2012 Wish List Mini TP Album Tutorial

Ok, I know it's early, but I have been wanting to do some Christmas crafting and at the rate I work, it's good to start early. I have found a fun, new album to create as well. I have heard of TP mini albums and have even seen a few on YouTube, but never made one. I even saved TP rolls for a while and then threw them all away thinking I would never use them, but I was inspired again by Clare Charvill. She has a You Tube Channel, charliejones2686, and she is incredibly talented. She was just recently selected for the Graphic 45 design team. If you haven't seen her work, you really should. Anyway, I have had some of the cutest Christmas paper just waiting to be used. I had used it in an earlier project and have been itching to use it again. It is the Very Merry collection from October Afternoon. I love October Afternoon papers. They are so cute and have just the right amount of vintage. I also had some dimensional chipboard stickers from K and Company that I had bought to coordinate with the collection as well as a sheet of the Imaginisce Gingerbread Village cardstock I found at Michael's and a 12 x 12 die cut sheet from My Mind's Eye 12 days of Christmas line. All of these lines had greens, turquoise, red, brown and pink. My favorite Christmas color combination! The only other thing I used was some ribbon and Maya Road mini chipboard snowflakes that I inked white and then used my glossy accents to adhere some snow white glitter. I had so much fun making it and I think it turned out so cute!

Front cover  2012 Wish List

 If you're considering making a TP album, FIRST save as many rolls as you want pages. I suggest doing this first, because I started with only 2 in hand and then had to painstakingly wait until my family and I had finally gone through another roll of toilet paper before finishing another page. : ) Not only was it hard to wait, but it messed with my creative process. I had some great ideas and then when I went back to execute them, I would forget what I had planned. Not horribly, but enough that I had to make things work. For example, the snowflake on page 6. I cut the paper and had all my embellishments waiting for my TP roll and then when I finally went to execute it, I placed my die cut ribbon too high and had to turn my snowflake so that it didn't cover up the text. It's really not a big deal, but it was at the time because it's not how I wanted it. But, alas, it works and if I hadn't told you, you would be none the wiser. NEXT, take your rolls and squash them flat. Using a bone folder or the edge of a ruler, really flatten the edges flat. THEN, using an iron, I really flattened them out using the high, dry heat setting on my iron. I got this idea to iron them from Clare. Brilliant! Once you've done this, your pages are ready for decorating. NEXT, I cut my paper. My rolls measured approximately 2.5" x 4.5". So, I trimmed my paper to fit, glued it down using tacky glue and then sanded my edges for a nice, clean edge. I always ink my edges, so I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Barn Door. Once my paper was adhered, I then embellished as desired.

1 of 3 tags for the kids' Christmas list

Back side of tag

My plan is to use this album to document what the kids want for Christmas this year and to save it as a memento. So, I stamped 3 of the 4 tags made to fit inside each page (roll) and put each kiddos name on it. On the back, we'll write their list. There are 4 tags total. The 4th does not have a stamp. I put Dec. 25 on it and on the back we'll put a picture of the kids on Christmas day with their haul.

Pg 1

Pg 2

I wanted to keep this fairly simple and so I added only 1 photo mat for each kiddo. I made it a book style mat measuring 2.25"x 2.25" square that can accommodate up to 3, 2"x2" square photos. There are  8 pages total including the front and back covers, but only 3 photo mats, total, with 4 tags. 1 for each TP roll pocket. You could do whatever you want. That's where the fun and individuality comes in.

Pg 3

Pg 4

Pg 5

                                   

Pg 6

FINALLY, I used my bind it all to bind it, but you could bind it with ribbon or binding rings. Clare shows another way to bind with cardstock on her channel if you're curious. There are so many ways. YouTube is a great place for many tutorials. I finished it off by tying ribbons to my binding wire and voila! Done. I can't wait to fill it up!

Back Cover

P.S. Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Mother's Day Acrylic Album

Happy Spring! I hope everyone's enjoying the warmer, even if it is wet, weather. ; ) My family and I have been suffering from a nasty stomach flu this week and so for me to finish a project is a miracle, but I have done it. It seems like finishing projects is a miracle these days whether I'm sick or not. However, Mother's Day is next weekend as you know and I hadn't yet started anything for my mother in law, even though I've had ideas swimming around in my head for weeks. My very sweet and generous friend Brandy, who is a scrapbooking goddess (Paper Crafting OCBrandy Style), sent me a really cute, naked, acrylic tag album in a recent card swap as well as some other goodies. I have never done an acrylic album before, but I think I may have discovered a new favorite! I love that you can layer top and bottom and that if you leave one page blank, you can see the page (see page 3/4. The photo is matted, but the rest of the tag is blank.) behind creating a new dimension. Love it, love it, love it! I also loved the size and shape of this album. It measures about 3x6" and I used standard 2 1/4 x 3" wallet sized photos except for the 1.5" circle punched photos. Those varied. Also, the photo of my husband and I was cropped from a 4x6". I used Restoration collection papers and stickers from Crate Paper along with some MS punches, Fiskars punches and flat backed adhesive pearls. I did some fussy cutting and hand stamping and inked all edges with Tim Holtz Walnut distress ink. It was super easy and so fun! I am very pleased with it. Now, go find something to make Mom. You know she'll love it.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Handmade greeting cards

Hello! I finally got around to making some cards. I have been wanting to for a while. They are quick and easy and they are a good way to use up scraps. I just listed 2 in my Etsy shop, ScrapMad. One is a Mother's Day card and the other is an all occasion card. The Mother's Day card was made using scraps from my Authentique Splendid collection that I made my "family" mini album from and the other is made from scraps of my Basic Grey Hello Luscious papers. I LOVE Basic Grey's Hello Luscious line. I love everything I've ever made from these papers. Hop on over to Etsy.com and take a peak. I will also take custom orders for those of you needing cards for your moms for mother's day. I will take orders up until the 4th of May. Please contact me via e-mail at mandirickard@msn.com, send me a message via facebook or leave a comment here to place an order. Leave me an address or a way to contact you to arrange delivery of your card or any other project needed. Thanks!

Antioch Adoptions Paper Bag Mini Album

So, here are some pictures of my recently finished paper bag album just listed in my Etsy Shop. 100% of profits will go to Antioch Adoptions. (Visit www.antiochadoptions.org to get more information on becoming a Godparent, donating or becoming a forever family for a kid in need of a home.) Before I even started, I was praying that God could use me and poof, scrapbooksteals.com listed a huge collection of scrapbook papers worth over $100 for $16.99! I couldn't believe it, so I prayed for the Lord's blessing if it was to be used for His purpose and what do you know, my husband didn't mind. That almost NEVER happens! : ) So, I ended up with Authentique's Splendid collection and the album turned out beautiful. I still have enough paper left to make several albums, cards, etc., so I will be able to donate more from this lot.

The album is titled "Friends and family make a home". The colors of the paper are really pretty. Plum, peacock blue, pink, gold, green, chocolate brown, robin egg blue, kraft brown and cream. The patterns are great too. Herringbone, stripe, floral, wood grain and plaid, with a bingo card pattern and a vintage ad too. Please visit my shop to purchase or to view other items listed.

Scrapping as a ministry

Ok, so it's been FOREVER since my last posting. I have been crafty, but busy and so I haven't made a point to check in. I've completed a couple of paper bag minis since my last post and find them to come together really easy, making them addicting! However, time is still tight and so I have been torn between putting my feet up at 8:30 pm and scrapping until the cows come home. Putting my feet up has won out lately, but I am trying to dedicate time to my crafting since I have dedicated it to becoming my ministry. We have all been created with a purpose and mine (besides cleaning, cooking, changing diapers and kissing boo boos) is to create. I have been struggling lately with dedicating my time to my home and family and having any time to myself. My husband and I have even more recently argued about the time I spend crafting and the energy and money it takes. My biggest concern was that when I did have time to myself, I wasn't spending it in the scripture or with my creator, almighty God. I know him and I love him, but making an album just seemed so much more fun. I was slipping away a little more each day, making excuses. I knew something was going to give and it did. The Lord spoke to me, gently, but clearly in more ways than one.

First off, my husband came home a few weeks ago on a Friday and said that he felt that the Lord had been speaking to him about adoption. We have 3 kiddos ages 19 months, just 3, and 4 1/2. I had my tubes tied after the 3rd. So, of course you can imagine my reaction. I laughed as though he were joking, but he wasn't. Deep breath! That same Sunday in the bulletin there was an announcement for an informational meeting about Antioch Adoptions for that next day, Monday! Goosebumps! I wasn't sure what this was all to mean. I just knew that we had to go to that meeting. After sitting through the meeting  my husband and I agreed that this maybe wasn't the time to bring a child into our home, but I couldn't get it out of my mind and heart and knew I had to do something in some way. We are commanded by God to care for the widows and orphans and I knew that meant me. James 1:27 says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...". Bringing a child into your home isn't always the only way to help. Antioch Adoptions is an adoption agency that offers free adoption and depends on financial support from fundraising and donations. So I knew that there were other ways to be obedient.

Second, the latest series at church has been called "Not a fan", based on a book written by Kyle Idleman. What a convicting series. We can be fans or committed, whole hearted followers of Christ. One Sunday, in particular, the Holy Spirit was really having His way with me, thanks to Pastor David Lewellyn. (Love his preaching. Go David!) The sermon was about making God our one and only. While I felt like I was a pretty good follower and not just a fan, I was convicted knowing that I had been feeling torn between crafting and time with the Lord. I knew that the Lord had created me to be artistic and so it wasn't that I should give up my hobby, just that I should do it in a way that was pleasing to Him.

So, a couple weeks ago I felt the Lord saying to me, "Mandi, use your talents for Me. I want to be your one and only! Don't put your crafting before me, use it for me." So, I have decided to sell my scrapbooks, cards, etc. on Etsy.com and donate 100% of my profits to Antioch Adoptions while nurturing a relationship with my Savior that is more rewarding than anything I can do or create. My husband jokingly accused me of using that to justify my addiction, : ) but he is in full support and I know that is a blessing from the Lord. I am praying that this endeavor would prove fruitful for God's purpose and that He will be glorified and blessed through it. All prayers would be appreciated concerning sales, obtaining low cost supplies so that more can be donated and time/energy to complete each product. Pray that each project is pleasing to Him and that I would have "healthy eyes".


^{Matthew 6:19} “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

   ²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

   ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

For more information on Antioch Adoptions, visit www.antiochadoptions.org and for more information on "Not a fan" by Kyle Idleman, please visit www.notafan.com. 

To view a sermon or to get information about becoming a whole hearted follower of Christ, visit Life Center Spokane at www.lifecenter.net.

Papier Mache Decor

I wanted to share a fun project that was started over a year ago when my baby Karis was born. I decided I wanted to decorate her nursery using a 23" papier mache letter "K" from Joann Fabrics and Crafts.( Click here for buying info from Joann Fabrics.) She had the patchwork star nursery bedding from Pottery Barn in pink, green and yellow. I decided I would mimic her quilt and so started my project.
Unfortunately I don't have start to finish photos since this post is an afterthought, but I started with a bare letter "K" like the letter "E" below.

Then I chose 12x12 patterned papers from Joann's open cardstock that matched the the colors in the quilt. You should only need 1 sheet of each type of paper, but having an extra sheet is always a good idea. I chose 5-7 different patterns/colors for each letter. I then cut each sheet into 2x2" squares. After my paper was cut, I laid my squares out in the order I wanted them and repeated this pattern top to bottom, side to side. Before gluing my paper, I painted the sides of my letter with acrylic craft paint. Once dry, I glued each piece by hand, making painstaking cuts where needed. After all my pieces were placed and everything was sufficiently glued down, I used Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage photo to give it an aged, antiqued look. Then, using a foam brush, I covered the entire thing in Glossy Mod Podge. Once it was dry, I used upholstery tacks to outline the letter. Then, I traced one of the stars on the quilt and cut it out of one of my papers and adhered it along with a ribbon and some chipboard with Karis' name spelled out to embellish the letter. I also used a little bit of pom pom trim on the top and bottom. Here are the other two I have just finished for my other two kiddos Elliot and Olivia.

I used Basic Grey Sweet Threads papers for Olivia's "O"

I used the same technique with theirs because I like how Karis' turned out so well. These are a great impact piece in their rooms. I love the way they turned out! They were a fun and affordable to personalize their rooms.

Happy Valentine's Day

Ok, so this is a little late. I meant to have this posting up yesterday, but I am fighting an awful head cold! Not to mention I have been busy. I have been working on a few projects, but nothing that I have finished for posting. My most recent project was the cards I made for my Valentine's this year. I think they turned out so cute!

Miss Olivia's card

Karis' (aka Squishy) card

Kevin's card

  
Elliot's card

I took a 12x12 piece of red cardstock and cut out 4 4x8" pieces of paper and scored them at 4". I folded them in half and then cut my cream mat at 3.5x3.5". Then I took my ADORABLE valentine's paper and cut it at 3.25x3.25? square, fussy cutting around the figure that I wanted to stand out. For example, the little fisherman above. Then I embellished with red baker's twine, black cardstock stickers, red self adhesive rhinestones, bottle caps, handmade roses, punched flowers and cardstock letter stickers.

I am working on my first paper bag album, thanks to Brandy! She has been so good about sharing how-tos with me. Thank you! I even scraplifted her matting formula. She is a scrapbooking genius! You can check out her Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ocbrandy or her facebook page by clicking here. Brandy also has listings on eBay with the design team The Paper Hen House. You can search their listings by typing TPHH in the search bar. All of Brandy's creations are beautiful! Her attention to detail and her sense of color and design is impeccable. Also, she has great taste in papers! ; )

So, again, thank you Brandy! I will be sharing some photos of the album when it is finished. I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!