A special book for a special family .................

There are lots of aspects to being a crafter that are fun.

Then there are the times when it doesn't go right and we wonder why we ever started.

And then, there are those special times,  when you get asked to create something very special for some very special people.

This week was one of those times.

I was given the brief of a book to hold family photos to give to a little boy.  His Nanna loved it when she saw it and I hope that he did too.

I am immensely proud to have been asked to do this and loved choosing the papers, stamps and inks to create this.

So for a little boy, well cars and bikes, trains I was told, and then animals.  So ok, here goes.

 The side 

The first page featuring Rev it Up

 The second page featuring Boys will be Boys

Ah, the ever so cute Zoo Babies on page 3

 Traveller Train on page 4

Lastly Rev it up Bike on page 5

The pages are the repeated throughout the book.

As you can see there are tabs at the right hand side

These tabs pull out to reveal a matching extra photo mat inside each page

I will be honest I have used some retired stock in this project, but I am sure you could re-create it using current stamps and papers.

The papers I used were from the Winter Catalogue and can be found here on the clearance rack.  Its called Sweater Weather, and I thought the colours were just perfect for a boy.

I used four stamp sets including Rev it Up, (which is retired), Zoo Babies, Traveller and lastly Boys will be Boys.

The colours used were Pool Party, So Saffron and Chocolate Chip.  I love the combination and look these have given. They blend with the papers perfectly.

I finished the book off by making lots of journaling tags, using the angled tag topper punch and cutting lengths of Island Indigo ribbon to attach to them

The cover has been decorated with Island Indigo ribbon and it has a matching tie closure.

Finally I have cut out the little boy's name in chocolate chip card stock and have placed this in an envelope for his new Mum to put on the book.  Along with a punch art frog.

Hope you're having a great weekend wherever you are.  I will tell you what Ive been up to on Tuesday.

Also have you checked out all the information for the New Exclusive Blendabilities Club.  Its a great way to get all the new pens, spreading the cost, and getting freebies along the way.  Whats not to love.  You can find all the Blendabilities Club details here.

For Maddie ................

Hi everyone, do you remember a few posts ago I showed you the start of a memory book I was making for a special little girl called Maddie?  

I'm sure you do, if not you can find the link to the post here ............  Maddie's Book

Anyway, I finished the book not long after that, but didn't show you the whole thing as I wanted to surprise Maddie's parents with the book, and I know that Kayleigh sometimes looked at my blog.

To finish the book, I used lots more stamp sets - all from Stampin Up! and a little bit of ribbon from my stash. 

The inside front cover was made using our fantastic MDS programme.  What's that you ask?  It's our brand new digital design programme.  This programme is so versatile, you can make just about anything with it.  Anyway I made this page and inserted it into the front of the book, turning this project into a Hybrid project.

So I wanted to share the finished book with you guys.  Here it is.

The Front

The back

Inside the front - made on MDS

The first page etc

   

Photo tags, on which to write you memories

The back cover

All the pages were either stamped in Strawberry Slush, Primrose Petals or Blushing Bride.  You can see all the different stamp sets used in the pictures above.  (If you would like to know what any are leave me a comment and I will answer you, or contact me on my email:  craftybirdlisa@gmail_

I hope you have enjoyed looking at this gorgeous book, as much as I did making it.

I also wish Maddie and her Mum and Dad, and whole family lots of love.

Have a brilliant crafty day.

Hugs

Lisa xx

PS  Don't forget the 15% discount on the Papillon Potpourri and Bitty Butterfly punch ends Monday.  So if you haven't already got yours, add it to your basket on at my online store.

HI Girls, Anything Goes at Anything Goes this fortnight.....

I've had a great day today, the kids and I went to a forest afternoon, organised locally.  We made dream catchers, made rabbits and cats from clay, built dens, made name tags and generally had a great time.  Having only recently moved to a new village it was great to meet other Mums from the same village and be able to chat and mingle whilst the kids did their thing.  So, thats new friends, tired kids and a stress free environment.  Absolutely fantastic.


Wow, what a lot of you entered into the spirit of Easter last fortnight at Anything Goes.  The rest of the fab dt team and I have been having a great fortnight looking at all your brilliant work.

This fornights challenge is anything goes.

Our challenge for this fortnight is a nice easy one
"ANYTHING GOES AT ANYTHING GOES"  let your creativity run wild!!
This challenge will run from today Tuesday 3rd April 2012 to Monday 16th April 2012.  

Here's my memory book for this challenge. 

I made this for a friend of my sister in law to give to her Sister.  She loves gardening and birds.  The Book is made from Craftcard, envelopes and cards.  The edges have all been inked with TH walnut distress ink.  The gorgeous edging is a Woodware punch.  The papers are Kanban Oxford.  I have used  Papermania Urban Stamps and PaperArtsy Stamps together with a few others I have in my stash.  

The book was bound and finished off with a TH birdhouse, tied with ribbons from stash and a few embelishments from an old necklace.

Hugs  

Cutie Pie Challenge No 11 - Come on over and have a go

Good morning Cutie Pies and my lovely followers, its

 Craftybird Lisa here with the brand new challenge over at The Cutie Pies. 

  This time it's something a little different and we hope that you will join in the fun with the Cutie Pie DT!  My first time of leading a challenge and I'm looking forward to picking the winner too!  This challenge is ideal for those of you who like altering things, scrapbooking, making boxes, bags, knitting, beading and more!  We have two fantastic sponsors, my Winning choice will win a prize from 'STAMP & CREATE' 

STAMP & CREATE LINK HERE

In addition we have another generous Digital Sponsorship from the wonderful Prairie Fairy!  A firm favourite with the DT, you will see some of the images used in their Work.

So don't be shy, lets see them here, as long as it's not a card you can enter this one!  The DT have had fun with this one, I hope you like their ideas and makes as much as I do!

So come on over to The Cutie Pies challenge site and join in the fun.

For this challenge I made a memory book out of paper bags.  I used Tim Holtz papers and black card from my stash.  The ribbons were from Stampin-up.  The tags and the fantastic car on the front were cut using my cricut.  All pages were edged with TH distress inks.  

from the top

one section open

close up of pockets and tags

the front

the side

I hope you like it and it has inspired you to make something a little different.  I loved doing this one and my baby brother (32) thinks it's great and is going to start filling it with photos and momentos to record his move into his new house.

I am entering this into the following challenges;

Paper Sundaes:  Clean and Simple

The Hybrid Chick - Ribbon

Allsorts Challenge - Free and Easy

Catch the Bug Blogspot - Anything goes

Little Claire Designs:  Anything but a card

Creations by Gillm:  Challenge 2 colour inspiration

The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes

Wags'n'whiskers:  Home Decoration

Hugs to you all