With Love from Mom

This past March I was contacted by a client who wanted scrapbooks for her adult daughters. They have a family tradition of going away for Mother's day weekend and my client wanted to give these to her daughters during their getaway. This project was different in that she wanted me to add the photos to the pages. I struggled with this for a while because I do not know the family, so I did not know the chronology of the photos. During a conversation where I was updating her on the status of the project, she told me that the chronology was not important to her. Whew! That gave me the green light to just be creative. My client also gave me an overview of each of her daughters including their color preferences and the a little bit about each of their personalities. Along with the photos, she also gave me Bible verses, recipes, and "Mom Tips" that she wanted included in each album.

(NOTE: I do not have permission to show their personal photos so I only included the pages where you cannot see any faces.) 

I made these albums very interactive with lots of tags and pockets for things to be tucked inside. The first one is made using Autumn colors and sunflowers. This is the K&Company Tuscan paper by Tim Coffey. I included little pockets for the Bible verses. The album is 5"x7" and I used Kraft cardstock for the pages and covered chipboard for the covers and spine.

 

The second album was made the same as the first using different paper. This paper is called Habitat and is by Recollections. This album is also 5"x7". The colors for this album are earthy with a splash of purple.

My client called me the day after their trip to tell me what her daughters thought of the albums. She was excited to report that her daughters were extremely grateful for these gifts. They spent hours going through all the photos, recipes and Bible verses, and then they switched and looked at each others albums all the while reminiscing. She said it was a very memorable weekend for all of them.


Thanks for visiting my blog!
Blessings,
Debbie

Mini Scrapbook Albums for a Memorial Service

A client contacted me to ask me if there was something I could create for a friend of hers who had tragically lost her 19 year old daughter. I suggested a mini scrapbook album that could be a place where the mom of this girl could keep all the notes and photos that she had been receiving. Neither my client or her friend were scrapbookers, so I created the album to be photo ready. In other words all they would have to do is add the notes and photos that were received. Here is what I came up with:

I made the album using cardstock for the pages and the photo mats and tags were made from a K&Company Paper line. The album measures 5" x 7". The cover is made from chipboard and covered with the same K&Company paper. I used the very popular "Stack the deck" binding system that was created by Laura at Following the Paper Trail on You Tube.{Click on this link to check out the tutorial: Following the Paper Trail } Every page had multiple pockets that I was able to put tags in that could be used as photo mats or a place for her to add thoughts and memories of her daughter. My client wanted the Bible verses that were read at the memorial service to be included into the album as well as a couple of photos of the girl. I also added lots of ribbons and lace trims to the pages and the cover.

When my client presented the book to her friend she was overwhelmed. She loved the idea of having a central place to put all the notes, and photos, etc. into. I was told she put it on her mantle.

The project; however, does not end there...the girl had a 15 year old sister. When she saw the mini album she asked if I would be able to create one for her. So my client contacted me and of course I said, "yes." Then the thought came to me that I do not know what 15 year old girls like. I have three sons. I was a little nervous, so I enlisted the help of my daughter-in-law and here is what I came up with:

For this album I used the Build a Page album Tutorial from Kathy of Paper Phenomenon. {Click on this link to purchase the tutorial. Paper Phenomenon Build a Page Tutorial }
The pages are made from cardstock and matted with all different scraps of scrapbook paper that I had from a bunch of different projects. This mini scrapbook album also measures 5" x 7". The cover is made from chipboard and then covered with denim from an old pair of blue jeans. I also used the coin pocket on the inside back cover for some tags.I added lace on the front of the album and the spine is a textured felt. There are LOTS of tags that can be used for photos or a place for her to record thoughts and memories of her sister. I incorporated the Bible verses and photos that were given to me for the mom's album. I also added ribbons and lace trims in this mini album.

 

Since the age of the recipient of this mini scrapbook album album is 15 I added lots of fibers with charms and beads.The young girl and her mother both thought the album was perfect for the young girl. It was a blessing for me to be a small measure of comfort through my client for these two ladies.

Blessings,
Debbie

It has been One Whole Year?

When I started this blog last August it was my intention to post photos whenever I created things for my clients and for myself to keep a record and a digital portfolio of sorts. I have been creating through the year, and at the end of each project I would think to myself, "I really need to post this to my blog." Project after project I would have the same thought. Before I knew it a whole year had passed. Whew! I better get busy catching up.....

My last post showed pictures of the invitations and favors I had made for my daughter-in-law's bridal shower. I also made the favors for their wedding. Pictured below is one of the Mini Scrapbook Albums I made. There are little pockets to tuck tags and/or photos into on each page.

Here is a photo of the bride and groom. It was a lovely wedding.

Well,  that's all I have for now. More to come soon.....

Getting Started

When I set up this blog it was my intention to start a small business where I made favors and other handmade items for parties and events. I have been creating handmade items for a long time for friends and family. They have been telling me for years that I should start a business. I had no idea that the first photos and story would be an event for one of my sons. My oldest son announced that he and his girlfriend of 8 years were engaged. I was so happy and excited! I started to imagine the invitations, favors and centerpieces for the shower and the wedding.

First I'd like to share the items I made for the shower. We decided to have a tea party bridal shower. We cleared my living room of furniture and transformed it into an English tea room complete with topiaries as centerpieces on the tables. Below is a photo of one of the centerpieces. Making these was a little more time consuming than I thought they would be, but they turned out so pretty.

The Bride has chosen a rich plum color along with cream for the color theme for the wedding. The invitations for the shower matched that theme.

The favors were made from the cutest little clipboards that stand up. They are 4 inches by 6 inches. I covered them with pretty scrapbooking paper and added some flowers that I made out of coffee filters and further embellished the clipboards with flowers made out of mulberry paper.

The menu can be replaced by a photo. The flowers are only glued along the edge so the corner of a photo can be slipped under it.

Since Amanda is a photographer, the favor for the wedding has something to do with photography. I will share them when I have a few of them done.

Are you looking for someone to do favors or handmade items for an even you are planning? Keep me in mind. I have a huge file of items that I can make. Contact me, let me know what you are looking for and I am sure we can come up with something you will be happy with.  E-mail me at liasofavors@gmail.com.

Debbie Ketcham