Make Mine a Mini

Hey Roadies! It's almost the weekend!

One of the great things about working for Maya Road (besides getting to work with all the awesome products!) is working with Caroline. She loves to give the DT assignments for CHA that push us out of our creative comfort zone. While I hate it at the time, she's always right on with the request. I think she has a crystal ball or some such.

For me, that means doing minis. And not just one mini, I got to do multiple minis for this last show. I whined and complained mightily to Ronda--aside: did you know we live just 2.4 miles from each other? I did a layout about that for the show too, I'll share that at the end of this post!

But by the time I was done, I had a couple of minis I was really proud of. I'm going to share one with you today. It's for my daughter, Annie, who will be graduating from high school this year. I put together this mini using the linen 4x6 Art Journal Album from this Winter's new releases. It uses a bunch of quotes that I felt would be good reminders for her of who she really is, once she heads off to college and I'm not around everyday to remind her.

Because I don't really go messy and painty, I needed to find a way to make this album work for me. I do stitch and stamp a lot so I took a bunch of the kraft envelopes (white polka dots, squares, and rectangles) and stitched them into the journal to use as extra pages. I stamped a lot as well using a permanent black ink (worked great on the linen!) and two of our alphabets, the new Varsity Uppercase Letters and a great standby, the Just My Type set. 

To help the viewer move through the album, I used our new Perfect Shot Arrow set. When there's an arrow, you lift the flap to read more.

I misted our Vintage Wood Mini Butterflies with our Maya Mists in Green Apple, Fig Magenta, and Lemon Metallic. I did the same to our large Natural Wood Buttons.  

I trimmed down the frayed edges of our Burlap Trim in Fuchsia and used that throughout the album as well.

 

I love how the flaps of the envelopes make cool design elements, and here, how it supports the jouranling.

I used a Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue to hold everything in place, it worked very well. I also used it as a fray check on the Burlap Trim edges.

 

The last flap encourages her to look forward with faith.

This project was a lot of fun, once I had my idea down and started executing it. I used photos from her senior photo shoot and tried to match them to the quote. I then split up the quote and with sticky notes, I place set everything. The only suggestion I wish I'd thought of was to stamp it all out, THEN add the bumpy embellishments. A few places where I stamped were tricky because I had a button or butterfly on the other side already.

I love how this turned out, I have a wonderful gift for my daughter when she heads off to college, something I hope will bring her comfort as she starts this new journey. I made an art journal work with my style. I need to stop whining to Ronda. And I need to tell Caroline how much I love mini albums. Maybe she'll stop asking me to make them... ;)

Here's the layout about how I get from my house to Ronda's.

Supplies for Directions layout:

• Avocado Green Maya Mist
• Fig Magenta Maya Mist
• Lemon Metallic Maya Mist
• Metal Vintage Trinket--Our Home
• Fabric Leaves--Medium
• Trinket Pins--Vintage Pearl Butterflies
• Burlap Trim in Fuchsia
• Burlap Trim in Smoke (NEW!!!)
• Lisa Uppercase Alphabet
• Lisa Lowercase Alphabet
• Ruffle Blossoms in Turquoise
• Wood Mini Clothes Pins
• Fabric Tape in Sun Yellow Gingham
• Tulle Pleat Trim in Slushie Blue
• Mini Tag Canvas Pieces

 

 

Comments

[Marti]

Oh, em. I love this mini!!!! And the layout about Miss Ronda is awesome! <3

[Jody Ferlaak]

So, so great, Emily! I can't imagine why you doubt yourself when it comes to mini's. You are creative, talented and good at what you do- big OR small! =) What a wonderful gift, full of great truths for your daughter. Maybe you need to make another one for you because you will be missing her when she is off and spreading her wings. If you do make one, feelfree to share that with us too. Love your page as well. Love when you get pushed to do 'more'. xo

[paulasg]

Gosh, those photos of Annie are beautiful. She will love the album I'm sure. And I adore your layout about going to Ronda's!! Totally lifting that.

[mandysea]

*gasp* I'm in absolute awe!
WOW... what a beautiful, beautiful keepsake for your daughter...
I usually flip through projects in blogland (time poor) but yours made me STOP and LOOK!

Both the mini and the LO are just magnificent and the products are fabby - need to find them!

I feel so inspired by your creativeness!

[Michelle Salazar]

It is perfect and everyone should have one!

[alissa]

i LOVE your mini, emily!
in fact, i love all your minis when you are "forced" to make them. ;)
are you learning to love them? :)