Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Time to go....have some fun!


     Okay, here is what has been taking up so much of my time lately.  About a month ago my bestie asked me if I would be interested in making a mini album for one of her co-workers who is retiring.  I've been wanting to make a mini FOREVAH so this was the perfect excuse.  Now some of you are familiar with my minis and some aren't.  First off let me say that I think this one was created in record time for me.  I am a top of the line OCD perfectionist so these little projects usually take me ages to complete.  However, the lady who this is going to is not a scrapper and I figured the full bells and whistles mini treatments would be a bit over the top for her so the book is fairly CAS.  I did have to have some fun though so I managed to sneak in a bit of mixed media fun as well as some cool scrapping techniques I found on the web.
     I'm going to give some deets about each page so if you want to skip the jibber jabber and just check out the pics be my guest.  I hope to have a video up on YT for it within a day or two.


     The whole album was constructed using a chipboard album from the Michaels $1 bin.  The pages are covered with some really cool textured paper I found a Mike's.  It was rather a pain to adhere things too, but it was worth the trouble for the texture.  The brick work came from a tutorial you can find on the amazing Lisa Gregory's blog.  Love this ladies scrapping!  They are created with a stencil, ink, and modeling paste.  The Tim Holtz clock was die cut in two layers of chipboard and one of paper and then covered with Crackle Accents.  The hands were left unpainted and edged with gold ink.  The vines were sprayed with water/gold Perfect Pearls for some shimmer and the leaves were edged in gold ink.  I gave the flower a few squirts of the PP too and colored the stamens with a Copic.
     Here's a little closer look at the clock face and brick work.


     I don't do personal photos on the Internet and I respected the privacy of the people in the photos I used by blurring their faces in photo shop.  For this page I made a faux pocket using a Tim Holtz On the Edge die that I layered and paper pierced.  The album was created from Pink Paislees Cottage Farm Collection.  All the DP and paper ephemera are from the collection.


     I didn't show all the tags in this post, but you can see them all sticking out from the edge of the page.  Four of the pages have a large photo mat with a picture on it and all but the cover page have at least one journaling tag tucked in.


     Lots of machine stitching throughout the album and all the photos are matted in gray and black to accent the designer papers.


     I took the difficult path to do the stitching on this page.  I wanted the darker paper to look like a recessed channel, but it really didn't come off that way IRL.


     I broke out the modeling past and another stencil for this page.


     I was really surprised at how much the paper shrunk up when I sprayed it with water to soften it for the wrinkling.  I wish I had made the stitching a bit smaller and closer together.  Hind sight and all you know.


     Had to throw some fishtail banners in there somewhere.  hee hee


     This was the first place I used the bricks and I liked them so much I had to put some on the cover.


     And finally the back.  I had originally planned to put this card and frame from the ephemera on the front, but couldn't get it to work until after I had already glued down the clock. grrrrr  So it went on the back with a cute quote about retirement and my personalized stamp tucked in on that little gray snippet peeping out.


     Hope you liked the album even without all the bells and whistles.  Have a great day!

25 comments:

Danielle Champagne said...

OH! Tracy, this is very sweet! I love the style of your album, love all the wonderful details. Gorgeous.

KimCreate said...

Hey Trac, Like your mini a lot! Love the clock on the cover and all the page detail.

Anonymous said...

I can see why!!!?? That would take up ALL of my time!!! Well done!! I love all the details and that they can see "you" in the design !! What a wonderful keepsake!!
(You might want to pop by my blog ~~ I keep forgetting to tell you...)

Check the last 2 or 3 posts ~~ I forgot where it is...

Renee B. said...

Wow Tracy, I haven't been around for awhile but I sure picked the right day to stop in! What a beautiful album...I'm sure the recipient will LOVE it. I am working on one from our trip through the redwoods this spring...it's looking good.
Hugs, Renee

heidy said...

Oh wow Tracy,this is so beautiful!!
She will love it!!
XXX Heidy

Anja said...

This mini album is absolutely gorgeous, Tracy! I love every single page of it, I wish I could create such a beautiful keepsake (but I think I wouldn't be able to finish it). Really like your choice of papers, all the details, the stitching and the use of the modeling paste. And of course I would love to see a video ;o)
Big hugs, Anja

Sue said...

WOW!!!!!! This is absolutely amazing Tracy. You have put so much thought and effort into every page and added such wonderful detailing. The is sure to be treasured.
hugs Sue xx

Tracey T said...

Oh my goodness, what a beautiful album. I love what you did with the clock and the bricks - the whole thing has been put together perfectly. Hugs, Tracey xx

Ros Crawford said...

I'm drooling! This is beautiful ... all those precious touches ... the recipient is one lucky lady!! I even watched the tutorial (not that I have any stencils Lol!) Fabulous work Tracy!

Carla S. said...

Stunning mini-album, Tracy! Wonderful details! Very creative design! I'm sure the recipient will love it!

Unknown said...

Your album is fabulous Tracy! This must have taken you ages to make, but you've created a piece that's going to last forever, superb work my friend! Hugs, Ira x
irascreacorner.blogspot.nl

Pat K said...

Stunning album Tracy. So many wonderful details put together beautifully...sure to be treasured. hugs, Pat K x

Sarah said...

Tracy, this is another awesome mini! I love the use of the modeling paste and all of the wonderful details. I know she will treasure this.

Sassy Raggedy said...

How lovely this is Tracy. And what a wonderful to do for your friend. Anyone would love this wonderful tribute...Hugz, joann

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Not only you make beautiful cards, you make awesome album too!!!

Dilyana said...

Wow, Tracy, you've created a real treasure! The mini album is fantastic with all those little details and perfect composition! I love seeing your album and I must say I kinda missed them :) And I would absolutely love to see the YouTube video! Have a great day, my friend!

Unknown said...

Oh my stars.. She is going to love this. You did a fabulous job my friend.

Hugs~

Heidi said...

Absolutely stunning!
Such a sweet mini album:)
A treasure.
Hugs, Heidi:)

Jennifer said...

What a treasure! I love the wonderful cover with the clock and the fabric and pearls! Each page is wonderfully unique and I love how you added sweet details to each one!

Jinny Newlin said...

What a beautiful gift, Tracy! Such fabulous design and stitching and the perfect touch of texture on each and every page!

Lynne Armstrong said...

What a wonderful gift Tracy....the lady that's receiving this is one very lucky person :) I love your mini albums. That's how I first found you, on one of your YouTube videos....for the Valentine's book box & mini you made for your hubby. I was gobsmacked at that project...and still feel like that about your projects lol You never cease to amaze me with your talent my friend!
Hugs xx

Nancy said...

Fantastic mini, my friend! I look forward to the video! I love hearing your voice talk about your work! I don't get to hear that accent much around here! lol :o)

Bonnie Irvine said...

Tracy, this is fabulous! The cover and every page is a work of art and heart. Love the papers, stitching, and especially the mixed media touches. Great texture and composition. I'm sure the woman is completely blown away by this keepsake. Can't wait to check out the video. This is such an inspiring project.

Lisa Minckler said...

Be still my heart!!! That exposed brick is gorgeous. Unbelievable this mini that you've created and the pages are exceptional. The sentiments, the patterns, the stitching, the papers, the layouts, THE BRICK, Omgeeeze, it's awesome!!!
Did I tell you that I just got out of surgery last week? I wasn't sure who I'd contacted while under the influence of pain medications, but I'm healing very nicely and should be up and running very soon. I have LOVED spending some fun and quality time on your blog this morning. You're oozing with inspiration and I'm loving every minute of it!
Hugs to you Hick.
I hope to watch the video very soon.
Twang :)

Dawn @ LilyPinkScraps said...

This is just fabulous but then only to be expected :) I never fail to be completely bowled over by the extremely high standards you apply to all your gorgeous creations - just stunning work and sure to be so very appreciated.