Celebrate Life With Ideas For G45 Minis You'll Cherish Forever!

Hello G45ers,

Happy Tuesday and welcome to the Graphic 45 blog! We are so glad that you are joining us today. We've got some real treats in store for you! Today is all about mini albums! You'll see a stunning Place in Time mini by Gloria Stengel. Plus we've got an ultra-gorgeous mini by Suan Lui featuring A Ladies' Diary! There is so much inspiration to behold today so get ready for some fun! This is also a very big day for us here in the USA because of the big election! We want to wish all you G45ers in the USA a happy election day! We hope you got out there and let your voice be heard by casting your vote! Hooray!

Get ready for some smiles, G45ers, because this first craft is guaranteed to bring you some serious cheer! It's a fantastic mini alum by Gloria Stengel featuring our fabulous new Place in Time collection! This is a mini gratitude book that is simply stunning. It is so important to remember the little things that fill our lives with hope and positivity. A gratitude book is a fabulous way to keep the good stuff in our minds and hearts. Place in Time makes it easy because there are so many beautiful colors and designs to choose from! Gloria blended lots of different Graphic 45 collections together in this mini to create a truly unique and inspiring work of art! Follow her fun and helpful tips to create one of your very own! Take it away, Gloria!

 

I used the new Graphic 45 Place in Time cut-apart papers, combined with papers from many of the older Graphic 45 collections to make a gratitude journal. It is easy to see that papers from many of the different Graphic 45 collections work together, plus Place in Time papers are a perfect complement to all of them!

I enjoy creating mini albums "from scratch." For this one I cut covers and pages from heavy weight chipboard and covered each chipboard page with Graphic 45 paper prior to decorating. I used the Cinch binding tool to punch the holes into the pages. This creates uniform holes in each page.

One of my favorite types of mini albums is the "waterfall" style of album. What that means is that each page is approximately 1/2" longer than the preceding page, creating a waterfall effect. To create your own album cut the following from heavy weight chipboard:

1. Two covers 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"

2. One page 5 1/2" x 4 1/2"

3. One page 5 1/2" x 5"

4. One page 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

5. One page 5 1/2" x 6"

6. One page 5 1/2" x 6 1/2"

7. One page 5 1/2" x 7"

Once you have all of your pages cut to size, you can begin to decorate! Gather your papers, journaling spots, stamps, and other embellishments and have fun!

I created a fall bouquet from floral picks purchased at the craft store. I added paper leaves and flowers. The little bouquet is the perfect accent for the Place in Time November cut-apart.

I decorated each page of the album with journaling spots and tags. You could use this journal to record your own thoughts and memories, or pass it around the table at Thanksgiving and allow everyone to jot down a few words about what they are grateful for this year.

I used elements from both the 12x12 and 8x8 Place in Time paper pads.

This sheet of Bontanicabella Eden's Symphony paper contains postage stamp elements. I covered them with images from the Place in Time November cut-apart sheet. The larger postage stamp is from the 112x12 page and the small one is from the 8x8 pad.

Several of the older Graphic 45 collections have "fruit themed" papers. I sorted through my stash of papers and picked out all of the papers that either had the color palette I wanted or contained fruit images. You can still find older papers at many local and online stores. Or, you may be like me and already have a vast hoard of papers to use!

The cherries on this sheet of Times Nouveau Copacetic paper matches perfectly with the Place in Time August cut-apart sheet.

I used an envelope to create a pocket for tags.

Mini albums are wonderful canvases for adding your lumpy embellishments. Since you don't need page protectors or need to worry that the album will lie flat when closed, feel free to "lump it up"!

I created a side pocket from this cut out from the Place in Time September cut-apart sheet. Simple ad adhesive to three sides of the image panel and slip the tags into the pocket.

Clear glue works great for attaching clear and frosted journaling spots.

This is the back cover.  You can see the wire binding. To finish off the binding, I tied a few lengths of ribbon into a big bow.

Supplies:

 

Graphic 45 papers:

Place in Time: November, August, September, cardstock stickers, chipboard

Botanicabella: Botanical News, Eden's Symphony, Summer Sonata

An ABC Primer: An ABC Primer

Le Cirque: Greatest Show on Earth

Times Nouveau: Copacetic, Hot Tomato, Sitting Pretty, Bee's Knees

Old Curiosity Shoppe: Butterfly Specifics

Bird Song: Shanghai Girls

Steampunk Debutante: Victorian Transformers

Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan, Yellow Cadmium, Blush Rose; Memento Rich Cocoa

Other paper: Simple Stories Harvest Lane paper and bingo cards; Basic Grey Basics Manila

Die cuts: My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips, Fishtail Flag Stax; Sizzix Tim Holts Alterations Ornamental; Papertrey Ink Button Card

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Gratitude Journal; Stampin' Up!; Unity Harvest of Memories; JustRite Autumn Blessings

Flowers, Leaves, other Floral: Petaloo; Prima; Craft Store

Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon

Journaling spots: Jenni Bowlin Brown Memo Book; Maya Road; My Mind's Eye

Tags: Office supply store

Tools: Cinch

Bulk chipboard: Grafix

Adhesive: Scotch 3M tape; Heidi Swapp Scrappy Glue; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; Ranger Glossy Accents

Wow, wasn't that wonderful! Next we have another enchanting mini album to share with you! This one was created by Susan Lui and features our collection A Ladies' Diary! There are some splendid pop-up elements to this marvelous mini! Susan went all out by blending delicate fussy cutting, lavish embellishments, fun photos and heartfelt sentiments! Every aspect of this mini is absolutely captivating! Explore these fabulous photos and imagine what kind of mini you'd like to create with your favorite Graphic 45 paper collection! Take it away, Susan!

I created pop-up elements within the mini album.

The tag pulls out to reveal hidden journaling.

The back page opens up to reveal a mini.

Supplies:

Patterned Paper - Graphic 45 A Ladies Diary Collection - Moment in Time, Afternoon Tea, Picture Perfect, Garden Stroll, Delicate Details, Fashion Plates, La Gazette, Timeless Memoir, Lasting Impression, 8x8 Paper Pad, Alphabet Stickers, Diary Stickers
Trim - Graphic 45
Lace - May Arts Ribbons
Flowers - Prima Marketing & others from Bangkok
Twine - The Twinery
Pearls - own stash

That's all for today, G45ers! We hope you all enjoyed today's marvelous minis! Big thanks to Gloria Stengel and Susan Lui for their incredible projects today. We want to wish you all a very happy day and we hope to see you all back here tomorrow for more gorgeous craft inspiration! 

With Love and Pretty Paper,

Your Friends at Graphic 45

Comments

[Shanda Harrington]

Beautiful! Love the second album.

[Sharon Young]

Gloria and Susan, you outdid yourselves today. These minis are beautiful. Thanks for all the photos and details.

[Sue B.]

Love both projects!

[Karen]

Wow! as usual, beautiful, inspirational projects

[julie Tucker-Wolek]

Absolutely beautiful! Loving that dress form!

[Amy Kluchesky]

Love the use of vintage Graphic 45 in the first mini. I'm always trying to use up all my scraps or small pieces and that is a great way to help do that. I think the part of the 2nd Album that I love the most is the back page with the little booklet tied with ribbon. I do that in a lot of my minis for extra room. I love the rose on that one. Very beautiful.

[sue settera]

What can we say but Glorious!

[Mary]

So beautiful>>>creative>>>inspiring and I love these Mini's. So glad as always I come to visit this blog everyday.

[Cherie Gray]

Love both mini albums! Thanks for the ideas!

[Mary Jane]

Wonderful projects! I can't wait to make my own gratitude journal!

[Sara Nell Langland]

Love mini albums and these are absolutely wonderful!

[Brenda B.]

Wow, these are mind blowing! Such attention to detail, ladies! Love these minis.

[Brenda Stiltner]

Todays projects are wonderful. I will be making the first mimi and I loved the dress form on the second project. Fantastic work.

[Mary H]

Beautiful projects today! Great inspiration for all of us!

[Elaine Allen]

WOW! WOW! WOW! What wonderful pieces of art! Love them!

Elaine Allen

[Carole Rushton]

A lot of hard work has gone into these. Absolutely beautiful.

[vihreantalonunelmat]

Wow...what a amazing minis! Absolutely fabulous...just love them!

[Heidi Mireles]

Absolutely beautiful. I need to get busy with paper. Maybe this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Wanda]

They are both gorgeous. I appreciate that you make your paper lines complimentary to each other. There are no worries if you have a couple of papers left over from a project, you know you will be able to work them into another Graphic 45 project down the road.

[Rita P.]

Mini albums are my favorite. Each page is such a treat. The little details like the maple leaf in the center of the FAITH bingo card, the different but coordinated ribbons tied on the tags on a page. The dress form made 3-D on the cover and the photo inside of a dress form. As always, lovely job Gloria and Susan.

[Jeniff]

Beautiful, love the dress form.

[Cathy]

LOVE GRAPHIC 45..... Love....

[mary puskar]

so much goodness. just lovely.

Mary

[Judith Liron]

I loved the two albums, just gorgeous!

[Ruth M.]

I am in love with both of the books. So simple but yet gorgeous. Thank you.

[Kelly]

Gorgeous mini albums! Love them both!

[ava g]

lovely projects by both DT members. showcasing G45 so well. yum
ava g

[Heather DG]

Beautiful projects again today! Love the ideas in the Grateful Journal, thank you for sharing images of all the pages with us!!

[SusanK]

Oh my goodness! While both projects are superb, my favorite is the gratitude journal. Fall is my favorite time of year but I think the papers, colors, and theme really speak out loud to me. Thank you to both artists and to you, Graphic45, for bringing such great inspiration to the craft world.

[MaryLouH]

The mini album looks like spring time. With the cold outside it would be nice to have something warm and pastel to look at.

[bev orris]

we past wonderful a mile ago

[Jeyatha]

Love the minis shown today..

[Sandie Strickland]

I love to see pictures in minibooks and that album is just lovely in every way. Thanks for sharing

[Patti Swartz]

What a great idea with the dress form! I love it all!

[Jocelyn Cazier]

Great book projects...

[Judy Webb]

These two ladies do AMAZING minis. So much inspiration!!

[Jan]

Wowzer...Am anxiously awaiting my A Place in Time order. Love the mini..that will be my 1st project.

[Michelle Salasar]

Amazing projects ladies thank for sharing!

[shari (cricutrookie)]

Both of thes mini's are Wonderful!!!!

[Jennie]

Both projects are jaw-droppingly stunning!