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. Lori says…
    05/06/2008

    Is there somewhere we can purchase that circle page template from Loni for the Silhouette????? I am DYING to have it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Alexa says…
    05/06/2008

    Can't wait to see what you do with this! Love it! Just uploading mine to the flickr group, thanks for the inspiration. This was definately a good process for me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. KimberlyM says…
    05/07/2008

    Wow, this is the coolest thing! I love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Nora says…
    05/17/2008

    Very cool mini-album:)
    Do you think it's possible to upload that circle-page-file so we can dl it and use it on our own Silhouette? It was very cool and I would love to be able to cut one out to use on my layouts:)
    Also: I just read all the words+photos-post and I just wanna say thank you for all the great tips and inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Nora says…
    05/17/2008

    Hm..that comment that says it's from KimberlyM is what I wrote - and my comment turned out blank. Dunno what happened there :/

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. TriciaH says…
    06/05/2008

    Hey Ali. Just curious, do you have anymore of this complete? I would love to see it.
    Thanks! TriciaH.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. katey says…
    06/09/2008

    this is so amazing!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. ::sylvia:: says…
    06/12/2008

    I'm a newbie at mini books and just LOVE this one! Where can I find the mini-tab top pages? Thanks!
    www.orthodoxmom.blogspot.com

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Sunday says…
    06/20/2008

    Great idea... thanks for sharing that, my readers will love that idea... will link!! Thanks

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. tara doherty says…
    12/12/2008

    what a great idea...so in line with using what you have......i love this

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Sarah-Jane Fergusson says…
    01/13/2009

    This is fantastic. I have been looking for ideas like this for a book for my best friends birthday I will include photos of us as kids and us now and writ little coments on the back of the photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Tammy says…
    05/12/2009

    I'm re-reading this post and wondered - what ever happened to this mini? Did you post the final product? I'd love to see where this idea took you creatively! :) Thanks, as always, for the great ideas!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. toptourist says…
    06/04/2009

    Hi there this book is just great, i have done a similar thing with my 365 project I am only using my scraps from my scrap box which is sorted into colours. However often i pull out a piece of pp or cardstock that has already been scalloped or cut into a funny shape or edged or has had a shape punched out but i use it for effect It is a great way of using leftovers
    Thanks for sharing this album idea it is fantastic
    toptourist ( Janet ) from Australia

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Celly says…
    06/26/2009

    Lovely idea ! Thanks so much for sharing !

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Kirsten Reed says…
    07/06/2009

    I would love to see your finished project - will you post it? Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Lee-Anne says…
    01/05/2010

    oh look. you are just too ridiculously clever.
    i came on to the net to get some inspiration (my 3 year old is asleep and i have a few hours to spare :) you were my first stop tonight and you have provided. this is great. thank you :)
    -Lee from Down Under

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jill says…
    01/16/2010

    Our son celebrates his 5th birthday this year (he was born on 5/5/05). I just decided that I'd like to over document his every move this year. While searching for ideas I found this one. I love the idea of going all random and just using things already in my SB room. Thank you ten times over for all of the inspiration you have provided to me and so many others. God has big things planned for you Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Cathy says…
    03/29/2010

    Thanks for sharing. I put together a mini in memory of my father in exactly the same way. A fabulous tribute and a project which helped me work through my memories and the grieving process. One of my favorites actually.
    Cathy

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