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:

Mini Album Makers Challenge

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.