Happy Halloween!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and spooky Halloween!

Here's to pumpkins...

Friends - no matter how funky...

and fun!

But Beware! 

You never know when you might get 

a trick instead of a treat!!

Bloomin' Pages Mini Album Page Instructions

Hi Friends - Yesterday I shared my "Blooming Mini Album" for the Club Scrap Blog Hop.  Today I wanted to share how I made the album so you can make one for yourself.

For the Big Top book I started off with 5 - 12x12 pieces of cardstock.  This will make 5 sets of pages, each set of pages will end up with 8 - 6" x 6" areas to add photos, journaling, memorabilia, etc.   Of course you can add more pages to your mini album if you choose - it just all depends on how large you'd like it to be.

Step 1 - Make a score line right down the center of the paper.

Step 2 - Turn the cardstock a quarter turn and again score down the center.

Step 3 - On the lower half of the cardstock, make a 2nd score line at 6 1/4".

Step 4 - Cut away the 1/4" strip of cardstock as shown above.

Step 5 - Turn the cardstock so the 1/4" slit is oriented to the left hand side.  

Step 6 - Fold the bottom left page over onto the right lower page.

Step 7 - Fold the lower right set of pages up so it covers the upper right page.

Step 8 - Fold the left page closed so it covers the stack of pages that are now on the right side of the cardstock.   You now have your first set of blooming pages.  

Step 9 - Repeat steps 1-8 until you have as many sets of pages as desired.

I stitched the pages together with waxed linen cord but you could of course use other forms of binding to assemble your mini albums.  

Welcome to the Big Top! Mini Album - Club Scrap Blog Hop

Welcome welcome!  Today is the Club Scrap Blog Hop for October 2015 and have we got a show for you....  This month's kit - Big Top  pays homage to the Circus!  Bright, bold colors, fun patterns and lots of fun packed into a single kit.  Who could ask for anything more?

Well this month I decided to see just how much I could pack into a single mini album.  I wanted an album that could hold an entire experience at the circus or other fun activity that deserves the same fun filled dedicated album.

Blooming Pages Mini Album

(just what I'm calling it...)

I left the front cover a bit plain so the recipient could add the desired title.

and inside the pages are a bit special - 

initially they look like any other page in a mini album...

and it opens up to this...

and there is a fold down flap

that opens to reveal 2 additional spaces to add photos and journaling.

Once it's all folded up, the back page can also be embellished!

Here is another fully opened up set of pages.

Each set of pages blooms (opens up) and has eight (8) - 6" x 6" 

spaces to hold photos, journaling and memorabilia.

All in all the album has 5 of these blooming pages.
Luckily there were 5 printed tabs included in the kit which I added to each set of pages.

This is just another view of a couple more sets of pages.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing the cut and folds for each set of pages 

so you can make your own Blooming Pages Album.

Now it's time to hop on over to Deb's page to see what Big Top creation she has in store for you!

Deb Weller - DebDuzScrappin

Also, if you get lost along the way the complete list of hoppers can be found here:

Club Scrap October Blog Hop

Thanks for stopping by!

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Birthday Giveaway!

Hello Friends -

Today is my birthday and I wanted to share something very special with you....  While cleaning and organizing my room (yes, photos to come soon) I re-discovered a mini album I made using Steampunk Spells set of papers from Graphic 45.  I put my heart and soul into making this because you all know how much I love Steampunk and Halloween.  It was a labor of love.

I think it's a shame it's setting here unused so I decided to gift it to one of my Ink Stained friends!

If you don't recall the album here are a few pics....  To see the complete album check out this link - Steampunk Spells This Way and That Album.

I am hoping that someone out there would like to give this album a home and fill it with some good old fashion Halloween fun.  

To be entered to win this Steampunk Halloween Album simply leave a comment - please be sure to let me know how to contact you...so many prizes go unclaimed because I can't get in touch with the winner.    

I hope that if you're a new visitor you'll be excited enough about what you see here to choose to follow Ink Stains (several ways to follow - just check out the side bars) and if you're a frequent visitor or an Ink Stained friend from way back - Thank You!  You're why I do all of this.

You have until November 7th to post a comment to be entered to win!

Good Luck Everyone!

Back in Indiana

Hello Peeps!

We're back in Indiana after a wonderful trip down to Kentucky this past week/weekend.  Dh and I went down for a business convention down in Louisville but then took a few extra days to explore.  In the past we've been down there for the National Farm Machinery show which is in February but we've never had the opportunity to visit during the fall.  I'm so happy we were able to this year.  I love the scenery down there anyway but with the lovely autumn colors it was spectacular.  

The first 3 photos are crossing over the Ohio river into KY from Indiana.  It was a bit scary because they are doing lots of construction on the bridges so everyone is really crammed in there going an insane speed.

Normally when we go on vacation we don't make any hard plans, we just drive and see what we can find. So after the convention was over we just set out to see what we could see.  Below are several photos along the way.

In Kentucky they call these hills...in Indiana they are mountains.  Indiana is flat compared to this!

Such lovely rivers too!

We went down to Cave City and got to see one of the remaining Wigwam Village Motels in the USA.  It's such a fun site to see right along the road side.  I made dh pull into the parking lot so I could take some pics.  We didn't stay there - It's always been a dream of mine to stay but after reading the reviews I wasn't brave enough to do so....I like my creature comforts.

When we're down in Kentucky we like to visit Antique Shops/Malls.  I was saddened to learn that one of my favorite antique malls Goss Street Antiques and Interiors had been closed and is in the process of being turned into condos.  Progress?!?!

We did visit several other of our favorites - these 2 photos were taken in my favorite - YesterNook which is actually in an old funeral home.  Wacky I know but they ALWAYS have a great selection of goodies at super prices.  I found lots of stuff for my Etsy store and my own collection/use.    They have lots of retro and antique goodies stashed here and there but these two chandeliers really caught my eye.  Just beautiful!

The photo below is from either the Louisville Antique Mall or Crazy Daisy Antique Mall - can't remember now which it was.  I just love looking down this long hall seeing all of the wonderful goodies to take in and explore!

We stopped at several others - 4 in Glendale Kentucky where we also stopped and ate at the Whistle Stop cafe.  It had some really amazing home cooked country meals - well worth the wait.  Delish!  And I have to say I really miss the sweet tea that you can get in Kentucky...it's so very good.  After drinking it down there I'd say nobody in Indiana can make good tea - LOL!!

So, that's what I've been up to for the past week.  I must admit - I have had a hard time getting back into the swing of things.  My mind is still on vacation time.  But I did get lots of fun stuff for my Etsy store which I will be adding as I get things photographed and written up.

Also, several people have asked how my craft area reorganization is going.  I promise to have new photos showing my progress and how I've organized a few things - including my color pencil dilemma very soon. 

Have a wonderful day friends!

Life is the Ticket...

Today I wanted to share a card I made using October's Card Sketch on the Club Scrap forum.  Of course you know me...sometimes I like to go against the grain a bit and add my own little twist which is just what I did for the sketch (following the card).  

As you can see I took a bit of creative license by sliding the smaller flag to the other side and tucking them beneath the larger pennant.  Well actually, I added 2 instead of just one.

All of the materials used - papers, stamps, fiber & embellishments are from October's Big Top kit.  Don't ya just love those bright beautiful colors? A REALLY fun kit!  The inks are all IMAGINE Crafts featuring Tsukineko.

So have you tried a sketch challenge lately?  If not you should really give it a try - they really help stretch your creative imagination.  I'm making it my goal to try at least one challenge per week - I'm not there yet but I hope to really get serious about it in the coming year.  What are your favorite challenge blogs?

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

Quad Prints - A Year in Review!

Each month the Club Stamp Kit includes something called a "Quad" print - it's a single sheet of paper that is made up of 4 smaller prints which compliment the kit all on a single sheet of paper.  It's perfect for card makers as the smaller prints lend themselves very well to smaller cards and projects.

Well the Club Scrap Artist Team has been challenged this month to create a project using one or more of these Quad Prints from 2014 Quad Print Compliation.  As I was sitting there looking at each print trying to decide what to make I thought of the mini albums made from a single sheet of paper and how the quads would make each page a little different.  The only draw-back is that those mini books are made from a single sheet of 12x12 paper while the Quads are 8.5x11. But I didn't give up that train of thought - I folded one sheet of each month's Quad into quarters and an idea was born....

A Year in Review 

Quad Book!

The front and back covers are book board with a different print from 8 different Quads that I pieced together for a fun look....  I printed the title on a piece of cardstock and left space for someone to stamp the year they wanted to review.

Back cover which I had originally thought was going to be the front but as it turned out I liked the other finished cover better.

AND - this is the first time I've tried stitching a book together!  I used this tutorial - Stitch Bound Book Project -  but mine is a bit wobbly. I was afraid to pull it too tight and when I finally did I ripped one of the pages.  No fear though - a bit of tape and I was back at it.  I must say it was quite fun and I'd like to learn more stitches...  Something I'm definitely going to do again.

Above are all of the quads folded and ready to be pierced.

The original instructions were for a larger book and the ribbon I was using was an odd size so I did a bit of math to figure out where each of the 6 holes needed to be placed.  I used my CS Grid Ruler 

 which I love... it's marked out in eights so it makes figuring out things like this very easy.

Here are all of the pages with the holes poked ready to stitch together.

I added solid black pages for the front and back which I used to adhere the book to the cover.

I didn't have 3 hands so I didn't take in the process photos of the stitching but above is where I started and below they are all stitched up.

I glued the pages to the insides of the covers...

And it's all done - ready for memories!

These are just a few of the pages - all in all there is room for 48 (or more) photos and/or journal areas.   Since the book is a little wonky (loose stitching & one torn/repaired page) I didn't think anyone would want it so I probably won't give it away but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out for being my first stitch bound book.

I hope it has inspired you to give Quad prints a try and maybe make a book for yourself as well.  

Give - Away - Parchment and Old Lace - Laura Childs Scrapbooking Mystery!

You know by now that autumn is my favorite time of the year...it brings crisp cool air, the crunchy fragrant leaves to walk through and a new Scrapbooking Mystery by Laura Childs!  Each fall I am so ready to find out what mischief Carmela and the girls are into.

This fall they're into Parchment and Old Lace!

Parchment and Old Lace is number thirteen in a line of fun, crafty mysteries by Laura Childs.  Like the previous mysteries this lively tale will keep you turning the pages to find out just what Carmela is up to next.  This time around her tale starts out in a romantic restaurant with her beau Detective Babcock.  They quickly end up in one of the ancient cemeteries that are dotted across New Orleans where they find an acquaintance strangled to death with a piece of vintage lace!  

From the creepy night in the cemetery, the tale takes you down a winding path through the shops, streets and homes of the French Quarter and Garden District.   Just when you think you know who committed the heinous crime another twist comes along to make you re-think your original suspect until you have quite a lengthy list. You'll need to pare down your list with the help of Carmela's Nancy Drew like sleuthing skills.

You won't want to miss out on this fun little mystery that will not only entertain your mind but it's also sprinkled with crafty bits of information and scrumptious recipes of a few of New Orleans favorite delicacies.  

You can win your own copy right here by simply leaving a comment answering one or more of these questions...

Have you read a Laura Childs Scrapbook Mystery before?  

Who is your favorite character?

What is your favorite craft Carmela has created?

You have until 10-29-15 to enter for your chance to win!

Good Luck Everyone!!