Finishing Up Some Old Projects

Do you ever start a project and set it aside for one reason or another?  Perhaps you made a mistake on it or it is not turning out the way you had envisioned.  I recently was cleaning out an old craft dresser and found several of these projects.  I decided to make it my goal to finish these up.  Here is one that I had started the base of the paper bag book, and had done the covers and the first page, but that was it.  Never took it any further.  I had actually made a mistake on the second page, which caused me to abandon the whole project.  Well, guess what?  It was easily fixable! 

I had a great time finishing up this little mini scrapbook.  And I was so pleased with how it came out that I listed it in my Etsy shop.

I have a couple more projects that I will be finishing up soon as well. 

Japanese Stab Binding Tutorial

I just posted a Japanese Stab Binding tutorial on our main website.  I love the look of this binding, but I would recommend that you not use a hard cover as I did, but rather a soft cover.  I was just dying to use this vintage box cover.  The only problem is when I open the book it doesn't "give" to bend open as a soft cover would.  I would recommend handmade paper or even fabric.

Family Mini Scrapbook

I just finished this mini scrapbook for a mini album swap.  This was a swap for our Mini-Books Yahoo Group.  I was kind of surprised at how much it costs to mail to Canada, but I think (I hope) my swap partner will enjoy it.  Here are a couple of other pages from it.

From Children's Encyclopedia to Mixed Media Journal

I absolutely love taking an old book, any old book will do, but I especially love old children's books, and turning them into journals.  I have been working on this one for a couple of weeks in my spare time. 

I create the inside pages with things like scrapbook paper, pages from the original book, old envelopes, vintage wallpaper, even some heavy duty gift wrap.  I put in lots of journaling spots and a few photos mats, some pockets and pull-outs for lots of added interest.  I am a collage sheet junkie and have some collage sheet images on almost every page I decorate.  I actually only decorated half the pages in this journal, as I am selling it in my Etsy shop and want to let the buyer put their own spin on the other half of the pages. 

I used some magazine images to create this little collage book.    I think it came out pretty cool looking.  Just another technique learned from Miss Mary Ann.