Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Eileen Hull Passport Book Die - Christmas Photo Album

Today I'm sharing a little Christmas Photo Album that I made using Eileen Hull's Passport Book die.  All this month members of Eileen's Inspiration Team are posting holiday projects using her Sizzix Dies.
I have been making little photo albums for special photos of my adorable grandnephews and nieces (currently ages 7,6,5 and 3!)
So this album is for Christmas photos of them - and so far include photos from 2014, 2015 and 2016 with plenty of pages for the coming years!

Front cover.
Back cover.
Embellishments knotted onto the binding jute strings.
I've got lots of photos showing my steps in creating this album.
First I die cut the covers and binding piece out of matboard.
I stenciled the covers using a double  tree stencil from Stamplorations using Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste.
At first I was going to just make this a white book - so I painted the binding with PaperArtsy Nougat Chalk Acrylic Paint.
Then I adhered the binding to the cover panels. 
Given that the binding overlaps onto the covers, I did the stenciling a little off center so not too much would get covered by the binding.  
You have to think about which edge the binding will cover on each panel.
I held the edges with clothespins while the glue was drying and painted over the covers with the same Nougat paint.
Next, I brushed Clear Deco Art One Step Crackle thickly over the covers and binding and let it dry overnight.
Close ups of the lovely crackle

At this point, I decided I wanted to add color -  so I got out  bottles of Patina Effect Paste from Prima in Mint Green, Blue and Brass.  I rubbed green on the tree, blue on the background and brass on the binding and star on the tree using my finger.
Then I added Patina Effect Prima Gold Rust Past - just a bit with my finger - to highlight the trees and binding a bit.
Close up views

I felt the trees needed a little definition after adding all the pastes so I laid the stencils back on and sponged with Ranger Distress Oxide Peeled Paint Ink.
I also sponged over the inside covers with the Peeled Paint.
I die cut the pages out of several hues of blue and green Bazzill papers so they have a little texture on them.  I made 3 signatures of 5 pages each - which gives 10 pages when folded in half and 20 surfaces for pictures in each signature - so I'll be able to have photos for up 15 Christmases if I use 4 pages a year!
I threaded green, blue and orange jute string through each signature and binding - ending up with the knots on the outside of the book binding.
I stenciled one of Tim's Mini Stencils on the inside of both covers using Ranger Distress Forest Moss Ink.
I ask your indulgence as I show the photos that I have put in the book so far -  from 2014, 2015 and 2016 with one photo so far for 2017!
Here you can also see how I stenciled the inside of the front cover and added Idea-ology Holiday Talk stickers.
On Christmas 2014 Madelyn was just 8 months old - look at that toothless smile and spiky blond hair!
Angel Mila was 2 and brother Landon was 4.
Below on left - we see Madelyn's first view of Santa with 3 year old brother James.
And look how Madelyn has grown by 2015 - on the right Madelyn is now 1 yr 8 months and cousin Mila is 3 - in cute little matching outfits!
James 4 and cousin Landon 5 in their matching outfits for Christmas 2015
Visits with Santa for all 4 in 2016 in PJ's!  Landon 6, Mila 4 -    Madelyn 2.5    James 5
On Christmas Day 2016 - in matching outfits -  Mila is ready for her modeling career!
And on the right - the first photo for 2017 -  Landon 7 and Mila 5 in front of their grammies tree that they helped decorate this year!

Please be sure to check out Eileen Hull's blog during December for lots of holiday inspiration using her Sizzix dies!

I'm linking my 3 1/2" x 5" Christmas Photo Album to:


Paper:  Cream Mat Board - Little Sizzles - Sizzix,  blues and greens Bazzill Papers.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Peeled Paint,  Ranger Distress Forest Moss.
Accessories:  Passport Book Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste, Trees Stencil - Stamplorations, Mini Tree Stencil - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Adirondack Butterscotch Alcohol Ink, Idea-ology Metallic Stickers/Holiday Talk, jump rings, mirrored stars, Jute String, Tiny Bells, Adornments-Pine Cones, Ice Skates, Nougat PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint, Patina Effect Paste Mint Green, Blue, Brass, Gold Rust - Prima.

12 comments:

Bonnie said...

Such a lovely way to preserve those Christmas memories!

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh Julia! What absolutely scrumptious texture and beautiful colors on this exquisite cover! A treasured album of precious photo. I just love it! I'm thrilled that you shared with us at Mini Album Makers. Hugs, Autumn

eileen hull said...

What a treasure Julia! Your photos are so cute- fun to watch how quickly they grow- and sad at the same time... Beautiful book- thanks for sharing this!

Redanne said...

Such a delightful memory book! I love that you changed your mind and coloured it, the colours bring out the design of those quirky trees beautifully. The very young Madelyn is just adorable!! Hugs, Anne xx

Redanne said...

PS - forgot to say thanks so much for joining in our December challenge at Mini Album Makers! xxx

Susan said...

Julia, this is a fabulous example of mixed media - thank you so much for the step-by-step instructions (very helpful for me as I try to expand my mixed media knowledge). I love the design and the way you embellished the spine with the charms.

Sharli Schaitberger said...

OMGSH!! The book is fantastic, and I ALSO love the photos of the grands! They are absolutely adorable!!!!! How do they grow up so fast? I've made one book by hand (in a class) and love it so much I haven't put anything in it. You are inspiring me to try another one!

Loll said...

This is AMAZING!! LOVE the beautiful album you've created, Julia Thanks for the step-by-step. Especially love that crackle finish with the coloured rubbed over top. And what a wonderful way to bind them all together and decorate with some metal findings. The album is awesome, but it has been outdone by those sweet pictures you've shared with us. Your grand nieces and nephews are so adorable. What a special keepsake. xx

Art By Wanda said...

What a special album!!!! Beautiful!!!

Nancy Wethington said...

This album is so cute! Love all the stenciling and the use of Eileen Hull's dies. Thanks for joining the challenge at Mini Album Makers.

Gloria Stengel said...

That cover treatment is AMAZING!!! I took some notes! {smile} I love that you used the mini for photos! Most of us just make them and never use them! LOL Thanks for sharing your work with Mini Album Makers Challenge.

Words and Pictures said...

Wow - just love those textured crackled covers and fabulous colour work too. A brilliant album for a lovely collection of photos. Thanks so much for playing along at Mini Album Makers.
Alison x