Freedom Collection Class Projects

The Freedom Collection by Authentique was the paper line I used for my August class.  It was originally going to be a July class, but ended up getting scheduled in August, which is fine by me because I was using it for family trips to historical sites, not for 4th of July anyway.

In the collection kit classes we do one two page layout and then I include directions for one or two other projects: home decor, mini book, another layout, etc.

 The layout for this project was based on this one page sketch. Sketch Savvy #147
I was inspired by the design and stretched it into a two-pager. I included my favorite American Revolutionary, James Otis, the first revolutionary.  He was revolutionary before revolutionary was cool. ;-D  He gave us a tour of Boston's Freedom Trail and these are photos of him with the graves of Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and the victims of the Boston Massacre of 1770.

The first additional project was a one page layout based on Sketch Savvy #143
 It just seemed so perfect for the photos of my favorite American Revolutionary, James Otis near his grave. He was given the nickname, The Patriot by another founding father, Samuel Adams, who did a LOT more than just make beer. In the top photo he is explaining why people leave stones, coins or other things on the tops of grave markers.  It is a symbol you leave to represent that you have been there and paid your respects.  People leave pennies on Paul Revere, Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin's graves. Because one was a smith, it bears one's likeness, and one said "a penny saved is a penny earned." 

The final project directions in the kit were for the Sweet Land of Liberty mini book  I had detailed printed directions and photos in the kit, but am including photos here and a 10 minute video at the end of this blog detailing how to make the book and put it together.  
I haven't had time to go through all of my photos from our trips back east, but I will be including a few pictures from our trips to Boston, Lexington, Concord, Philadelphia and Gettysburg.

The first two pages and inserts will be Boston and Philly, including of course the Liberty Bell.

 The second two pages and inserts will be about the flag.  That will include the Betsy Ross house in Philly, and possibly the flag flying over some important historical sites.

 These two pages will be photos of battlefields like Gettysburg, Lexington and Concord.

 And the back page is going to have a journaling card with a quote of something talking about the US.

For some of the people who purchased the class kit and weren't able to attend the class, here are some of the tidbits we discussed in class regarding how to do each project in the kit if you so choose.

I broke them down into one video for each project. 

NOTE: If you have a kit, it is important that you read the directions before you start each project.  It keeps you from being surprised along the way or not having enough of something.  So please take a little extra time to read the directions and even have them as reference as you peruse the videos. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email me through this blog. Thanks!

Lovely Day Mini Book

I had so much product left over from my design team projects that I decided to put it to good use and make a mini book!  
I usually put photos on my projects, but I didn't really have any that went with a lot of these without spending hours and hours looking through photos on my computer.  It's usually that way with me and mini books.  I love to make them but unless I have an idea ahead of time about photos, it takes me forever to get pictures put into them. But, I like to make them anyway, photos or not.  

So here is a really cute mini book 

that would hold some fun pictures.

Products used were:
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Paper 
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Decorative Tape
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill 3 x 4 Journaling Cards 
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Decorative Brads
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Decorative Buttons 
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Mixed Bag 
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Chipboard Stickers
My Mind's Eye Market Street Nob Hill Labels Stickers

Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Ornamental
Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Postage Stamp Frame
Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Arch Frame
Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Cameo Frame
We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper Ticket Stub 
Zig Wink of Stella Brush Glitter Pen Marker - Clear

Directions:
I cut the pages out of black chipboard using the Tim Holtz dies, then I cut the papers with the same dies and adhered the paper to the chipboard.  
The covers are just pieces of black chipboard and paper cut I think 5.5 x 6.5 and I cut the corners with the We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper.  
I punched holes in all of them with my Cropadile.  
One of the die cuts, the Cameo Frame, has two rounded sides and made it difficult to punch holes, so I cut the rounded part off the side nearest to the binding.

Mickey's Trick or Treat at Disneyland

I had so much fun designing this mini book!  From the minute I saw it, I fell in love with this Authentique Glowing Halloween paper and I knew I just had to make a mini book to hold the pictures from our 2011 trip to Disneyland for Mickey's Trick or Treat Party.

 On the cover I used several Tim Holtz dies and the flower is one I made by melting organza and the black leaves are melted polyester fabric.  The vines are black pipe cleaners.

 For the inside, I traced a Cosmo Cricket chipboard album that I had and made a burlap page.

 I also found a mini pumpkin die cut shape and added that in the middle.  The pictures of Chip, Dale and Donald are from the Piratepalooza - a pirate themed "disco" area where you could dance to 70's disco songs with the characters.  It was a hoot!  One of my favorite parts of the entire evening!

 This is the back of the pumpkin and a picture in front of the Haunted Mansion.  One of the elements that came with the paper was this Top 10, so I listed our 10 favorite things about a Disney Halloween.

1. Haunted Mansion
2. Mickey O' Lantern
3. Jack Skellington
4. Pumpkins!
5. Hitchhiking Ghosts
6. Our Anniversary
7. Pirates
8. Hallowishes
9. Piratepalooza
10. Ichabod

 I had to dig deep to get up enough courage for a picture with Jack Sparrow.  He's always a little freaky!  And we found some Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland.

 Our hosts, Mickey and Minnie were found back along Big Thunder Trail, and look who wanted to hitch a ride home with us!

 Jack Skellington was hanging out in New Orleans Square and the Castle looked dark and creepy! This page I made from black canvas instead of burlap to change things up a little.

Pirate carcasses were in great supply all night long, and we took our annual anniversary picture in front of the Mickey O'Lantern this year instead of on Splash Mountain.  We are holding up 14!

I left the back really simple.  Just a die cut of Tim Holtz's Candelabra.

This was such an incredibly fun project!  I had the glitter paint, stickles, buttons, organza, pipe cleaners, die cuts, and any and everything I could think of out on my desk as I was making this.  This Glowing line is a classic, amazing Halloween line!  I LOVE it!  Please don't retire it Authentique!  It can be used year after year.

Stars and Stripes Mini Book

Last Friday night I took this absolutely adorable patriotic mini book class from Nicole Lysse. She used My Mind's Eye American Made papers and she just packed it full of really fun things, from rosettes to fire crackers. I worked diligently to finish it this weekend so I could share it with you here.
*Note - the picture mats were odd sizes so I had to print them at home and of course, I ran out of ink half-way through, so keep that in mind as you look at some of the pages, and don't let my poor photo quality deter you from admiring Nicole's creative genius.

The front pages open to reveal the backsides of the cover and the first full page. Here are some close-ups.


Then the back of the first page and the front of the second are displayed here with some close-ups below.

This back of the third page and the front of two half pages are then revealed.

We cut a little pocket from this paper to hold journaling and additional photos.

I LOVE this firework page!

The two half pages open to reveal pockets on the back sides and another full page.

The back of the last full page and the front of the back cover are so fun
and colorful with all the rosettes and pinwheels!

And she even included a Hidden Mickey for my patriotic Disneyland 4th of July pictures!

As you can see, we made so many fun embellishments for this album. Thanks Nicole for a fun class and a delightful mini book!