Studio Light Vintage Roses DIY Block Mini Album Tutorial

 

Hello everyone!  You may remember that I ran the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog some years ago before my daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.  Well, I've always had a passion for making books and love sharing the process so others can craft along.  I hope this post inspires you to do just that!

This mini album tutorial features the brand new Vintage Roses DIY Block by Studio Light (SL-ES-DCB44).  This pad is absolutely GORGEOUS and I just had to do a whole book with it.  I'll be sharing projects from the other new DIY Blocks very soon, but this one is my favorite.  

I started by creating my signatures.  I wanted to use 8.5 x 11" paper and chose heavy kraft paper.  I cut one piece to 5.5 x 11" and scored it at 5.25 and 5.75".  I cut a second piece to 5.5 x 10.75" and scored it at 5.25 and 5.5".  I used Studio Light's Highly Tacky Craft Tape to adhere the smaller piece over the larger in the gutter, burnishing all of the folds and tape well.

Next, I made my covers and spine from chipboard from the back of a Bristol paper pad.  I cut the two covers to 5 5/8 x 5 1/2".  I cut my spine to 5 5/8 x 3/4".  A handy trick for cutting chipboard without a fancy paper cutter is to save an old blade (I mark mine with a sharpie as OLD) and cut one side at the right measurement, then flip the chipboard over and cut the back side at the right measurement.  If there is any slight discrepancy, just use a sanding block to smooth the edges.  

I used the patterned paper in the DIY Block to cover the front and back covers.  There are two sheets of each pattern, so I used both of these floral pattern sheets for both covers.  I left a half inch overlap and wrapped the paper, mitering the corners and using Highly Tacky Craft Tape to adhere.  For the spine portion, I used regular tape to secure a 1/8" gap between the covers and spine, then I wrapped cloth adhesive bandaging around the spine, starting with the inside and wrapping around both sides.  I used my bone folder to burnish the creases, then masked off the edges and painted the tape pink with craft paint.  I really like how this worked out!  

Finally, I used patterned paper to cover the inside of the covers, cutting it 1/4" smaller than the finished covers and making sure to adhere my sari ribbon closure between the paper layers for a finished look.  I then secured the kraft paper signatures to the spine, over the painted cloth tape, with more Highly Tacky Craft Tape.  

I made this book just for fun, but the designs could easily be adapted to showcase 3x3" photos.  I included pockets for the pretty tags.  I layered with the new Jenine's Mindful Art Lace Border Set (JMA-FOF-CD515), which went with the shabby look of this paper.  

I cut my pages down 1/4" smaller than the kraft paper pages and distressed all of the edges.  I tucked some paper folds beneath the paper before adhering.  This one has a snippet of a vellum quote from the Llama Mixed Media Paper Pad that came out last quarter.  It was too perfect not to use here!  See how I used that pad HERE.  

I love adding torn crocheted lace to my shabby chic projects.  I got this lace from the local craft store.  

I used my Text Background stamp (SL-ES-STAMP369) on my pages.  This stamp works with everything!  Sometimes you just need a little something extra...

Here I used the butterfly to hold the tag flap in place.  It folds out to reveal even more of those pretty elements.

My layers are definitely dimensional!  That's why I leave a 1/4" gap between my pages, but I will say that you can use the range of Studio Light Dimensional Foam Tapes in different thicknesses (.02, .04, .06 and .12") for just the right amount of depth in your layering.  I used the .02"  foam in a lot of places so I wouldn't add too much bulk.  

I really hope you've enjoyed this mini!  I'll be sharing a flip through on my Instagram page soon @sewpaperpaint.  These paper pads launch Friday, April 14, so make sure to grab yours while they're available.  xx, Autumn

Other Products Used:

Darkroom Door Mail Art Tag Book and Embossing Resist Card

 

Hi friends!  I'm excited today to share part two of my samples for the spring Darkroom Door Stamps release.  If you missed part one, click HERE.  I'll be sharing part three soon, so make sure to become a follower or sign up for posts by email in my sidebar.  :)  For my first project, I focused on the fabulous new Snail Mail stamp.  What a cool stamp for collage, bullet journals and mail art!  I decided to create a mail art themed tag book.  

I scored a piece of Bristol and snipped the top corners to make a trifold tag.  I dipped the tag in Fired Brick and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  I stamped the new Small Vintage Label stamp across the front two tags to create a continuous feel, then used the collage elements from the Vintage Office stamp set all around.  What a great set this is and it works perfectly with the Snail Mail stamp.  

I used a little bit of book page to stamp some of the elements onto, then added some Global Postmarks, overlapping some authentic postage stamps from my collection.  

To finish and create more contrast, I stamped the Snail Mail and "mail art" portions of the stamp onto black and embossed in Ranger's Antique Pearl EP.  I added punched hole reinforcers and twine and used a tiny Ideaology clip as a closure for the tag book.  I really enjoyed doing this project.  It didn't take very long, and is a little bit different than the usual stamped card.  I hope you'll be inspired to make one of your own!

My next card is equally grungy, but has a totally different feel.  I focused on the new Small Vintage Label stamp and used it as a frame to highlight my sentiment.  

The sentiment is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set, an absolute must have!  I use this set all the time and love the beautifully combined fonts.  At the top of the label, I stamped the new This Way (arrows) stamp onto a piece of tissue, cut it to size and adhered it with a glue stick, a faux washi tape if you will.  

For my background I tried Tami B's iron-off embossing technique and just loved it!  First, I made an inky background with Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and a touch of Vintage Photo - nice and grungy but light.  Next I stamped the Numbers Background stamp in Versamark embossing ink and clear embossed.  Then I dipped my panel into Uncharted Mariner Distress Ink, following with Faded Jeans, Antique Linen and Black Soot Distress Oxide, drying on low heat between colors.  When I was pleased with the colors, I sandwiched my panel between copy paper and used my clothes iron to heat up the embossing powder.  It melts into the opposing copy paper.  The finished panel has no shiny embossing, nice and grungy.  I hope you've enjoyed these projects today and will take a look at the new stamps now available at DarkroomDoor.com.  

Studio Light Cutting Edge Dies

Hi again!  I'm back today to share a couple of projects using the very unique on the edge cutting dies by Studio Light.  I've never seen another company with dies quite like these!  Studio Light creates lots of layered die sets with several matting dies that coordinate with their unique "distressed" edges.  But these dies go a step further and have a dimensional arm, which can be folded inward or left extended.  Personally, I think the extended variation is a lot of fun.  For my first card I used the Grunge Butterfly Card Cutting Dies (SL-GR-CD500).

I watercolored the butterfly die cut layer with a rainbow of Distress Inks using Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Grass, Tumbled Glass and Wilted Violet.  Along the seam, I stamped the pretty little sentiment line from the Spring Crafts stamp set (SL-GR-STAMP398).  For the center panel, I dipped a Bristol panel in the same watered inks in sections.  I repeated when necessary to get more vibrant colors.  I then stamped the Floral Butterfly stamp (SL-GR-STAMP402) and restamped the butterfly wings on a second panel and fussy cut, then curled the wings using my bone folder and mounted for dimension.  

For my second card, I went in a much softer direction.  I decided to white emboss all of the images from the Spring Crafts stamp set (SL-GR-STAMP398) onto the central die cut.  I colored with Vintage Photo, Squeezed Lemonade and a purple markers.  I layered over the cut out Floral Card (SL-GR-CD501) and added a little bit of yellow in the center of each flower cutout.  

I stamped my sentiment from the Celebration stamp set (SL-ES-STAMP388) and layered over torn crocheted lace, a loopy bow and added a handmade daisy from the Fresh as a Daisy Cutting Dies from the Blooming Butterfly Collection (SL-BB-CD483).  

I really love these beautiful bulbs and the soft colors for spring.  I hope you've enjoyed seeing these products in action and will take a look at the new Grunge Collection by Studio Light.  xx, Autumn

 Studio Light Grunge Cutting Dies

Studio Light Grunge Die Cut Accordion Butterfly Book

 

Hi friends!  I'm so excited today to share a fun new project with you featuring the brand new Book Gift Box Cutting Dies (SL-ES-CD497) by Studio Light.  This is such a neat concept of a die set, because it comes with a book cover and box insert, with layers and layers of matting dies for maximum use.  I decided to use the dies to create an accordion book within the cover, omitting the box insert all together.  

I cut the inner sections of the layers to give me six focal pages from Bristol (one for the cover, one for the front of the accordion and four for the folded out accordion). I used the two larger sizes to cut mats from the gorgeous new Lagoon Waves Essential Paper Pad (SL-ES-PP89), which has 36 sheets of 18 dual colored 250 GSM card in beautiful blues, browns and neutrals.  

For the accordion, I cut a kraft panel to 4 7/16 x 11" and scored at 2 3/4, 5 1/2 and 8 1/4".  On the opening page I stamped half of the Floral Butterflies stamp (SL-GR-STAMP402).  I used Distress Inks to watercolor the stamped pages in Vintage Photo, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Antique Linen, Scattered Straw and Bundled Sage.

For the next set of pages I stamped the Lily of the Valley (SL-GR-STAMP395) and Bluebell Flower (SL-GR-STAMP391).  For the last set of pages I stamped the Primula Branch (SL-GR-STAMP393) and the Butterflies stamp (SL-GR-STAMP399).  

On my cover I stamped the other half of the Floral Butterflies stamp (SL-GR-STAMP402).  I stamped a second butterfly wings and fussy cut them, curling the wings and mounting for dimension.  The word came from the Butterflies stamp (SL-GR-STAMP399).  I finished with a silk ribbon closure, mounted beneath my focal layers.  I'm just so happy with this Book Gift Box die set and know that I will be making many many stamped books of this style in the foreseeable.  xx

Studio Light Dies & Grunge Collection Stamps