mini book

December Daily ’09 Walkthrough

by Lesley Oman on 29 November, 2010

Hiya everyone,

Only a few more days until it’s December!! eeeeeek! I’m so excited.
I’m sure many of you are familiar with Ali Edward‘s annual Christmas feature called December Daily, where she makes a mini book which documents the last month of the year and captures memories of this magical time. Last year I decided to join in the fun, and I embarked upon the wondrous adventure of making my own December Daily album.

I have to say that it wasn’t all easy; some days it was a struggle, after all this month is usually jam packed on the calendar. But on the most part, I found that project was fantastic. I decided to make a mini book which had lots of character, so lots of my pages are different sizes, and I was so thrilled with the end result.

With being pregnant plus buying a house, packing and moving all within the next week or so, I haven’t had a chance to prepare for a December Daily album this year, but I’m thinking that I will still journal the days and maybe I’ll revisit the idea when we are in the new house.

So I thought you might like to see the finished album from last year, and if you are going to take part in this years December Daily project, maybe you will get a few ideas for your own mini book. Enjoy the video!

{ 3 comments }

Tea Mini Book Video Tutorial

by Lesley Oman on 20 October, 2010

I did promise… :0)

A few weeks ago I showed you a project that I made for Sarah: a little book that held a variety of tasty fruit tea sachets. It was lots of fun to make, and lots of you asked for a tutorial so that you could make one for yourself.

Although it works really well to hold these little sachets, you could also simply use the pockets to hold tags, photos, journaling, memorabelia and so much more, which makes this project really flexible…and i must say, it is really fun to make!

I split the tutorial into two videos to make it easier to follow and easier to download – so here they are below for your viewing pleasure!

Please feel free to share this tutorial with your friends, all I ask is that you link back to this page so they can check out my other projects too.

Don’t forget that the giveaway closes tomorrow night (Thursday 22nd Oct) and a winner will be chosen at random to win some crafty goodness. Just subscribe to our newsletter to enter! For more details, check out this post!

Good luck everyone, and enjoy the tutorial!

{ 2 comments }

MYM- Time For Tea?

by Lesley Oman on 9 August, 2010

See larger image

When Sarah had her first, my adorable little Godson Randolph, her Mum came to stay for a while. My memory of ‘Grammy’s” stay with us will always be focused on fruit teas. Being in Britain, of course cups of tea are served on a highly regular basis, but Grammy preferred a variety of non-caffeine teas. We all got hooked in the end, even Craig, and now when we reach for a packet of Twinnings Starwberry and Mango tea, it’s Grammy we think of.

So today’s Miss You Monday is for Sarah, but is inspired by her Mom. and although it isn’t technically a card like most (if not all) of my previous MYM posts, it still counts I reckon! After all, when inspiration hits you, you just have to go with the flow.

So here is my Miss You Monday project for today: a little book full of a variety of fruit teas so the girls will always be able to have a cuppa no matter what they fancy.

If anyone wants a tutorial, let me know and i’ll put one together for you in the future.

Video Tutorial is now available here —

Thanks for stopping by.
leave a comment here

See larger image

See larger image

See larger image

See larger image

See larger image

{ 9 comments }

December Daily, the final pages: 21st – 31st

by Lesley Oman on 6 December, 2009

See larger image

I’m back, with the final installment of my December Daily album, pages 21 – 31.

Page 21.
Another easy peasy one – simply an envelope which i’ve lined with festive scrapbook paper. I love the simplicity and elegance of these pages, and they are great for holding both photos and journaling, or you can stick them to the outside of the envelope.

See larger image

Page 22.
I love this rub on. Its an ornate frame rub on by Glitz designs, and they look FABULOUS! I almost didn’t want to use it because then i wouldn’t have it in my stash any more. Then i realised that i could just buy more of course. I find that some rub ons need a fight to transfer on to the surface of your project, these rub ons work a dream – straight on there with no bother at all. I rubbed it onto cream paper then cut around it and mounted it onto the front of this pocket page that i made using a piece of 12 x 6 paper folded in half.

See larger image

Page 23.
I wanted to break away from the rectangular pages so I stuck two pieces of scrapbook paper back to back, traced around a CD and cut down to make a circle. Then i trimmed the edges so i cut line the bottom and left edges and could punch holes for the binding rings. The journaling sticker is from a DCWV sticker pack, the number 23 is from Paper Trunk and the December arrow is a mystery!? Cute though.

See larger image

Page 24.
At this stage, we will be getting soooo very close to Crimbo. Christmas eve is a piece of 7 x 10 paper folded in half, but i’ve folded back along one edge to make a pocket from the side, rather from the top. The folded piece trims the edge of the pocket giving a nice finished look, and it also means that you can peek inside at the journaling whilst the tag is still secured inside its pocket. I’ve used circle and scalloped circle punches to use up scraps for the number 24, and the numbers themselves are felt thickers from American Crafts.

See larger image

Page 25.
CHRISTMAS DAY! This is the big one, the one we have all been waiting for. I know that Christmas is one of those days that is crammed full of so much fun and laughter that i wanted to make this page special, with extra room for photos and journaling. What i’ve done is make a little mini book 3×3 inches in size, using the maze book technique. This stupidly easy technique makes fantastic little books in an instant, and i will definitely share it with you real soon. As i wanted the mini book to remain inside the December Daily book, I made a special page with a deep pocket to hold the book. I put the pocket sideways as if it was at the bottom as normal, then we wouldn’t be able to see the number 25 on the front cover of the little book. This way i can tuck in all but the cover of the minibook, and it will (hopefully) stay there securely without falling out. Here’s another little secret. I wanted the minibook to be centred when it was inside the pocket, so i placed foam pads on the inside of the pocket at the bottom, so the book sits on the foam pads rather than the bottom edge of the pocket. Clever, huh? You can also see that i was punching out my scraps again and used those fab Making memories shimmer alphas again. Delish!

See larger image

See larger image

See larger image

Page 26.
By the time we reach here, Christmas will already feel like a distant memory. After the fuss and fanciness of the page before, i wanted to keep the Boxing Day page very plain. So I used a piece of 4×6 cardstock and some scraps from the Teresa Collins Documented paper. The chipboard is a frame from Bisous, and the letter stickers are form Paper Trunk.

See larger image

Page 27.
Another attack of the CDs for this round page, and I also traced around the scalloped page we saw on page 4.The chipboard is from Scenic Route, and my Making Memories shimmer alphas are seriously starting to run out at this stage.

See larger image

Page 28.
We are approaching the last few days of 2009, so another pocket page to document this Bank Holiday. I found this lovely red tag in my stash and it looks great with a button and some string. Yes, those are felt thickers again.

See larger image

Page 29.
Nearly there. Another little one from my scraps. I loved this flourish flower so used it as a focal element of this page by adhering a gem in the centre. Two little mini shimmer alphas to add the number 29, and a tab made from scraps and a circle punch.

See larger image

Page 30.
This one is a 6×6 page of cardstock with a 4×6 piece of pattern paper stuck along the top and bottom to make another pocket. I actually think that the red part looks too stark at the moment, but i’ll wait until the day to see what i want to add to it, maybe some faux stitching? Letter stickers this time from Paper Trunk.

See larger image

Page 31.
And the Grande Finale, New Years Eve. Maybe i’ll document all that i’ve achieved in 2009, maybe i’ll write about my wishes and intentions for 2010, either way my journaling will end up on this page (and most likely accompanied by some embarrassing photos. This page does not involve any tricks or special abilities – just plain old sticking paper, especially those scraps.

See larger image

And there you have it. My December Daily Album, or at least, the start of it. I’ve already completed the first few pages (trying to discipline myself by doing a page every night), and it already has made a HUGE difference. I will probably show you the book in its entirety once it is completely finished. Woah, thats weird to think that will be in 2010.

{ 3 comments }