My Sizzix Photo Album - too cute!

Hello - Today I have something to show that has no stamping! Shocker huh? I few weeks ago I found a great sale on a few Sizzix dies at their outlet. REALLY great prices. Most everything I got was 60-80%off! Was a great way to get a couple of the Pro dies that are normally $60.00 - I got a few for $11.00! And then I also added a couple of smaller things that I just thought were too cute to pass up for the price.

This photo album die was one of those things. It is the XL Photo Album die -

 I usually make up a "practice" item when I use a new die for the first time. Play with scrap stuff you know? Well this one was going so well and easy that my practice mock up was too cute so I just kept going with it! The outside of the album is cut out of Sizzix scoreboard, It was cream colored, but I used a copic to make it blue to match my papers. All of the papers I used for the album inside and out are from The Girl's Paperie - totally love these papers!!!! The die cuts out the two outer boards, the binding edge with the scallops and then creases in the folds at the perfect places for easy folding. It also cuts out the label for the title, which I added an epoxy sticker that seemed fitting. 

Now after I got the inside all done it was pretty poofy... wouldn't stay flat. So I fixed that by adding a stretch lace ribbon from the back to the front held closed with a Maya Ribbon Ribbon latch. I think that may be my favorite part. :0)  I then found some metal corners while digging for the latch, and they just were screaming to be used on this one!

Here is the inside -

The instructions tell you to make an accordion piece to attache the inside papers to the cover. That worked out perfect, I used chipboard pieces cut to fit in just a tad bit smaller, each piece covered front and back with different coordinating papers.

I didn't like the accordion showing once the book is opened, so I cut out some sizzix large border dies (Also purchased on sale for a couple of bucks!) Love how cute that turned out!

I know you could make this with out the die. Really it would be pretty easy... but sometimes it is nice to just lay the piece of mat or scoreboard in the Big Shot and all the pieces come out for you... with all the creases and a perfect fit.

My Mom asked me the other day what I do with the things I make for my blog. I had to laugh as sometimes it is funny I make things just for the fun of making them and showing them here with no purpose for it after that. This turned out so cute, I can't decide if I should just wrap it up and give it as a gift - or just MAYBE keep it for myself :0) Wouldn't it make a great Donkey Album? LOL We will see... I am sure this Sizzix die will be used again  -

Well better get going... Hubby is banging away in the living room as I type. We didn't get to do much last week in our living room. But this week he is getting deep into re-doing it. Funny... or Sad though as we move things to paint and clean and rearrange... the flooring we were hoping would last us another year or two (10 year old inexpensive laminate) well... it ain't going to do it. We all thought didn't want to get into it now.. are having to put down new flooring, and because all the rooms run together that means new flooring in the living room... dining room and our main hallway. Hubby's day or two of painting... just turned into a huge project. BUT when it is all done - we will have freshly painted walls.... new trim and NEW FLOORS! Totally awesome! Good thing we decided to not have Thanksgiving here this year - otherwise I would be totally freaking out right now!! LOL

HUGS... I just heard him yell at Libbie for chasing the cat into the room.... better run myself and help corral our furry kids. :0)