Let’s make a Photo Album from scratch, Part 1 – Live with Michele

Today on my ‘Live’ I have decided to make a photo album, from scratch. This will be a 3 part video which I will make over 3 weekly ‘Lives’.

Let’s get started…

There are a a few things to consider when designing and making an album from scratch.

  • What purpose is the album for…
    • are you creating for yourself or as a gift
    • Do you want it to have a theme
  • What size?
    • You can work this out by photo size (make sure you include Matting you may use with the photo)
    • Remember you can trim your photo’s down and use smaller printed photo’s.
  • Will it be a landscape, portrait or Square?
  • No of pages

What do we need to get started…

  • Chipboard- 2-3 mil thick, you don’t want to make it to thick because you need to cut it. But if it’s too thin then it wont stability.
  • Cardstock –
    • You will need at least half to a full pack of cardstock
    • You want to use cardstock that coordinates with the Designer Series Paper you are thinking of using. I like Basic Black or Night of Navy, because anything will go with it and I can change my mind if need be.
    • A4 or 12 x 12″ – This can depend on size of album cover and Page sizes
  • Adhesives
    • Tear’n’tape- I like Stampin’ Up! Tear’n’tape as it easy to use just make sure its a good quality (needs to have good adhesion)
    • Multi Purpose Glue
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Designer Series Paper, and coordinating products – stamps, dies, and embellishments – we will go more into this later.

Size and Measurements (I’m using for my Album)

These measurements maybe slightly different from video

  • Photo size = 4 x 6″ (10 x 15cm)
  • Mat size = 4¼ x 6¼” (10.5 x 15.5cm)
  • Page Size = 4½ x 6½” – Have decided to change with to 6½” to allow tabs on the tags in the page pocket to come past the page.
  • Finished Album Size = 5 x 7″
  • No Pages = 5

Cutting Measurements

Chipboard
  • Cover Front & Back – 5 x 7″ x 2
  • Spine – 3 x5″ – Spine width = ½” between each page hinge plus extra ½”=3″
Cardstock- Basic Black

I like to have 1″ turnings around sides, you need to have good turnings to get a nice finish. As the Album Cover complete is too long for the cardstock I needed to work out where the join are going to go. The join could go down the center of the spin or either side of the spine on the cover. I decided to have 2 joins either side of the spine, this will get covered by Designer Series Paper when I decorate.

Length of the cover is 17″ x 5″ wide.

  • Cover Front & Back – 7 x 7″
  • Spine 6 x 7″ – more than with required for the join coverage re: video
  • Hinge 4¼ x 11½” – score @ 2¼, 2¾, 3¼, 3¾, 4¼, 4¾, 5¼, 5¾, 6¼, 6¾, 7¼, 7¾, 8¼, 8¾, 9¼
  • Inside Cover 4 ½ x 6 ½”

The hinges for the pages are ½” deep and ½” apart…see the video for how this is created.

Please Note – I spaced the cover and spine the width of 2 pieces of chipboard, after looking closely at the bends the cardstock had cracked a little. If doing again I would space them a little more, just so you can get a better fold. I have added a very very small amount of glue with a toothpick. I hope by the time I decorate I can cover this up or so it’s less noticeable.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List
Basic Black A4 Card Stock
Tear & Tape Adhesive
Paper Trimmer

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Hello, Irresistible & Butterfly Brilliance – Live with Michele

I had so much fun on my ‘Live’ this week. This card was created with Stampin’ Up! products coming and going, also die cuts left over from other projects – Vellum Leaves, Flowers and leaves cut from Designer Series Paper.

Shimmery White Cardstock and Butterfly Brilliance Bundle will soon be leaving us. I am going to miss them, but I am also looking forward to all the new products coming. I am really enjoying the Wild Wheat Cardstock and Ink from the New 2023-25 In-Colours, it has a lovely Green/gold tone which for me is a great substitute for Gold Foil.

I also used one of the Basic 3D Embossing Folders, this was the first I time I have used this folder and looks great with the other elements – floral dies and leaves.

Below is a video showing how the card was made.

Measurements Used…

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

View the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue Here

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Elegant Boarder Dies – Live with Michele

Did you see my ‘Live” on Friday, if you missed it and can catch up on the replay below.

I love these stunning ‘Elegant Boarder Dies‘, they are part of the NEW Online Exclusives. These products will be only found on my “Online Store’ under -Online Exclusives, they will not be in any Catalogue. New products will be added through out the year so check back to my Online store.

Elegant Boarder Dies

Measurements Used…

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . . 

Hello,Irresistible Blooms – Live with Michele

Hello, Irresistible Blooms Suite Collection is a NEW Suite offered in the ‘ONLINE EXCLUSIVE’. What is the Online Exclusive? Though out the year Stampin’ Up!® will be offering products that won’t be found in our catalogues. It’s a must to go and check it out, there are some new products that are stunning.

Today on my ‘Live’ I used products from the Hello, Irresistible Blooms Suite Collection to create my Card. I also added one of the Basics 3D Embossing Folders, also found in the Online Exclusives. The folder I used gives you a beautiful subtle texture to your cardstock.

Below is measurements and video to show you how this card was created.

Measurements Used…

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Online Exclusives

Online Exclusives, Just released…….Stampin’ Up! ® have NEW products, you won’t find these products in any catalogue. You can find the new products from the convenience of my online store. More Online Exclusives will be released throughout the year.

Below are just a taste of what you will find in the Online Exclusive. Make sure you head over to my Online Store to see what is available.

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

View the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue Here

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Dainty Delight – Live with Michele

I spend a lot of time watching interesting YouTube Videos by different card makers both Stampin’ Up! and others. Learning new techniques and ideas on different ways to create cards. I take these ideas and then try to recreate cards using Stampin’ Up! products. They wont be exactly the same as these are my interpretations.

This card was taken by ideas from Lavinia Stamps . I love the use of layers created by different stamps around a masked circle

My card uses a variety of stamps, with the Dainty Delight Stamps being the feature in the center and around the edges.

Other stamps used

  • Dainty Delight – Flowers in Smoky Slate & Branches in Evening Evergreen, stamped and stamped off
  • Quite Meadow – the words stamped off in Smoky Slate
  • Forever Fern – Dots stamped in Fresh Freesia
  • Eden’s Garden – leaves in Soft Succulent

Measurements Used…

The card below is the test card I made before my ‘Live’…instead of Smoky Slate I used Pear Pizzazz, Shimmery White Cardstock and a tent fold.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

View Sale-A-Bration Catalogue or Shop on Line Here

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Catalogue
5 January – 28 February 2023
View Online | Shop Online

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

View the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue Here

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Fancy Flora -Live with Michele

The card I made last week is made using the Fancy Flora Suite Collection, which I made on my ‘Live with Michele’. every Friday at 1pm (AEDT). This week I was running a bit late having too much fun playing with this suite. Have added the link to the video below.

There is a lot is this suite –

Measurements Used…

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

View Sale-A-Bration Catalogue or Shop on Line Here

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Catalogue
5 January – 28 February 2023
View Online | Shop Online

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

View the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue Here

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Dainty Flowers

On Friday’s ‘Live’ I created the card below using the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper from the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue. This paper coordinates with the Dainty Delight Bundle found in the Mini Catalogue. Purchasing the Dainty Delight Bundle for $96.25 (AUD), allows you to choose an item for FREE from the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue and why not make that the Dainty Flowers DSP.

Measurements Used..

** By using a larger piece of DSP to cut your circle you can decided which portion of the flowers you want to use.

Don’t know why but I couldn’t upload my live as I would normally do…don’t you just love the world of technology….But instead click on the image above and it will take you to my YouTube Live.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

View Sale-A-Bration Catalogue or Shop on Line Here

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Catalogue
5 January – 28 February 2023
View Online | Shop Online

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

View the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue Here

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . . 

Hand-Penned Petals Fun Fold

Today on my ‘Live’ I created this great Fun Fold, this is another interesting find on Instagram that I just had to try. I have used the Hand-Penned Petal Stamps and coordinating Penned Flowers Dies. The Designer Series Paper used for this card is from the Dainty Flowers 12 x12″ found in the current Sale-A-Bration. When you spend $90 or $180 you can earn a product for FREE from the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue. Links to Catalogues and my Online Store can be found towards the end of my post.

The sentiment was die cut using the Amazing Thanks Dies

I am now following a Blog called Pinkfresh Studio and this is from a post back in last November. They have called it Fun Fold Birthday Inspiration Card with a Pop-Up Twist. It is great to be inspired by so many wonderful card makers.

Below I have added the measurements I used in both Metric/A4 and Imperial/ Letter (this is a smaller size card to Australia A4)

Measurements Used…

PaperColourImperial/ LetterMetric/A4
Card Base Fresh Freesia 5½ x 8½”, cut 2
Score- 1, 1¾, 3, 4½
21 x 14.9cm, cut 2
Score – 2.5, 4.5,7.5, 10.5cm
Front Strip Fresh Freesia¾ x 3½”2 x 9cm
DSP – Back 4¼ x 5½”10.5 x 14.9cm
DSP – Side15½ x 5½ “, cut 2 3 x 14.9, cut 2
Back Card Panel Basic White 4¼ x 5¼” 10 x 14.4cm
DSP Strip¾ x 5¼”2 x 14.4cm
FlowerBasic White3 x 4″10.5 x 8cm
SentimentPear Pizzazz2 x 4″5 x 10cm
SentimentGold Metallic Specialty Paper2 x 4″5 x 10cm

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

View Sale-A-Bration Catalogue or Shop on Line Here

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Catalogue
5 January – 28 February 2023
View Online | Shop Online

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

View the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue Here

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . . 

Framed Florets Fun Fold – Live with Michele

The card I made on my Live this week is a ‘Fun Fold Stepper Inspiration with a hidden Note‘. I found this card while going through some Instagram Reels, it was made by Yasmin Diaz. I have made it using the Framed Florets Bundle, Cane Weave 3D Embossing folder and the sentiment is from the Peaceful Moments Stamps by Stampin’ Up!®.

I like this card because it is different from any other card I’ve seen. They have called it a step card but there is only a small step and I think if you made the step more pronounced the actual card would become very thing and tall looking. Hidden in the middle of the card is a tent fold Note Card where you can write your greeting.

After the Live had finished I decided to add White Crinkle Seam Binding Ribbon to the Note Card, tied so the bow is at the side. Just so the person who receives the card can see there is a hidden Note card with a message.

Blends to colour the flowers and Leaves –

  • Granny Apple green
  • Old Olive
  • Pool Party
  • Petal Pink
  • Calypso Coral
  • Daffodil Delight

I could also see this card made with out the note card and with a cello bag attached inside with some special treats or a gift inside. You could punch a hole at the top and tie with a ribbon. Would make a great table decoration for each of your Guests.

YouTube Video

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

View Mini Catalogue or Shop on Line Here


5 January – 1 May 2023
View Online | Shop Online

View Sale-A-Bration Catalogue or Shop on Line Here

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Catalogue
5 January – 28 February 2023
View Online | Shop Online

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . . 

Live with Michele – Boughs Of Holly

Did you catch “Live with Michele” this week…I made a card using the Boughs Of Holly Designer Series Paper and Hope and Peace Stamp Set.

Hope and Peace stamps has a wonderful collection of Christian Sentiments. These can be used on the front of your card as well as inside your card. They can be teamed up with different papers and other stamp sets.

Measurements

Below is all the measurements used in both Imperial/Letter-size Cardstock & Metric A4 Cardstock

Video Tutorial

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!  

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Join My Team

If you have been sitting on the fence not sure if you should JOIN the Stampin’ Up! Family or not….well now is the time to jump down and JOIN.

July – December Mini Catalogue

View Catalogue Here

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .