Australasian Blog Hop Stamp Of The Month This Moment S1501

 

Welcome to the first blog hop of 2015 by the  Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop group. If you have arrived here from Shaunna’s Blog, Passionate About Pages then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post.

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I am thrilled to share with you this mini album which features January Stamp of the Month S1501 This Moment.  S1501 available exclusively throughout January for $27 or for just $5 when you spend $75.

Love Notes Mini Journal

Ok I will fess up. I initially felt I had little use for this stamp set as I have no lover, no kids and my dogs can’t read a love note I might write. I did what I always do – I just stamped some of it out and an idea was born.

URok is a deliberate choice – This book is meant to be an affirmation not a question:)

 

A little back story may help with why I did this mini album. It is no secret among those close to me I suffer depression. I am OK right now because I have awesome things to do with my time, (teaching people how to be creative is awesome) and great family and great friends supporting me. But I am not always ok. I am a single 50 something living at home in an empty nest with 2 dogs. I battle the black dog daily. While I occasionally have the company of my girls and grandson, I am very much alone and that sense of isolation can exacerbate any feelings of depression coursing through my veins.

I created this project while completely alone between Christmas and New Year. It is a time in which we reflect on what we have done and achieved and what we might like to plan for the years to come. I have promised myself to take some everyday photos to fill the pages along with completing the all important journalling. Maybe one day one of my offspring will treat it as a treasure once I have done those pages. But its purpose for me is in this moment!

My mini album therefore is intended to be an antidote to feeling sad. It is a very big Love Note reminder to take care of and love myself by being in the moment and appreciating that.  It gives me great pleasure to share with you my empty Mini I put together in just one evening using a few fun, well priced CTMH products.

Get your stuff together including a selection for For Always PML cards that speak to you.

All you need is the Hip Pics Mini Album Z1956, A la Carte For Always Picture My Life CardsZ3065 , Black Arrow Washi Tape Z2003, Black Shimmer trim Z1809, Marvy Uchida LePen journalling pen Z1979, Sparkles Black and Grey Assortment Z1754, Scaredy Cat assortment (Black Stars)Z3011, and an assortment of Black, White and Kraft paper. I have used just two inks, Black Z2105 and White Daisy Z2163. I added a piece of Black Twill Z1988 ribbon to my spine too. Get set to do each page as you feel as all these products coordinate completely with the for Always cards. The stamp set could well have been created from the same designs. I had a ball bringing these pages together.

Get over creative block! 

To begin with I stamped some of the titles and icons on black, white and kraft paper. This gets my creative juices going and helps push me past creative block! Then I knew how and where I wanted to place things on the album cover. I flipped through my For Always cards and chose those that were actually very similar and even the same in style with this stamp set, and fitted my colour scheme of black, white and kraft, as well as my mood and the thoughts I was feeling. I made no definite decisions yet but I had a nice little pile of large and small cards. I flushed out a piece of Black Fundamentals paper from my stash to use as well as I loved the Zing of the black and white chevron.

I like the hip pics pages but feel the pockets need a bit of stabilising. Fill each one with a piece of card 6 x 4 1/4. I mixed these up from my colours. Then I added PML cards. NOW is the time to stamp directly on the white space of your pages if desired. If you wait it can become a little lumpy bumpy and complicated. You can always cover it up if you decide you do not like it:)If you do need to support a page from lumps elsewhere slip your Versamat in there to help.

To adhere the PML cards into the album I simply hinged them in with black arrow Washi tape and used some scraps from fussy cut cards as tabs where needed. Once it was all stuck down I came back to decorate with more faux washi (scraps from cards!) I also did pen outlines, and stuck down some shimmer trim and gems. This little album is now ready for some photos and some reflection about what makes me smile, and what matters to me so in a moment I can be reminded to be in the moment.Here is how mine came together.

 

Here Hello is stamped 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation.

 

White pigment ink looks great on our Kraft card stock. Give it a try.

 

I gorgot to do photos – the crds on the left fall down revealing my precious and grately appreciated first cuppa of the day.

Here the photo of the day title is fussy cut from the card and popped on top – over the same card I cut it from with the hip pics frame in between.

 

The love notes on the right included a little fold out note slipped into the pocket of the page. It is all set in place ready for me to write a nice love note.

 

 

Shopping list – If you have a stash – your only investment might be this cute album and the PML cards

 

 

 

 

• S1501 Stamp of the Month This Moment
• Hip Pics Mini Album Z1956,
• A la Carte For Always Picture My Life CardsZ3065 ,
• Black Arrow Washi Tape Z2003,
• Black Shimmer trim Z1809,
• Marvy Uchida LePen journalling pen Z1979,
• Sparkles Black and Grey Assortment Z1754,
• Scaredy Cat assortment (Black Stars)Z3011,
• Black Twill Z1988

I would love to hear from you if you decide to take this or a similar approach with this stamp set. Please let me know if I have inspired you.

This Moment is only available until January 31 from your CTMH consultant. I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop,

Lauren Moore- CTMH Craftings

If you get lost along the way please visit  Mandy – Hall of Indulgence for a full list of hoppers.

Have a Fantastic New Year!