• Home
  • About
  • Resources
  • Printables
  • Contact

Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

January 18, 2013

DIY: Smash Book Covers (Update-Completion)

This post is so overdue that I almost didn’t want to share it now.  Why?  Because I was up until 3AM on Christmas Eve finishing these three books.  And I’m still working on three more for my other niece and nephews who live out of town. {bad girl}  I told myself that it was too late to share because the holiday is over.
But, what made me decide to go ahead and share is that this is the type of project that you can make anytime of the year, not just Christmas.  Birthdays, Easter, Just Because, etc.  
They turned out awesome.  Exactly like I visioned them.
Book lovers please close your eyes for this part.  I found six old books at an antique store all the same size (somewhere close to 5 x 7).  I cut the front and back covers off leaving the pages attached to the spine.  They’ll get used later for some handmade cards.  The ring binder clips were purchased from Hobby Lobby.  Much cheaper than what the local office supply store was selling them for.  It pays to price check before buying. 
I love working with chipboard.  Any shape or color, I love it all.  It’s the first thing I look for when entering the craft store.  Even if I don’t need any.  
Spelling out my niece and nephews names I positioned the letters on the front covers.  Aubrie’s already had a design so no color was needed for hers.  For the boys I used spray inks.  Use an empty shoe box, it helps control the mess of ink from spreading on the counter.
Using hot glue and a few other coordinating chipboard shapes I put together the covers. Rubberstamps filled in the empty spaces (refer to the opening image).
Sorry, I forgot to take an image of the inside of the book covers.  You can see them in the photos below.  It’s real simple.  I covered the inside with a piece of patterned paper.  They were signed and dated on this portion.
Remember my earlier posts when I was doing the prep work for the pages?  Click here and here if you missed those.  Eight pages (of recycled boxes) is what I decided on for each book.  Front and back that makes 16.  Doesn’t seem like a lot at first, but trust me it’s enough for one book.  Truthfully, these books take time.  But in the end they are SO worth it.  An adorable keepsake they’ll have documenting a part of their life.
The rest of the book is up to you.  Be creative.  I was fortunate enough that my sister visited over the summer {sigh} so I was able to accumulate a lot of photographs of the kids.  Not sure what to use when putting the books together.  Some ideas are right here.  The possibilities are endless.  I’m simply sharing a sample of what I used.
My Dad used his drill to create the three holes that bind the pages together with the covers.  It worked awesome.  I held the book together tight and he lowered the drill press to put the holes in. Recommendation:  These books have three ring clips in each.  And that works great, but for the other three that I’m making four ring binder clips will be used.  It’ll give the book just a little bit more stability.  Again, three work, but I’m going to try four.  Ribbon is another option in place of the clips.
Along the edge of each sheet a strip of sticker paper about an inch wide was attached for extra reinforcement.  I’m speaking of the side that you will be drilling the holes into.  For Cooper’s book (above) The letter C (rubberstamp) was used for his name.  I alternated the C with other stamps.  You could also use patterned paper cut into one inch strips.  Again, be creative.
This was a good project for me because I was able to use all the scrapbook paper that I’ve been collecting over the years.  I say collecting because when a buy all the pretty paper I store it in a nice container for safe keeping.  Fellow craft geeks can relate with this statement.
Stickers?  I like to collect them as well.  Dig your stash out and use them throughout the pages.
I waited until the last minute to put them together.  Why?  Because I work better under pressure. Seriously, why do we wait until the last minute?  I have no answer. The photos were sitting on my table for months and all of the prep work was done as I posted each update. 
I’ll be working on the other three this weekend.  It’s fun making six of them because it allows me to try different techniques with each one.
Now that most of my nieces and nephews are using pencils and crayons perhaps I’ll make them journals using this same concept.  We’ll see what I come up with.  I’m still saving all of my boxes and my stash is quite large.  From time to time my sister sends me a box of her recycled boxes to add to the pile.  Most grateful for those as well.  Along with the boxes of Trader Joes cookies she includes in the package.
Leave me a comment below if you ever made a smash book.  Would love to hear what tools and supplies you used.

July 20, 2012

DIY Inspiration: Smash Book Progress

©JenniferSchultingPhotography2012
I’m extremely excited yet overly tired.  Honestly, I could fall asleep within 30 seconds of hitting the pillow.  First I want to share an update regarding the Smash Books.  If your new to the blog, *thanks* for visiting.  Also, read here for the history behind this awesome handmade project.
I’ve got three piles of cutouts ready to go.  Huge piles.  I surprised myself at how much I’ve collected for this.  Every page in the book isn’t going to be the exact same size.  Why?  Because I hate to measure and I don’t want to take the time to cut again.  I’ve spent enough time with the scissors for the prep work.  And it doesn’t matter if they match.  I’ve got an idea to make each page fit within the book.  It was inspired by a child’s toy that I saw in the store.  I’ll share more when I approach that step.  
I also kept the odd pieces from each box that I broke down.  Not sure where they will fit in, but I couldn’t throw them away.
That’s all folks.  Girl needs sleep.  Check back tomorrow for Friday’s Top 10 List (I’ve made new connections and found some goodies from around the web).  On Saturday I’ll show you what supplies I’ve gathered to place in the books.  Everyday oddities that are inexpensive yet creative. 
Until the next word…
~Jennifer 

July 2, 2012

DIY Recycling Inspiration: Handmade Smash Books for Christmas

Today is the first day of July.  And there’s no better time than to start those handmade Christmas projects than now. I’m trying very hard not to wait until the last minute with gifts this year.  I have two nieces and four nephews who will love these smash books.   
I’m going to post updates as the project progresses all the way up till their completion.  I invite you to create one along with me. Give one as a gift or a keepsake for yourself.
There is a few things that I would like to say before we get started.  
First, if you Google smash books you will get a wide variety of options to look at.  There are several ways to create one.  Some may call them a scrapbook or a journal.  I like Smash Book.  I’m sharing my ideas with you for inspiration.  There is no wrong way to make one.  Let your imagination flow.  I’ve seen some that focus on one particular subject or event.  My creations are going to be collection of photos and oddities that my nieces and nephews will enjoy.  They will all be signed and dated.  As I type this I’m envisioning in my head that this may turn into a yearly gift from their Aunt Jennifer.
We are living in a world full of technology.  Agree?  It’s nice to have something tangible to track your footprint.  Are you with me?
Second, I’m not promoting any of the product boxes that you see in this post.  I’m recycling everyday products that we all have in our homes.   
Let the creativity begin!
The core of this project revolves around recycling.  I’ve been collecting and saving all sorts of boxes for quite some time.  Cereal, crackers, Mac & Cheese, fruit snacks, etc.  If I can find a way to reuse something I’m happy.  Another bonus is your production costs is low.    
The Secret Life of Bees.  Have you seen it?  I’ll be watching this tonight while I start this project.  Perhaps I’ll order a pizza also.  Too hot to cook and I don’t dare turn the oven on.
The beginning is the most time consuming part.  If you own a large industrial paper cutter than you can breeze through the prep work.  I only use my paper cuter for cardstock, so using a pair of scissors will get the job done.  
I’m taking all of the boxes and cutting off the sides, top, and bottom.  Those will get set aside for use later.  The front and back will be used for the base pages of the books.     
I’m taking all of the cereal boxes and cutting them in half.  This will be the general size of the pages for each book. Do I measure each page to make sure they are even?  No.  Once you get to know me, you’ll find that I don’t measure anything.  To eyeball it works just fine for me.  I have some ideas for combining various sizes in the same book.  I’ll share that later when I get to it.
That’s all for now.  A Sunday evening with a movie, pizza, and a pair of scissors.  My next update will come when I’m all done cutting.  I have six books to make so I want to get the most gruesome part done all at once.
If I can inspire you to make one, you are awesome!  If your here to read along, you are awesome!  My muse sings a river of ideas to me daily.  And if I can create something interesting and inexpensive, then I want to share it with you.
I would love to hear (see) from you if your participating in this project.  Leave me a comment below. You can also communicate through my Eightymillion page on Facebook.  

Welcome

Let’s Connect

17th Avenue - Feminine & Stylish Wordpress Themes

The Mixologist DJ AA on Mixcloud

https://eightymillion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Mixologist-DJ-AA-Disco.mp4

Midwest Airbnb Loft

Midwest Airbnb Loft

Categories

Search

Copyright © 2022 Eightymillion · Theme by 17th Avenue