Project 20 - Tree mini album

I could not resist this little MDF Christmas tree book from "Art from the Heart" at the Northern papercraft show this year! I used the technique Dyan had used for her house roof in the Christnas crafts magazine to add texture to the front page and make it more tree like! I used Blonde Moments Christmas papers - unusual colours for me! And I bought a set of the heart rubber stamps I have had my eye on for ages!!! This was also my first project during this countdown, using Stickles!

Today's embellishment is a tree cut from the Vintage Christmas backing paper and coloured in using Sakura Metallic pens. The edges were inked in olive green and it was then glued on to a small journalling tag. Two chipboard brackets and a merry christmas sign complete the look.

Project 20

You will need:

Ribbon
Stazon ink pad
Heart shaped rubber stamp
Blackboard paint
MDF Christmas tree book (Blonde Moments)
Self adhesive gems
Double sided tape
Turquoise blue ink pad
Christmas backing papers
Gluestick

Icicle Stickles

1. Paint one of the MDF pages with blackboard paint (optional) and leave to dry for a few hours.

2. Using the same technique as we have used before, cover the pages of the book by applying double sided tape around the edge and gluestick in the middle. Apply the page face down onto the back of a sheet of backing paper and trim close to the edge using a craft knife. Repeat until all the pages are completely covered.

3. From the offcuts of paper, make some heart shapes. Using a black Stazon ink pad, stamp the heart shape and cut out, leaving a small border. I used 10 altogether. Add some shape to the rounded ends by curling outwards around the scissors or a bone folder, for texture.

4. For the front cover, apply a thin stripe of silicone glue across the tree shape about half an inch up from the widest point of the tree and stick on four heart shapes, pointed end up. Apply another stripe of silicone half an inch higher and add three heart shapes this time. Repeat with another row of two hearts and then glue the last heart at the very top of the tree so the point lines up with the point of the MDF. Once the glue has set, you may have to make holes through the hearts using your cropadile by lining up the hole in the MDF on the underside and re-punching.

5. Once the pages are dry, ink the edges with the turquoise blue ink pad. Thread all the pages on to the book rings. Don't forget to add in the blackboard page too!

6. To decorate, use some coloured ribbons in matching colours and knot around the book rings. I also added a metal heart on each page stuck down with silicone glue.To Make Metal Hearts:

Cut the top and bottom off an old tomato puree tube, slit up one side carefully and open out to reveal this bronze/gold metal inside. Wash carefully without cutting yourself! Burnish the metal, by rubbing smooth with a bone folder. Using Stazon ink, stamp the heart shape several times across the metal and leave to dry for a minute. Cut out with normal scissors. Glue flat to avoid sharp edges.

7. To decorate the front of the tree and add sparkle, highlight some of the spots on the hearts with self adhesive gems and some others with icicle stickles. Leave to dry overnight.

Your tree mini book is now complete! Use it to keep a set of family photo's from around the table on the big day! You could put the year date on the tree trunk. Use the blackboard to record gifts given or the lunch menu! You can write on the blackboard with chalk, chalk pen or white Sakura pen if you want it to stay on! Maybe you could get everyone to sign it! Add whatever extras you like! Maybe a joke from christmas dinner crackers or a cracker gift threaded on the book rings as a charm! All momentoes of the day!

As all our granparents get older, I am going to keep this one this year as a reminder of our big family lunch!

Drop by tomorrow for another craft project. Happy Crafting! TFLx