How Very "Fasten"ating Is This"

Have you ever had one of those ideas in your head for a project you wanted to see come to fruition? Well for me, that project has been an interactive mini album. I wanted to make one of these when Donovan was a toddler, but of course it was pushed to the back burner. Then along came Xander and I figured I'd make one for him...well...that kind of sort of happened here...

You see, it looks like I'm going to have to kick myself into gear and make another one since this one has been shipped to the UK (via Purple Cows) to appear on Craft and Create (a television show) later this month.

This book was created as part of my DT assignment for both Helmar and Purple Cows. I've combined some wonderful products from several of our Preferred Partners with a whole host of notions to create this very "Fasten"ating interactive laminated mini book!! Say that 10 times fast...

I gathered papers from several different Cosmo Cricket lines and Clearsnap chalk ink, and then used Purple Cows hot laminator, several different Hot Pockets, Helmar Quick-Fix Permanent Adhesive Runner and Helmar Quick Dry 450 to bring everything together!

Before laminating the front cover, I used Helmar Quick-Fix Permanent Adhesive to adhere the yellow and blue papers together. Next, I used rub-ons from Hambly and mixed alphabet, including chipboard from Pink Paislee to create the title of the book. After threading the buttons, I used Helmar Clear Zapdots to attach them to the cover.

Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive is a phenomenal product that played a very big part in this album. In order to allow the flaps to move properly, thus allowing the mini album to be truly interactive, I laminated them and then trimmed the excess hot pocket, leaving a small clear tab. I then adhered the clear tab (only) to the album using 450. I love the fact that it's not only strong, but it dries clear.

Helmar Premium Craft Glue works very well on fabrics. As a matter of fact, I used it on the tips of the ribbon here. I wanted the person playing with this mini album to be able to send the ribbon through the eyelets easily, so I put a little Helmar Premium Craft Glue on the tips and then used my fingers to twist the tips until the glue dried. I was left with a pointy tip much like on the end of a shoestring. Clever, huh?

I used Hambly rub-ons for "lace & tie".

I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive on all of the other pages in this mini album, except the buckle page.

Here's a close-up of the pocket.

I put Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive on one end and self adhesive velcro on the other.

I stitched a zipper to 2 laminated strips before adhering them to the mini album with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive then added the word "zipper" with Pink Paislee chipboard alpha.

Close-up of the zipper in action

I used Helmar Quick-Fix Permanent Adhesive Runner on the ends of the buckle strap to hold them in place so they wouldn't shift when I stitched them with the sewing machine.

I stitched buttonholes and buttons to the inner ends of these laminated strips and adhered the outer ends to the mini album with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.Before laminating the back cover, I adhered the journaling spot with Helmar Quick Fix Adhesive Runner

Supplies: Adhesive- Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Helmar Quick-Fix Permanent Adhesive Runner, Helmar Premium Craft Glue; Patterned paper, ribbon, bear sticker- Cosmo Cricket; alpha stickers- Pink Paislee, American Crafts; eyelets- Bazzill, Making Memories; pen- sharpie; ink- Clearsnap; floss- Making Memories; ric rac- Bobbin Ribbon; laminator, hot pockets- Purple Cows; rub-ons- Hambly Screen Prints; misc- buttons, zipper, velcro, buckle, snap

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've enjoyed this post!!

MLS Plus Hambly

Can I just say that Suzy has to be one of the hardest working women in the industry? Really! She teamed us up with Hambly for this month's projects! Sigh, I *heart* Hambly*! I was able to pick out some products from their site that coordinated with the My Little Shoebox line I'm working with for this month. Fun stuff let me tell you!

OK, I am totally loving the Enjoy Life line!!! Super fun to work with and the colors are fabulous together!

The photo on this LO is of my adorable little men on Easter Sunday. Where would I be without the 2 of them? They brighten my life and as Donovan says to me "make my heart so happy".

I did a self portrait photo shoot the other and this was one of the "bloopers", but it fit so well with the idea for this LO! Don'tcha just love that...no mistakes, just opportunities! LOL!

journaling: I love music; it plays an integral part in my life. I don't think a day goes by where I don't have the radio on. My fave songs are the ones that transport me back to a different time & remind me of the things I had long forgotten. Music makes me very happy! photo: 4/17/09

I think I pushed it a bit trying to make the music note simulate the letter "N", but you get the point. LOL!

I created this Spring Acrylic Wall Hanging using the heavy acrylic sheet by Hambly. I swear these papers made me feel so happy creating with them...this is a result of that!

I used Hambly wood grain rub-on on the chipboard tree trunk and then went stickle crazy on everything else. LOL!

These darn things are so hard to photograph! Here it is with a lighter background- you get the clear feel of it a little better.

Thanks for taking a peek!