I’m tired today. Plus it’s grey and overcast outside with the promise of rain later which doesn’t help. So I’m grateful that the new doors from my studio are now installed and sealed. This means that in the next day or two I’ll be able to settle back into the room to create. I’m lucky that during the renovations I’ve been able to work from my dining room, but it’s not ideal. Mind you it’s been a treat looking out of the window with a view of the bay. It’s quite different from the woods and distant mountain that I usually see when working. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m truly blessed to be able to call this little corner of Nova Scotia home.

PRETTY LAYERS

It’s not winter here yet but I couldn’t resist designing today’s project around this pretty scene. It’s a trimmed down piece from the Feels Like Frost 6″ x 6″ Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack.

While I could have made a card, I wanted to create more of a keepsake and what better than a photo album? So I took a pocket album purchased at the Dollar Store and removed the boring front and back cover inserts. Then I measured the old cover piece and cut some Misty Moonlight Card exactly the same size. One of the new cover pieces went straight into the back cover pocket, while the other one was set aside.

Instead of cutting a simple layer for the DSP I decided to have something fancier. So from the Ornate Layers Dies I chose the largest in the set to cut out some Very Vanilla Card. Then with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed the layer to the Misty Moonlight layer.

Next I measured the space within the die-cut layer so I could cut out the winter scene. After a little tweaking I ended up with a piece 3-5/16″ x 4-13/16″. Then I softened the corners using the corner rounder option on the Detailed Trio Punch.

BLESSED

For my sentiment I chose “Blessed” from the To A Wild Rose Stamp Set. I thought that the large, bold script would stand out well on the background especially in a dark colour. My only concern was whether I would get a good crisp image first time.

As I didn’t want to risk wasting the DSP I opted to use my Stamparatus stamp positioning platform to help me. I secured the DSP on base of the Stamparatus and placed the clean stamp onto the DSP where I wanted it to go. Then I closed the plate to pick up the stamp. Next I gently tapped a Night of Navy ink pad onto the stamp surface and before closing the plate to stamp onto the paper. When I lifted the plate I could see a part of the sentiment wasn’t properly stamped. This wasn’t an issue as all I had to do was reink the sentiment and close the plate again. By using the Stamparatus I knew that it would stamp in exactly the same place. In fact I ended up stamping the sentiment three times but the result was exactly as I’d hoped.

All I had left to do was glue the stamped DSP onto the die-cut layer and slide it into the front pocket of the album. Now all that’s needed are photographs to fill the album and it’s ready to be given as a gift.

DSP SALE STARTS TOMORROW!

Sadly the Feels Like Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper is not included in the DSP sale that starts tomorrow. However there are 12 other DSP packs going on sale at 15% off for the whole month of October.

All 12 packs included in the sale are listed on the Designer Series Paper Sale flyer so you can check them out. Just remember to wait until until tomorrow to place your order. I’ll post a direct link to the DSP sale section of my online store in the morning as soon as I am able.

In the meantime here are links to all the products used to create today’s project. The 4″ x 6″ pocket photo album was purchased at the Great Canadian Dollar Store.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Ornate Layers Dies in a bundle with the Ornate Style Stamp Set (not used today). Using the single ‘bundle’ item number meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle in case you want to explore this option.