"School Days" Mini Album

I have been making so many cards lately and, as much fun as I'm having, I am really missing making my minis. So I switched creative gears and created this mini in honor of school starting on Monday. Only 7 more sleeps, but who's counting?

I started with a 6.5 by 6.5 inch paper pad from Kaisercraft called "The Class of '87". Love it. I can't remember where I found it but there was nothing to go with it, no stamp,stickers, rub-ons, chipboard, nada. The great thing was that this pack (and I think all Kaisercraft pads have this) includes is four sheets of diecuts in the back. Love it when a paper pad comes with built-in embellishments. More bang for your buck, I think.

I had to cut my own custom mini book for these pages because of that extra half inch. I just didn't want to cut every single page and lose the cool prints. I re-purposed cereal boxes for that job. After choosing where all my papers would go I adhered them down and roughed up the edges with my sand paper before inking them up with Walnut Stain distress ink.

I used brown tulle from my stash as well as some ABC twill ribbon on the binder rings. Created a mini clasp with charms that you can find in my Zibbet shop HERE.

On the cover, I used my favorite felt letters. Cut out the star (stars, I cut three to create dimension) from Kraft cardstock, inked the edges, and used a diecut in the middle. I intend to put the teacher/student's name in the ruler (another diecut) with my old school label maker.

I tried to add pages that were different. Different sizes and textures. I used two pages that were half the size of the originals, one page made of acetate, and another that is made from an envelope. I didn't create photo mats for every page either. I'll do the final touches when I decide where it's going.

I used some of the border strips and created a pocket so that I didn't have to cover up the paper. Tags are made with the designer paper and SU Real Red cardstock mounted on Kraft.

I used a Martha Stewart border punch as a belly band to hold those tags in place. Here is the first half page as well. More SU tags using Bashful Blue, Elegant Eggplant, and Only Orange (?).

Acetate is so fun to work with and I love the challenge of figuring out how to keep my adhesive covered. Large photo mat is created using a 6.25 x 4.25 piece of SU Crushed Curry popped up on foam dots with two Kraft tags tucked beneath.

Second half page tied up with ruler twine to offer a place to tuck special notes and such. Same photo mat as the last page but with SU Wild Wasabi, one of my favs.

The envelope page that I completely forgot to take pictures of the tags inside. You can see that in the video HERE. (same ones that I used in the Rainbow Mini)

Love the multiplication and counting charts!

Some of my favorite things about doing projects like this are the small details. Like Glossy Accents and strategically placed cuteness.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Summer Mini #3 Update

So I was talking with my mom today and discovered that our family friend's daughter is graduating tomorrow. So the summer mini has turned into graduation mini.

I added a sticker with a quote from Thoreau that came in a school quote sticker pack I got at Michaels when I first started making minis about 4ish years ago. I backed it on Stampin' Up's Basic Gray cardstock and popped it up on dimensionals.

Then I added one of my favorite embellishments, the mini binder clip. I put both the Michaels charms (purchased at the same time as the sticker pack) on the same jump ring and attached it to the clip. She can move this around and possibly use it to add her on memorabilia to the book.

Hope this finds you happy and healthy. :)

Zibbet Shop Items

So I just wanted to take a minute to share with you all the items available in my Zibbet.com shop. I have mini albums and a kit, charms galore, coin envelopes, and chipboard die cuts.

Charms "kits":
*Christmas - 7 charms including Santa, snowflake, wreath, "joy", tree, stocking, bell
*Halloween - 5 charms including skeleton hand, howling wolf, witch hat, bat, jack-o-lantern
*Zoo, African animals, Safari - 6 charms including lion, giraffe, tiger, zebra, coyote, elephant
*Travel - 2 charms including a camera and the Eiffel Tower*Beach, aquatic, aquarium, SeaLife - 9 charms including starfish, fish (bead), anchor, ship steering wheel, seahorse, crab, seashell, turtle, flipflops (inscribed "Made with Heart & Sole")
*Tea - 2 charms including a cup and saucer and a teapot
*Spring, Garden - 5 charms including watering can, butterfly, flower, rose, ladybug
*Fashion, Crafting - 4 charms including hanger, singer sewing machine, handbag, and small handbag
*Western, Rodeo, Cowboy, Texas, Ranch - 5 charms including horse with colt, guitar, horseshoe, boot, hat

I will sell these charms individually upon request.


Here are the visuals:

9 different charm collections available (also sold individually)

Whimsy mini album and a kit (not shown) are available

Baby mini available (personalized after purchase)

Set of 6 coin envelopes in 4 different sizes

Dress, overalls, and onesie die cuts; all available in 3 different chipboard options (shown in medium weight chipboard)

Check out my store and tell a friend...I would greatly appreciate it! :) Have a great day!

Swivel Clasps

So I have completed my first two swivel clasps but in my excitement I totally forgot to take stills! Sorry about that! If you would like to check them out, use the links below to see the videos on YouTube.

Kathy (Canadianscrappergirl) was my swap partner for Regan's Swivel Clasp Swap. In this swap, you completed a swivel clasp in it's entirety and sent it to your partner.

Regan (EmoraDesigns) and I just swapped for fun! :)

Have a good one. :)

Kathy's Swivel Clasp

Regan's Swivel Clasp

Zibbet Shop

OK. So I was going back and forth about opening an Etsy.com shop. I really wanted a place, other than my blog, that people could see and buy my work, mostly the buying part. I feel more comfortable buying from a "legitimate" site, so I just assume others prefer that as well.

Anyhoo, I found that Etsy had so many fees that I would have to jack up all my prices just to break even. I want my products to be accessible to everyone and, in this economy, I just couldn't see the point in higher prices to pay a website, know what I mean?

Here's what I have found in my first week:

Zibbet.com Cons:
*It's not as well known as Etsy (yet). Products seem to move a little slower because of this. 

Zibbet.com Pros:
*IT'S FREE!!!
*You can pick your shop. For example, I can have a free shop and get all the basics. Or I could pay $9.95 a month and "Upgrade", get more perks and amenities. Or I could go even further and pay $69.95 a year ($6ish a month) for an even further upgrade and get every perk they offer. I chose to start on the free end and see how it goes.
*It's easy to use. Literally, just like Etsy.com.
*Once you open your store, there are all kinds of helpful hints that you can use it promote your business. For example, the link on my sidebar (with the owl...really, how can you miss it? :)). Super easy. 

So I wanted to share this find with you. Regan (Emora Designs) gave me this hint and I can't keep quiet about it. Super excited! Check it out and tell me what you think!!

"Fall" Charms for Swap

These are my charms for Regan's November swap, themed "Fall". She's at Emora Designs; go check her out!

I used blue because, in Houston anyway, fall is accompanied by the brightest blue skies. I made sure that it would go with the array of traditional autumn colors; the yellows, oranges, and reds and, of course, the variations of browns. I love the way it turned out.

I made the tag so that the ladies could re-purpose it later and then, without thinking, I wrote all my info in black ink all over the back. Oops.

Anyhoo, I can't wait to see what I get back. :)

My Haul from Regan's Swap

I participated in Regan's (her blog or YT: Emora Designs) swivel clasp charm swap. This was a first swap for Regan and she did AWESOME. You must check her out.

I think I dropped the ball a little bit on this one. The charms I received were bigger and more elaborate then mine own so I will know for next time, ladies!! I won't let you down again! :)

My first charms was made with pink beads that I thought were beautiful with the "bronze" color of the swivel clasp. I alcohol inked my findings with Rust, Espresso, and Raisin. I haven't used alcohol inks in a while and forgot how much fun (and easy) they can be.

The second charm is one of my favorites. I refer to it as a "monogram charm"; you can personalize this charm with an initial or small piece of designer paper. And it can stand alone without embellishment as well.

Here's the picture (mine are the two little ones in the upper middle):

 Thanks to all the ladies that participated in my group. I couldn't be happier with the results!!

Love Bird Mini and Charms

I completed another of Laurel's pocket page mini albums. There are three large pockets to each page and it's so simple to complete!! This pocket page has easily become one of my favorites. This time it's about me and my hubby, Kevin, from the beginning to now. I did leave out the pictures of us at 14...maybe I should put those in? :) This album is not completed but done enough that I have already started on another mini and so I thought it appropriate to post.

***SEE VIDEO HERE***

And then I got a package from Cindy with all my charms from her August charm swap that she holds monthly on her blog. I have participated twice now and have yet to be disappointed! The charms are always so beautiful and well-made. Lots of love there! Check Cindy and her charm swap out!

***SEE VIDEO HERE***

Halloween Kits and Extras for SALE!!!

***UPDATE: I will be attending to a family affair so I will have little to no internet time for the next week or so. Please feel free to email me about the kits or extras but please understand that I probably won't get to respond until after the 1st of October. Thanks for understanding! Be well.

3 Halloween Kits Available

Included in these kits are:

24 6x6 double-sided Halloween papers

  6 6x6 specialty papers (foiled, embossed)

8 6x5.5 coordinating cardstock

5 chipboard "Tombstone"-not shown, check video (2 kits) OR 6" round pieces (1 kit)

1 chipboard coaster

2 chipboard skull and crossbones

4 various sizes of coin envelopes

2 paper bags, one black and one orange

1 package of rub-ons

1 package of alpha stickers green glitter (2 kits) OR black (1 kit)

loads of various Halloween "puffy" stickers

12 round "tag" stickers

2 sheets of bug double sided stickers

2 small and 2 large shipping tags

1 bag Diamond Dust (warning: keep out of reach of small children)

Lots of charms, button, brads, trinkets (see video for details)

2 spiderweb border strips in black and white

Loads of die cuts (not shown in picture, oops. Please check video for details)

3 pairs of black velvet Prima flowers in small, medium, and large

8 tiny white roses

2 green leaves

2 white doilies

 Lots of fibers, ribbon, tulle (see video)

***3 Kits Available***

Cost of kit - $35 (including shipping)

***VIDEO HERE***

Halloween Charm Collection

This charm collection includes one each of the five charms shown above. The largest charm is the skeleton hand measuring roughly 1 1/4 x 3/4 inches. 

Cost of charm kit - $5 (including shipping).

Halloween Button Collection

This collection of buttons includes a small, medium, and large button in each of four colors, totaling 12 buttons. The largest of the buttons measure roughly 3/4 of an inch round. These buttons vary slightly in color and style. 

***3 button kits available***

Cost of button kit - $3 (including shipping).

Coin Envelopes

The coin envelopes will come 6 to a purchase and are available in the following sizes:

#1 - 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches - $2

#3 - 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches - $3

#6 - 3 3/8 x 6 inches - $4

#7 - 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches - $4

Assortment (8 total) - 2 of each of the above sizes - $4

All these prices include shipping.

***SEE VIDEO HERE***

Please email me with your interest (under "View my complete profile" at the top of blog). I will combine shipping. I will send you an invoice and once payment is received, I will ship out the next business day.
As of right now, I AM ONLY SHIPPING WITHIN THE US. Sorry.

Happy Chick Designs will not be responsible for lost or damaged kits, so if you are interested in insurance please let me know before payment is made. 

Thank you and happy creating!