Sharing.
This album appeared in the April issue of Creating Keepsakes in my Studio A column - cool outside, but the inside is really the heart of this project. I got the album back from CK yesterday and took some pics so you could see a bit deeper into the album.
The exterior is covered in fabric, which was wrapped around onto the inside. The seams are covered with a layered image I created in Photoshop featuring two different letters from my Mom. The black chipboard letters are Heidi Swapp and the black gaffer tape is 7gypsies. The small circle accents are KI Memories and the button is from one of those awesome bags from Autumn Leaves.
The idea behind the album was to create a home for a bunch of letters
my Mom has sent me. She is a great letter writer. I actually have tons
and this album is just a showcase for some of my favorites - some are
emails but most are handwritten. For the structure of the album I chose
a 7gypsies
envelope album that allowed me to store the actual letters inside each
pocket. This was one of those things I bought just beacuse I thought it
was cool...not sure what I would use it for at the time...it all workout out just right.
One of the design elements I knew I wanted to include on the exterior
of the envelopes was my Mom's handwriting. I didn't want to make it
super complicated, but I wanted it to express the emotion and
personality of her writing. I decided to scan the actual letters and
enlarge them so that the writing was large enough to cover the
envelope. I printed out the enlarged writing and wrapped it around each
envelope (the exterior of each envelope demonstrates a look at what is
inside) - on the back of the envelope I covered the seam with a
rectangle section of patterned paper.
After covering the envelopes with the enlarged handwriting samples/emails I felt like it need a bit of color so I added some stamping. Year stamp is from Stampin Up. Large butterfly stamp is from My Sentiments Exactly.
"Be Happy Everyday" stamp is from Hero Arts.
I think that dot stamp is also from Hero Arts.
Circle stamp is from Savvy Stamps. "Creat Joy" is from Wordsworth.
The buttons are adhered with large glue dots - it makes it a bit sticky with the string but it works just fine and the glue dot seems to give it enough lift.
And another share...this is for The Red Lily's monthly kit for May - all the products were included in the kit. Additional stuff I created for them should be up later today.
Gorgeous. Everything is just wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing and for all the inspiration!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thanks for sharing. My grandmother was a great writer of letters. When cleaning her craft room after her death, my family even found a special letter she had written for us. These are some great ideas about what to do with all of these treasures.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Loved being able to see some pics from inside. What a great idea! I have letters I traded with girlfriends in grade school, that would be fun! Thanks!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thanks for sharing more of the envelope album! I got so excited when I saw it in the mag as I have tons of letters from as far back as grade school days. How big is the album, btw?
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I love this. I think I will have to do this with the letters I have saved from my best friend. Maybe one with love letters from my dh too.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali... LOVE LOVE the album... I have tons of little love letters my Mom has given me over the years, and I can't seem to part with them.. You have inspired me to make one for myself! Thank you... !!!! :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, I was so disappointed not to see more of this album in your column and was thrilled to see it here. This is probably one of the most wonderful, inspiring albums I have ever seen. I love absolutely everything about it and was really moved by your mothers words, her handwriting, how you enlarged her letters...just breathtaking. I have a box of letters in my scrapbook room that I cherish but have never known what to do with. I think I now have my answer. Thank you for being such an amazing artist and for sharing pieces of your soul with us.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
most incredible album - thanks for sharing it with us :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
such a work of love - thanks for sharing another piece of your heart with us! makes me so wish i came from a family of letter writers. BUT! i'm glad you do & thankful that Simon has a wonderful legacy of family!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love it Ali!
thanks for sharing :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love it Ali!
thanks for sharing :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
thanks for sharing this album A!
looks like a very special book ..!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I think that is *totally* cool that your mom still writes letters to you:)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I love the idea of a letter album--I have so many letters that I treasure--from many different people...and yet the best that I've done with them thus far is shove them in a shoe box! You've inspired me :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Amazing Ali...as usual. Thanks for sharing. My 95 year old Aunt and I have written letters (long letters) to each other ever since my mom died prematurely 30 years ago. I have saved her letters not only for her loving words or wisdom, but also because her writing style is just as if she is sitting across the table talking to you. I know there will come a day when having those letters and being able to reread them will be a priceless memory for me. Thanks for inspiring me to do something special with them.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I love when I buy something for no reason...and then weeks later it seems like it knew what it was going to be before I did. LOVE that.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love it, love it, love it- what more can I say?
Sign in or sign up to comment.
This album look a million times better here on your blog than it did in the magazine. Yes, the cover is awesome BUT inside is even better!! I LOVE that you can tell your mom wrote she is so proud to be your mother.. she sounds so sweet and like you has beautiful handwriting!!!
Thank you for sharing this with us!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
ooo, that letter album is awesome, I so wish as a kid I had understood the great value a handwritten letter was and kept some of the wonderful corespondence I had between my dear aunt & uncle and myself. I so treasured my relationship with them, so i know that album is well treasured by you!!
What a loving daughter you are.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, that little album for your mum's letters is so special. Your mum has lovely handwriting too. Thanks for sharing such a personal item with us. I have a stash of little notes from my mum and now I'm inspired!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I loved this little album in CK, and I'm so glad you posted pics of the inside, because I really wondered what the rest of it was like. It's gorgesous - just as I suspected!
Jess
Sign in or sign up to comment.
so much eye candy, Ali! i am so in love with that gaffer tape from 7G's. i am on a quest to get my hands on it now.
i love love love the idea of creating a special keepsake celebrating the notes/ltrs your mom has written to you
how wonderful is this? i am constantly inspired by you...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love your ideas Ali! There is something very special about handwritten noted from someone you love. Looking forward to your new book!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I love that album Ali, there is so much more to it than the pic that CK took - that doesn't do it justice at all! A very special album that you will always treasure.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali--really lovely and, for those who don't have old fashioned letters, they could do the same with precious emails that are printed out (first one from your now husband, etc)
Sign in or sign up to comment.