Weekend Creative : Mixed-Up Mini
Tags:Do you have bits and pieces left over from other projects that you don't know what to do with?
My guess is that you probably do.
This weekend the goal is to use stuff you may already have on hand: bits and pieces of minibook pages and other good stuff. It's a great opportunity to use up some of those supplies that have been waiting for a creative home.
Here's a look at all the stuff before putting it all inside the album:
When I am telling stories with minibooks I don't always use all the pages that come in the package. I use as many as I need to tell my story: sometimes there are too many pages + sometimes not enough. I began to notice a collection of mis-matched minibook pages and larger chipboard pieces piling up (and you know how I feel about my piles) and started thinking of ways I could use them.
Sometimes I use the leftover pieces on layouts such as this (featured in Life Artist):
[ chipboard tabbed pieces from Fancy Pants, white pen from Sharpie ]
But most of the time they just sit in a pile or in a basket. And that's not very creative.
Today we are celebrating mixed-up stuff and layers of pages.
The concept is simple: grab a bunch of pieces from minibooks or other scraps from your collection of stuff and bring them all together in one album. It's a super simple process of punching holes (and/or trimming off current holes + punching new ones to fit the current album) and trimming certain pages to fit within the covers.
My front and back covers are thick acrylic file folders from D Reeves Design House.
Take a peek inside:
I am thinking my album may be a book about purpose.
Remember that frame from Tuesday's Three Things post?
[ sheet of Grungeboard from Tim Holtz ]
[ circle page designed by my friend Loni + printed on a Silhouette ]
[ white grid page from Scenic Route minibook ]
[ Scenic Route chipboard people ]
File folders that were stitched together. I trimmed one page all the way down to less than an inch to create a space for the holes to be punched.
Don't forget about pieces from transparent albums [ Clear Scraps scallop album page ].
[ Fancy Pants large chipboard tab page ]
[ black tabbed piece from Scenic Route ]
[ the back of a 7gypsies chipboard album ]
[ Cosmo Cricket black scallop album ]
And you can always cut pieces of transparency or thick patterned paper to fit as well [ patterned transparency from Hambly ].
I will probably paint the chipboard pieces once I figure out a specific concept for this album. Maybe I will paint them all white? Most likely it will be something neutral...or maybe not. Maybe it is time to get a bit riskier and move away from white, cream, and brown?
What story will you tell in this mini? What is one you have been waiting for?
I am thinking this concept would make a cool foundation for a travel album/journal for documenting a trip, or it could definitely work as a start for a December Daily if you are thinking about doing one of those for the holidays this year.
Have fun and use up some of those things you already have on hand. The perfect time is now.






















Comments
Sign in or sign up to comment.
93 comments
This album is so fun!! I love that you are always making me look at things a little differently :) I can't wait to make my own.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Hi Ali
You must have been reading my mind... I just started a new journal to use up scrap supplies and just started putting all sorts of things together and loads of doodling and postcards received in the mail and loads of spaces for journaling and find it has been really helpful instead of having a store bought blank book with lined pages. You can see my book in transition with Anthropologie inspiration on my blog:
http://www.ruthpannell.typepad.com
I can't wait to see yours and everyone elses as they evolve. It's great to use us all the scraps to an artistic effect, isn't it?
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
I love how your able to put unique minis together! You rock!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
oh so Inspiring! I have so many odds & ends, collected from packaging, etc. and now they will have a use. Maybe a book about the odds & ends of life (the things that are good & bad all at the same time). Thanks for the motivation.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
I've been wanting to do a mini scrap album but just couldn't get going so to celebrate NSD I'll be making one. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Love this... was pushing some of these type things around this past week thinking hmmm... don't want to throw away, but what can I use them for? Thanks!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Looking forward to seeing the final project!
Thanks for all the pics.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
One of my National Scrapbook Day projects is to clean off my work space. I'm pretty sure I have a mini album like yours somewhere in the stacks of 'stuff' just laying there. Great idea and thanks!
Sue
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
What an awesome book. Fantastic idea to create one with lots of bits of leftovers. I'll definately be making one of these SOON.
I've posted an NSD challenge on my Blog to make Cards for Soldiers. If you think it's a good idea. I'd love for you to promote it!
http://penny-candy.blogspot.com/
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Love it! I am going to give it a try with some vintage goodies this weekend. Happy NSD!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
I love it that in the midst of what can become a consumption-oriented observance of "National Scrapbook Day" (at least I can take it as an excuse to shop!), you came up with this great re-use/ re-purpose idea! Thank you for the inspiration and example of thinking greener as we create!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Oh wow this looks so cool. I want to make one. Unfortunately i dont have cool leftovers. I have daggy left overs.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Thanks for the inspiration! Seriously...I looked at this post last night and then took a gander at my desk and started gathering up leftovers and putting them in an album!
Check it out if you like (it's called this woman):
http://prettypaperbook.com/blog
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
OMG! another fabulous album book by Ali. i looooove this. i love the scrappy look and i am so jealous of anyone who actually has the "leftovers" to make this. i would actually have to go buy all the different pieces, and then it wouldn't be leftovers and would be expensive, LOL. besides if it doesn't come at michael's i don't have access to it. wonderful book, can't wait to see what you do with it.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Hey Ali!
Great idea I started my own mixed up mini at my local NSD crop. You can see the start of it on my blog, I am hoping to add more pages, some journaling and embellishments soon.
Heather
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Is there somewhere we can purchase that circle page template from Loni for the Silhouette????? I am DYING to have it!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Can't wait to see what you do with this! Love it! Just uploading mine to the flickr group, thanks for the inspiration. This was definately a good process for me!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Wow, this is the coolest thing! I love it!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Very cool mini-album:)
Do you think it's possible to upload that circle-page-file so we can dl it and use it on our own Silhouette? It was very cool and I would love to be able to cut one out to use on my layouts:)
Also: I just read all the words+photos-post and I just wanna say thank you for all the great tips and inspiration!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Hm..that comment that says it's from KimberlyM is what I wrote - and my comment turned out blank. Dunno what happened there :/
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.