My Girls

Believe it or not this is my first clear (well, mostly clear!) album. I had fun making it but I wasn't sure I was going to like it when I started. I really had fun using the Prima Hybrid Christmas Fancy CD. You really get two holidays in one CD with this. Many of the papers and embellishments are actually more suited to Valentine's Day than Christmas. The paper on the cover was printed on my standard printer on white 8.5x11 cardstock. The lettering is from Prima's Vinyl Rub ons in Black I'll show you below which elements of the album I printed out using the Christmas Fancy CD. But, before I go any further, here's the materials list:

Prima Build A Book 6x6 Red (front and back covers)
Prima Build A Book 6x6 Chipboard Heart
Prima Build A Book Lace Heart
Prima Build A Book 6x6 Got Flowers? Tabs
American Crafts Slick Writers (a 5 pack)
American Crafts Metallic Writer in Gold
VersaFine Pigment Ink in Onyx
VersaFine Pigment Ink in Vintage Sepia
American Crafts Galaxy Markers in Red and White
Prima Christmas Fancy Hybrid CD
Say It In Crystals Silver Swirls 522889
Prima Essentials 5 Peaches Flowers
Doodlebug Mixed Up ABC Rub ons in Beetle Black
Prima Vinyl Rub ons 820657 in Black
Prima Christmas Fancy Paper Happy
Prima Christmas Fancy Paper Noel
Prima Hybrid Die Cut Stickers
Prima Hybrid Epoxy Sticker Overlays
Prima Hybrid Chipboard Sticker Underlays
Creative Impressions Heart Brads in Pewter, Bronze and Red
Creative Impressions Mini Round Brads in Cream, Silver & Bronze
Prima Clear Paintables Cherub Frames
American Crafts Cardstock in Bubblegum
White 8.5 x 11 cardstock

The beige papers on both pages were printed on 8.5x11 white cardstock in my printer. You would never know the difference! Plus the epoxy sticker on the left page (arrow) and the chipboard sticker (heart) on the left page were also printed on my printer using the Prima Christmas Fancy Hybrid CD and the Hybrid Die cut stickers, Hybrid Epoxy Overlays and the Hybrid Chipboard Underlays.I really like how the Prima Essentials 5 Peaches flowers looked with the whole album. The green paper on the left page is on the back of the Chipboard page. You can see through the heart in the center. There is a cleat acetate sheet that slides in from the top of the page. I left the acetate with no embellishment because I liked the framed effect it gave to the picture on the preceeding page.
I "sewed" the pink ribbon all around the edge of the Lace Heart Page. The green paper behind the Lace Heart Page is Prima Christmas Fancy paper - Noel and the pink paper on the right page is the reverse side of the Prima Christmas paper - Happy. The reverse sides of the papers are very Christmas-y. See, two holidays in one! The "Always" sticker on the right page is also a sticker printed using the Christmas Fancy CD, Hybrid Die Cut Sticker Sheet and my standard printer!
These pages are half of the Prima Clear Paintable - Cherub Frames. I colored in all the details with American Crafts Galaxy Markers in Red and White and Slick Writer in Green.
The green striped paper on the right page is the reverse side of the Prima Christmas Fancy paper Noel.
These pages are the other half of the Prima Clear Paintable. Again, I did all the coloring with American Crafts Markers. On the right page also did the writing with the American Crafts Slick Writer in black on the top. The ink dries instantly so you don't have to worry about smudges. But, once you write something, it's permanent.
The paper on the right page and the epoxy sticker on the right page were both printed on my standard printer. The sticker was printed on the Hybrid Die Cut Sticker sheet and the paper was printed on 8.5x11 white cardstock on my printer as well.

One last thing, the flowers on the tabs of the Got Flowers? pages are attached with brads through the back of the tab so that the tops of the brads are all visible from the same side and on the other side I covered the prongs of the brads with parts of the Say It In Crystals that look like jewels (look at the second picture to see what I mean).

Let me know what you think of my first attempt at a clear album! If you have any questions about the products I used post it here and I'll answer them!

Snow!

This project is a great way to use the packaging for the Prima Alpha Box. Here's the product list:

Prima Alpha Box - Blue 509941
American Crafts Brads - Mini White
American Crafts Card Stock - Lagoon
Die Cuts With A View Glitter Card Stock - White
Lilac Round Eyelets
Doodlebug Jellishments - Whimsical Winter
Doodlebug Whimsy Wafers - Whimsical Winter
Doodlebug Rick Rack - Bubble Blue
Doodlebug Buttons - Frosty Assortment
Doodlebug Crushed Velvet Card Stock - Lily White
Blue Mini Brad
Winter Snowflake Assortment Brads

The combination of the DCWV Glitter card stock and the Doodlebug Velvet card stock gives this a true illusion of snowy hillsides. The letters on the top (SNOW) are the letters that come in the box. This is a very affordable gift and you still have lots of product left over for yourself when you're done! Just make sure you use a glue gun to attach the rick rack because the word "snow" attaches there and as I found out from my own experience making this, a glue stick is just not enough! The weight of the letters just pulled it over until I put down a very thin line of glue from the glue gun and it stays up just fine as you can see.

Christmas Past

I had so much fun doing this layout! I got to play with some products that I didn't have much experience with. I have very recently fallen in love with Prima's Clear Paintables and Say It In Crystals. Here's a list of the products in this layout:
Prima Clear Paintables - Era 812256
Say It In Crystals - Silver Swirls 522766
American Crafts Christmas paper Up On The Housetop
American Crafts Mini Marks Ginger Font in Red
American Crafts Mini Marks Frosty Accents in Multi Color
American Crafts Galaxy Marker - White
American Crafts Slick Writer - Black
American Crafts Metallic Markers - Silver & Gold
Bazzill Cardstock in Lime Crush
The Paper Company paper in Arctic Gold (used as matting around the tree picture and under the title of the layout)
VersaFine Pigment Ink Pad - Onyx Black (distressing around the pictures)
Petaloo Poinsettias 17302
Petaloo Palette of Petals - Poinsettias & Holly

I really like American Crafts markers. They are so versatile! Most of them you can use in a variety of porjects. I used the Metallic Markers, white Galaxy Markers and the black Slick Writer in this layout. Here's a few tips I discovered while using these markers with the Clear Paintables.
Do all your "painting" on the reverse side of the Clear Paintable. This will ensure that your painting doesn't cover any of the fine details of the Clear Paintable. Notice the part of the clock that I colored. There is a lot of fine detail that would have either been covered by painting on the front or I would have had to spend a lot of time very carefully painting around the fine details. Who has time for that!
Next, when using the Metallic Markers, let the ink dry for several minutes before you proceed with your project. The Metallic Markers will smudge if you try to work with the Clear Paintable before it dries. Remember, this is a sheet of acetate, it's not porous so it can't absorb the ink from the marker like paper will. If you make a mistake and put the Metallic Marker where you don't want it to go you can wipe it off right away and start over.
The Galaxy Markers dry a little quicker so you won't have to wait as long when using those. You can also wipe off any mistakes and start over. However, when you work with the white Galaxy Marker it will go on like invisible ink! It takes a few minutes for the ink to dry and "appear" even on paper. The other colors of Galaxy Markers show up right away and the color is deep and rich and not at all transparent.
The Slick Writers are a little different. The give a beautiful transparent color. The give nice, even color and almost a watercolor paint effect that is really nice. But, make sure when you use these on the Clear Paintables that you are careful (if you want a precise look in your finished project) where you put the color. Once it's down, you're done! You can't wipe the Slick Writers off and start over if you get the color in the wrong place. Having said that, this characteristic holds a distinct advantage for those who want to work more quickly since the ink in the Slick Writers dry almost instantly and are permanent.