Paper Bag Scrapbook Tutorial

I created a new tutorial for the main website the other day.  It's a variation of a paper bag scrapbook.  This one has a hard cover, both front and back and the bags are sewn together using the sewn tapes binding that I am still so hooked on.  I seem to be using it on a lot of my stuff these days.

I used 12 bags for this one and I think that's about right.  Many more and it would not lay properly when the book was closed.  But I do like the thickness of it like this.  Nice and fat! 

You can find the free tutorial on my Making-Mini-Scrapbooks website here:  Paper Bag Book.

Crafty Superstar Spotlight

This week I have the honor of being a Crafty Superstar at the Cut Out + Keep website.  Each day one of my projects will be featured.  There are already five projects posted, which include a triple pocket mini album, an origami mini album, an altered journal, a collage book, and a heart shaped corner book mark.  These are complete little tutorials.  There are still two projects to be unveiled this weekend, which include a magazine wrapper coaster (upcycled projects are a passion of mine) and a shirt mini album or card.  I was thinking Father's Day when I added that project, but it is getting published a week late for that.  That is okay though - it is always a good project for a male birthday, etc.

Making Mini Scrapbooks Newsletter

In the past it has been very laborious to put out a newsletter because of the software/web hosting I was using.  It is a great web hosting company because it is great for people like me who do not know how to build a website by themselves.  But it used to be very clunky.  They made some upgrades a year or so ago with a simple drag and drop way of doing things, which has helped me create pages faster and better!  But they hadn't upgraded the newsletter publishing feature until recently.  Well, in fact, it is still in Beta, but I went ahead and gave it a try yesterday and found it works pretty well.  So I published a quick little newsletter that you can read by subscribing here.  The GREAT news is that with this easier, more efficient, much less clunky way of doing things, I will be able to improve the newsletter and start sending out more frequent editions.  I am thrilled!

Fabric and Lace Book

I have admired the beautiful lace and fabric books that so many people have been making.  I finally tried my hand at my first one and here is the result.  The covers were actually the easiest part.  I struggled a bit with what to put on the inside pages.  I think I might try one that just has a fabric cover as this one does, but with paper for the inside.  But oh it was fun to use up some of my abundant supply of fabric.  I did not have to purchase one item for this book.  Everything in it was already in my stash.  I have listed it in my Etsy shop, but if it doesn't sell I may just keep it for myself.  :-)

A triple toilet paper roll Mini Scrapbook

Yesterday I posted a tutorial for a triple toilet paper roll mini scrapbook.  You'll be using 9 or more empty toilet paper rolls to create this one.  Triple Toilet Paper Mini Album Tutorial 

40 Days of Love

Our church is doing a 40 days of love spiritual emphasis ~ starts Sunday. I have decided to shower a little girl that I sponsor through Child International (AKA Christian Children's Fund) with love. I am going to mail her one little thing every single day for 40 days. These will be cards, ATCs, mini books, stickers, tags, just little things. I'm going to include letters and Bible verses and hopefully remind her of God's great love for her as well as my own. I will have to mail two on Fridays and two on Mondays because our little post office is closed on Saturdays, and of course Sundays. And I don't know what will happen on her end, if things will pile up before they give them to her or if she'll get them each day. I think I'll number them for her in case they pile up a bit.

Piano Hinge Mini Album

By special request I have done up instructions on my website for the piano hinge mini scrapbook. (I had been wanting to add it anyway, but getting the request gave me the jump start I needed.) I used regular scrapbook paper that is actually white on the opposite side because I'm thinking of actually using this as a sort of art journal and those white pages will come in quite handy. You could also mat photos on colored cardstock. Or you could use double-sided paper, just make sure it is fairly lightweight as getting those skewers through the notches can be a little tough with a heavier paper.

Paper Dolls Paper Bag Album

This week I was finally able to work on the round robin swap for the mini books Yahoo! group I am in. We are each choosing our own theme and then sending it on to the other members who joined in this swap. I chose paper dolls for my theme. I have included the actual dolls and wardrobe on my website for anybody who might want to create a similar paper bag book for themselves. The link above will take you to my website where you can download the paper dolls.