This blog post is sponsored by JOANN.
I made a mini album using mostly my Pink Paislee Pick-Me-Up collection that I found at JOANN.com!
First, here is a flip through of the mini album so you can see how it folds and unfolds:
I started by die cutting the base of my Hexagon Mini Album cut file from smooth white cardstock using a Silhouette Cameo 3. Then I cut the middle layers of hexagons from patterned papers found in the 6x6 Paper Pad. I cut the top layer of hexagons (with a shape cut out from the middles) from more smooth White Cardstock.
Then I did some mixed media on the stop layer of hexagons. First, I applied Modeling Paste through a stencil that I made with my Textures Background cut file on each hexagon and let them dry. Once they were dry I painted them with Watercolors to match the color of patterned paper they sat on top of - so pink for the pink paper, yellow for the yellow paper, etc.
For the final layer of mixed media I splashed White Acrylic Paint on top. Then I machine stitched around each hexagon using white thread. I love the additional texture this adds. I adhered the finished hexagons in place using foam squares.
Time for photos and embellishing! I picked pictures from our day in Wrocław, Poland and tucked them into the die cut shape openings.
For the embellishments I combed through the 6x6 Paper Pad, Ephemera Die Cuts, Journaling Spots, 2x2 Paper Pad Swatch Books, and the Washi Tape Book to find tiny images to fussy cut and little bits and pieces to layer over each section to create interest and pops of color & fun.
I spent most of my time working on the inner hexagons but the album felt incomplete with the blank backs. It worked out perfectly to keep going because then I got to add more photos and journaling! I always have the hardest time narrowing down which pictures to use and at first I only had the six inside - by completing the backs of the hexagons I was able to include five more!
I kept these back sections much more simple - no mixed media, just a photo, a few layers of die cuts and fussy cut images.
For one section I copied and pasted our blog post recap journaling into a hexagon in Adobe Illustrator, printed it out, cut it out, and adhered it over Washi Tape strips. I love how the Washi Tape peeks out from under the edges and adds lots of color.
I also wrote a bit of journaling in the center section highlighting my favorite part about the day - the little gnome statues scattered throughout the Old Town!
Here are some more details and close ups of the sections of this mini album
Here is what the finished mini album looks completely open on the back side.
The cut file includes two slits in the center where a piece of ribbon or in this case a paper strip slips through and then it also includes a bow that I cut from pink paper. I used velcro dots to keep the closure in place and then added "WROCLAW" navy blue mini Foam Thickers on top of the bow for the title. I layered flower die cuts above the bow and wrote "Poland" with a blue pen on a tiny flower card fussy cut from the first paper in the 6x6 Paper Pad. On the front hexagon I did a chain link stitch around the edges and then applied more modeling paste through a stencil for a pretty texture.
And that my friends is the finished project! I hope you are inspired to check out my Pink Paislee Pick-Me-Up collection at JOANN.com and create a fun & colorful mini album!
SUPPLIES: PICK-ME-UP: 6x6 Paper Pad, Foam Thickers, Ephemera Die Cuts, Journaling Spots, 2x2 Paper Pad Swatch Books, Washi Tape Book; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo 3; Cut files: Hexagon Mini Album and Textures Background by Paige Evans; Modeling Paste: Liquitex; Watercolors; Sewing Machine: Brother; Embroidery floss: DMC; White Acrylic Paint
First, here is a flip through of the mini album so you can see how it folds and unfolds:
I started by die cutting the base of my Hexagon Mini Album cut file from smooth white cardstock using a Silhouette Cameo 3. Then I cut the middle layers of hexagons from patterned papers found in the 6x6 Paper Pad. I cut the top layer of hexagons (with a shape cut out from the middles) from more smooth White Cardstock.
Then I did some mixed media on the stop layer of hexagons. First, I applied Modeling Paste through a stencil that I made with my Textures Background cut file on each hexagon and let them dry. Once they were dry I painted them with Watercolors to match the color of patterned paper they sat on top of - so pink for the pink paper, yellow for the yellow paper, etc.
For the final layer of mixed media I splashed White Acrylic Paint on top. Then I machine stitched around each hexagon using white thread. I love the additional texture this adds. I adhered the finished hexagons in place using foam squares.
Time for photos and embellishing! I picked pictures from our day in Wrocław, Poland and tucked them into the die cut shape openings.
For the embellishments I combed through the 6x6 Paper Pad, Ephemera Die Cuts, Journaling Spots, 2x2 Paper Pad Swatch Books, and the Washi Tape Book to find tiny images to fussy cut and little bits and pieces to layer over each section to create interest and pops of color & fun.
I spent most of my time working on the inner hexagons but the album felt incomplete with the blank backs. It worked out perfectly to keep going because then I got to add more photos and journaling! I always have the hardest time narrowing down which pictures to use and at first I only had the six inside - by completing the backs of the hexagons I was able to include five more!
I kept these back sections much more simple - no mixed media, just a photo, a few layers of die cuts and fussy cut images.
For one section I copied and pasted our blog post recap journaling into a hexagon in Adobe Illustrator, printed it out, cut it out, and adhered it over Washi Tape strips. I love how the Washi Tape peeks out from under the edges and adds lots of color.
I also wrote a bit of journaling in the center section highlighting my favorite part about the day - the little gnome statues scattered throughout the Old Town!
Here are some more details and close ups of the sections of this mini album
Here is what the finished mini album looks completely open on the back side.
The cut file includes two slits in the center where a piece of ribbon or in this case a paper strip slips through and then it also includes a bow that I cut from pink paper. I used velcro dots to keep the closure in place and then added "WROCLAW" navy blue mini Foam Thickers on top of the bow for the title. I layered flower die cuts above the bow and wrote "Poland" with a blue pen on a tiny flower card fussy cut from the first paper in the 6x6 Paper Pad. On the front hexagon I did a chain link stitch around the edges and then applied more modeling paste through a stencil for a pretty texture.
And that my friends is the finished project! I hope you are inspired to check out my Pink Paislee Pick-Me-Up collection at JOANN.com and create a fun & colorful mini album!
SUPPLIES: PICK-ME-UP: 6x6 Paper Pad, Foam Thickers, Ephemera Die Cuts, Journaling Spots, 2x2 Paper Pad Swatch Books, Washi Tape Book; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo 3; Cut files: Hexagon Mini Album and Textures Background by Paige Evans; Modeling Paste: Liquitex; Watercolors; Sewing Machine: Brother; Embroidery floss: DMC; White Acrylic Paint
