October Kit #1: CD Envelope 5x5" Pocket Purse Album

Click Here for the tutorial (Club Members Access Only)

Hi Ladies!! I'm back! I'm sorry I've been away for the past week! I finally got the tutorial posted and a few projects completed. I've been a bit of a slacker lately with my blogging, crafting, among other things. I just needed a break to "rejuvenate" myself a little. Sometimes when you do something day in and day out. . .well, it can turn into a task. A hobby should be fun and something you can engross yourself in. Like all good things in life. . .too much of it can desensitize the feeling of pleasure when you do it too often.

I remember when I started blogging and crafting. . .I would go to bed thinking about what I can create the next day. I would wake up looking forward to it. I still feel the same way but lately been feeling a bit burnt out. I won't get into it but last week I found something fun to do besides blogging and crafting which has taken me away from my craft room the past week. My husband once told me that I have a tendency to go overboard when I find something I like. I go at it with such intensity and excitement that I burn myself out after awhile. I do this very often. For example, when I first tasted Thai cuisine a few years ago. . .I think I ate it everyday for 3 weeks in a row. By the end of the 3rd week, I couldn't even think of Thai food without getting nauseated. LOL! Are you this way too?

It's the same with many new things that I discover in life. My family sometimes get tired of how freaky I get. Well here's a story of a new discovery I had a week ago. . .my daughter is really into anything Asian. She's only part Asian (she's Filipino/Chinese/Hispanic/Caucasian) but she's fascinated with anything Asian. . .from the food, their culture, their shows, their music. She doesn't have a preference between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Filipino, etc. . .

It's funny because she doesn't even understand or speak any Asian language but she LOVES watching Asian TV shows. Anyway, lately she's taken over our family room television because it's connected to the Internet and she's able to watch TV shows via the Internet, YouTube, etc. . .on a large plasma TV.

Well. . .I rarely sit and watch TV with her because she only wants to watch Asian shows, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon which I'm not interested in watching. Well. . .last week, I decided to watch a few Asian shows with her just for the heck of it. We were watching a Taiwanese TV Drama called "It Started With A Kiss" and initially, I tolerated it. I'm not big on reading "subtitles" (I don't understand or speak any Asian language either). . .but well, there was nothing I could do about it. Believe it or not, I not only have to sit through the Asian shows but I have to watch the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon if I ever want to watch TV. Like I said, my daughter has taken over our family room TV. We have other TVs, more like 4, but the family room TV is the best TV in the house and it's comfy in the family room.

Anyway Click Here if interested in viewing the Asian show and see what I am talking about. Yeah, it is sort of a teenager or young adult show but it's really a fun and goofy show. You just gotta get past the fact that it's subtitled and the cultural nuances of the show.

Anyway, I sat through a few episodes. . .and after a few of them, OMG. . .I was HOOKED. I kept asking my daughter to download the next episode. LOL! There was one evening when we sat through 4 hours worth of episodes. Keep in mind, I rarely watch television. I mean I fall asleep basically through every movie we watch during family movie night. Anyway, this show is so goofy. I finally completed the first season in one week! Uggghh! Too funny! I'm glad I did because now I can get back to my crafting. LOL!

I don't know if you know by now. . .but I am Asian (Filipino/Chinese Ancestry), duuuuh! Like you couldn't tell by my photo! LOL! Anyway, these Asian drama shows are quite interesting because Asians have a few quirky cultural behaviors. If you're not Asian, watching these shows may seem a bit "strange" and a bit "goofy" but I found them interesting.

I should tell you a little bit of the Asian culture one day. We do have a few peculiarities. . .such as the amount of food we tend to eat and how Asians are quite fascinated by food. Interestingly, most Asians are quite thin. . .well, with a few exceptions (like me). My problem is I eat a lot of "American" food which tends to be quite fatty and a bit greasy.

Oh, gosh. . .I've been "blabbering" on this post so I think I better stop here. Quite honestly, I could write a book with all the stuff I want to talk about. I try not to "chatter" too much on my blog because well, I know you're here to see pictures and information on "crafting" and "stamping" stuff and not to read my ramblings. Do you ever wonder about the lives, the thoughts, the feelings, of the bloggers that you come across on blog land? I do. . .I like reading about the person. . .I find the person as interesting as the cards and crafts that they create.

Anyway, I better begin a discussion on this mini album I created for my club. This album is the kit that I will be sending to my club members. I love making special stuff for them. I really get excited and always hope that they feel the same way about the projects. I do have a sincere passion for paper crafting. Well this mini album is a purse design as you can see. I used the "Autumn Vine" designer paper that is available in the "Holiday Mini Catalog".


When opened up, the CD envelopes provides the "window" that frames the pictures on the page inserts. This album contains pictures of my daughter. I tend to have a lot of pictures of her because she's the only one willing to "pose" for me. LOL! My husband and my son don't like taking pictures and will only tolerate it on special occasions.

I stamped the CD envelopes with the "Seasons of Friendship" stamp set, also available in the "Holiday Mini Catalog". The color combo for this project is More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.


As you can see the page insert is pulled out of the pocket with the tab. I used the "Round Tab" punch to create the tab.





This photo shows the page inserts pulled out of the pockets. I plan to add journals at a later time. I need to think about what I'll write. I just wanted to post the project on my blog before you start to wonder if I'll ever post another project! LOL!

Anyway. . .tonight is CSI night so I better end this post. I have one more card to post on Stampin Inspirations and I'm done blogging for the day.

I also posted a similar mini album on Card Inspired using non-Stampin Up materials if you care to take a look at it.

Project Details:

Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Harvest Home
Paper: Autumn Vine Designer Paper, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze cardstock
Ink: Same as cardstock
Accessories: Round Tab punch, 1" Circle punch, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Button (unknown), Silver Brads