Heartfelt Creations Wednesday - April Release!

Welcome to April Release Heartfelt Creations Wednesday! The new release is called Everyday Heroes! This collection contains newspaper typography and brown coffee splashes, which join forces with blue roses, butterflies, manky boots, and ships at sea! The collection contains six stamp sets, one die set, a 12" x 12" paper pad, and a card kit!

The colors and images in this collection are just my style! I love the earth-toned colors and the grunge elements. I decided to create a  six- page, 5 1/2" x 7 1/4" chipboard mini album to celebrate everyday heroes. 

As much as I love the collection, it was emotionally difficult for me to work with. It made me sad to think about my four favorite heroes, who are no longer with us: my dad (1928-1997), my younger brother (1967-2010), my father-in-law (1938-2011), and my nephew (1972-2014). Having lost my father-in-law, brother, and nephew in just 4 short years makes the grief pile up! Creating a tribute album is wonderful therapy, but you can see that I was not able to go the next step and add photos yet.

I am not normally a fan of adding flowers to masculine projects, but in this case, as a tribute album, I felt is was a perfect touch. The flowers are from the February Collection, Butterfly Medley.

The mini album contains six chipboard pages, 5 1/2" x 5 7/8" each. For a full supply list, see the end of the post.

Read on for the album tutorial! If you do not have access to the 7 Gypsies Chipboard Binder Album used for the sample, you may use an album similar in size and structure. I think Maya Road carries a similar style of album, but I am sure other companies do as well. As the kids say, Google It! {grin}

Begin by painting the edges of the chipboard album and each album page with black acrylic paint. Make sure to paint around the metal binding rings. Wipe paint off  the metal rings with a damp cloth. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Trim newsprint patterned paper from the Everyday Heroes Paper collection to fit the front and back covers and the spine.

Decorate the cover of the mini album by first cutting the decorative banner from the Everyday Heroes Die set from black cardstock. Attach the banner to the right side of the album cover. Stamp the large word circle from the Everyday Hero Cling Stamp Set with black ink onto white cardstock. Trim the circle and sponge with Antique Linen ink. Attach the word circle to the banner with foam adhesive. Stamp the My World Stamp Set image onto a scrap of ivory cardstock with brown ink. Using the globe die cut template from the Everyday Heroes Die set, trim out the globe portion of the image. Color the globe with inks and a white pencil. Attach the globe to the center of the word circle with foam adhesive.

Stamp the flowers from the Botanical Rose Cling Stamp Set with black ink three times onto blue paper from the Everyday Heroes Paper Collection. Sponge the flowers with pigment ink. Use the Botanical Wings Die to cut out the flowers. Create roses using the directions in THIS tutorial. Create three roses, two large and one medium. Glue the roses to the front of the mini album, to the left of the decorative banner. Stamp the leaves from Leafy Branch Cling Stamp Set onto green cardstock with black ink. Color the leaves with distress ink and cut out with the Leafy Branch Die. Mist the leaves with water, shape the leaves and allow them to dry. Glue the leaves to the flower arrangement as shown.

Glue three metal gears to the left side of the flower cluster. Trim the "always remember" sentiment strip from the Everyday Heroes paper Collection and cut it apart with scissors. Glue the two word strips to the left edge of the album cover.

Stamp the "You're an Everyday Hero" circle from the Everyday Hero Cling Stamp Set onto white cardstock. Trim out the sentiment with the matching die template in the Everyday Heroes Die. Sponge the sentiment with Antique Linen ink. Trim out a circle, slightly larger than the sentiment, from black cardstock. Attach the sentiment to the cardstock circle. Attach the circles to the spine of the album with foam adhesive.

Trim map print paper to fit the inside front cover.

Cut apart the 6" x 6" paper panels from the Everyday Heroes Paper Collection. Use the 6" x 6" prints to cover the front and back of each chipboard page. Trim excess paper. Make sure to re-punch the binding holes. Sponge all paper edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Decorate each page as shown below.

Page 1: Cover the chipboard with the "There's only one Like You" border paper. Trim black cardstock to 7" x 4 3/4". Score at 3 1/2" on the long side. Fold and score to create a top-fold card. Attach the card to the center of the page, slightly below the pre-printed border. Trim the photo mat from the Everyday Heroes paper and attach it to the front of the card flap. Trim a clock from the Once Upon a Time Paper Collection and attach it with foam adhesive to the lower right corner of the photo mat.

Open the card flap and attach two more pre-printed photo mats to the inside of the card.

Page 2: Cover the page with the "test of time" paper. Use Cut Mat Create 1A Die (2 3/5" x 3 3/4") to trim out the oval pre-cut photo mat. Attach the mat to the center of the page. Stamp the Butterfly Medley Cling Stamp onto a scrap of brown Everyday Heroes paper with black ink. Trim out the butterflies with the Butterfly Medley Die. Attach one of the larger butterflies to the left side of the page with foam adhesive. Save the other butterflies for later use.

Page 3: Cover the page with newsprint paper. Trim the "My Anchor" ticket from the paper using the Luggage and Tags Die. Attach the ticket to the right side of the page, approximately 1" from the top.Trim black cardstock to 2 1/4" x 5 7/8". Use a circle punch to cut a notch in the top center of the cardstock strip. Attach the strip to the bottom of the page to create a pocket. Trim newsprint paper to 2 1/8" x 5 3/4", notch the top and attach to the black cardstock pocket.

Stamp the My Hero Cling Stamp Set image onto white cardstock with black ink. Color the boots with Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils. Sponge the image with Antique Linen Distress ink. Trim the image with a circle die template. Trim a slightly larger circle from black cardstock. Attach the boots image to the black circle, then attach the image to the bottom right corner of the pocket with foam adhesive.

Trim a pre-printed photo mat from the paper and stamp the poem from the You Inspire Me Cling Stamp Set onto the center panel with black ink. Trim out two tags and a small journaling spot from the paper. Add twine to the tags and tuck all items inside the pocket.

Page 4: Attach the "boots" paper to the page. Use the Cut Mat Create 2A die (2 3/4" x 2 3/4") to trim out a plain panel from one of the pre-printed photo mats. Attach the mat to the lower left corner of the page. Attach one of the larger butterflies cut previously to the upper left corner of the paper. Attach the sentiment ticket below the butterfly.

Page 5: Cover the album page with the striped 6" x 6" paper panel. Trim out the polka dot photo mat and attach to the center of the page. Trim the "courage" sentiment from the All Geared Up paper and attach a brad. Place the sentiment in t he upper right corner of the page using foam adhesive.

Page 6: Attach the boat paper panel to the album page. Trim black cardstock to 2 1/4" x 5 7/8". Use a circle punch to cut a notch in the top center of the cardstock strip. Attach the strip to the left edge of the page to create a pocket. Trim map paper to 2 1/8" x 5 3/4", notch the center and attach to the black cardstock pocket.

Stamp the My Anchor Cling Stamp Set image onto white cardstock with black ink. Color the anchor with Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils. Sponge the image with Antique Linen Distress ink. Trim the anchor with Everyday Heroes die. Trim the "strength" sentiment from the the All Geared Up paper. Tie the anchor and the sentiment together with kraft twine and attach to the upper left corner of the pocket with foam adhesive.

Trim a pre-printed photo mats and two tags from the paper. Add twine to the tags and tuck all items inside the pocket.

Page 7: Cover the album page with the "Everyday Hero" paper panel. Stamp white cardstock with the My World and My Anchor Cling Stamp Sets with a pale tan ink. Trim out the images with circle die templates. Sponge with Antique Linen Distress ink. Trim larger circles from black cardstock. Attach the circle photo mats to the page as shown.

Page 8: Cover the album page with the "Remember" paper panel. Trim two ovals from white cardstock. Sponge with Antique Linen Distress ink. Trim larger ovals from black cardstock. Attach the oval photo mats to the page as shown.

Page 9: Cover the album page with the text paper. Trim black cardstock to 7" x 4 3/4". Score at 3 1/2" on the long side. Fold and score to create a left-fold card. Use a circle punch to trim a notch from the right edge of the card. Attach the card to the center of the page. Trim the "Special Moments" Everyday Heroes paper. Trim a notch from the right side and attach it to the front of the card flap. 

Open the card flap and attach text paper to the inside of the card as shown.

Page 10: Attach "You Inspire Me" paper panel to the album page. Trim pre-printed photo mat from the paper and mat with white cardstock. Sponge with Antique Linen Distress ink. Attach photo mat to the center of the page. Add two butterflies cut previously to the upper left corner of the page.

Page 11: Cover the album page with the compass rose paper. Trim black cardstock to 7" x 4 3/4". Score at 3 1/2" on the long side. Fold and score to create a left-fold card. Attach the card to the center of the page. Trim the "You make my World" pre-printed photo mat from the Everyday Heroes paper and attach it to the front of the card flap.

Open the card flap and attach anchor paper to the inside of the card as shown.

Page 12: Cover album page with the dots paper. Trim the large circle photo mat from the paper and attach it to the center of the page. Trim out the Hero ticket and attach it to the right edge of the photo mat.

Trim pale tan newsprint paper to fit the back inside cover. Using the Cut Mat Create 2A die (3 3/4" x 3 3/4") trim out the pre-printed boot image from the Everyday Heroes paper. Attach the image to the center of the inside back cover.

Add photos and journaling! Visit the Heartfelt Creations Blog for more inspiration! 

Products Used:
HCDP1- 253 Everyday Heroes Paper Collection

HCPC-3662 My Anchor Cling Stamp Set

HCPC-3663 My World Cling Stamp Set

HCPC-3664 My Hero Cling Stamp Set

HCPC-3666 Everyday Hero Cling Stamp Set

HCPC-3667 You Inspire Me Cling Stamp Set

HCD1-761 Everyday Heroes Die

HCPC-3651 Botanical Rose Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-758 Botanical Wings Die

HCPC-3650 Butterfly Medley Cling Stamp Set

HCD1-759 Butterfly Medley Die

HPCP-3645 Leafy Branch Cling Stamp Set

HCD1-757 Leafy Branch Die

HCD2-751 Cut Mat Create 2A Die

HCD2-749 Cut Mat Create 1A Die

HCDP1- 248 All Geared Up Paper Collection

HCDP1-241 Once Upon a Time Paper Collection

HCD1-745 Luggage and Tags Die

TSMP900 Memento Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black

TSMP800 Memento Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa

HCST1-401 Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit

Other products used: 

Spellbinders dies: Standard Circles Large, Small, Classic Ovals Large, Small
Album: 7 Gypsies Chipboard Binder Album
Cardstock: WorldWin Cardstock (Smooth Black, Natural, Spring Green), Stampin' Up Cardstock (Whisper White)
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge), ColorBox Pigment Ink (Aqua, Robin's Egg, Seaglass)
Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon (kraft, black twine, black cord)
Embellishments: black mini brad, 7 Gypsies gears
Markers and pencils: Copic alcohol markers (colorless blender, E40, E55, E57), Prismacolor pencil (white)
Paint: Martha Stewart black acrylic paint,
Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Stampin' Up Circle Punch, Martha Stewart score board, hot glue gun, foam brush
Adhesive: Scotch 3M tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares, Scor-tape, hot glue sticks