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. Loretta Artful Yogi says…
    09/07/2009

    This mini book is so fabulous, Ali. Great job. Love the same 3+1=4 theme on your 12 x 12 layout in the new CK as well. Thanks, too for the sewing tips in the new CK. So many god tips in there. Love the depth of the article.
    Thanks for staying so productive with all your responsibilities and interests. So inspiring.

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

    I did do it over the course of a few days, adhereing the papers first, then printing the photos, then painting (and letting dry), and then finally doing the rest of the construction and adding the words. Maybe six hours total? Hard to tell - I am definitely a fan of breaking it up (pretty much have to be these days).

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. RachelM says…
    09/07/2009

    I really love this mini book. Thanks for sharing it with us!

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

    The circles are stickers from a package from Tim Holtz called Salvage Stickers (part of this add-on to the main kit: http://www.cocoadaisy.com/store/sep-addon-simon-p-413.html). The quotes came from my own collection that have come from various sources over time. You can see a bunch of my favorites here: /collected-quotes.html
    I didn't do a lot of journaling in this more. It's more of a little celebratory album :).

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  5. Kim Hacking says…
    09/07/2009

    Perfectly perfect Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Bluebelle says…
    09/07/2009

    This is so lovely, what a cute little book!

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

    beautiful book, ali, love seeing new mini books of yours :)

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

    This book is perfect for a project I had in mind. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. me.junelle@gmail.com says…
    09/07/2009

    Very cool. I have all boys and to think of adding them up...that is really fun.
    Great job on the tricky sewing as well, my favorite tool in my workspace is my pfaff. I am sure my grandma would freak about how I use it, it is so cool and expensive, but I do use it a LOT!
    You are such a fun girl to visit in blog-land. Thank you for all you share, your transparency and realness is infectious!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Sara R. says…
    09/07/2009

    Love this little album!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Kate says…
    09/07/2009

    Very cute book ... loved all the creative ideas and the concept! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Liz Ness says…
    09/07/2009

    Okay. Besides being a photo junkie (Paolo's term for me, LOL), I'm a total number geek! LOVE this mini. Love how you've used the numbers/elements. I'm just always so drawn to your style. Plus, what a great way to capture this awesome evolution in your family!
    =) Liz

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Linda Carter says…
    09/07/2009

    Where did you get the envelopes? I really like using envelopes, but have never found any quite like those.
    Linda

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Ali says…
    09/07/2009

    They are a part of the Maya Road minibook (came in the package).

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Keandra Perkins-Willis says…
    09/07/2009

    now i NEED that maya road book!!! you RAWKED it!!!!

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

    You are such an inspiration Alie. Love your ideas and your design style. I plan to try this one myself. Need to look at my list of upcoming birthdays and celebration to see who might get one made in their honor! Thank you so much!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Helen Tilbury says…
    09/07/2009

    What a lovely book. The way you have put it together is very appealing. I am getting the kit but not that add-on but will improvise as I have a few mini-albums just waiting for a project! It's hard to imagine you without Anna now - she is such a sweetie ;-D

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  18. Sasha says…
    09/07/2009

    cutest thing ever.

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

    Love this album! TFS.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Ingrid says…
    09/07/2009

    Classic Ali - clean, cool and fun. Thank YOU!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. ToneF says…
    09/07/2009

    I totally love this mini!!!
    Thanks for sharing :o)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Joanne says…
    09/07/2009

    Hi Ali! Great mini album....I just purchased the kit from Cocoa Daisy last week and very excited to start working with all the products. This mini album has definitely inspired me to try one myself with the kit as we just had our 4th baby after many years of trying...my first son is now 6, and I've been trying to find a way to celebrate our new family of 4....thanks so much for all your fabulous ideas!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Kim T. says…
    09/07/2009

    oh wow, this is amaaaaaaaaaziiiiiiiiiiing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Kristl Fleed says…
    09/07/2009

    Oh, thank you for a great idea!! Just came home from my vacation in Karelia, have lots of photos and can't wait to create mini books like this one for us and our friend :)
    and I really like this your mini book!

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

    Great album Ali! I'm looking forward to giving it a try! I was wondering what size photos you printed?
    Thanks for your never ending inspiration!

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