my completed diy mini book

Remember that mini book I was working on for National Scrapbook Day? Yes, that one. I finished it some time ago, don’t exactly remember when–my life has been a bit hectic as of late–but I did complete it. And it’s pretty. Seriously, it’s so different from what I usually create, I’m so surprised that I actually made this. I made this book in conjunction with Maggie Holmes’ Mini Book Workshop at Studio Calico and I guess Maggie’s style kind of influenced me a lot. I used a pastel color scheme with bits of gold here and there, which is something I find that Maggie does a lot. I even used items from her Flea Market and Styleboard collections. I didn’t have a lot of photos to use, but I think that was great because it gave room for more creativity with papers, washi and die cuts and made me focus on journaling.

There are just so many elements and textures in this mini book. I think that was the whole point of Maggie’s workshop: to learn how to add these little bits into your mini books and scrapbook pages. It really gives the entire book depth. I didn’t really make that many pages, but with all the stuff that I put in to it, the book does have some thickness to it. I really stepped out of my comfort zone with this one and I think it shows. I made better pages because I wasn’t so focused on getting things right, if that makes any sense. I just had all of the elements, papers, washi tapes, die cuts, string, and a few photos laid out and just pick and chose what caught my eye or what I thought would go together well, and just glued them down. I didn’t really think of the story behind any of it. It was just spontaneous. Then I just journaled what I felt like journaling.

I should totally try creating another mini book like this in the future. It was a lot of fun and I felt like I really expanded my scrapbooking skills. I’m currently debating if I want to try this take on my 2014 Summer of Love book, but I haven’t even decided if I want to even participate in Kara Haupt’s Summer of Love this year. I haven’t actually purchased a hardcover vintage book to use and I don’t even know when I’ll get the opportunity to sit down and actually start it. I am however, looking forward to the next Studio Calico Mini Book Workshop, which will be held in August and taught by Marcy Penner! I’m quite excited to sign up for that even though I also haven’t fully decided if I actually want to purchase the class. (It might be cutting too close to my September trip. I might be able to start my book but not finished it until sometime after my trip.) But I suppose I’ll decide that when the time comes.

In the meantime, please do enjoy these lovely pages of my DIY mini book!