Each Moment, Only Once

When Graphic 45 released its newest line - An ABC Primer, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this breathtaking collection. The vintage schoolhouse theme is perfected with wonderful imagery of children at play, having fun, being studious as well as all the fantastic paraphernalia associated with our fondest school memories. Colours are Bold and bright yet warm to ensure they match the overall aged feel of this collection.

My dear friend Lori from Scrap That! Kit Club, was sweet enough to ask me to design their Back to School Mini Album Kit, released today, with the gorgeous papers, tags and altered art box from Graphic 45. Please join me as I share this keepsake box and mini album using Graphic 45's An ABC Primer Collection.

Tips & Tricks:

Now that the kids are back in school, I thought it would be a perfect time to create a Back to School Keepsake album & box that they could keep all their special memories, notes and favourite photos in from the year.

I simply adore having an over the top product and Graphic 45 has done it once again. Not only do you get an amazing mini album with which to work but you also get a super cool alterable box in which to store your fantastic project! The box measures 5x5 (VERY easy to cut your papers accordingly) and the front/cover page also has a window opening. I chose to include a nostalgic photo within the patterned paper but you could very easily use one of your own photos for this to make it more personalized.

I love the way the box itself opens like a little treasure. It has magnetic tabs so it locks securely when closed fully. Upon opening the cover you will get a front page as well as a 'wing' page (at least this is what I call it - LOL). These can be decorated to your desire - but remember, the more bulky these pages are, the more difficult it will be for your box to close properly.

I decided to add mini envelope pockets to each of my 'flap' pages so that the kids could hold some more treasures, stickers, etc. should they wish. These can be very easily created by cutting a strip of paper slightly less than half the page size and securing to the bottom half of your page with permanent adhesive tape from Scrapbook Adhesives on all sides but the top (so you have a place where you can add your notes).

Here we have the mini album inside the middle compartment of the Kraftboard box. The compartment itself measures just over 2 inches deep so you can store quite a thick mini inside and thereafter, a heap of special school treasures! You can see how wonderfully everything opens up to display each of the inner pages of the box as well as the cover of the mini album itself. I've stuffed each of these side pockets with as much as possible and have finished with some rustic twine, keeping with the worn, vintage feel of the collection.

Here is another view of the mini album within the Altered box. I've simply opened up the mini album to the next page for a different perspective.

Here is the cover page of the wonderful little mini hidden inside the Kraftboard box. The entire An ABC Primer collection is so over the top gorgeous that I had quite an issue cutting the papers! Each and every page was just overflowing with amazing patterns and colours and each complimented one another seamlessly. For the first page, I decided to keep the design clean and simple with lots of luscious layers to showcase as many of the wonderful papers as possible.

I love adding dimension to my projects. It brings them alive and transforms a flat piece of paper into something appealing to the eye. Pages 2 and 3 of this mini album display many different textures and dimensions and the techniques are very easy to achieve. The banner at the top of page 2 has been applied with 3D Adhesive dots from Scrapbook Adhesives to lift it off the page and make it look as though it were waving in the wind. The adorable fence also offers the same dimensional quality and has easily been transformed using a little vanilla acrylic paint and distress ink.

Not always, but sometimes, when a mini album opens up to a 'double page' spread, I like to coordinate the pages with regards to theme, colours and patterns so that they compliment one another rather than compete with one another.

Because this is an accordion style album, I found it looked more appealing to have the pages that opened up together, match with one another. With each of these pages, I also inserted mini hidden pockets (much like those on the altered box) for tags, photos, etc. You can see how the alphas have been altered differently yet both seem to work harmoniously within each page. For the lighter alphas, I first painted with vanilla acrylic paint and then inked all around the edges for a worn feel. The darker alphas were inked with Graphic 45's Antiquing Dye Ink in Photogenic. I then painted around the edges with the vanilla paint and went over the paint (once dried) with a distress ink.

Can there ever be too many layers - really? Not in my book! I always feel the more layers you add, the more texture you create and the more depth you add to your project.

Each of these pages is loaded with layers upon layers of patterned papers, chipboard tags, wooden rulers, buttons, twine and more! I often find that using dimensional foam dots from Scrapbook Adhesives adds even more dimension as well as little spaces in which you can tuck further embellishments.

And finally we are at the last page of the album!

I wanted to ensure that it was simple but that it stood out so I framed the beautiful image with bold, colourful background paper and finished with wooden accents.

Supplies:

Graphic 45 Papers: An ABC Primer: 8x8 Paper Pad
Graphic 45 Tags: An ABC Primer: Tags 1
Graphic 45 Antiquing Dye Ink: Photogenic
Graphic 45 5x5 Kraftboard Altered Art Box with Kraft Album
Scrapbook Adhesives 3-15/16''x5-7/8'' Permanent, Adhesive Sheets
Scrapbook Adhesives Permanent Adhesive Roller - My Stik
Scrapbook Adhesives Permanent Adhesive 3D Foam Squares
Michael's Acrylic Paint in Vanilla
Maya Road Chipboard Letters in Jonathan
Dusty Attic Chipboard Fence
Maya Road Mini Ruler
Kaiser Craft wooden buttons
Ranger Glossy Accents
Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Misc.: Yellow pearls, Twine, Cream ribbon

Thank you so much for your visit today!! I hope you have a wonderful day creating!! See you soon!