixx
Bye now,
Dixx
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