Hi, I'mmmmmmmmmmmmm back!

This has been quite a week. So I decided to take the time off to fully be in the week.
I hope you all have had a great week and I missed you.
I got back from my friend Jodi's after book making and staying up all hours, going out with her and Jimmy to dinner at BJ's with Mojito's (Yum) with no major problems. I had a great time, which is probably the only reason I kind of slid through the whole week of interesting changes.

I would go over it for you but, I would rather not rather not relive that week again. Everybody is alive and well, so it is all good in the end.

I taught Jodi how to do the Coptic binding to the best of my ability. She liked it and we each made a Halloween Scrapbook by combing the Coptic book binding with Scrap-booking. I mean, it had to go there, right?
These are the cutest books, I will show you those at a later date.
What I wanted to share with you was this book I made with a closure on it.

I glued some clay pieces on the front.
Jodi bought me a new toy, it is called Big Bite. It made those pretty little holes you see in the book above. I am in love with this thing, beats the heck out of an ice pick any day!!
That is how I made my holes in the books before. Sets eyelets too. ;-D

Nothing better than a tool that does a great job! I have a bunch of other things in mind for this baby too.

Coptic binding on the edges with waxed linen beige cording.

Craft paper pages for journaling or artwork.

But... tiny! Isn't it cute? 2" tall by 1 1/2" wide.
I just had too.
I set the eyelet on the back for the string to tie the book closed with my new tool too.

I just tied a piece of the waxed linen through the eyelet with a square knot and bam! you have part of a closure.

That cording ties around a brad and a circular piece of card stock to make the closure.
The hole for the brad was cut with the Big Bite too. The big bite is not just a hole punch, it cuts through chip board and multiple layers of chip board like butter. It also has a long reach on it which makes it perfect for books.
Have a great week everyone. Be well, and breathe.
Did any of you have an all out crazy week last week?

Steampunk Mini ala Jodi and Marie part 2

This is continued from part 1

Now for the more later...

I added the lattice to the bottom, it is only glued across the bottom and the sides so it can hold a picture.
I added some more trim to the right hand top.
This whole page reminds me of steamboats for some reason.

I like the way this page turned out. I love keys, so there you are!

There is a pocket here and it holds a tag. I used 2 of those metal pieces (20 pc Triad Filigree Gold Color $5.00) hubby has and glued them back to back to make a tag pull. Just had to cut off the rings on the bottom with a pair of dikes.
Love, love, love, the way this turned out.

Now this is one of the best papers with that ladies face. I added the burgundy trim and gate on the other side, they will both hold pictures or journal cards.

The watch comes out so you can write on it.

And there are cards on either end to put pictures on or write on if you wish.
As Laura (She has some great projects up there now) says "there is tons of real estate in this album"
There is a card sticking out of the top and that is a pocket that is hidden between the pages.

Remember this? It gets moved, but that is a Tim Holtz gear die cut. Tim really has some awesome stuff for steampunk right now! I loved it all.

Another page and pocket in progress.
OMG I just love the writing.

There are 3 pockets here and something in each one. That long one is a chipboard tag with more of hubby's metal on it.

The tag has a watch face that is only glued on the side and the gear is from Tim's die cuts and comes free, it is not glued at all. Little metal flourish on the bottom is from hubby too.

Those little metal cars are available too.

Here is a closer view.

Not done yet at all.
Stay tuned there is more...