I love when you have a project in your brain that ends up being even better than you imagined. This project is one of those. I have wanted to connect Tim Holtz Mini Cabinet Cards together to create an accordion album for a while now. One night laying in bed it came to me. I had to grab my phone and make some notes. The next day, it was done.
I really love that when this accordion is folded up it looks like a stack of vintage treasures. I love that there are bits and pieces of the things inside peeking out just waiting to be discovered.
The structure of the book is made up of 5 Mini Cabinet Cards. I created “leather” strips by dying Grunge Paper strips with Walnut Stain Distress Stain. I added stitching to the strips so that they would look more like leather straps. I cut not notches and slits in the sides of the cabinet cards so that I could feed the strips through each cabinet card.
The front of the album has layers of goodness. There is a layer of cotton batting, a layer of Eclectic Elements fabric, a Photobooth strip, and a Found Relatives card. Those items are all adhered to the cover and wrapped with a dyed piece of Crinkle Ribbon. All of the elements have been curled, wrinkled, and inked with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.
On top of the ribbon there are even more layers. Next is a die cut floral piece from the new Emporium Ephemera pack, and a torn scrap of vellum, a Foundry Frame, and a Remnant Rubs sentiment added to a scrap of a Pocket Card. I added drips of different colors of Alcohol Ink on the Foundry Frame to add color. I used a Loop Pin to attach two vintage pearl jewelry dangles and a Shield Charm. The front cover also has Mini Corners on the two front corners.
I love that I had I found the Remnant Rub sentiment “Beautiful Moments” because I wanted this book to have different pictures of our lives using pictures from my phone. A few years ago I realized that my family just isn’t a 2 page 12×12 layout family. We don’t go on big adventures. We are very much about small moments that are captured in the quick snap from our phones. I wanted to create an album that would let me share lots of random images that tie together to show a beautiful life.
The first inside page has several layers. The base is a piece of pattern paper from the new Correspondence Paper Stash. I added a Star Fastener to each corner. Under the base paper, I added a paper flag cut from another Correspondence piece of paper.
Next, there is a new Pocket Card matted on a piece of cork from the Textured Surfaces set. Tucked between those layers is a piece of manila cardstock die cut with the new Postage Dots side. I colored the manila with Festive Berries Distress Spray Stain. After it was dry, I added Special Delivery Remnants Rubs to the die cut. I curled, tore, and inked the edged with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I bent a large Game Spinner in half to create a clip. Under the clip I added a photo and Spun Sugar Distress Glittered heart die cut with the new Heartfelt die.
The second page is a pocket page. To turn the Cabinet Card into a pocket, I filled the opening with a piece of Correspondence pattern paper. I added a Remnant Rub sentiment to an Index Label. I place the label on a scrap from a Pocket Card. I clipped the sentiment piece and a piece of Emporium Ephemera to the card opening. I also tucked a piece of ephemera inside the pocket along with photos I printed into a block. I added random strips of Tissue Tape throughout the book also as a unifying element.
Inside the pocket I added a #8 manila tag. I embellished the tag with scraps of Correspondence paper, Emporium Ephemera, and arrow from Industrious Borders. At the top of the tag I layered a Mini Gear with a Ring Fastener to create a pull tab.
The third page follows the same formula, Correspondence paper inside the cabinet card, Tissue Tape, Emporium Ephemera, and another Game Spinner clip. I also added a Flashcard with a Remnant Rub sentiment and a scrap of dyed Crinkle Ribbon. One thing to note here is the layer of vellum that lays between the strip of photos and the layers of embellishments. I think it adds a subtle break between the two so that they don’t compete against one another for attention.
The tag for the pocket on this page was created using a Pocket Card. I added a few pieces of Emporium Ephemera and an Industrious Borders arrow. For this tag and page I printed my photos in a strip.
The next page incorporates the same elements again, paper inside the cabinet card and layers of Emporium Ephemera. I added a Mini Numeral on this page. I chose 5 for our family of 5. I also used a Small Talk sticker for the sentiment. I added a scrap of vellum behind the sentiment to help it stand out from the images behind it.
The insert for this page is another tag. It combines torn Correspondence paper, an Industrious Border arrow, Emporium Ephemera, Remnant Rubs, and a Mini Numeral that has been painted. I repeated the Mini Gear and Ring Fastener combination at the top.
The last page is pretty simple. I wanted to have a memo board feel so I used a larger piece of the cork Textured Surfaces for the page base. The Textured Surfaces have an adhesive back so I added a piece of scrap paper inside the cabinet cards so that I could still have a pocket inside the cabinet card. This page is pretty simple in that it just has the photo strip and Emporium Ephemera “stapled” to the cork.
The ends of the “leather straps” wrap around to the front of this page. I added new Star Fasteners to them to make them look like the are riveted in place.
I thought it was super fun to find a movie ticket from Bolivar, Mo in the ephemera. I grew up not far from there so using it felt like adding a little nod toward “home”.
I used a Pocket Card to create the insert for the last pocket. I folded an Index Label over the top and added a Typed Token and a Star Fastener to create a pull tab for the pocket.
I will be adding handwritten quotes about time and moments to the book on the journal cards. I added the first one already to the first page. I think it is a perfect choice for this little book…
The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.
-Richard Bach
(sweet sigh) I just love the way this book came together. It incorporates such a sweet vintage feel with images I really love. What a fun way to revisit those moments by have snapshots of them all in this one book.
PS- I am thinking this book should be an upcoming online class. What do you think?
It’s just awesome. Nothing else needs to be said!
Oh yes, an online class for this project would be of great interest!
awesome creativity!! love it!
I love your work! Any chance you’d do more video tutorials???!!! O do a class in my neck of the woods – KC area!!!
Actually I am coming to the KC area this fall! I will be at Scrapbooks-n-Memories in Harrisonville in November. I am also planning on doing more videos. I am even thinking about doing some live stream classes. I just need to buckle down and do it!
Yea!!! My daughter is getting married in November 7th – I hope it isn’t that weekend. I will be there if I can.
Wondering the best way to put stems on the crinoline rose flowers. Just now starting to make them, and I’m obsessed! Any tips?
Thanks for all the inspiration!!
I was wondering what to do with my Cabinet Cards! Great idea, beautiful album!!
Oh, yes, a great project for an on-line class…detailed visual of how the grunge-leather-type connects the accordion. Beautiful Moments Mini Cabinet Card Album is so inspiring. Have all components except for the new Tim Holtz Star Fasteners and Foundry Frame.
I love everything about it, you have a way of making your projects awe inspiring yet personal. I think the bent spinner is ingenious, they look like arrows that draw your attention. I would really like to see this as an online class.
If I can’t get a live class with you, an online class would work great. I, also, like the idea of you doing videos!
I love this! My grandkids just gave me some little photo machine pics. Now i know what to do with them. thanks for sharing
Yes,yes and yes to this becoming a class!
This is just wonderful…would make a perfect class.
Simply Wonderful!
I love it. It would be great if you could offer it as a class or a printed tutorial. Thanks
Fabulous. It really is. I’m sure it was way fun to make too.
It should most definitely be a class. Love it.
Your special moments album is fantastic. My family isn’t a 12×12 two page layout either. This would be my kind of album. This is a project I could actually see myself making. Thank you for sharing how you made it, very inspiring. I love the pocket tags and the photo strips, they remind me of photo booth strips. Thank you for sharing this beautiful pocket album.
Jacquelene L
Canada
Please considered offering this as a project when you come to Scrapbooking-n-Memories (grovel grovel.. lol) I have already told Kourtney to count me as attending! Beautiful work!!
Gorgeous as always Tammy!
Oh Tammy, I love every inch of this album including how “the a ha” moment came to you before you went to sleep. Just think of how hard your creative brain worked out the details while you slept! So beautiful, and filled with those perfect and real life moments of family joy! I would love to see more of the process so a video class would be great…something that I can watch over and over. I have had a recent stroke and seizure that has hurt my comprehension abilities. In reality, I have always been such a fan of yours Tammy. I just can never get too much of your inspiration that shines through the love that you have for your beautiful family.
I just love this project! What a perfect way to record your family’s memories.
This is really lovely, well done. Thanks for sharing
That project is amazing. What a lot of work that must have been. It is a real treasure!
A beautiful album and truly a treasure, Tammy. It would be a wonderful class. Thanks for another fabulous project!
~Kris~!
Just beautiful Tammy. I’m a huge fan. <3
Just stunning Tammy. Beautiful feeling.
PHEW! I AM LOST FOR WORDS! WOW!!
HI
WHAT ARE CABINET CARDS?
Love this accordion book, how clever to make it from cabinet cards. I would like an online tutorial please! Jan x
I think this album looks great! You did a great job with each page and the details are wonderful. I truly love your handmade “leather” strips though!! A class for this album would be good.
Hugs,
Jo
Absolutely brilliant way to use the cabinet cards, Tammy! LOVE!
Just beautiful!
I think that the on line class would be lovely. I have never taken one before this might be the one
Absolutely gorgeous Tammy, I’d sign up in a heart beat if you offered this online class!
This project is amazing .. and you are super amazing at sharing all the pictures and instructions .. You ROCK Tammy ! Happy Friday 🙂
Great job, as usual! 🙂 Love the tip about separating layers with vellum-can’t wait to give it a try. Mine will be torn and inky (out of habit!). Of course would love to see this as an online class!! Please!
I would definitely sign up for this online class