Monday Mini Book: 3+1=4

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It's been awhile since I last put a minibook together. I figured with the addition of Anna to our family it was about time to make a little 3+1=4 book to celebrate our family of 4.

Most supplies for this minibook came from Cocoa Daisy's kits (the main kit + the add-ons) this month that included many of my favorite number and alphabet products. Additional supplies include Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paint in Sable Brown and Hambly's Little Circles Metallic Silver Overlay

Here's a look into my process:

After letting the brown paint dry on the inside and outside of the Maya Road mini album I attached the K&Company fabric number brads to the cover and rubbed-on the ruler lines from Maya Road.

This Maya Road mini album used here comes with four tabbed chipboard pages and four envelope pages. 

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I covered the four chipboard pages with a patterned paper on one side and photos on the other.

Photos

I looked for photos that had at least three or all four of us together. It ended up working out just right to have two with all of us and one each of me and Chris with the kids. For covering these pages with pattern paper and photos I use a glue stick and a xacto knife to cut off the excess around the chipboard.

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For a little something different I cut each of the envelopes and stuck
a piece of Hambly transparency inside to create a new page.

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In addition to the transparency I slipped one of the journaling cards that came with the kit into the pocket.

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On the back I cut a domino from the Graphic 45 pattern paper (each one had 4 dots) and adhered it to the seam.

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As a finishing touch, before adding a quote by hand on the back, I did a zig zag stitch with my machine in red across the seam. For more simple stitching ideas check out my article with ten layout examples in the October issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.

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I did the same thing for the vertical envelopes using the journaling cards and dominoes. After getting all those base pages set up I was ready to add some more 4's to the album as accents.

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To each of the patterned paper chipboard pages I added a circle and a number 4.

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Here's a look at the completed book with hand-written quotes about life and family:

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Each of the tabbed pages ended up with a word on the tab: Mother, Father, child, and baby.

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I also added a bit of paint around each of the chipboard pages to finish them off. 

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88 thoughts

  1. Robyn says…
    09/07/2009

    Very cool, what a lucky family to have a mom that puts all this work into keeping such awesome records.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. stephanie says…
    09/07/2009

    great to see another mini from you :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Elise Blaha says…
    09/07/2009

    love this ali. such a fun kit.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Stephanie says…
    09/07/2009

    Wow ! Just beautiful, and yet so simple... Love your work, it's so inspiring !

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Linda G. says…
    09/07/2009

    Hi Ali,
    I LOVE this mini album. Keep posting - you inspire me every single day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Cel C. says…
    09/07/2009

    This is really pretty. I should really make a mini again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Katya says…
    09/07/2009

    How beautiful. I would like to have it! Fell in love with your work. Your writings and thoughts inspire me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Monica says…
    09/07/2009

    I alway love your mini albums. Thanks for share your creativity and family with us! ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. CindyS says…
    09/07/2009

    Wish I had your visions, just keep yours coming ok!
    I have those mini albums and was wondering what to do with the envelope pages. Cool idea. I don't want to get out my machine so I'll just cut with pinking shears and use a maker to highlight the edges or maybe distress ink them.
    Thanks again for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Rachel says…
    09/07/2009

    This looks fabulous Ali. I've never been much of a mini book maker, but you always inspire me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawlZ6KVgUdNPeJ-tCRZ6MLnUS1MfUjM2W3Q says…
    09/07/2009

    I love this idea Ali. Thanks for sharing. I especially loved how you tied the number 4 into it and the transparency pages idea.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Sue says…
    09/07/2009

    As always, AWESOME WORK ALI! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkV9TXaB3bdw2zwzkN5ENBgtj20jHWpoH8 says…
    09/07/2009

    Loving this mini-book! You got me started with my Mini-book frenzy (a good thing!) from a class I took with you a few years ago! Glad to see more :) ~Heidi Y

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Lindsay Bateman says…
    09/07/2009

    Awesome mini album! SO SO fun! Truly inspiring!
    :)
    Thank you for sharing such a great look into one of your latest creations!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Meghann says…
    09/07/2009

    Fab mini book, Ali. Looking forward to doing a 2+1=3 someday!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Andi Sexton says…
    09/07/2009

    Super Mini! Love the glue stick tip for the photos...
    OK.. A question.. Am I 'seeing this right' that the stitching actually goes through the journal cards that are in the envies, so, the journal cards are for 'looks' rather than journaling on???? Just checking!!!
    Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Kelly in Canada says…
    09/07/2009

    Hi Ali,
    I love this little book; you make it all look so simple and I totally love that. Anyway, I''ll second the person who wrote "keep posting" because you are a wonderful inspiration for all of the memory keepers and family girls among us.
    Kelly

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Gina says…
    09/07/2009

    Loving that little mini book. So helpful to see each page and how it was put together. I am always waiting for that big chunk of time to work on a project and never get it! I know it's better to do a little here, a little there, but then I get distracted and the project never gets done! This one looks quick and easy, but can you figure out how much time you think it took you total? As always, thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Amy says…
    09/07/2009

    That is just darling! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. The Paper Life says…
    09/07/2009

    Wow Ali!!! such a great piece of your life right now! You will cherish this one for sure!
    luv
    Amy Coon
    www.thepaperlife.com

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Jessica Stoops says…
    09/07/2009

    Ali,
    Your mini books rock. What did you use for the circles that you put the fours on? Where did you find your quotes? Did you do a lot of journaling,too ? Thanks for sharing.It also be a could used summer album as well.
    Congratulations on your family of 4!
    Jess

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. C@rol says…
    09/07/2009

    I love the simplistic style you have. Always just enough design elements for interest, and they never distract from the photos.
    I'd love to own some of those awesome envelopes. I like the interesting curve of the flap closure. Neat, neat, neat!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Joy Buss says…
    09/07/2009

    ohhhh! I am feeling the itch to do another mini book! Thanks for the wonderful ideas and inspiration. So cool!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Ali Edwards says…
    09/07/2009

    Yes :). I stitched all the way through making it for decoration instead of something to pull out.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Deb says…
    09/07/2009

    So fun to see a minibook, Ali-style. I love it. I'm inspired by your envelope pockets with the transparencies! Thanks for sharing this. :o)

    Reply 0 Replies

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