Hi! I’m excited to be a guest blogger on the CK blog today. My name is Allison {Kreft} Abad, and I work as the designer/art director for Hambly Screen Prints.
I can’t believe it’s almost the end of 2009—this year has flown by. I decided to make a mini book with some of my highlights so far in 2009, and I can easily add more photos in the next two months. Because let’s face it, who’s doesn’t love mini books!
When I make mini albums, to get started I like to create some pages for the book without photos. This process helps me decide how the album will flow. For this mini book, I wanted several pages cut at various lengths using different techniques. This way when you see the cover, you can see a little preview of the first few pages.
The cover of this book is made using a Cleary Heavy Overlay from Hambly. It’s a clear, acrylic-like 12″ x 12″ sheet that’s perfect to cut down to whatever size you want. It’s really cool, since you can use scissors to easily cut different shapes. Here’s a fun trick to cut a nice scallop design. First cut the 12″ x 12″ sheet to 4″ x 6″ pages for your book, and then use a template (I made a download you can use) to make a decorative edge for the cover. The Cleary Heavy Overlay has a protective layer on both sides—it’s important to leave this layer on for now! Print the template, and adhere it to the overlay.
Use scissors to cut around the template and cut out your cover.
Remove the protective layers from both sides to make the overlay completely clear. The template you adhered down will come off with the protective layers.
Since the Cleary Heavy Overlay is completely clear, I wanted to make the edges of it stand out on the cover. I used Paint Dabbers from Ranger Industries to ink the edges of the cover. I chose a gold color to keep it more subtle, but you could use a darker color and have the edges pop even more! I used this same technique for the “09” Grungeboard numbers.
For the next page, I used Hambly’s Old Lace paper (from our newest release), and I cut outside the edge of the design. This technique created a nice-looking edge that mimics the shape of the lace. This is another great technique to use with different printed papers.
I added a few more pages at different lengths. I used a Fiskars Americas border punch on our Hambly Brocade paper (the Brocade is one of my fave designs), which adds a lot of depth to the edge of the page.
I repeated some similar techniques on a few more pages, and then it was time to add photos and our new Stitches rub-ons and Elegant Labels stickers.
Here’s how the book looks so far, and I can easily add more pics/pages from November and December.
Throughout the book, I used the Elegant Label Stickers for a little journaling. I had them bleed off the side of the pages by just cutting off the edge—just another fun technique!
I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway with some of the Hambly Screen Prints products I used in this book. That way you can get started on your own mini for 2009! Leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, November 18 at midnight EST, and share your plans or ideas for creating a mini book this season. You could be one of two winners for the giveaway!
—Allison {Kreft} Abad
Art Director, Hambly Studios
P.S. Don’t miss Free Font Friday! This week, you can download the CK Regal font for free here. Don’t forget to check back each Friday for a new free font.
I have never made a mini scrapbook but I have had the idea to make one for my nephew (46 yr old) with pictures of him and his buds. He lost his dearest friend this past Monday to brain cancer and I have been saving pictures of the 2 of them. I thought it would be a nice remembrance for him.
I’ve never seen Hambly products in my LSS so winning this would be awesome! I would love to use this to make a mini-album for my son who will be moving on to college next fall – I could fill it with pics of his friends (and family too!)
Gorgeous minibook and awesome products!
I love mini books. This one is such a great idea for the year in review.
wow that is awesome just the inspiration I need to get started on my family’s Christmas “cookie night” minibook!
BEAUTIFUL book, Allison! My to-do scrappy list includes a mini-album for our family reunion this past Aug., plus another one for a weekend getaway that my husband surprised me with in Sept. for my 40th Bday. It’s a tall order for the holiday season, but hoping to at least make a dent in one of the albums!
Thanks for the chance to win these awesome Hambly products!!
I would like to do a mini of old family photos. This project would be perfect for that. Very nice work on this, thanks for the post!
I would like to do a mini of old family photos. This project would be perfect for that. Very nice work on this, thanks for the post!
Love the mini book. They are my absolute favorite to make…I’m all about quick and easy projects. I have three started for Christmas gifts and more I’d like to do if I have the time.
LOVE ME SOME HAMBLY!!!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m working on a mini book about my family to keep on my desk at work. These papers and embellishments would be amazing!
Was thinking of making mini albums of my grandchildren for each of my daughters for Christmas. Love this album! Will be perfect.
A collection of recipes is in the works for Christmas pressies. Would love to make one with Hambly!
working on a Fall Fun Party costume mini book inspired by Casthy Z
I love the mini book:-) I would use the mini book to document holiday traditions.
Oh!!! I love these screen prints–they make great covers and page dividers in mini-albums, just as you’ve shown here! Also, I’ve taken my dies to them to cut beautiful shapes to use in projects. Your project is beautiful! I am planning to make an album/journal for my niece, and these projects would work beautifully with the queen/ elegance theme I have going on in her album. Thanks for the chance to win!
Love the mini book! I like the year in review idea.
What a beautiful mini book! I would LOVE to try out those products! Thanks for the chance to win them!
I was thinking of may a December Daily book for our cousin who just got married this summer. It would be a record of their first Christmas!
I’ve never made a mini album but I’ve seen a lot of them. I think they are so cute and they look like perfect little gifts. I’m betting they are really quick to do also.
I love that you showed step by step how you did yours. I’m not very creative on my own but am a GREAT copy cat!
The products you’ve used are really nice too. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Becky Higgin’s sketch layouts were my favorite this issue. I’m so going to miss her column.
I’m planning on making a Christmas journal this year. I’ll use it like a diary to record all the traditions I do each year as I do them.
I have made several mini books. I created one for my son from the time he was a baby to adulthood. I just recently made one for Christmas this year. I have 10 pages in it that list Christmas traditions, what the tree looks like, Christmas dinner and a place for the receipts (to see how you spent!) the after math of what your house looks like and so on! It turned out cute!! I love doing mini books and the one you made is adorable, about as cute as mine!! (j/k)
Thanks for the great ideas of making a mini album that shines! The colors are rich and would be appropriate for many themes. Way to go, Hambly!
Beautiful album. I think I would make an album of all the sweet treats that are made a Christmas time.
ohh, i love the acrylic pages!
I am in the process of making a mini book for my daughter of her favorite Bible verses. I also want to make Ali Edward’s idea of the December daily album. I really need to get going on that one so that it’s ready by December 1st!
I will be making a mini-album for my sister about our Thanksgiving plans.
Love it Love it!!
and love how it turns out with those punches.
I’m making my first December Daily album this year!
I have made just one mini book for my mom on Mother’s Day. And I thought I will not make any other. But now when I got to see this post I thought it would be a great idea to make mini album. As I am married just a little bit more a year I thought I would like to make album for it.
Love the luxurious look of this book! I’m almost done with an advent calendar for myself – a huge project, as it is comprised of 25 12×12 layouts – and would like to make something on a smaller scale next. Perhaps a mini book with pictures from my brother’s wedding as a gift for their first anniversary?
I would use these great products to make a mini-album about my boyfriend and me.
We’re on a time-out (hopefully it’s just that!) and I want to document the feelings I have right now.
beautiful
This is the first time that I have even thought about making a mini book, but your ideas and explanations are a real inspiration to me. Love the products to use.
Great album! I have started pulling out a lot of supplies to make my first Christmas journal!
I’d like to make an album for my 11yo son to highlight his achievements this year
Allison + Hambly + CK! I saw the sneak peek for this mini book on the Hambly blog and am so excited to see the whole thing! I love the idea of using different punches and templates along the edge of each page. I’m already thinking about doing something similar for calendar gifts during the holidays. Thanks for sharing!
Allison + Hambly + CK! I saw the sneak peek for this mini book on the Hambly blog and am so excited to see the whole thing! I love the idea of using different punches and templates along the edge of each page. I’m already thinking about doing something similar for calendar gifts during the holidays. Thanks for sharing!
Your album is just gorgeous!
The mini album is gorgeous, Allison! I didn’t know Hambly sold a heavy overlay. I would make mini albums for my mom and MIL for Christmas to document my son’s year.
Thanks for a chance to win!
I am planning to to make mini albums with a christmas theme for family. Just need to make the time to do it. Love your album, Hambly is not very hard to find were I live. Thanks for the chance to win some Hambly
Kota
Centurion
Pretoria
I love the idea of this book, and you make it look so easy. Thanks for the inspiration, I will definitely have a go at this. Those papers look so gorgeous as well, very classy
Love Hambly so creative. Love the mini album. I like making mini’s because you feel like you accomplished so much making a mini creation.
Barbie
I would love to get my hands on some Hambly product. It’s so versatile! I’m making some mini albums with 7gypsies’ mini purse accordion albums. I just love the size! Plus I got some new Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses stuff that I’m itching to play with.
i’m an Hambly fan, love your mini and love to create one too
I love creating mini albums, for my friends and family
For christmas I use to make some mini to offer
thanks for the chance, i love Hambly
I’m not a mini album addicted, but i like to try the technique
thanks for the chance to win a kit
I only scrap 12×12 layouts but every year i create a mini with our summer photos
Great mini