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!! ANd double WOW! This is inspiration at its finest. Just love it.
I am working on a new album at the moment, and you have just inspired me to finish it.
Thanks for sharing it in depth.
Cant wait to do your classes in August. So exciting!
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Wow! Ali. thanks for sharing. You're a life *artist*.
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Gorgeous album! A must-scraplift idea for sure! I have tons of letters that my father mailed me after I moved to the US and now that he is gone, I love to *reconnect* with him by reading them whenever I can...this is the perfect idea on how to keep them together in one album. I *LOVED* this idea! Thanks!
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So love catching your blog everyday. Stuff that just makes me smile. Been sick for the last 2 days (stomach flu - yuck!) so I've missed it and love catching up on your goings' ons' (dunno what exactly that is...just something my mother always used to say). Go Chris - love the singage, go Ali - can't wait to check out the new book and go Simon - bubbles and all:-D
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Now Ali...you are in my blog today as 'Ali, the Enabler'...just wanted you to know this...hehehehe!!!!
Thanks for sharing your ABFAB ideas with us!
Love that Envelope Album...sweet!!!!
hugs-Peg
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Gorgeous. Everything is just wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing and for all the inspiration!
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Thanks for sharing. My grandmother was a great writer of letters. When cleaning her craft room after her death, my family even found a special letter she had written for us. These are some great ideas about what to do with all of these treasures.
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Loved being able to see some pics from inside. What a great idea! I have letters I traded with girlfriends in grade school, that would be fun! Thanks!
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Thanks for sharing more of the envelope album! I got so excited when I saw it in the mag as I have tons of letters from as far back as grade school days. How big is the album, btw?
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I love this. I think I will have to do this with the letters I have saved from my best friend. Maybe one with love letters from my dh too.
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Ali... LOVE LOVE the album... I have tons of little love letters my Mom has given me over the years, and I can't seem to part with them.. You have inspired me to make one for myself! Thank you... !!!! :)
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Ali, I was so disappointed not to see more of this album in your column and was thrilled to see it here. This is probably one of the most wonderful, inspiring albums I have ever seen. I love absolutely everything about it and was really moved by your mothers words, her handwriting, how you enlarged her letters...just breathtaking. I have a box of letters in my scrapbook room that I cherish but have never known what to do with. I think I now have my answer. Thank you for being such an amazing artist and for sharing pieces of your soul with us.
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most incredible album - thanks for sharing it with us :)
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such a work of love - thanks for sharing another piece of your heart with us! makes me so wish i came from a family of letter writers. BUT! i'm glad you do & thankful that Simon has a wonderful legacy of family!
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Love it Ali!
thanks for sharing :)
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Love it Ali!
thanks for sharing :)
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thanks for sharing this album A!
looks like a very special book ..!
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I think that is *totally* cool that your mom still writes letters to you:)
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I love the idea of a letter album--I have so many letters that I treasure--from many different people...and yet the best that I've done with them thus far is shove them in a shoe box! You've inspired me :)
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Amazing Ali...as usual. Thanks for sharing. My 95 year old Aunt and I have written letters (long letters) to each other ever since my mom died prematurely 30 years ago. I have saved her letters not only for her loving words or wisdom, but also because her writing style is just as if she is sitting across the table talking to you. I know there will come a day when having those letters and being able to reread them will be a priceless memory for me. Thanks for inspiring me to do something special with them.
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