Crate Paper

A Sweet Mini Album Tutorial w/Suzanne Sergi

One of my favorite papercrafts to create are mini albums. There's nothing like holding a chunky book, filled with special memories of your loved ones. I love creating them as gifts, too. Especially when I have family in Texas that miss some of the special moments in our lives. Of course, I love them just because. I have mine sitting on a shelf, and they're accessible to my children to sit, and enjoy!

When I first saw the Random collection, I knew I wanted to create a mini album with photos of my little girl. A few months ago, she was invited to a birthday party, so I took this opportunity to hold a mini photo shoot with her. She does not like to sit still for long, but I was happy to find a few ones that I'll always treasure. 

This book measures approximately 6.5" x 6", and is filled with all the gorgeous elements of the Random collection. One of my favorites from the collection are the chipboard pieces. They're so deteailed, and the options are endless! Of course, I mixed brads from some of the past Crate collections, along with random bits here and there! I love to include stamping details where I can, so a few pages have ink. I'll also show you how to add "windows" in your books, by using dies from your scrapbook stash. In my recent Peppermint Album, I used a circle die to make windows on a page, where you can see the elements on the other side. In this mini, I used a rectangle Sizzix die, which I'll admit received it's first use for this book! However, it was the perfect size to create "windows" for wallet size photos.

 

A closer look at the cover. it's a mixture of the many random chipboard elements that build upon, layer after layer. I do enjoy the premade embellishments that coordinate fabulously with these papers. They're wonderful to stand alone, but do not be afraid to remove some of the layers to instantly have two elements to choose from. The pink flower and pink scallop were originally one element, but I chose to separate them for more added detail. 

 

I love hanging tags on the outside of my mini albums. This time, I decided to do something a bit different. I incorporated a photos of my little girl using the polaroid chipboard element from the collection. A fun pinwheel, border sticker and twine finished this sweet, surprising tag! 

 

 

One of my go to techniques is using embossings folders in my projects. They add instant texture to the papers, especially ones that have a white core. The one used on this page adds a bit of vintage character that compliments the photo perfectly!

 

Glassine envelopes are perfect to tuck journaling inside, but they're another way to incoporate more photos in your book! I love when I can add more of my favorite photos in unexpected places!

 

We've finally reached the tutorial for creating windows in your mini albums.

To create the windows for you photos, you'll need the following: Cardstock/Pattern Paper, Chipboard Pages and a Rectangle Die.

However, don't forget about any basic shapes you have in your inventory! There are so many ways to use them!

 

You'll need to cut down your paper to fit your chipboard page and you'll adhere the paper to both sides. Now you're ready to send it through the diecut machine.

 

I made a bare template at the beginning and if you look closely, you can see where I lightly penciled in where I thought the die would cut. This page is a little shorter than 6.5" due to the opening of the machine. Now, it doesn't really matter that this page is going to end up a little shorter than the others, after all, this book is about using Random Items!

Here, I'm getting ready to cut the opening on the lower hand side of the page. The die is placed horizontally as it enters the machine. There really are no hard fast dimensions because where the die will cut is predeterimined. I simply got creative with chipboard and saw that it would be perfect for creating openings in my books!

 

The result is a finished window in the lower right corner, so the next step is to create the vertical window in the upper left corner.

You'll now have a template that looks like this on both sides. You an add your photos on a separate page so that they peek through, or use it to display some fun embellishments from the next page! The leftover pieces are perfect as embellishments, too!

 

You can see that I used a wallet sized photos beneath each window. Another idea is to use the windows to bring attention to either a title or personalized journaling!

A couple of more pages of my sweet lil' girl and we'll be almost finished! 

Almost the final page and last detail share from the book! The photo was the perfect ending for my book! I loved it so much, I printed it twice specifically for sharing on the very last page of my album!

 

A simple tag and gorgeous pattern paper represent the end! I hope you've enjoyed what I've created via Random! Thank-you for following along - have a wonderful weekend!

 

A Boxed Mini Album W/Kaori Watanabe

 

Hi Girls! Kaori Watanabe with a fun, eclectic tutorial about the production of a mini box card album I recently made using Crate's newest Random Collection. Inside it is a series of individual "mini pages" with each accustomed to a different picture of my little one going about his day to day life. Lets open the box and find out what's inside, shall we?!

The Menu: Random Patterned Papers, Accent Cuts, Chipboard Accents, Trim, Eclectic Buttons, Border Stickers, Phrase Stickers, Alpha Labels & 6" x 6" Paper Pad

 

First and foremost, the box is central to the "box album" and as such, requires a bit of putting together from scratch. Start by determining the preferred length of each side (entirely up to you) and then go about creating creases similar to the areas in which I've done prior to folding your box together. The box should look something like the one shown a few images below...

 

The box's exterior cover should match the dimensions of the box, so do some pre-measuring before preparing it. I went ahead and chose my favorite patterned paper from the Random Collection, Denim. To give it a more artistic feel, I flung white acrylic paint at it and then went ahead and attached an brightly hued pattern paper accent strip to it's lower portion. 

 

A second section of pattern paper was added to the lower portion of the cover before processing the cover further with random stitching. To note the stiched areas, make reference to the main image of the project. 

 

After I finished the preliminary arrangement of the overall cover, I pasted it to the box, which of course is shown above (all put together and adhered fully).

The below image is the combination of both the box and cover together - carefully adhere the cover into position (keep the front of the cover free from adhesive as you'll be opening and closing it to access your mini album pages).

As a brief introduction to the partnering pages, I printed a casual opening about the subject matter on Vellum paper. Note that the journaling begins on the backside of the box cover, which then extends and finishes on the very first page of the album.  

 

The middle portion of the album is employed by a large assortment of Random's "very cute" Accent Cards. Because they're extremely easy to use, they're one of my favorite Crate Paper items to create with! For the most part, the album pages are constructed and enjoyed by simple trimmings of Random's beautiful patterned papers, accent cuts and embellishment options. They're easily doable if you're looking to create a similiar styled album for yourself! 

 

I hope that you've enjoyed what I've done with the Random collection today! Thank-you for stopping by - see you again next month! 

Hybrid Scrapbooking + Crate Paper w/Erin Stewart

Hello Everyone! This is Erin Stewart! Today, I'm thrilled to be showing you how readily and easily it is to use your everyday printer on a traditional scrapbook layout. Being that I also enjoy digital scrapbooking, I'm going to demonstrate a fun technique using the printer with a favorite Crate Paper collection. And because I don't own a lot of stamps, I'll also show you a simple way to create with faux stamps via your computer.

The Supply List: A Working Printer, Photoshop or PSE, Digital Frames {Splendid Finns :: The Miniatures}, Cardstock and Crate Embellishments

 

Start by positioning your chosen digital frames into a 8.5" x 11" new document {File > New} and then arrange them as desired. Think in terms of the actual layout and how'd you like the frames to appear on it.

*If you own a large format printer that prints onto 12" x 12" paper instead of the traditional size 8.5" x 11" paper, size you're document accordingly prior to positioning your frames. Of course, this is only if you intend on creating a 12" x 12" layout w/frames. 

 

After arranging the frames to your liking, print the frames onto cardstock. For this step, you might want to do a test run with scrap paper to ensure that your frames are where you want them to print. Doing this prevents needless waste of perfectly good pattern paper :)

 

In preparation for photo placement, and with the assistance of a craft knife, trim the paper from the center of each frame. Adhere your photos beneath the freshly trimmed openings so that they show through the front as is preferred.

 

Of the test printing suggested earlier on, trim sections from each frame and use them as templates for creating like sized sections from various patterned papers. Add the papers to the frames as I've done {See main image} on the main layout.

 

And of course, finally, add small areas of misc. Random embellishments to the frames and the overall layout. Your finished product should be that of both digital and traditional scrapbooking!

Thank-you so much for joining me today - it's been an honor to introduce my second passion, digital scrapbooking, to all of you here at the Crate Paper blog! I'll see you next month!

A Final Showing of CHA Projects

These were suppose to find their way here last week, but we had a slight change of scheduling, meaning we're playing catch-up today!! There remains five layouts from the event that we haven't yet shown you, three of which utilize Random and the other two, our festive Peppermint. Nearly Each one is from a different CP Girl too! So there you have it..a final ending to madness and excitement that is CHA!! We'd like to formally thank all of our design team members for having helped make the lastest releases a HUGE success! We simply couldn't of done it without them!! THANK YOU CP GIRLS!!

The primary focus of the Random collection is to serve as a general, overall backdrop for just about any subject. Whether it's similar to Christine Middlecamp's ongoing theme with the little one riding around on a bike, or a family photo captured during the heart of Fall, plainly stated, Random works! It's our most flexible collection this season!! 

 

Had any of you noticed the return of Crate's subtle tone-on-tone patterned papers? We brought them back by popular demand since being told that they're the ideal background for just about any layout. Kinsey Wilson used the backside of "Candy Cane", one of our white tone-on-tone papers from the Peppermint Collection. She's echoed the diamond shape pattern via zig-zag stitching and through the positioning of diamond shape cut-outs - too cute! 

 

Flags and banners. Who doesn't love them?! Lexi Bridges created the sweetest hand-trimmed banner we've ever seen and not surprisingly so, she included a matching title - "Wishes". Any guess as to what the layout is about? Look closely...

 

 

We love Amy Parker's handmade "Random" flip book that she sent to us last week! It sits on top of an actual layout she'd made - her reason for having created it was because she *hearted* all the photos and didn't want to lose out on a single one of them. Talk about a perfect excuse for using up a 6" x 6" paper pad!! 

 

Peppermint gives host to a huge variety of snowflake styles for you to choose from - Amy Parker's "Wishful Thinking" captures nearly all of them + her own hand-punched snowflakes from Peppermint's pattern paper collection. 

Studio Calico Winner + Mini Bird Album w/Lexi Bridges

First and foremost, our Studio Calico winner needs announcing - so here goes it! Congratulations to the following recipient on behalf of Studio Calico:

Blue is tranquility and calm, planning a spa day trip with my wedding party and this would be great to make the invites, and enhance the pages to commemorate the day! Posted by: Ann | July 29, 2011 at 07:26 AM

Ann, we'd love to be able to inform Studio Calico of your address, so if you'd be willing, email Crate Paper at cpblog@cratepaper.com with your shipping address and full name! Congratulations on winning Studio Calico's latest and greatest kit! 

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Good morning CP fans! Lexi here with you today with a fun take on a Random mini. One of my favorite things about the new Random collection is, well, it's random..meaning anything goes! There is a cute little polka dot chipboard birdie in the collection which reminded me of a bird shaped mini I had. A 25 cent thrift store pillowcase purchase sealed the deal on my new mini idea too.

 

Not bad for a quarter, huh? So I took this pillowcase and laid down my chipboard bird to trace. Make the outline a little larger so you have some wiggle room in case you make a mistake, which in my case, is every time I make something :) 

 

I wanted my bird to be more dimensional so I found some interfacing and, using multiple layers, traced out the bird again. Cotton batting would have worked lovely, but I didn't have any on hand.

 

Once the interfacing is attached (I am a fan of hot glue) I worked on making the pillowcase front a little more “random”. I machine stitched around the edges to help with fraying and then took a fun pink colored thread to add a simple stitch around the edges.

 

For the interior pages, I choose different patterns for each side of the bird and just traced and glued down.

 

Something I had been wanting to try on a project was gold leafing. Did you know you can buy it in tube form? Anyway, I took an old plastic card and used the side to add some to my pages. I am not sure if you can tell, but it gives a cool, old looking gold sheen.

 

To finish off the front I added one of my favorite Crate Paper products, buttons, for the eye. It's hard to have a bird mini without a feather so I threw one of those on too. The pillowcase shape is attached with, you guessed it, hot glue!

 

The inside of the mini houses words for me to remember on a daily basis...when the laundry is piling up, when the boys are fighting, when dinner still needs to be made...I can't be the only one, right?

 

Each page of the mini has the edges machine sewn. Yes, I use my machine to sew chipboard and so far it still likes me ;) Each bird also has a funky button eye, as well as different stickers and chipboard
pieces as accents.

 

I REALLY need to work on the next one ;) Loved how the lace sticker paired with the denim paper.

 

Here, my sewing machine ran out of thread, but I kept stitching. I kinda like the look, and since it's a “Random” mini, it's ok!

 

This might be one of my favorite patterned papers. You can NEVER go wrong with chevron in my book!

 

And the back...

So there you have it! A Random mini, filled with words to live by and made possible by a 25 cent thriftstore pillowcase. It's always fun to think outside the box when creating! We can't WAIT to see what you do with the new Random collection! Have a wonderful day!

Final CHA Design Team Projects :: Part I

The last couple of days of the month are going to encompass a couple of more layouts from our design team members, meaning that Monday will bring us back to the usual scheduled programming here on the Crate Paper blog. That being said, we're going to make every effort to showcase more of your work, so if you've something to share, please pass it along to us so that we may take a peek at it for possible posting. Our project submission address is cpblog@cratepaper.com! And just so you're aware, it doesn't matter the collection you've constructed your project from, as long as it's 90% Crate Paper, we'd be happy to share it with everyone who visits us and just maybe, you'll be asked to guest design in the future! How about that for some added excitement to those of you who've submitted or plan to submit at some point? Plus, the new collections are to be available in less than four weeks - be on the lookout for those as well! 

 

An unexpected sunburst effect is what immediately captured our attention with Rahel's CHA layout - the carefully positioned patterned papers and photo placement is an instant hit! The layout is exquisite from corner to corner...

 

And classic "Jaime Warren", Peppermint's patterned paper snowflakes are as sweet as ever! Topped with a sampling of our smaller chipboard pieces (yes, those small bits are entirely usable!!), they're multi-layered and perfectly situated across various spots of the page. Reminds us that it'll be Winter once again..but, let's not jump too far ahead! 

 

And one last share, this second Peppermint layout from Erin Stewart takes on a slightly lighter, airier note than the previous, but it's dazzling snowflakes and adorable photos are too cute not to miss! It's simplicity is to be admired...

 Have a lovely Thursday everyone! We'll return with the last round of CHA projects tomorrow...as always, thank-you for stopping by!

Two Designers + Four Layouts

A growing community of scrapbookers is taking hold overseas in Japan and quite luckily, we've two of them with us as contributing designers. You might already be familiar with both the girls, especially Kaori Watanabe since she's been with Crate for nearly a year-in-a-half, but the second designer, Michiko Kato, just recently joined the team after having submitted several Crate Paper projects to our office (yes, sharing your work with us matters!) a month or two ago. We immediately fell in love with her carefully choreographed, heavily detailed scrapbook style after she'd worked wonders with the Neighborhood collection - her take on it was unlike anything we'd seen before - because of this, we're extremely excited to have her as a member of the Crate Paper the next six months and hopefully, you'll take to her beautiful layouts just as we have - here's a sampling of a few newly produced layouts from both Kaori & Michiko!

 

Random's "Vintage" patterned paper really does offer up a pleasant array of floral trimmings for building upon if you're the kind of scrapbooker than enjoys the process of making your own strewn about flower assortment. Kaori's trimmed a small sampling of flowers from the paper and layered them accordingly to fit beneath her page's title. 

 

 

Farmhouses "Bingo" card is perfect for the housing of Crate's new buttons - Kaori patiently stitched them onto the card with the assistance of twine and added the card as an accent piece to her free-flowing, traditional "Clothesline". Love them little clothespins too! 

 

 

 

We're so thrilled to see Farmhouse's custom upholstered couch make it onto a layout!! Michiko's incorporated it into her layout's overall title and on top of it, she's added our adorable, miniature type alphas!! The golden flower pulls it all together :)

 

And finally, a second layout from Michiko, taken to snow and everything else Winter-related, Peppermint is it's own neighborhood with falling snowflakes and the too cute image of Michiko's sweet daughter. It's simply precious.

 It'll be card making day, tomorrow - we'll share with you Amy Heller's collection card assortment from both CHA and at home. And as you might of already guessed, Amy Heller's cards are always a delight to admire! See you then!