Behold the beauty!

Well I think it took me every bit of this last week to get this baby done. Like I have said, it's been a long week. And although the other album is not quite done it is very similar to this one. I can't figure out why it would be so hard for me to make a couple albums with this paper. Sure, I bought a limited amount of sheets, but I seldom waste any. The only thing that I can figure is that one would be for my mom! Whenever I make something specifically for someone, I feel lots of pressure. When I make something for ebay or etsy, I really feel NO pressure. I just figure someone will love it...and hope they want it ALOT! :O)

This is Karen Foster paper, yep the flimsy stuff. LOL! It was just too cute to pass up. Plus it says my moms name written all over it! I lay out my papers, make my chipboard pages, I pull out ALL coordinating ribbons, some fibers, and embellishments I have.

Then I start tracing my chipboard pages on the papers. I like being able to poke around with everything laying around, sort of brainstorm! The next couple steps are very boring...LOL

After cutting out each page by hand, I sew around the outer edge of each one. While going through the stack of pages so many times, I now am getting a good idea for the colors, patterns, and sizes of photo mats. (many of these were cut with my cricut) Before I get to far from the sewing machine I stitch around them quick too. Where the seems come together, I always pull the threads through to the back of the paper and tape them securely. The "oc" in me will not allow me to overlap seams and I definitely wouldn't want them coming undone!

The bird on the front is from Maya Road. I covered it with paper, then sanded the edges and inked it with Jim Holtz Distress ink. This is pretty much the way I make every page. I glue all the pages on to their chipboard, sand and ink them all, then punch holes and bind them with book rings. If the front page will come easily to me I do it first, as to not use up any embellishments, that I might have wanted it to have. For this album I made lots of beautiful unique flowers by pairing up primas with my own hand cut cardstock flowers. Curling and inking them took forever too!

Now all the preparation and brainstorming is done. I tie ribbons and fibers on each binder rings now, I think it really sturdies up the book and helps make sure it will all open and close smoothly. Lastly...decorate them pages!! You almost can't go wrong here. Attach the photo mats, a few flowers here and there, a ribbon, little bit of balance and creative imagination and you have yourself one beautiful album!