Skewer album construction

What a fun summer! I have returned from a lovely vacation and am back to my Paper Chaos! With this comes a new topic for your crafting pleasure.....♥

Recently I was asked to show more about the basic construction of Skewer albums. This post is dedicated to that request :)

First a few thoughts about materials.

I first used long shish-K-bob skewers which had to be snipped using a garden tool then sanded. I really did not like that last part. Then I discovered that you can buy just the right length of skewer in the beauty supply store - and the ends are smooth and tapered so they did not need sanding! Bonus - the tapered end even makes getting the wood through the paper loops easier!

I prefer to use heavy-er card stock for the base of the mini album. You'll need one 12x12 piece of cardstock for each two double sided page you want in your album. You'll cut them each in half. You could use any color or pattern. For ease of viewing here I just used two neutrals.

Score each down the center. Stack and fold in half. Snip each sheet a little deeper then your individual skewer is wide (If I were to put dimensions here it may end up not fitting your particular items.) Just remember to snip them all the same depth. Also since your not using adhesive here you can pull out your skewer(S) and adjust where or when necessary!

Then take your first skewer and begin threading your first loop. Then thread the second loop of the second page. Then thread the third loop of the first page. Continue in this manner until you have threaded every second loop on your top layer with the skewer. For the very last layer you'll only have every second loop available. Just slide your skewer into those loops to finish up the spine.

For the second and remaining layers remember to alternate so each skewer is holding a loop from two layers which alternate. Also - this may sound confusing but when its in your hands it should make more sense. If you have questions I'll be happy to answer and can possibly provide additional pictures if need be.

After your pages are threaded with skewers you can treat them just as your other layouts. Embellish, matt and have fun! I chose the Fine and Dandy papers as well as some Bazzils for this project. I like to choose papers form a coordinating line. Although you can see I have shown the base of the book in solids you would also do well to use patterned cardstock and solid matts if you'd like.

Hope that you have a great week!

Layout with Pin Wheels :)

Pin Wheels are the fun care free icons of childhood! I just L♥VE them! There is something magical about things spinning in the breeze! Bringing that whimsy and playfulness to a layout is really fun!

This 21x12 layout below has a fun light hearted feel.

Embellie grouping below; stickles, Stampin' Up! ink "More Mustard", MME "Being a boy", Around the block "Paper Tagger" and eyelets, generic chipboard from Target, Memory Markers, and stickers from NRN "Our child", and Reminisce "Genuine boy".

Here is a close up of the grouped embellies on the side of the 12x12 layout above.

Next are six inch pin wheels made using "Scrapbook Walls" (a vintage collection) by Chatter Box. They are for some greeting cards.

Below is a 1 1/2 inch pinwheel with inked edges from this layout. I used some random buttons for most of the centers. Then I punched small circles (which I embossed as seen below) for the remaining centers.

Aaaaahhhh all these pinwheels make me want to get outside..... Have a great day!

Paperbag Mini Album

I particularly enjoy making mini albums. This one I made ahead of time to keepsake a hiking and camping trip. One of the advantages of making this type of album is that if needed, one could add an additional bag or two to increase pages and pockets. (I used So Sophie by MME coordinating colored paper and letters.)

This album required two paper lunch bags, folded in half to make a book. I matched bag end of 1 to opening of bag 2 so there would be one bottom and one opening  on each side when folded.

There are two double-sided journaling cards which fit inside the pockets created by the openings of the paper bags. The tabs are staggered to allow both to be seen on the side when fully returned to each pocket.

The inner pages are layered with paper which has been inked ("More Mustard" by Stampin' Up!) and sometimes torn. I encluded a few  embellies here and there. The "boy meets world" sticker if from BoBunny's "Boy oh boy" (which is one of my most favorite collections ever!) The "M" sticker on the cards is by Pure Juice. I don't know which company made the epoxy sticker - it's been in my stash a while.

Two book rings were used through holes punched in the folded side. Then a variety of coordinating fiber and ribbon were tied to the rings.

I l♥ve the finished product!

Chaos

Chaos is defined as any state of confusion or disorder, randomness, a lack of intelligible pattern or combination.

Paper Chaos is all of the above and more fun then a barrell of monkeys.....♥

Patterned paper, textured paper, embossed paper, torn paper, inked paper, pieced paper, crimped paper, stamped paper, punched paper, cut paper, shaped paper, cropped paper, stitched paper, flocked paper, folded paper, crumpled paper, curled paper, double sided - single sided.....PAPER!!!