New Born Baby Mini Book

The Cover

Those who know me know that I usually have a PlayDay once a week at my home.  The "girls" who come to play delve into a variety of mixed media art including jewelry making, scrapbooking, kumihimo etc. - whatever sparks our imagination that week.

Yes, it keeps opening

One of the players in our regular group (Magda Cortez) creates amazing mini photo albums.  In her previous life she was an engineer.  We watch her create theses structures right before our very eyes.

Both sides opened

She had just come back from a cruise to Alaska and was showing us her latest.  I loved it.  She had also brought me the pad of Graphic 45 Baby paper that I wanted to use for my up coming grand baby. 

Right Side opened further

Before I knew it Magda had made the base for this book and left me her travel book as a sample.  At first I was overwhelmed with the paper and the realization that I had to put the paper together myself. My dear playday friend, Kat Baker, reassured me that I could do this and insisted that I get started right away and I did.  She reassured I couldn't go wrong with paper selections since Graphic 45 had already made sure everything worked together.  How right Kat was.

Little tag is what Michelle Hurtt made for all of us when we took Debby Anderson's Jewelry Class at Michelle's new studio.  I just added a ribbon and a bird.

Bottom Middle opened once

Magda has been gone for a couple of weeks and has not see my finished product.  Even with her sample in front of me, there is so much going on with her books that I really had to get my brain working and to remember to measure twice and cut once. . .

Bottom opened again to display an accordion wallet

I can't wait to have photos to put into the book once the baby is born.  Very exciting time for the family.  I love to make projects that have a purpose.  I seem unable to do art just because I want to play.  Very project oriented.  Hope you like the finish work of love.

Suzy West at The Making Place - Escondido

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since last August.  I have been to Spellbound at the Langham in Pasadena in November, 2013 and in January went with Kat to Prima's amazing event in Anaheim.  I am so far behind.

This is only a part of Karl's new huge backyard.
This is the unlandscaped part.

But, I have been sooooo busy and there is just "stuff" going on.  You don't need to hear about all of this.  So, when I saw my favorite scrapbook teacher was teaching once again in my area, I signed up immediately.  Added bonus was that it was at a new scrapbook store in Escondido that just opened before Christmas, 2013.  They don't have a website yet but you can find them through FB - The Making Place. The owner is a fabulous altered artist in her own right and her daughter was so nice and the owner and her granddaughter took the class with us.  Wonderful family and an Eye Candy store - every where you look.

The original 3 pages were very girlie and so I contacted Suzy and asked if she could help me make them a little more masculine for my only - just turned 2 - grandson, Karl.  She had suggestions and I went with them.

Every Tuesday Karl comes to play.
Here Grandpa is letting Karl look at his hand
with a magnifying glass.

We used a new product by Teresa Collins called Essential Modeling Paste.  I have always used Golden's products but purchased this if only to support an artist with a line of products.  There were stencils which we also just used with our ink pads and a sponge dabbing on color. 

There were cookies and bottled water available for we students.  The store is packed with supplies.  Fun place just to visit and get ideas.  The Making Place is just off the 15 freeway at the first entrance to Escondido so not that far.  They have a monthly evening group called "Mixed Media Art Club from 6-8 pm. Cost $22.  I thought the sample was fabulous.  I certainly will return.

You can find both Suzy West and The Making Place on FaceBook.

My own creation after taking Suzy's class
Guess I better straighten "GIRLS". . .

Just a simple page with very old paper.
Karl on his first hike with dad and aunt.
Mom home resting. . .

Ok. After seeing my blog, I went back to the hiking photos and really ruffed them up  and the hiking page looks so much better now.  

In person, so much better revisited.