Welcome to the Isle of Wight

We’re so glad you could join us on our Blog Hop. We’ll be showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® 2012-2013 Annual Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep on hopping. We love comments, so please do tell us what you think!
 

Welcome to the Isle of Wight for my little section of the Pinkies blog hop today. You will have joined me today from Nicky's blog who shared a lovely triple time stamping (my favourite technique as you know) project using French Foliage, a lovely set which has carried over into our new catalogue.

 

The projects I am sharing with you today have been made for my good friend Natalie who will be celebrating her birthday on October 28th. I wrote in her wedding card in March that a handmade gift would follow. Well it is following, just a few months longer than I had anticipated (in fairness life with a newborn didn't allow much time for crafting).

After Natalie got married in March I printed a whole load of photos and they have been sitting waiting for me to make them into something. I googled mini albums to find a suitable tutorial and really loved this design. I created my album base using Primrose Petals and Very Vanilla Cardstock to tie in with the Designer Series Paper I had chosen for the project, Patio Party. This mini album is made up of 6"x6" panels which is perfect for standard 4"x6" photos if you trim them slightly to give a border around the image.

 

 

I used one of our lovely Flourish Frames for the front cover (currently found in the Autumn Winter Catalogue). I stamped the monogram using our Broadsheet Alpha in Midnight Muse. I added the '&' and the date with my Raspberry Ripple Stampin' Write Market. I mounted this onto a strip of Raspberry Ripple cardstock which I sprayed with our brand new Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz to give the front cover a bit of bling. The butterflies were cut with my favourite Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

 

 
 Here is the completed album unfolded. I embellished the pages with our brand new Elegant Butterfly punch and matching Papillon Potpourri Stamp Set. I used all the designs from the Patio Party Designer Series Paper as it matched the wedding colour scheme so perfectly. I also love to showcase all the patterns as it is such a shame to only use one side of the lovely papers.
 

 
To go with this album I wanted to make Natalie a birthday card. I absolutely love the new Fabulous You stamp and wanted to try heat embossing it. I tried several embossing powders until I discovered that it looked effective with plain silver against black.  I wanted a plain and simple card that showcased this beautiful and intricate set. I'm really pleased with the result (although weirdly I lost a rhinestone somewhere between making and photographing and also the card isn't so wonky in real life!)
 

Thank you for popping by my blog today. You can continue the hop with Alison and her fantastic circus creations using You're Amazing from our new Annual Catalogue.