Weekend Creative : Mixed-Up Mini

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Mixedup1


Do you have bits and pieces left over from other projects that you don't know what to do with?


My guess is that you probably do.


This weekend the goal is to use stuff you may already have on hand: bits and pieces of minibook pages and other good stuff. It's a great opportunity to use up some of those supplies that have been waiting for a creative home.


Here's a look at all the stuff before putting it all inside the album:


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When I am telling stories with minibooks I don't always use all the pages that come in the package. I use as many as I need to tell my story: sometimes there are too many pages + sometimes not enough. I began to notice a collection of mis-matched minibook pages and larger chipboard pieces piling up (and you know how I feel about my piles) and started thinking of ways I could use them.


Sometimes I use the leftover pieces on layouts such as this (featured in Life Artist):


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[ chipboard tabbed pieces from Fancy Pants, white pen from Sharpie ]


But most of the time they just sit in a pile or in a basket. And that's not very creative.


Today we are celebrating mixed-up stuff and layers of pages.


The concept is simple: grab a bunch of pieces from minibooks or other scraps from your collection of stuff and bring them all together in one album. It's a super simple process of punching holes (and/or trimming off current holes + punching new ones to fit the current album) and trimming certain pages to fit within the covers.


My front and back covers are thick acrylic file folders from D Reeves Design House.


Take a peek inside:


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I am thinking my album may be a book about purpose.


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Remember that frame from Tuesday's Three Things post?


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[ sheet of Grungeboard from Tim Holtz ]


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[ circle page designed by my friend Loni + printed on a Silhouette ]


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[ white grid page from Scenic Route minibook ]


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[ Scenic Route chipboard people ]


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File folders that were stitched together. I trimmed one page all the way down to less than an inch to create a space for the holes to be punched.


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Don't forget about pieces from transparent albums [ Clear Scraps scallop album page ].


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[ Fancy Pants large chipboard tab page ]


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[ black tabbed piece from Scenic Route ]


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[ the back of a 7gypsies chipboard album ]


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[ Cosmo Cricket black scallop album ]


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And you can always cut pieces of transparency or thick patterned paper to fit as well [ patterned transparency from Hambly ].


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I will probably paint the chipboard pieces once I figure out a specific concept for this album. Maybe I will paint them all white? Most likely it will be something neutral...or maybe not. Maybe it is time to get a bit riskier and move away from white, cream, and brown?


What story will you tell in this mini? What is one you have been waiting for?


I am thinking this concept would make a cool foundation for a travel album/journal for documenting a trip, or it could definitely work as a start for a December Daily if you are thinking about doing one of those for the holidays this year. 


Have fun and use up some of those things you already have on hand. The perfect time is now.

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93 thoughts

  1. Jill R says…
    05/02/2008

    This is a fantastic idea! I cannot wait to get started! Thanks for all of the wonderful projects and inspirations!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Traci says…
    05/02/2008

    Very cool idea--thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Brenda says…
    05/02/2008

    What a great idea! I can't wait to dig through my stash of leftovers and see what I can come up with.
    Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Nanie says…
    05/02/2008

    Awww this is totally great ! I love this idea, can't wait to realize a mini album too !
    TFS !!
    Nanie

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. heather says…
    05/02/2008

    That is such a fabulous idea!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Corinna Lyons-Revello says…
    05/02/2008

    Ali, this is fantastic. You are so inspiring to me with the way that you put together mini books and stick all kinds of other things in your albums. Very motivating to me! Thanks.
    Corinna
    www.myscrapbooklife.com

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Raquel Daroda says…
    05/02/2008

    I like it so much!! Your mini is beautiful, I will try to do one too :)
    Thanks for sharing and thanks for the inspiration!! This is a great idea!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Nicky Anderson says…
    05/02/2008

    What a great idea - will have to dig through my stuff this weekend and see what I can come up!!
    thanks
    Nicky

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Krys72599 says…
    05/02/2008

    Loved this mini album!!! I'm SO going to start an album with different sized pages... And this mini book is a great, quick way to start!
    Can I ask - what size (and manufacturer) is the album you used for Chris' political career? Is that a 12x12 or an 8-1/2x11? I'm looking for a good 12x12 size 'cause that's more the size I usually scrap, but perhaps I should step away from that box...

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Sarah Kristiansen says…
    05/02/2008

    This is so wonderful, Ali! And I have so many pieces of things lying around, I am sure to make a good one....thanks for the inspiration, as always! -S

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. alexandra says…
    05/02/2008

    fabulous idea - love it, Ali!
    thanks so much.
    A.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Stephanie Ainsburg says…
    05/02/2008

    if this isn't the coolest idea EVER, then I don't know what is. I'm off to my scrap folder! right NOW!
    thanks for all your fabulous ideas.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Lisa says…
    05/02/2008

    You're up and at 'em early this morning, Ali! I love this idea-- especially since I am cleaning out my scrap room this week and turning into a nursery. Time to get rid of those scraps, or use them up!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Mabel says…
    05/02/2008

    Perfect for mix the old goodies, recycling in the scrapbooking. Thanks for the idea!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Kim says…
    05/02/2008

    I love the simplisity of the layout of Simon at Dad's desk. I scrap lifted you layout of a picture of my nephew and daughter.
    http://karankin.typepad.com/photos/scrapbooking/affection.html
    Enjoy

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Molly says…
    05/02/2008

    very cool. have a great weekend. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. cindy b says…
    05/02/2008

    YUMMY!! peace and blessings, Cindy B....have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Jen says…
    05/02/2008

    That is the funnest book I have ever seen. Very cute. Now to go through my leftovers. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Tara Hilde says…
    05/02/2008

    Very clever!! TFS-Tara

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Roni says…
    05/02/2008

    Love it!!! And you are right...the perfect time is NOW!! TGIF and have a great weekend!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. d. reeves says…
    05/02/2008

    love it!
    I love seeing how you use my products Ali. Thanks for posting this on your blog!
    Have a great weekend.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Amy says…
    05/02/2008

    Thankyou Ali! I'm going to a scrapbooking/fundraiser tomorrow and I had no idea what I wanted to create and now, thanks to you I know what I'm going to do! Love the idea of making it a travel journal! :o) Happy day!
    Amy

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. mary walmer says…
    05/02/2008

    what a fabulous idea! I recently organized my work(play) space and ended up with a large box of back ground papers that I have created using various techniques-I am thinking that they might be awfully cool bound into a mini book....thanks for the burst of inspiration!
    mary

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Joscelyne (Joscie) Cutchens says…
    05/02/2008

    what an incredible idea, yet again. making fabulousness out of leftovers! :) Thanks so much!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. scrapwordsgirl says…
    05/02/2008

    Wow! This is an amazing idea. Why didn't I think of that??!!

    Reply 0 Replies

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