Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Fun with Mini Albums!!!!!

But first....it sounds like we could seriously have a Pepperidge Farm Vanilla Bean Cake Blog Feast!!! I just loved that so many of you share my obsession with this delectable sweet treat (Yep, I'm talking to you Patti, and Delia, and Trish, and the rest of you who didn't so readily admit it!).

I think that most of you know by now that I have a love-affair with food (so much of it can truly make me so very happy!), so it's good to know that I'm not the only one who feels the same way. If we can't moan together about food, can we truly call ourselves friends? (And yes, I am sitting here right now eating a piece of that cake, along with an Iced Vanilla Coffee. Can we say, "yum"?)

And now, on to my post for the day ("Stop thinking about cake, Cheryl!"):

I spent some time Monday working on a little mini album to preserve the fun memories of Delaney's first beauty pageant back in the Fall. This project was SUPER EASY; even those of you who aren't scrapbookers could seriously do this. I just started with one of Sydney's old baby board books (if you don't have kids, you can get these at any ole dollar store). I painted it with white craft paint, let it dry, and then adhered the pictures to the pages (the pictures stuck perfectly with just a glue stick). Then I embellished it very simply with flowers, buttons, and some stickers. And I just typed my journaling onto paper strips. I LOVE how it turned out!






After it was finished, I laid it on my living room coffee table alongside my growing pile of mini albums. I have decided that I LOVE creating mini books. They don't take long to do, they are perfect for recording memories of a specific event or theme, and they are just easy and fun to sit down and look through.

I took a medium-sized basket and am displaying several of my books in it and a few alongside it on the table (there are mini books in there on Delaney's softball season, Halloween memories, Sydney's current sayings, McKenna's beauty pageant, Sydney's third birthday, Thanksgiving memories). If you scrapbook, I challenge you to try a mini album; they are really fun and addictive. (In fact, go to Adrienne's blog and read her post from yesterday; she has an awesome mini album on display there that I just love!)

And speaking of scrapbooks and blog friends (which we were!), look at the fun goodies that sweet Theresa sent to me in the mail? Thank you T; you are SO sweet!! I can't wait to make some sort of Valentine's goodness with this stuff!

It's a good thing I'm in a mood for creating because I've got several fun projects I'm working on for my local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Mania. I went by the store the other day and sweet India gave me some of the MOST FUN products to work with!

I'm going to make a page to display in the store using these funky, cool papers from Tinkering Ink. THIS is just one of the cool papers!

And then I'm going to do a page on Delaney's baptism, and also going to make a mini album about my favorite Bible verses, using these gorgeous pages by Flair Designs. I find it hard to find really cool religious products, so I loved finding these.

And then....I'm going to be doing the March kit for the store (a designer creates several sample projects using specific products that India picks out) and it is featuring some gorgeous new papers and embellishments from Making Memories. I will be sure and share the details of the kit in a few weeks, in case anyone is interested in it.

I also am excited because I talked to a friend this morning who wants me to make an album for her sister's 50th birthday (I occasionally to do some scrapbooking-for-hire for special events and gifts. So if you ever know anyone who needs something made.... lol)

Thanks for letting me share that fun stuff with all of you. I know that I have a lot of scrapbooking friends on this blog, so it's always fun to share that stuff with you guys. And for those of you who aren't "crafty"... why aren't you? Come on along and jump on the bandwagon!

Have a GORGEOUS day!! I'm just gonna try and stay warm (baby, it's cold outside!!!).

24 comments:

Josie said...

Love that mini album...she is so cute!!!
And speaking of food here is the cheesecake dip recipe
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (7or 8 oz.) jar marshmallow creme(fluff)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. sugar
Beat cheese, fluff, sugar and vanilla until well blended and smooth. Store in refrigerator. Serve with fruit.

I love making mini cheesecakes with a round vanilla wafer, some dip and then a strawberry on top...my mouth is watering now...

icanseeclearlynow said...

cheryl, your pictures look GREAT! i love these mini albums! such a good idea. i'll give it a whirl!

:)

maria

Anonymous said...

I love how you used a board book for this. What a great idea.

Adrienne said...

How cute! Mini albums are addictive! LOL

Cheryl Wray said...

Josie--I have GOT to try this very soon!!!!! Thanks for sharing it with me!!

Maria--You definitely should try one!

Gin--It's a really easy way to make an album.

Adrienne--I KNOW you love them!!:-)

Monogram Queen said...

What a lovely idea - mini albums!

When I went shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Charleston before Christmas I discovered the Vanilla Bean cake in the Pepperidge Farm Outlet Store (never saw a frozen foods section in one before). Oh my I was one happy camper!

Veronica said...

I totally agree, making mini books are easier than layouts for me too!

Heather Landry said...

I looove the mini album! I never thought to paint a board book! It's so fabulous. Seriously! Ok how funny that you are talking about cake when I just wrote an entry talking about cake. Hehehe...

Unknown said...

Hi Cheryl - these mini books are wonderful! I would love to give it a go. I was thinking that it would be a great way of sending out a 'thank you' message after a birthday party - with pics of the party and personalized messages to the people in it. That's what you do so well - INSPIRE! With thanks and love.

Cheryl Wray said...

Patti--I can't even quite imagine the joy I'd have at a PF Outlet store!!!

Veronica--I LOVE them!!

Heather--Okay, I gotta go read your Cake Post. Too funny!

Dawn--What a FABULOUS idea!! Your partygoers would LOVE you!!!

Dettao said...

Great mini album. I love the simplicity. So much beauty in the simple things, isn't there?

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

I've never done a mini-album. But you make it sound so simple and fun! I may have to give it a shot!

As for the love affair with food...okay. I'm going to confess. I've been known to blurt out rather embarrassing comments about the items I truly, truly love. Like Godiva chocolates. Ahhhhh. I think they are positively orgasmic. Yeah, I said it. I know it's wrong. I know it's shameful. I writhe inside everytime those words cross my mind. But wow. Godiva. Have you ever had their dark collection? I have a box from Christmas that I've been hoarding. I dare not eat them in public for the almost obscene noises I make. Again...more shame is heaped upon my head as those words. I'm weak, I know. No one should feel this "passionate" about their chocolate. But dang. It's GODIVA!

:)
Kari

Auburn Kat said...

My love of food..specifically brownies took me to the store tonight! YUM

Anonymous said...

I am loving mini albums as well. I have tons of them made, but not one of them filled. I love the idea of putting them in a basket in front of the sofa...how clever!

Can't wait to see more creations of yours!

Jacquie

Delia said...

Wow! I love the mini album! Using the board books is such a wonderful idea.

And...you just had to mention the cake again, didn't you? lol.

Polgara said...

I'm not crafty but i love your mini album :0)

~Telah said...

Love your minialbum! I'm definitely going to have to jump on board that wagon soon. I could get so much more done that way.

Unknown said...

OMG! You are one busy, scrapbooking, chica!

I LOVE the mini album you did for Delaney! It turned out adorable. I also enjoy making mini albums. I have gotten to where I prefer to scrapbook events, instead of chronological. It's not as overwhelming, and I feel like I'm actually accomplishing something.

Have fun playing with all of your new goodies!

Mississippi Songbird said...

What a beautiful album of your daughter. She is quite a young lady..have a terrific day..
God Bless you!

Leah said...

The mini album turned out adorable!! I like the way you did it by just painting the book. The last one I made, I cut the pages apart using an exacto, punched holes and used rings to bind it, but this looks much easier!

Sheila said...

Loving the inspirational mini-albums. I must try it, and to think I just purchased some pretty colorful scrapbooking paper, which are 5x7 and would be perfect for a mini-album. I'm still drooling over the Tiramisu....lol

Cheryl said...

Mini albums? What a great idea and oh what a good conversation piece. I have several but have not decorated them or displayed them. Thanks for the idea. I will try that. THANKS!

Dawn Bibbs said...

Cheryl, the mini albums are gorgeous! I haven't jumped on that band wagon yet. But I'm sure my day is coming :-). You know, I am SO loving Delaney in that purple dress. You did a great job commemerating that event.

Thanks for sharing.

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Cheryl,
Long time, no see! I haven't been blogging much at all this past month. Too much turmoil going on. But...thanks to you, I was able to get a little theraputic scrapbooking done. (ha) I used your idea about the baby boardbook scrapbook and did one about my dad. You were right. It was so easy and fun to do. I went to Goodwill today and bought 5 or 6 more board books so I can make more of these things. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for sharing the idea - it's a great one. I'm trying to post pictures of my little book right now so my daughter-in-law can see it, too. She's in Okinawa so I figure she'll be asking me to find some cheap board books to send her so she can try this as well. lol THANKS AGAIN!!!
Kari