Back to school mini-book

Hello friends! There is still some time left of the summer holiday here, but I have a school-themed mini book tutorial to share today.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Back to school theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. Don't miss the last project by our July guest designer Rox aka Red Dirt Crafter. 

My youngest is starting grade 1 and I made a mini book for him. I am planning to add some photos taken on the first day of school to the book later. Lots of encouraging sentiment, school-themed ephemera and idea-ology papers and embellishments were used here. 

The cover is made from a Tim Holtz Mini File Folder, and you can see the tab on the back cover.

Sand and then ink the edges of the file folder. I used the larger size folder.

Design Tape was used to embellished the pages throughout the book. I also stamped here and there with the alphabet stamp from Tim's School Desk set. This is one of my all time favorite stamps.

The inside cover was also stamped and embellished with Design Tape. I mainly used tape from the Vintage and Trims sets. 

I used Tim Holtz Journal Cards and Pocket Cards for the pages and as a base for stamping. Stamp the pencils from Tim Holtz Schoolhouse Blueprint set.

Color with colored pencils.

Labels from Simon Says Stamp Mixed Labels were stamped on Journal Cards, a Backdrops paper and inky heavystock paper. Die cut with the coordinating dies and stamp sentiments on the labels.

Pages were assembled from Journal Cards and Pocket Cards. Adhere them together with a piece of wide Design Tape. 

The third page is a folded over Journal Card. The sentiment to the left comes from Simon Says Stamp Document It. It is designed to fit perfectly on the label from Mixed Labels.

Now for the really fun part. Add tape, stamping, sentiments, labels, ephemera and die cuts to the pages.

I colored some of the images on the cards with colored pencils, such as the pears.

I picked a mix of school and learning themed ephemera and sentiments, focusing on letters, numbers and learning about the nature and the world.

It is easiest to finish the pages before assembling the book.

I am planning to add a photo to the page to the left.

The letters on the cover were die cut from Simon Says Stamp Soft Navy paper with Tim's Alphanumeric Script and coated with Glossy Accents.

I added a Mini Flair Button to the cover.

And some metallic idea-ology embellishments: a Word Band and a number brad. Antique Linen paint was rubbed into the words.

Pierce holes through the pages and tie with twine. The back cover was left plain.

I like the combination of differently sized pages in this mini book. The inside covers were embellished too.

I used red stars die cut with Simon Says Stamp Stars and blue Circle Loops throughout the book.

Be you comes from Simon Says Stamp All About You.

A softly colored fruit. I stamped red and blue circles from Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Circles here and there, as well as a small heart from the same set, using Simon Says Stamp Royal and Schoolhouse Red inks.

The next spread in the journal. 

Stamping on Journal Cards is such fun and blends in so well. I didn't aim for perfect stamping, such as with this date stamp from Simon Says Stamp Document It.

I really like tickets and labels. 

Since my son loves nature, I picked quite many nature themed cards.

Nothing beats learning how to read.

The pages were arranged so that they would fit together, one example is that the smaller page covers up the pear on the page behind it, but not the sentiments and the stars.

Stamp sentiments directly on the cards in between images.

Adventure was die cut with Tim Holtz Adventure Words Script.

The smallest two pages are in the center of the book. 

Repeating certain elements brings a sense of unity to the book.

I might add a few more handwritten elements later, together with a couple of small photos.

The next spread in the book looks like this.

Don't worry if the stamping isn't perfect.

The pear was colored with pencils and then I stamped the alphabet stamp on top. 

I also stamped a tree from Simon Says Stamp All Seasons Tree. The stars come from Tim Holtz Rock Star.

Learn about the world.

Stamping on journal cards.

The final two pages. The flower comes from Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Flowers and was colored with pencils.

The inside cover adds more words of encouragement.

I hope you will join us this week in our Back to School challenge. You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

There is still time to join our annual Simon Says Stamp Kid’s Summer Vacation Challenge where we host a special challenge dedicated to our young designers. The theme is 'Anything goes' and the challenge is open to all children aged between 2 and 16 inclusive. There are three 3 surprise parcels of crafty goodies, hand picked by Simon. All winners are chosen at random, Good Luck to all!

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.