CropChocolate Chocolatier Kit {Mini Album and Altered Tin}

I was lucky enough to be chosen to receive **free** Chocolatier product from CropChocolate.com. This is what I received: Making Memories Embellishment Paper: Whimsy; Making Memories Flower Shop Tin Collection: Funky; Making Memories Brad Value Pack: Whimsy and Fancy Pants Designs Ribbon: Celebrate. All they ask is that you create something using the items they sent you and then send them pictures of the finished product as well as a few in progress photos. The challenge for me was to come up with something I could make using this mostly girlie stuff. I had recently made a First Year book for my son Josh (still need to get that posted), so I decided to make one for a friend that is having a little girl...her third girl. So even if she finds that her scrap time lessens at least she can have something at the end of the year.

I took a Little Yellow Bicycle Mini Album that I had and cut it up. Took off the spiral rings and then cut off those holes. I then punched new holes with my Cropodile. To make sure that the paper I wanted to use would adhere to the covers of the album, I sanded them slightly.

I usually use Mod Podge to adhere papers to the mini albums I make...but in this case I was a afraid the paper was too thin. So I used a big fat Zig 2 way Glue Pen.

There are two sheets of die cuts included with the paper pack. One sheet of letters and one sheet of tags and such. The letters are also pretty thin so I stuck them to some Prism cardstock. I then stitched around the letters keeping with the whole Whimsy feel of the album (that and I really can't sew that well!!)

Some of the letters are on pop dots to give some dimension. The book plate at the top I left blank so Alison could fill in her daughter's name.

I decided not add ribbon to the binder clips like I usually do because I found it was interfering to much with turning the pages.

Each page is for one month of the baby's first year. The very first page is for a photo of the baby on the day she is born. The photo mats hide tags that have been stamped with 7gypsies 97% CompleteClear Stamp: Baby. There is one for the baby's birth information and the rest are monthly updates.

Months 2 and 3

Months 4 and 5

Months 6 and 7

Months 8 and 9

Months 10 and 11

Month 12 (two page spread)

Here is a picture of all the tags. I covered them in the same paper as the page they are on so they would not take away from the photo...or make the page to busy (pattern-wise).

Birth Tag

One of the Monthly Tags

Project Ingredients:

MM Embellishment Paper: Whimsy

MM Flower Shop Tin Collection: Funky

MM Brad Value Pack: Whimsy

Fancy Pants Designs Ribbon: Celebrate

Prism Solid Cardstock

MM Magnetic Stamps: Rummage

Creative Imaginations Binder Rings: Brown

Zig 2Way Glue, GLue Dots and Pop Dots

StazOn Ink: Timber Brown

Clorobox Fluid Chalk: Chestnut Roan

I really like how this album turned out. I hope that Alison will too. It was really fun to make.

I still had a whole bunch of stuff leftover after making the mini album...so I tried to come up with something I could make for myself. This green paper was the least girl like to me. And it is actually my favorite pattern of the bunch. I have tons of storage (thanks to the MM Embellishment Box)...so I didn't need to make a tin to hold anything. Instead I used it as a frame.

Cutting the paper for the interior of the tin was a little tricky and involved some trimming.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Josh. He has a little bit on tongue sticking out. I printed it out in black and white (his outfit would have clashed with the paper). The photo was matted on patterned, then solid and then patterned again. The solid was sanded with a distressing file as was the photo edges.

I then covered the outside with two strips of paper..trying to get the seams to end up in a corner.

The lid was covered with the same patterned paper and I stamped Joshua Zachary on the solid (used the file on these pieces too).

Here it is closed. You can't push it closed all the way or the paper on the sides would tear.

Here it is in display mode.

Close up of the interior...and that little tongue!!

Project Ingredients:

MM Flower Shop Tin Collection..THE TIN itself

Basic Grey Ribbon

MM Whimsy Paper

DCWV Cardstock

Basic Grey Distressing File

Pop Dots

Zig 2Way Glue

Tombow Mono Metal Liquid Glue

MM Magnetic Stamps: Rummage

Believe it or not I still have some untouched ribbon and paper! What to make next.....hmmm....

License Plate "purse"

Here is my take on another of the 31 days of March Contest challenges

6) Make a purse (these instructions use playing cards…but you can use heavy cardstock and instead of laminating it…cover with contact paper or clear packing tape: http://www.craftbits.com/project/playing-cards-purse

I used some Little Yellow Bicycle paper: Fresh Print Traveler - Plates. I cut out the plates so they would all be the same size. I then used a tanish brown colored duct tape to adhere it all. It was fun. I think next time I will first adhere the cardstock to cardboard for extra stability. I have all my paints and brushes in it.

I have it on good authority that someone has actually completed ALL the challenges. I have only seen one link on the main post. Don't forget to link your pictures HERE.

Spring, Embellies and Chocolate

I have a Deal a Day site addiction...and no Deal a Day site feeds it more than CropChocolate {chocolate alters my mind!!}. Months ago I saw this Making Memories White Embellishment Box on there. I was out of town and missed it (yes...I check the site from my phone). So when it came back a few weeks later I was super excited. I filled it up with various embellishments right away...but until now it remained a white box sitting on my scrap desk. When I got the March Memory-Works Kit...that all changed! Spring!!! Loved the kit...but was concerned that a lot of the items would go unused (there are only so many flowers and girlie colors you can get away with using when you have three boys).

It is the little pink die cut from Making Memories Flutter Glitter Die Cut that inspired me to use this kit to alter this box. It says "variety is the spice of life". After reorganizing my variety of embellies...I chose the papers I wanted to use. I decided to distress all the edges of the paper with my Heidi Swapp Edge Distesser (why am I always wearing black when I use that thing!!!). I had thought about painting the box first...but for once I didn't have to scrap in increments. I didn't think I would have the patience to wait for it to dry.
So I would not have to memorize where everything is in this box, I stamped what the contents are on pink strips of paper. And (taking any excuse I can get to use my Tim Holts Tiny Attacher...want to win your very own??) I attached some pieces of pink gingham ribbon to each.

Each section is numbered to correspond with the content lists on the lid. Several of the compartments are still empty (this thing holds a huge amount of stuff)...but I made sure there was room to add to the list.

I am really enjoying this bright, sunny little box on top of my scrap desk!!

Project Ingredients:
White Embellishment Box (Making Memories)
Kiwi Dot (Bo Bunny)
Mellow Yellow Dot (Bo Bunny)
Blush Dot (Bo Bunny)
Flutter Flower Clear Foil Paper (Making Memories)
Ducks in a Row Alpha Stickers (October Afternoon)
Sassy Pearls & Crystals (Prima)
Flutter Glitter Die Cut (Making Memories)
Flutter Die Cut Spiral Notebook Sheets (Making Memories)
Pink Checked Ribbon (May Arts)
Splish Splash Paper (October Afternoon)
Glue Dots
Mod Podge
Edge Distresser (Heidi Swapp)
Tiny Attacher (Tim Holtz)
Rummage Magnetic Alphabet Stamps (Making Memories)
Cat Eyes Ink Dark Peony (ColorBox)

thanks for looking!