Monday, October 31, 2016

Book Flip Cross Stitch Series 3 Food

I love this book - just a quick flip through.  Hope you enjoy it.  I purchased this from Amazon.



Sunday, October 30, 2016

Floss Tube #15 Crafty Stitches

Another quick update -I am going to try and have my Etsy store open soon.



Thanks for watching.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Floss Tube #14 catching up

Hi!  Glad to see you back here - I've been staying with my Dad in Florida - but now I'm

home and ready to get back into the swing of things.  Thank you for watching!

K





Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Flosss tube 13 update, haul, SALs all kinds of stuff

Hi - this is my latest update video for my cross stitching habit.  Really having fun and fighting the

urge to start more pieces.  LOL - why not?





Monday, October 3, 2016

Floss Tube Book Flip 1 Santa's Great Book

I'm hoping to do more posting here on my blog - just life getting in the way - but I hope that you will take a look at my video and subscribe, like and comment.  The link to this book, used, on Amazon is included in the description box.  Thank you for visiting - have a crafty, colorful and possibly stitchie day!





Sunday, August 21, 2016

Polymer clay update, doll exhibit August 2016

Well, the cats did a number on "Sea Goddess" - but it gave me an opportunity to improve on

her clay embellishments.  I hope you enjoy this video.  Thanks for watching.



Have a beautiful crafty day.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Ice Dying first attempt August 2016

I had a wonderful time with dying fabric - many more experiments to do.  I hope you try it.



Thanks for stopping by.  Have a color-full day!



Tuesday, August 16, 2016

FlossTube#8 Update, Behind the scenes tag, doll show

Progress report - I share my doll for the Wiltwyck Quilt Guild Doll exhibit.







Thank you for watching!

K

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

FlossTube 6 an update haul diy

Replacement video - sorry about the glitch in the last one - software issue now resolved.



TFW!  Have a color full and stitchy day!



Tuesday, August 2, 2016

FlossTube 6 WIPs update haul DIY

My update for the end of July.  Missed the close of July by a couplemof days -but thats ok...😊



Giveaway results for July 400 subbie and new channel

A big thank you to everyone who entered - have a great and color full day!

Monday, July 18, 2016

Floss Tube #4 Updates FO fun stuff

FO, (finished object), makes, wip (work in progress) updates, plans, retail therapy, STUFF!



Thanks for watching!



Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Floss Tube #2 Back at it

This video is on my new channel - Kelly Bell Stitches - hope you enjoy it - Cross stitching.





A time for a Tilda

Just showing my cupcake Tilda - Thanks for looking.



Saturday, July 9, 2016

In the swim journal part three final

Hi!  This is the third and final edition of my "In the Swim" journal using some of the products from Heartfelt Creations, Under the sea collection.  I hope you enjoy it and maybe try one of your own.



Have a Very Color Full day!



Monday, July 4, 2016

Kelly Bell give away July 2016

It's a Give Away - hope you join in - closes July 31st and the drawing will be August 1, 2016.  The video will explain the requirements and details for entry.  Good Luck!



Kelly Bell Stitches FlossTube 1

Hi and Welcome to my new FlossTube channel - cross stitching and needle work.  Thanks for joining me.



Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Confession of an addicted crafter / Stitchwork wise confession anyway

Confession - I have way too much crafting stuff - that goes double for books.  (The two loves of my life...)



Mixed Media Morsel 20

Hi - I was in Florida for June - visiting with family but it's time to try and get back into the things I love at home.  Thanks for stopping by.  Blessings!








Saturday, May 28, 2016

Under the sea journal cover part two

My welcome to warm weather - a new journal cover to eventually house the fun of the summer season.



Thanks for taking time and stopping by.  Hope you like, share and subscribe!



Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Happy almost Memorial Day!

Today is a hot one - whew!  I have so much yard work to do and what I do get done is re-growing at an amazing rate - has it gotten faster or have I gotten slower?  (I know - it's rhetorical.)

Thought I would put a few photos of the work I did in the yard today.  I just mowed two days ago but it's already looking like it can stand another cut - don't look at that...

Back rock wall - weed wacked - so over grown on the hill - need gas and to get the mower up there.

More of the same view - weed wacked around the green house and the back of the house too - see next picture...

yep - more of the back side of the house.

pulled some weeds out of the lily of the valley so maybe they can be seen before they go by

Weeded out the wisteria bed - there are some iris' there also.  Added some red mulch.  Will need a lot more of that... 

Wisteria blossoms

Iris'

Front view

Weeded and weedwacked the front of the house and the hitching post too.  Yep - marble hitching post - the house was a stage coach stop on the great northern turnpike.  built in the 1760s

Just another view that shows the wisteria bed too.

Need to finish cleaning out the pot and get it planted before I leave for Florida on Monday.  I'm going to stay with my dad for a week.  Note that the pot and the mailbox were also weed wacked - yes I'm exhausted - but proud...

Full front (from the side view)

What a house. (needs a lot of work)

Thursday, May 19, 2016

My Mission Inspiration for May 2016

My take on the art journal prompts for May.  It took me a while to have an idea where this was going.  I think it came out pretty good.  Thanks for checking it out.



Heartfelt Creations Haul May 2016

Under the sea - fish, flowers and tropical breezes - come on summer - I can't wait...





Saturday, April 16, 2016

My Mixed Media Morsels Update for April

More Mixed Media Morsel fun with the Facebook group and YouTube videos by Cat Hand.





Friday, April 8, 2016

Disney Travel Memorabilia envelope 2016



Envelope I made to commemorate our 2016 trip to Disney.  Hope you enjoy.  Thanks for visiting and thanks for watching!



Have a very Color Full Day!  See Ya Real Soon!



K



Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Mixed Media Morsels techniques 1 to 6



Hi and welcome back!  This is a short video just showing the first six techniques in a series by Cat Hand called Mixed Media Morsels.  I'm having a blast just playing with my "stuff".  Hope you are having a very color full day!



Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Mixed Media Morsels journal cover share

This is a journal cover that I made to house some mixed media technique pages I create in the Mixed Media Morsels group on Facebook.  Cat Hand is showing us various mixed media techniques and then the group members take them and run with it and then share the outcome.  Such a Blast!



I hope where ever you are and whatever you are doing - it's being done with lots of Color!



Thanks for stopping by!

K





Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Gel Press play take 1

This is the first time that I used my new Gel Press plate that I got from Joggles.com.



I had a blast - the next video will show the spring/Easter journal that I made using these papers.



Thanks for stopping by - Have a color-full day!



Kelly





Friday, March 18, 2016

Fairy House Process Tutorial Part 3 final



I was going to wait to put up the final part - but Happy Weekend!  If you have any questions or comments feel free to ask!

Have a color full Day!



Kelly





Fairy House Process Tutorial Part 2



Part two of my Fairy House in polymer clay process - I hope you enjoy it.  There is only one more part coming.  Thanks for watching!



Have a color full day!

Kelly



Thursday, March 17, 2016

Fairy House in Polymer Clay - process tutorial part 1

Hi - here is another polymer clay process/tutorial that I just released on YouTube.  Hope you enjoy it - please let me know if you have any questions.

Have a color full day!
Kelly
https://youtu.be/lQohPLassJ4

Alice in Wonderland Journal for a swap on Junk Journal Junkies

New Journal - Alice in Wonderland for Junk Journal Junkies.  This one was a lot of fun - forgot how much I like this story - even though it's a little creepy...  Hope you enjoy it!  Have a very color full day!
Kelly

URL to the YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/ye6pDG3H7rw

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

The Dragons Tale - painted cover and Shout out

Thanks Sara - my serenity crafts - on YouTube - for inspiring this painted cover!








Beaded face pendant fringe Part 3

Hi -



This is the last part of the beaded face pendant tutorial that I've published on YouTube.  In this one - I've added one row of fringe - any additional rows would be done the same way.



Thank you for watching and feel free to ask if you have any questions.



Thursday, March 3, 2016

Beaded Face Pendant - tutorial Part 2 - published on YouTube!

Good morning and thanks for stopping by!

It's a bright, sunny, albeit cold morning here in the great upstate of New York.  I just made a new video public - it showcases the creation of the beaded bezel on the face pendant.  I hope you get a chance to take a look - it's a long one - but I give a lot of information.

Thanks for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHLJEqCwBi4

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Beaded Face Pendant Tutorial Part 1

Hello!  This is part one of a fringed, beaded face pendant tutorial.  I hope you enjoy it.





Friday, February 26, 2016

Vintage 6X4 swap journal from Arlene Nassar JJJ

This is the journal that I just received from Arlene today.  I love it - this swap was a great experience - can't wait to join others.



Thanks for stopping by.

Have a color full day!

Kelly





Alcohol Ink and a plastic egg

I saw this in a Tim Holtz video and had to try it - so easy and yet so very beautiful!  Who wouldn't want a basket full of these?



Thanks for stopping by and have a color-full day!



Kelly





Thursday, February 25, 2016

Alcohol Ink Alcohol and a Plastic envelope

More fun in my craft room today.  Alcohol ink can be really messy - but it's loads of fun.







Hope you have a very Color-Full day!

Blessings,

Kelly

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Wedding Card share

This is a very special card that I made for a dear friend and her husband for their wedding.  There is a Heartfelt Creations Cross die cut on the front of the card - but the rest is all computer printed and lace trimmed.  I hope you enjoy this project share!



Have a blessed and color-full day!

Big Hugs,

Kelly



Friday, February 19, 2016

Flip Fold Card Mini using the Sugar Hollow bungalow set from Heartfelt Creations - Design team entry #3

Hi again - welcome back to my craft room.  I have been working on a very cute flip fold card using the sugar Hollow Bungalow set that I just received.
This was a very fun project.  I had been watching videos by Cat Hand on YouTube that showed Dendritic Monoprinting.  She used glass sheets which I'm not a fan of - so instead I tried it using two plastic loose leaf binder dividers - it worked so - yay!

I have a video tutorial available on YouTube if you want to see the tag making process:

https://youtu.be/Miq9cbVbGSc

Materials List for the card and tag:

Heartfelt Creations:
Stamps:  Sugar Hollow Bungalow (HCPC-3718), You're A Hoot (HCPC-3715), 
Dies: sugar Hollow bungalow (HCDI-786), Eyelet Oval (HCDI-776)

* I also used left over embellishments from my previous project - Brag Book Mini from the Birds and Blooms collection:
Stamps: Birds and Blooms (HCPC-3644), Leafy Branch (HCPC-3645)
Dies:  Birds and Blooms (HCDI-756), Leafy Branch (HCDI-757)

Paper for Card: Classic Sunflower Collection (HCDPI-247)

Miscellaneous:

Art Institute Dries clear glue
Washi Tape of choice (mine is birds and cages images)
Matte Mod-Podge (to seal the Washi)
1 piece of 8.5 by 11 inch brown cardstock
1 piece of "feather/leaf" design paper - from my stash - whatever appeals to you
Printer paper for the Dendritic technique
   Acrylic Paints:  (I used) White, Copper and Coffee Bean
White card stock scrap for the What's Up? embellishment
Momento Ink:  Tuxedo Black for owl stamping and Rich Cocoa
Gel pens
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Black Micron Pen 01

To create the tag please see my tutorial on my YouTube channel linked above.

To create the flip fold card:

I used a sheet of the Classic Sunflower Collection paper (one side is divided into four / six inch sections)  Cut the sections apart to use as pages.  (You will only need three.)

Lay the pages out in a line in an order that appeals to you.  The first page will have the tag taped to the right hand front side as a "flip out" section.

Leave about 1/8th of an inch between each page to allow for the pages to move easily.  Decide if the pages as they lay on the table are the inside or the outside of your card.  Connect each page to the next using the Washi Tape.  Cut the tape flush with the ends of the pages.  Coat each Washi strip with a layer of Matte Mod-Podge to keep the Washi from peeling up.  (it's low tack).

Flip the connected pages over and do the same thing - keep track of top and bottom if your Washi Tape is directional.  Do the same thing to this side - Washi Tape the connection of the pages and coat with Matte Mod-Podge.

Let dry or dry with heat gun taking care not to bubble the Mod-Podge.

This makes your card complete - all that's left is to decorate.

Using the tag created in the video tutorial.  Cut it to match the size of the card as desired.  Using Washi Tape connect the tag to the front-right hand side of your card.  Coat the Washi on both sides of the connection as above.

All that's left is to decorate your card as desired.  I leave that to you.  This is a great place to put special photos or memories to share with someone special. I think I will make another one for a special friend who is getting married on Sunday using a wedding themed paper stack.  The possibilities are endless...

I hope you've enjoyed this post and that you will come back and visit me soon.  Have a wonderful and color-full day!

Kelly





Thursday, February 18, 2016

Mini Brag Book using the Birds and Blooms Collection from Heartfelt Crea...

Hello - Again!



This is a short project share video that corresponds to the blog post I published yesterday.  The Birds and Blooms Collection is just so very beautiful.  (Stay tuned because I used some of the embellishments left over from this mini on my third project which I will release tomorrow.)



Have a bright and color-full day!



Heartfelt Creations Feathery Peacock Tassel SHORT project share

This is a much shorter video that just showcases the completed book mark and Feathery Peacock Tassel that I went into great depth on in my last video.  I hope you enjoy it - Have a very color-full day!



Kelly





Book mark with Peacock Tassel - Featuring the Heartfelt Creations Peacock Paisley collection - Design team entry #2

Hello - I hope today finds you well and doing things that make you happy.

I've been working in my craft room which makes me very happy.  Today I've made a book mark (or two) using the Feathery Peacock stamps and dies by Heartfelt Creations.  I hope you like them - if you want to see a tutorial (rather long) about the creation of the tassel it's available here:

https://youtu.be/y6ASvgZ26To

Materials List to make the book mark and Tassel:

Heartfelt Creations Peacock Paisley Collection:
Stamps:  Feathery Peacock  (HCPC-3661), Peacock Swirls (HCPC-3660),Daisy Flourish (HCPC-3658), Peacock Paisley (HCPC-3659)
Die: Peacock Paisley (HCDI-771)

Miscellaneous items:
140 pound watercolor paper 
coloring media of your choice (I used acrylic paint for the book marks and Inktense Pencils and Gelli Roll pens for the peacocks)
Momento Tuxedo Black stamp ink
Martha Stewart Living Glitter Specialty Finish in Icecap White #442 843
Beads, bead caps, bling, 
fibers (embroidery floss, yarn, wool, thread, string, etc)
Needle
Thread
Cotton Fabric
Pellon 808 craft fuse or stabilizer of your choice
Iron
3by5" index card or piece of cardboard to size to wrap fibers for tassel

To make the tassels you need fabric and iron on stabilizer along with the stamp and die (or scissors) of your choice.


Using the directions provided with your stabilizer, iron the fuse to the fabric, fabric side up.
Stamp the images on the fabric side of the stack and then iron with a dry iron/no steam to set the ink.

At this point I roughly cut the images to fit on the die plate for cutting. 


*I use Washi tape to temporarily hold the die cutters in place over the image and then pass the plate through the machine as many times as necessary to obtain a clean cut.  (The number of times will depend on your machine.)

Die cut all pieces and prepare to color.  I use Derwent Inktense, a Sakura Water Brush, Kohl-I-Noor (woodless colored pencils), Sakura Gelli Roll pens.  You may use any options you wish.  Acrylic paint and water colors will also work.  For the Feathery Peacock I also outlined some of the bolder lines with a black micron pen. 

NOTE:  Some of the stamp ink may run - it's all fixable - just keep working it.

On to the tassel - (link to the video on my YouTube channel provided above.)

Choose fibers and beads and embellishments of your choice.  I used a section of 3 X 5 index card to wind my fibers around to create the tassel.  Top it with whatever you choose, sew on the Peacock, embellish everything and you've got one gorgeous tassel.

Book marks are 140 pound Watercolor paper.  Background painted with acrylic paints and after dry; stamped with the Feathery Peacock (HCPC-3661) stamp.  The back is treated pretty much the same way but stamped with an assortment of the stamps mentioned in the materials list above.  I then colored and painted various parts of the stamped images.  

Finally, I laminated  the completed book mark using a book mark sheath and the Purple Cow hot/cold 9 inch Laminator (3016C)

I hope that you enjoyed this project and if you make one I hope that you will share it with me.

Thank you for spending time with me - I hope you have a very color-full day!

Kelly


Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Heartfelt Creations Design Team Entries! Project #1 Brag Book Mini

Hello!  I hope you are blooming today!  This is my first response to a design team call - ever!  I hope you like these projects - I know I loved making them and I always enjoy working with the Heartfelt Creations products.  Beautiful!

Project #1:

Brag Book Mini - 




Products Used:

Heartfelt creations:
Birds and Blooms paper collection (HCDPI-250)
Cover:  Pocket and Flipfold Inserts C- White (HCFPI-435-2) 5.5 inch by 11.75 inch and 7.5 inch by 13.5 inch pieces
Birds and Blooms Card Kit - bits and pieces - (HCCKI-356)

Stamps:  Birds and Blooms (HCPC-3644), Leafy Branch (HCPC-3645), fluffy Birdies (HCPC-3646)
Dies:  Birds and Blooms (HCDI-756), Leafy Branch (HCDI-757), Regal Borders and Pockets (HCDI-779), Ornate Borders & Pockets (HCDI-780), Border Essentials (HCDI-783)

Other Materials:  (use what you have and what you like!)
Paper:
Georgia Pacific white card-stock (Walmart) 
Adhesive:
Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear glue
Coloring Media:
24 Inktense watersoluble Ink pencils
24 Kohl-I-Noor Woodless colour Pencils
Fine water brush - Kuretake Co.  (Yellow)
Black liner pens:  Sharpie, Inc permanent, Sakura Microperm 01
Various Gel pens - Gelly Roll
Faber-Castell PITT artist pens - dark sepia and green
Inks:
Momento Luxe:  Toffee Crunch and Rhubarb Stalk
Whispers Archival dye Based Ink - Savoy Green
Pink Ribbon and miscellaneous ephemera from my stash

Tools:  (use what you are comfortable with!)
Trimmer or Scissors and ruler
Scissors
Ruler
Foam Matt (I used doubled craft foam for shaping my die cuts)
Stylus tools with various size balls
Score board or ruler and stylus
Die cut machine
Bone folder
pokey tool
Stamping blocks
Marvy 1/2 inch hole punch

***Binding system used was developed by Kathy Orta-King.  This system is patent pending and she allows it's use as long as she receives full credit for it's creation - hats off to Kathy.

Whew - lets get to it! 

Please Read All Information First BEFORE attempting.  

The base and binding are created using 8.5 by 11 inch sheets of Georgia Pacific White Card-Stock, found at Walmart's.  I've created this mini with 5 pages - 10 sides total.  You will notice that the page construction is basically a criss-cross card design.  (This allows for a pocket and a tuck spot on the reverse of each page.)  One sheet of card-stock is used per page.  A strip is left that you can use for tags, to create some embellishments, or cut down further for Artist Trading Cards if you like!  Imagine the possibilities!

* Using your trimmer or scissors and ruler, measure your card-stock to cut at 4.25 inches across the 8.5 inch width.  You need two 4.25 inch strips for each page.  This mini requires 10 strips for five pages.  (You can make however many pages you like.)

 

* Score each 4.25 inch by 8.5 inch piece of card-stock at the 4.25 inch mark (in half). Now each sheet is comprised of two 4.25 inch squares. (The two strips will be overlapped to create a tri-fold strip later.)
 

At this point, decide how you want your flaps for the pages to look.  You may die cut them as I have or not - these could be left as is for additional pages, pieces may be added for fold outs or tucks, pockets - or they can just be folded to create the diagonal.  One of the sides will be used to secure the binding for creating the album.  In this case I chose to die cut the corners using the border Essentials dies (HCDI-783).  Each page requires two strips and alternate sides of these two strips are cut or folded, etc. for flaps.  The cut for each is made from the top of the center fold out to the bottom outside corresponding corner -






















*On one of the strips (to be used as the back of the pocket page) use the 1/2 inch circle punch - or as desired, punch a half circle to create a "thumb hole" opening to ease access to pocket contents.

*Should you wish to do any page inking this is a good time to do it - before gluing.  







*Creating the pocket pages:
With two pieces of your card-stock strips (4.25 by 8.50) - Take one strip and using wet glue or Adhesive of choice - place adhesive around three edges - leaving the top edge open.  (You may choose to leave a side open instead but you will need to do your punching of the thumb hole to match the open side.)  Do this for each group of two until all of your pages are together.



NOTE:  The binding will be added to the bottom edge using a flap to secure it.

You should now have separate pages that look like this:










*Decorate as desired.  I used the Birds and Blooms Collection (HCDPI-250) along with the stamps and dies shown in the materials list.  I always make up a bunch of embellishments before I begin and then "play" as I go.  (You  may decorate the pages now being careful to avoid the flap that will be a pocket hinge - or you can do as I do and wait until the mini has been bound.)  I do start making the embellishments before the pages have been bound.

 

 

 

Momento Luxe Toffee Crunch ink was used to stamp the birds and branches to achieve a no-line coloring look.  the flowers were stamped using Momento Luxe - Rhubarb Stalk ink and the leaves were stamped using whispers - Savoy Green ink.

Color was added to the images using a variety of coloring media and techniques.  The products used are shown in the list at the beginning of the project.

More information and a brilliant tutorial on flower shaping (also can be used for the leaves, branches and birds) can be found on the Heartfelt Creations Website.  Emma Lou walks you right through it.

The front of the pages are based using some of the centers from the card pages in the paper collection (HCDPI-250)  











The back of the center page:  different Ornate border Die cuts were glued at the top of the pocket and around the "thumb hole".  (Hint: This can be used as a tuck to help hold any photos or items that are placed in the pocket formed by gluing the base of a side flap to the hinge system.)

 

Binding the mini:

The newest (that I've seen) of Kathy Orta-King's binding method has been used in this mini.  It takes the original hidden hinge system and adds a half inch extension to the piece that attaches the pages giving each page more room for manipulation and facilitates ease of use even with heavy decoration. Thanks again Kathy!

* This mini was bound using two connected strips of card-stock; one measuring 4 inches wide by 11 inches long and the other 4 inches wide by 5.5 inches long.  These two strips are over lapped by .5 inch and glued together using whatever adhesive you are using.  It's the typical accordion pleating - mountain fold, valley fold, mountain fold, etc. 
 

Place your 4 by 11 inch strip on your score board with one 11 inch edge along the top.  Do the same for your 4 by 5.5 inch strip.  (You may use a ruler and pencil if you don't have a scoreboard.)

Make your first score at 1.5 inches then score every .5 inch until you reach the end of the 11 inch strip.  Then do the same with your 4 by 5.5 inch strip but leave the last 1.5 inches of this strip without scoring so that it can be used as a tab to attach to the cover. The 1.5 inch tabs will attach to the cover and hold the binding in place.

 

Fold on all of your score lines to ensure ease of movement.  On the backside of your strip add adhesive to your folds as follows - do not get adhesive into the scored lines.

Connect the two strips together at the .5 inch overlap.










Read all of these directions first:

GLUING:

Skip the 1.5 inch tab and the next .5 inch section. Put glue in the next two .5 inch sections - again - avoid the scored lines, skip the next three .5 inch sections and glue into the next two, repeat until the last 2 inches of this strip is left.  The next .5 inch space is for the gusset between the last page and the tab for the cover.  The final 1.5 inches is the tab to connect to the cover - do not put any glue on the tabs yet.  

NOTE:   I fold my two glued sections to my next two unglued sections as I go so that the glue doesn't get everywhere - each of these glued sections will fold freely in the center and create one hinge.  You will need one hinge section for every page you create.  The third non-glued section is a gusset between your pages.
 

 

When all sections are glued and folded your binding section is about 6 inches long.  I use a type of packing tape to reinforce it and give added strength.  The pages will be attached to the top most section of each hinge.

Creating the cover:

Using the two Flipfold pieces from the list (HCFPI-435-2) make a cover to enclose your binding piece.  One piece will overlap the other as shown in the photo. Before connecting cover both pieces on the outside with your choice of paper.  I used papers from the Birds and Blooms paper collection (HCDPI-250).




You can die cut or punch a design on the opposite end of the piece with the flaps.  I chose to use one of the Regal Borders and Pockets dies (HCDI-779)












Glue on three sides creating a pocket on the back of the album by overlapping the pieces as indicated above.  I chose to decorate where my papers joined below the die cut with ribbon from my stash.
 

I glued the ribbon ends on the inside of the cover and then covered the ends using the same tape that I used to reinforce the binding section.











The bound pages will fit in the middle section of the cover allowing the end 4.25 inch page to fall about .25 inch short of the "back" section.










Cover the inside of the album with your choice of papers.










Note the section with the flaps.  This will now be covered by gluing a 5.5 by 5.5 Inch piece of covered card stock to the flap areas.












Now attach the pages to the binding flaps by gluing one flap to the top hinge piece on each tab.  NOTE:  Leave the bottom tab free from glue - only attach the page to the top .5 inch section.  Then, using the adhesive of your choice, glue the bound pages into the center section of the cover closest to the left hand side so that the pages have room to lay to the right.

 

 

 











Build a dimensional pocket for the left (front) side of your cover.  Cut three one inch strips that are less than the height of the card you want to use for a pocket front.  I used one of the cut outs from the paper collection and backed it with the same size white card stock.  I also used the same half inch circle punch to create a "thumb hole" access point on the pocket front.

Score each of the 1 inch strips in half and cut an inward angle at the top to allow tags to slide in easily.  Put glue on one side of the scored strips and attach one to each side and the bottom of your pocket front.






 Proceed to put glue on the bottom side of the strips that are now attached to your pocket front and center it on the tab at at the end of your bound section facing the end pocket that you built from the flipfold piece.












Decorate the opposite side tab in whatever manner you like.  I used part of a scrap piece of design paper and the fussy cut some of the leaves out and glued the whole piece over the tab end.










I finished the open pocket end of my cover by trimming around the edge with another piece of the pink ribbon from my stash.  I also used another piece of card stock strip, scored in half as a stopper at the inside bottom edge of this pocket flap so that extra photos could be held inside.

To close the album you take the flat end of the cover and slide it inside the open pocket end, thus securely fastening your mini brag book cover.

Proceed to decorate the outside of your book in any way that you see fit.  I used the die cut embellishments from the Birds and Blooms Collection to finish mine off.

There is lots of room for photos, tags, pretty much whatever you care to save.




 

 

Thank you for spending time with me - I know this was a lllloooonnnnnngggggg one.  I hope you enjoyed it and if you try it - let me know!

Have a lovely and creative day!

Kelly