Have you ever had a project that you really wanted to do but never seemed to find the time to accomplish?
I hope I’m not the only one this has happened to!
A year or so after I started my blog in 2012 I wanted to do a gratitude project during November. I thought I might do a gratitude or a random act of kindness daily during the month of November. I didn’t get it done. November is a busy month and at that time, my kids were in college and they always came home for Thanksgiving. (Something I have always been grateful for!) Plus, holiday shopping and planning is already in full swing between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
I went for it this weekend! I created a gratitude journal using a Traveler’s Notebook insert and a Simple Stories set of 6 x 8″ fall papers called Simple Vintage Autumn Splendor. As soon as I received my order for this paper, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it! I also went online and ordered the entire set of Autumn Splendor products. I want to create my own interactive fall album Vicki Boutin style!
I’ve learned from Vicki that you need both sizes of papers and all the ephemera packs. Plus you need a set of Thickers for your theme and some coordinating card stock and stickers or ephemera from another line that coordinates in color and theme.
I started out with the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor and a traveler’s notebook insert in the standard wide size of 8.5 x 5 “. I actually have about a dozen of these in my stash. I had purchased them to make Christmas gifts a few years ago…and never had time!
I also pulled some patterned paper out of my stash that I had left over from Stampin’ Up! One set of their In Colors from 2014 actually coordinated with this set of paper and I liked the paper patterns.
I had to use my big Tim Holtz Guillotine trimmer to cut off about a half an inch from the top of the notebook so it would work with the 6 x 8″ papers. I also trimmed all the papers down to 5 x 8″ to fit the album pages. Then I pulled out some of the old Fast Fuse adhesive that I had left over from Stampin’ Up! and began adhering the patterned paper to the pages in the journal. (I’m trying to use up that Fast Fuse because I really don’t like it and I have a drawer full of it. I just want that drawer cleared out and I want to use this up!) I actually pulled out my 2-1/2″ circle punch and my corner rounder. When was the last time you used those tools? I’ve been using my die cutting machine almost exclusively for the last 4 years. I’ve hardly used my punches. It’s nice to be creating albums again and using all those old faithful tools!
I rounded the bottom corner on the outside of each paper and then I used a piece of sandpaper to distress the edges and the center edges of the two papers.
I LOVE how this album is turning out! It is exactly what I envisioned.
I’ve got some interactive elements started. I used those little 3 x 4″ pieces that I never knew what to do with before and created pockets and flip elements. (Thank you VBoo! I’ve learned so much!)
I even created some full sized pocket pages! Doesn’t that paper on the left match beautifully with the paper on the right? The left side is my stash paper.
How much paper do you have in your stash that you would like to use on a great project? This is a great project for using that shelf of patterned paper in your stash!! I’m SO HAPPY that I saved it and that I am using for something I love right now! My money was not wasted!
I also grabbed a pantry bin and went around my craft room pulling things that I can now use to decorate or adorn this journal. I have no shortage of goodies in my stash! Plus, I’m patiently waiting for my package to arrive with the ephemera and stickers that coordinate with this Autumn Splendor set. It’s listed as “Out For Delivery”. Such sweet words!
I also cut some tags using my Altenew tag dies and some craft and vanilla card stock in my stash.
Here you see the paper scraps that I have left over that will be used for tags and pockets in the journal.
Now it is just time to decorate!
I’m so happy that I have this done now and I will be able to use it throughout the fall. I have the album all ready before I actually need it but get too busy to make it!
Next project…a December Daily album. I’m ordering the paper and ephemera now and I will be making the album in two weeks when all the supplies get here. (Although, first I will be checking my stash to see what I already have that I can use before placing an order for new stuff.)
Supply List:
Are you interested in the products I used? To make them easier for you to find, I have linked them below. (Affiliate disclosure ) Your purchases help keep my blog running at no additional cost to you and I thank you for the support!
I’m off to work on decorating the inside of my album and I’m going to figure out that little photo printer that’s been sitting on my counter so I can print the photos from my phone and get some pictures into my summer album! I’ll share that with you tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by my friends!
