Sharing.
Tags:This album appeared in the April issue of Creating Keepsakes in my Studio A column - cool outside, but the inside is really the heart of this project. I got the album back from CK yesterday and took some pics so you could see a bit deeper into the album.
The exterior is covered in fabric, which was wrapped around onto the inside. The seams are covered with a layered image I created in Photoshop featuring two different letters from my Mom. The black chipboard letters are Heidi Swapp and the black gaffer tape is 7gypsies. The small circle accents are KI Memories and the button is from one of those awesome bags from Autumn Leaves.
The idea behind the album was to create a home for a bunch of letters
my Mom has sent me. She is a great letter writer. I actually have tons
and this album is just a showcase for some of my favorites - some are
emails but most are handwritten. For the structure of the album I chose
a 7gypsies
envelope album that allowed me to store the actual letters inside each
pocket. This was one of those things I bought just beacuse I thought it
was cool...not sure what I would use it for at the time...it all workout out just right.
One of the design elements I knew I wanted to include on the exterior
of the envelopes was my Mom's handwriting. I didn't want to make it
super complicated, but I wanted it to express the emotion and
personality of her writing. I decided to scan the actual letters and
enlarge them so that the writing was large enough to cover the
envelope. I printed out the enlarged writing and wrapped it around each
envelope (the exterior of each envelope demonstrates a look at what is
inside) - on the back of the envelope I covered the seam with a
rectangle section of patterned paper.
After covering the envelopes with the enlarged handwriting samples/emails I felt like it need a bit of color so I added some stamping. Year stamp is from Stampin Up. Large butterfly stamp is from My Sentiments Exactly.
"Be Happy Everyday" stamp is from Hero Arts.
I think that dot stamp is also from Hero Arts.
Circle stamp is from Savvy Stamps. "Creat Joy" is from Wordsworth.
The buttons are adhered with large glue dots - it makes it a bit sticky with the string but it works just fine and the glue dot seems to give it enough lift.
And another share...this is for The Red Lily's monthly kit for May - all the products were included in the kit. Additional stuff I created for them should be up later today.










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67 comments
WOW Ali - these are so inspiring. I love that album and am so glad you are sharing more photos.
Thanks!
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Ali, that album is wonderful. What a beautiful way to make a home for something so precious.
Thanks for being our guest deisgner at the Red Lily this month also! We are all super excited to chat with you this month! Can't wait until the 13th.
Adrianne (Co-owner)The Red Lily
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What a beautiful album, Ali - I loved the cover when I saw it in CK magazine, and have been waiting for you to post the inside photos FOREVER (or since you promised ...!) Thanks for sharing!
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Ali, I really loved your album! I've always loved handwritten letters and this makes me want to do it for our children. The "create joy" stamp is from Wordsworth. Thanks for sharing.
Susan
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Dear god Ali it is BEAUTIFUL!! What a wonderful album you've created. And how LUCKY are YOU that you have such an amazing mom to take the time to write letters to you. WOW!! What a treasure you have!! Peace and blessings.. Cindy
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Wow! That is such a great place to house the letters. I have been saving letters sent to me since I was a child, and I have a lot from my grandmother. You've shown us a great way to create a home for them. Thanks for always sharing your ideas!
Claire
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It makes me sad that we are not a family of letter writers. Perhaps I can dig out some old family journals and give them a similar treatment.
Thanks for sharing.
(ps - did a package arrive for you?)
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Really like the mom book. Very neat. Also, what you did for Red Lily is very nice!
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Beautiful projects- so glad to see the inside!
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I have no letters, you are so so blessed.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
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Very cool! Thanks for sharing. :)
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what a beautiful album Ali
i love the idea of saving your mom's letters
so special!
:)
Vee
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Thanks for sharing something so personal, Ali! You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother. Beautiful book.
Brek
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Oh, I love that light on the table in the last two pictures. Makes for shadowy photos, but must be nice to work in! Oh, and the projects are nice too! LOL. I was bummed they didn't have photos of the inside of the letters book, as your text mentioned the enlarged handwritting. Thanks for sharing more pictures of these!
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Thanks so much for sharing! You are fortunate to be so blessed - and even more so because you cherish what you have!
You inspire me (and I'm certain many others!) to want to do more, experience more, *live* more.
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Wow - this is so inspiring...you ROCK!
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Just awesome, Ali!
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I so love the album you made of your mom's letters and notes! I've been wanting a sneak peek inside ever since I saw it! It's gorgeous!! And that fabric on the outside is amazing!! You are a true inspiration.
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Hi Ali,
Thanks so much for sharing...
I'm totally inspired... You've such a nice way of dealing with the little bits and pieces of your everyday life... I'm more aware now of all those little moments in my own life and I'm trying to enjoy all those simple - and often hectic, dull or busy moments... there's often so much more to love and treasure than you think..
Please say 'hi' to Simon from my little (almost 3 year old) son Stach... he loves to read your blog with me and enjoyes to see wat's Simon been up to...
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Love seeing the inside of that album. Totally felt like something was missing when I read Studio A and couldn't see the inside :-)
Such a thoughtful way to hold on to those sweet words from your mom.
Michelle
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