Shimelle: 1 Luck Girl… and 17 Reasons
- posted by: guest
- posted in: Guest
- on: March 17, 2007
So it turns out, St. Patrick’s Day is not exactly a big deal in England. Seeing as good old Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and England has her own patron saint. Also, if you’ve never watched a sporting event between Ireland and England, you may not have a full understanding of why the Thames will not magically turn green today. Well, not on purpose anyway.
But green is the new pink, you know. And I will be the first to tell you that I am a very lucky girl and I thank my lucky stars for it every day. So please excuse the fact that I don’t have the tiniest branch of Irish in my family tree and let me share this project with you — without a shamrock in sight.
This little book is called One Lucky Girl…and seventeen reasons, and I made it from a 6×6 Bazzill cardstock book plus a handful of goodies that the Fiskateers are bound to have bursting from their pockets.
You will need:
*1 6×6 book. This one has 16 pages, which is a pretty good fit.
*17 (or more) wallet sized prints or 17 photos you can crop.
*1 background stamp. I used one from Banana Frog
*1 circle punch. Mine is the one inch size, but that’s pretty flexible.
*1 set of number stamps.
*Stamping ink. I used red and black dye inks.
*1 fine point black pen.
*Decorative edged scissors. I used three different designs in scallop and pinking from Fiskars.
*1 sheet each of three colours of cardstock to coordinate. I used green, pink and red.
*1 or more sheets of patterned paper to match. I used a pink, red and black stripe and the pink and red glittery hearts by Heidi Grace.
*A handful of embellishments to scatter throughout. I used Heidi Grace chipboard and plastic embellishments, plus a few felt flowers from American Crafts.
*Some letter stickers for the cover. I used white ones from Doodlebug and black ones from KI Memories.
Go through your stash and fill a basket with that sort of stuff, more or less, then grab your adhesive and your trimmer and find a comfy place to work. And a drink. As I’m sure it’s unlucky to be dehydrated, right?
Now, I find if you make the cover lovely first, you’ll be more inspired to continue to work on the inside. Well, at least some of the time. Also, if you do the cover first, it’s a lot less scary than making the inside first then worrying that you could mess it all up on
the cover. So yes, let’s do that cover first. This book has a little window, so cut a spare piece of cardstock (any colour) that can go inside the front cover to add a bit more
stability. Make sure it will fit but don’t stick it down just yet. Create your window scene on this piece of cardstock. You can pencil in the window or just play by tacking things into place then sliding it into the cover to see if you like it. I used one wallet sized photo on the right and the glittery heart paper on the right, then I stuck the sheet inside the cover so it wouldn’t budge.
Then add your title over the top. I started with ‘lucky’ and ran that across the middle of the window, then the rest could fall in place from there. The number 1 is a chipboard tile from Heidi Grace — the 1 is in pale flocking, so I added an outline with a fine tipped pen.
I finished off the letter stickers for ‘Girl’ then added a few little extras…a chipboard heart, a felt flower, some lines and dots. Then I had just the place to put a bit of writing to finish off my title.
I think there are a few secrets to finishing a minibook in one sitting. One is to not reinvent the wheel on every page. We’ll get to that in a minute. Two is to assembly line. That part starts here.
My first plan of action inside was to vary the sizes for the pages. I alternated using the edgers or covering the page with cardstock. The key is to do this to all of your pages before you move on to something else. Trust me, this will be so much easier to do now than after you’ve added photos and embellishments to a few pages.
My second assembly line step was the background stamp. I stamped in red on the white pages and black on the coloured pages. Load up your stamp and do all of one colour, then clean and do all of the other colour and you’ll save soooo much time. Don’t fret about the positioning for each page. Do some here, some there, and your design
will work around that as you go.
Next, punch 17 circles. Stamp, write, rub-on or stick the numbers 1 to 17 to them so you have 17 numbered circles. Which is entirely pointless as your list will go ‘in no particular order’…or rather, it will go in the order that you like your photos! But still, no one would realise that you put 17 things in your list unless you number them and make it obvious. And your circle punch has been crying from loneliness lately, so really, I could come up with 17 reasons for this step. Just go with it.
Now you’re ready to start assembling pages. Put all your wallet prints in front of you so you can see what you have as you work. Go to the first page, pick a picture that will work and stick it down so it partially overlaps your background stamp. Find a place to put your
circle with the number 1…just move it around the edge of the photo until it hits a groove you like. Then quickly stick it down before you forget the groove and have to do that little dance all over again.
Pick up your pen. No pencils, no freaking out, just pen in hand. Start with ‘I am lucky because…’ and finish the statement with something that matches the photo. Put pen down, exhale, take a drink and move on to page 2.
Repeat the photo-circle-writing process. Here and there, add a little extra embellishment. On page 2, I added an off-cut of cardstock to bring in some colour. Here and there I added some chipboard or felt embellishments. But remember, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Your pages can look different without sending you to a magazine to
mark 17 different layouts to scraplift (wait — that would be brilliant fun!!! okay. maybe another day. just not right *now*) because the little differences will make them all unique, yet the stamping, the circles and the colour scheme will tie them all together.
As you add your photos, continue your journaling with ‘lucky because…’ and finish the answers as you would if you talked to yourself. (Please do not send me emails warning me of the dangers of voices in my head. I have decided that if the voices can stick to
scrapbook pages, that can keep them busy and we will all be safe. Or possibly…decorated.) So sometimes you can sound funny and sometimes you can be serious…but don’t feel like you have to force yourself to be either. (See bad joke above for reference.)
My book just keeps repeating like this. When I have an all-white double page, I throw in a bit more colour with scrap-sized pieces of cardstock and patterned paper. I hate to throw little pieces away but I also hate to store it, organise it, and try to find it. So my happy
medium is to always try to find a way to use the entire sheet at once. So once you’ve cut the big pieces to cover a few pages, use the rest as you go and you’ll have less to clean, organise and store at the end. Always a good thing.
When you have a coloured or patterned page, you may find you don’t need as much embellishment. Also, that stripy paper is lovely for writing on if you are now too tired to write straight…or if someone convinced you to partake in the green beer because ‘they only do this once a year!’ (There is a *reason* they don’t do it more often: agree
or disagree?)
Once you’ve stuck all your photos in as you like them, added your seventeen reasons and scattered a bit of embellishment here and there, sign and date the back of your book. Then flip back to the front and ooh and ahh at how cool it looks with all those edges stacked up.
Then of course…you need to photograph that adorable book and comment here to tell us about it! You never know just how *lucky* you may be from all that! Hint, hint!
Have a very lucky and crafty day!
Love and glitter,
Shimelle.~*
kristine says:
March 17th, 2007 at 1:03 pmShimelle ~ you crack me up. Thanks for sharing another one of your brilliant creations. I can’t wait to try it! I’m loving those decorative edged papers. Gotta go dust off my scissors and put them to good use. Fiskars is ‘lucky’ to have you as their guest blogger! Thanks! *Ü*
stephenie says:
March 17th, 2007 at 1:05 pmShimelle - This project ROCKS so much! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Joan says:
March 17th, 2007 at 1:15 pmI love the little book that you made. It is really cute.
Cecilia says:
March 17th, 2007 at 1:33 pmThis is sooo cute. Everybody can claim to be Irish on ST. Patrick’s Day!!!
Mary Mc says:
March 17th, 2007 at 1:38 pmI love this book it is so adorable… you did an awesome job…and explained it to the T…Thanks so much for sharing this project with all of us!
Sandy "aspromised" says:
March 17th, 2007 at 2:01 pmI love this! Such a wonderful book and you could finish it in an evening - thanks for the inspiration
Linda A. (elendae) says:
March 17th, 2007 at 2:41 pmWhat a terrific project! Thank you for sharing it on the blog!
betsy says:
March 17th, 2007 at 2:55 pmShimelle–this book is adorable!! I also loved your project on Fiskars TV. Very inspiring. I enjoy smaller projects that can be gifts (if I can part with them!)
Sarah Tirrell says:
March 17th, 2007 at 3:13 pmas usual, you rock my funny, little voice listening to, simply absolutely just right on, smashingly fantastic friend! off to pop out a new lil book, happy lucky day!
jen says:
March 17th, 2007 at 3:38 pmAboslutely Wonderful. I love the look and the feel of this book… also it always feels good to count the reasons that you are lucky. Wowness….
Kelly Jo says:
March 17th, 2007 at 3:40 pmShimelle- What a great project! Thank you so much for sharing it with us in an easy to understand way. (With a bit of humor, too. Bonus!) This will be a perfect little book to remind me how lucky I am!
Thanks, again! And Happy St. Patrick’s Day!—Now go have some corned beef and cabbage, and wash it down with some green beer.
Stephanie C says:
March 17th, 2007 at 4:05 pmWhat a great project! Thanks for sharing, and loved your episode of Fiskars TV
Kathleen Riley says:
March 17th, 2007 at 4:09 pmThanks for the great project. You make me feel like I could get something like this done in one setting. I like the decorative edge scissors. I just recently started using mine again. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!
Julie Ratcliffe says:
March 17th, 2007 at 5:28 pmAs always Shimelle, inspiring and brilliant. Thanks for sharing this.
Anna-Marie Still says:
March 17th, 2007 at 6:11 pmLooks like a super fun project! Will definately come back to delve into all the yummy details!! So exciting to see you partnering with Fiskars!
Rae says:
March 17th, 2007 at 7:07 pmShimelle….
Thank you for the great blog & project. One of my good friends Sister Margaret Oates keeps me abreast of the Americanized versions of Irish history. She’s great at correcting me and teaching me a bit o’Gaelic. I’m jealous that, although you’re on the “other” side of the Thames (just joking) you’re closer in geography to my family’s roots than I am. So as I enjoy my celtic music today, I’ll know I’ve “met” a new friend a little closer to my Gramma O’Flynn, McKinsey, Cousins and Grampa Harper’s ancestoral homes. Thank you again, for the great blog and the melancholy moment. You are truly a Lucky Girl and we are Lucky to have spent time with you.
Maya says:
March 17th, 2007 at 8:51 pmAbsolutely love this project and the one from fiskars TV. Thank you for sharing!
Debbie Buckland says:
March 17th, 2007 at 10:45 pmThanks Shimelle….. I’m from NZ and I just loved your episode on Fiskars TV.
This project also is great. You definately are a Queen of mini book albums!
Thanks for sharing.
Amy says:
March 17th, 2007 at 11:22 pmeeek… this is so fun and cute! what a cool idea. i’ve been having a little creative block lately, so i think an assembly line type project will be the perfect thing to get me started again. i’ll have to see what fun blank mini albums i have waiting around here. thanks so much for the inspriation both here and on the fiskars tv show. :]
Jenna says:
March 18th, 2007 at 12:56 amThis was such great timing! I had just straightened my scrap area up and it was feeling too bare!
www.jenjoemcgrath.blogspot.com
erin yamabe says:
March 18th, 2007 at 12:57 amwow! what an incredible project, thank you for creating and sharing with us all!
love your style, so fresh!
Trisha says:
March 18th, 2007 at 1:08 amCreative and Awesome! I just love this!
Maria says:
March 18th, 2007 at 1:09 amThank you so much for giving us all this detail - the book is great, very creative. Thank you, thank you!!
Merlene says:
March 18th, 2007 at 1:29 amLove it! I knew those scissors would come in handy again. Thanks for a great descriptive project.
Jen B says:
March 18th, 2007 at 1:58 amI love your book! It is such a great idea. I was thinking I might use the same theme with my kids and make a book of their favorite things (they are age 2 and 5). I’m going to clear off my digital camera and spend a day soon taking pictures of their favorite things. Thanks for the inspiration.
Cheryl says:
March 18th, 2007 at 3:07 amShimelle . . . I love your project . . . the book . . . the idea. Love how you used decorative scissors . . . I’m teaching a mini album class soon using decorative scissors. Love them. Thanks for sharing! Awesome stuff and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Cathy K. says:
March 18th, 2007 at 3:24 amGreat project, thanks for sharing!
Nicola (#1033) says:
March 18th, 2007 at 3:42 amShimelle I dont know which to try first - this one, or the one on Fiskars TV. Thanks for the double dose of inspiration - and Rock On St George!!!!
Julie says:
March 18th, 2007 at 10:15 amThis is super fantastic! I am totally motivated to do a mini album now! I’ve been needing to do a few for a while! Yours is beautiful!
Michelle M says:
March 18th, 2007 at 11:27 amShimelle,
Thanks for sharing such a cute project. I can’t wait to get started on my own “Lucky Girl” album. Just have to clean my space a bit first.
mm
Vanessa says:
March 18th, 2007 at 11:57 amAwesome book! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Linda Flickinger says:
March 18th, 2007 at 12:19 pmShimelle, Your projects are always the best! Thanks!!
Whitney says:
March 18th, 2007 at 12:44 pmI love this! Going to be getting to work, soon. Thanks!
Robyn W says:
March 18th, 2007 at 3:36 pmgreat entry Shimelle, love what you do with little books and loved youiskars tv too, might have to get them scissors out…….lol
milkcan says:
March 18th, 2007 at 8:09 pmWhat a cool project! Thanks for sharing!
Lorig says:
March 18th, 2007 at 11:20 pmwow. What a great idea for a mini book. I’m sure I have one around begging to be decorated up. If not maybe I’ll just make the book and all. Off to make my list of why I’m a lucky girl.
Jenna says:
March 18th, 2007 at 11:29 pmLove love love this project! Good job. Very inspiring. If it weren’t so close to midnight, I’d have to do it NOW!
jenifer cowles says:
March 19th, 2007 at 11:07 amThank you, Shimelle. I am a huge fan. You come up with the best projects. I would love to take you Christmas one but have yet to do it. You were wonderful on Fiskars TV and this project is Great…Keep up the great work.
Whitney says:
March 19th, 2007 at 11:14 amMine is going up right now at
http://whitneyleann07.blogspot.com/
I loved this. Thank you!
Janine Rutherford says:
March 19th, 2007 at 7:34 pmI love this project - thanks so much for sharing. We all need good ideas for mini-albums, so thanks from New Zealand!
melita says:
March 19th, 2007 at 7:44 pmThis is wonderful! (and you are so making me crack up with your comments! Love them!) I just did a similar project in an one hour, 30 minute class with Stacy Julian! So I know I can do it! Just got to go gather the materials and photos now! Whitney–just checked out your completed album! Great job!
tammy says:
March 19th, 2007 at 10:21 pmI love your little book. It is awesome.
Kate says:
March 20th, 2007 at 2:15 pmThis is a great project. I love that the pages aren’t totally covered in embelishments. See my version on my blog.
sarah tirrell says:
March 21st, 2007 at 9:46 pmheres some of mine! thanks a bunch!
http://www.scrapbookeronline.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12069
http://www.scrapbookeronline.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12068&size=medium&cat=515
http://www.scrapbookeronline.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12066&size=medium&cat=515
Kate {craftykitten} says:
March 24th, 2007 at 6:45 pmThank you Shimelle for a great class and inspiration - thinking of my ‘reasons’ made me so grateful. Photos on my blog
www.funkytales.blogspot.com
PJ says:
March 25th, 2007 at 6:38 amGreat project Shimelle, as usual! It took me a while, but here it is… http://lifeandscrapping.typepad.com/lifeandscrapping/2007/03/finally.html
As it turns out, I’m a lucky girl indeed!
Nina says:
March 26th, 2007 at 6:18 amReally loved making my Lucky Girl book. Thank you so much - you are a paper genius!
Here is my book - http://adventuresinbugland.blogspot.com/
Keitha says:
March 27th, 2007 at 8:56 amThis was as much fun to make as I knew it would be when I first saw it! I am so lucky; who knew? Have a look: http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=147627. Hats off, once again, to Shimelle.
Emily Hoadley says:
March 27th, 2007 at 9:40 amLoved this book, it was the perfect inspiration to get me in a crafty mood.
http://web.mac.com/stephen.hoadley/iWeb/Being%20More/Lucky%20Girl%20book.html
emily hoadley says:
March 28th, 2007 at 4:01 pmI’ve been needing a good dose of inspiration. This book was just the thing! Loved taking a look back at all the things I’m lucky for, reminds me to try not to complain too much.
Emily
http://web.mac.com/stephen.hoadley/iWeb/Being%20More/Lucky%20Girl%20book.html
Kelly Jo says:
March 30th, 2007 at 1:10 amShimelle, I just finished the mini-book (my 1st ever) and I really like it AND I had Fun doing it! Thank you so much for this project.
http://www2.fiskateers.com/portal/index.html?ctrl:id=window.default.MediaGalleryWindowA&ctrl:type=render&ctrl:windowstate=maximized&op=vpic&user=936&ccomm=1&cPicId=3826
http://www2.fiskateers.com/portal/index.html?ctrl:id=window.default.MediaGalleryWindowA&ctrl:type=render&ctrl:windowstate=maximized&op=vpic&user=936&ccomm=1&cPicId=3825
Anso says:
March 30th, 2007 at 7:04 amThanks for a great class Shimelle
Here’s my finished book:
http://glitteradventure.blogspot.com/
Jen says:
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:16 amAnother fab class … loved it! Finished this up this weekend:
http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1124668
Kimberly Brock says:
April 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pmAwesome Album- fun & unigue!!!
Markos says:
July 9th, 2007 at 8:06 amCool.
Doxiadis says:
July 10th, 2007 at 12:17 pmNice