mini album for my Mom......

I had been working hard on finishing this mini for my mom for Mother's Day and was glad when I got it in the mail knowing she would receive it before Mother's Day.  This is my first completed mini and I absolutely love it!!!  So much so that I am almost finished with one for myself.  I make so many things and give them away that I decided to start making one for myself too.  This mini was made with K&Company the Madeline collection paper and some Madeline die cuts.  So lets begin.....

I used gold embossing power for the outside edge and the die cut frame, the sentiment was from the paper line, and the floral from some silk flowers I took apart and a faux pearl button from Walmart.

The pictures used in this mini were taken two years ago but knew they would be perfect for this mini.  My grandkids just love to have their pictures taken and will just pose for me and I love that about them.  So now that I found mini albums on YouTube I can't wait to do more.  I have sooooooo many pictures but found the traditional 12 x 12 scrapbooking books to much for me and so overwhelming so these mini's are perfect for me.  This mini was taken from an idea off of YouTube by Lake Avenue Designs, she does just beautiful minis and I followed her design but then added some of my own touches as well.  Here is the first two page spread......

on this page I just did a corner punch on the photo and added a burgundy flower that I painted from the multi colored flowers by Recollections, added the pearl button and two small white flowers from my silk flower stash and put two bling centers, and added a spray stamp image under the photo.  I just love how Austin is folding his hands together like he is just loving these picture taking shoots.  How adorable is what my granddaughter would day.  All the pictures taken for this album were taken in a hotel room when we went to go see them for Christmas.  It was wonderful on the color of clothing and how it worked perfect for this mini.  I had them stand in front of the white wall and away we went.  Unfortunately my hubby is not a picture man so he did not want to get in on the pics.  But he did a great job capturing us all together.

I just loved working with this paper line because its so me love everything about it except that they stopped making it in the 12 x 12 paper stack!!  You can only get the 8 x 8 now and not sure how long that will last.  I got mine from AC Moore Craft store.  Well, anyway this page I loved how it turned out.  I did a dimensional butterfly with two blings down the center, added a pocket with some pink ribbon glued on the inside edge, cut down on the front pocket and added a white bow and inserted three photo mats.

I really didn't add words to this mini and just let the pictures do the talking.  The top picture of my daughter, ganddaughter and me is a three generation pic and we took it at McDonald's if you can believe it.  I love that when you do something in black-n-white how professional it becomes.  The other two photos are the ones my daughter had done professionally and they turned out beautiful.  What I did was take the photos she sent me and added them into power point and printed them onto white cardstock and that work perfect.

I just noticed I didn't take a picture of the next two page spread together so I guess I will have to do them individually.



This page was made with three pockets (made from envelopes and cut down to the size I wanted) and glued down in three different directions.  I added a sentiment here and put a clear acetate mat over it so to protect the photo on the other side.

I added pink glitter ribbon from a bow bought from the Dollar Tree and added three heart shaped brads for the centers so they could be used as a pull tab.

Here is how it looks without my eyeballs staring at you.

This side picture was taken more than two years ago but wanted to make sure I had a picture of my hubby in this mini.   This page is actually has a flap and this pic is on the front of that.  I used my favorite corner punch on it too.

When you open it whaa la....

Austin has such wonderful facial expressions and am glad when I capture them.  This is such a sweet picture of them two together.  They are the kind of kids that don't mind hanging out together and taking pics together!!!

My daughter isn't a picture taker like her dad so I am really glad when she will let me just get some pics.  This is my favorite for sure.  I loved how the pink silk ribbon mirror our arms hugging each other.

This flower I took off another silk bunch and added only the pearl part of the buttons I got from Walmart.  Love it!!  They look as good as the prima flowers if I do say so myself.

This is the next page spread.

On this page I added a picture of my son and the two grandkids here and added some bling and a spray clear stamp image.  Oh, I also antiqued all the edges with Distress Walnut Satin.

This is one of my favorite pages.  It looks like a corset and it held the two photo books perfectly.

Here are the two books I added......

The first one I added the flower that I made......

and added these portrait size pics.  I loved the pic of Cheyenne because when we were taking pictures she said here grandma take this.  She made a heart with her hands and said she was saying I love you to me.  Do you just love it???  Wiping away a tear from my face I tell ya.

The next one reminds me of a checkbook cover.

I added a die cut oval from the collection and embossed around the edge with gold.  The pink was already on there.

Aren't these photos beautiful just look at Cheyenne she is such a natural, who knows maybe she will become a model.

Here is a closer look at the front of the pocket page.  I stacked two butterflies for dimension and added two sliver blings for a pop.  Added two half circles to each edge and punched seven holes on each side for the ribbon.  You can add as many photo books or mats to this pocket you just need to loosen the ribbon to allow for them.  Love It.

The last two page spread....

I added just a photo, bling, and a spray stamp image.

Here is another favorite.  This is an envelope pocket page with a flip.

I added a dimensional butterfly, a blue bling to the center for interest, and for the two pocket pull tabs I added my favorite buttons.

I added my sentiment to this page and put another clear acetate page over it so it wouldn't ruin the photo page.

Here is the picture I used on the very first page but did it in black and white I thought it was a nice ending photo.

I love the two slide out pictures on this page!!!!!!

Sooo adooooorable!!!!

Here is the back page with my handmade stamp, and a smaller mat that I used some gold embossing powder on the edge to tie it in with the cover.  So that is it and I thought it turned out BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, & BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  I am so hooked on mini albums!  My mom called me and said she just looooooooveed it and was sooooo surprised too.  I was glad she loved it and you can guess she will be getting many more.  Thank you for looking at my first completed mini with me, I hope it may have inspired you to make mini's too.  Happy Mother's Day!!

xo

barbara lynn

my minds eye......

When you don't find beauty in the moment you can go out and find it!!!!  Bring some joy and color into your day by taking pictures.  You will find that when you try to get just that right shot you are finding joy in the moment and beauty as well.  This really is great therapy and a great way to get out of the house.  Capture a sunrise/sunset, flower, fence, waterfall, pets, and children you get the idea right.....just go out and see the world through a lens.  It doesn't have to be an expensive camera....any camera will do.  I just have a small purse size Canon point and shoot and it does really well outside.  Sooo......I have captured a few floral beauties from our rose garden that I would like to share with you.....I hope you enjoy the journey, find joy in the moment,  and peace in your heart today.

xo

barbara lynn

she did it anyway........

Yesterday I had a conversation with a lady and she was discussing how life is so hard and that some days she just cannot bear it.  I could so relate to her and felt for her as well.  She felt so sad that there wasn't any joy in her life and to her that just didn't seem to be right.   I didn't know her that well nor could I take more time to talk to her to see what was so trying for her.  But at that moment I remembered from the class I took with Melody Ross on how to no matter what the day brings whether it is with joy or full of struggles we are to just do it anyway.  What she meant is that to truly live the life you want to live you have to go out and be brave anyway, be happy anyway, take risks anyway.......do it anyway.   I love this concept and how true it is.  It is not easy to find happiness, joy, and peace when things are going wrong and there seems to be no end either. 

So today I have a video by Martina McBride called Anyway that says it beautifully and hope that no matter what your circumstances are right now that you can find happiness, joy, and peace........find something small that brings you joy and rejoice in that for there is something you can find everyday that diamond in the ruff so to speak and put a smile on your face and remember........you can do it anyway.

xo

barbara lynn

scripture n snapshot....

This picture was taken on the way to Tybee Island.  This is the area that all the shrimp boats dock along with the dolphin tour boats.  One day my hubby and I stopped and walked out on the dock that is on the other side and I was able to get this shot.  It was a perfect day and I new just what verse I would put with it. 

Whenever I see fishing boats it reminds me of Jesus' call to all of us to me fisher of men.  What does this mean well as it is written in the Life Application Bible is says: Jesus told Peter to leave their fishing business and become "fishers of men," to help others find God.  We all need to fish for souls.  If we practice Christ's teachings and share the gospel with others, we will be able to draw those around us to Christ like a fisherman who pulls fish into his boat and nets. 

Now this does not mean that we all should quit our jobs it means we have a chance to spread the Good News to those we work with or have contact with everyday. You just never know who you may touch with you words.  I pray that you enjoy this day, find peace in the moment, and that the grace of our Lord be with you all.

xo

barbara lynn

treasure the moments.....

If you let yourself be absorbed completely, if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.  author: Anne Morrow Lindbergh

xo

barbara lynn