December Design Challenge

The design challenge kit at Scrapbook Generation this past month consisted of the Christmas Magic Packet by Fancy Pants Designs, chipboard flourishes, and some other goodies.  For my project I used mostly the "solid" sides of this collection.  This collection has some great papers including a lot of distressed-looking designs (my fav). 

Several months ago Tammy Tutterow taught a class at Scrapbook Generation  on the "Make From Scratch: Accordion Album."*  I loved this class!  It was fun, but also a project you could--and would want to make again.  So that is how this project was born--I got to thinking about how I loved that little book!  Photos are below.

The book cover features a Sizzix frame (this may be discontinued--if you like it, you might find it on eBay) painted white and covered with coarse clear glitter.  The Poinsettia-like flower was cut from Sizzix Original Die "Flower Layers #2".  I put a coat of Tattered Angels "Be Positive" Glimmer Glam on the flower after it was assembled.   The holly leaves were cut free hand and given a coat of Glimmer Glam "Dirty Martini."  I love the Glimmer Glam!

On the first page I made a simple corner pocket to hold photos and decorated it with a snowflake, and a flower.  I included the poem "Sometime During Christmas" through out the book.  For the 2nd page I added an identical corner pocket and used the image the girl and her dog to decorate the pocket.  I framed it with red Christmas trim.  Holly berries were dotted with Stickles.

I loved this reproduction postcard of kids sledding, but it was too new and shiny looking.  I wadded it up, tore it, and sanded off some of the design, to make it look old.  I inked it a little with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy. The last page on the front features a large snowflake painted white and covered with a coarse clear glitter. The gorgeous snowflake is cut from a Sizzix Original die.  I added a rosette made from some of the coordinating papers.

Backside view of album.  There are six panels to decorate, add photos, poems, or any other items you may want to add. 

For the 1st page on this side, I made an envelope to hold small memorabila, pictures, etc.  I left the flap on the envelope a little longer so I could do a fancy cut on the edge.  On this one, I use the Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Die Snow Flurries.  Since the envelope was light blue, I dry brushed a little white paint on the "snowflake" section of the flap.  Then covered it with coarse clear glitter.  Note:  I use Ranger's Glossy Accents as my base for applying glitter.  The next page features a pocket for photos, etc.  Image of girl is from Dover Publications and I used Stickles on the holly berries to make them stand out. 

Tammy's book was designed to hold several photos, and even though I changed this book around I still kept plenty of space for photos.  The snowflakes and poinsettia-like flower are Sizzix dies.  The silver trim is from some trims I purchased during the holiday season.  The particular trim had wire in it, but the wire pulls out, making the trim very easy to work with. 

The page on the left has a side pocket for holding things. I used a border punch to cut a snowflake design (with red paper underneath) to keep it from looking so plain.  Then I included my favorite snowflake and a rosette as accents.  The last page features a girl getting pelted with snowballs.  Clear glitter was used to make the snow on her clothes and the snowball to look real.  The white flourishes is a rubon. 

Close up of Rosette.

Close up of Poinsettia-looking flower

Close-up of envelope using Tim Holtz edge die. 

Tammy's album info: 

*The Made from Scratch: Accordion Album is now offered exclusively online through Big Picture Classes.   If you are interested in making one, click this link to view the class details.

All images are from Dover Publications.