Holiday Favorites–MFT August Creative Challenge

 

Hi, everyone! Today is MFT Creative Challenge day! What’s a Creative Challenge, you ask? Well, since you asked…

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to create a mini-book.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have put their MFT stamps and/or Die-namics dies to work to create a mini book for you today!

No picture mini album for me :) Nope, this challenge made me get something done that I’d been wanting to do for a couple of years. I have certain recipes that I only make during the holidays. Mainly because if I made them all year long I’d eat them, KWIM? So I keep these recipes for the holidays only—from Thanksgiving until New Year’s. The only problem--since I only drag them out once a year--is that they’re scattered all about in different cookbooks and on copied and handwritten pieces of paper. I’m all about getting them in one place once and for all!

So, I found this Maya Road chipboard album that’s just perfect and went to work. I used a ton of Die-namics dies and several stamp sets. I really could have embellished it over the top but I wanted it to be as compact as possible so I showed some restraint ;-)

I decorated the front with WTG Lovin’ From the Oven, colored with Copic markers and paper pieced, a Die-namics Triple Scallop Borders die cut, a Die-namics Upsy Daisy poinsettia, and a banner using the large fishtail from Die-namics First Place Award Ribbon and Die-namics By the Letters for the “holiday” part of the title. For “favorites”, I stamped it using my favorite Typewriter Alphabet stamp set. I love the combination of fonts and sizes, don’t you?

Here’s a closer look at the image and flower:

And one of the title:

Now I’ll show you each individual divider. First up, Appetizers. Each tab was stamped with the category, also using Typewriter Alphabet on a Die-namics Circle STAX die cut and then I added a Die-namics By the Letters title, as well. This divider also has a Die-namics Photo Corners die cut, and Die-namics Medium Leafy Flourish, a Die-namics First Place Award Ribbon sentiment flag, and a tiny poinsettia from Die-namics Christmas Ornaments die only. The sentiment is from à la modes What's Cooking?

Moving on to beverages. More die cut letters, the teapot and cup from Die-namics Always Time For Tea die only. The sentiment was stamped on a Die-namics Traditional Tags STAX die cut and is from WTG Coffee? Tea? stamp set.

Next up: breads. The most dangerous recipe that will be in this section is a Cinnabons knock off. Yum! Once a year, I swear! For this divider, I’m using PI – Fresh From the Oven for the image and the sentiment, which was stamped on a Die-namics Triple Scallop Borders die cut. The holly on her chef’s hat is from Die-namics Christmas Ornaments die only. 

Now we have cakes. I used the ornaments from

Die-namics Christmas Ornaments die only, along with a sentiment from WTG Lovin’ From the Oven stamped on a Die-namics Sentiment Strips die cut.

We’re up to candy now :) I made that cute little tree using a

Die-namics Sentiment Strips die, cutting off some each time as I moved up the tree. The pole is from the Die-namics Mini Pennant set—I cut two to get the required length—and the star is from Die-namics Star STAX. The sentiment, from PI – Lollipop Girl, is stamped on a Die-namics Lead the Way die cut.

For the cookies divider, I made a row of gingerbread girls using my

Die-namics Paper Doll Border die, The sentiment, from WTG Lovin’ From the Oven, was stamped on a Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX die cut and embellished with more holly from Die-namics Christmas Ornaments die only.

 

We’re almost done! I like to make up some mixes for gifts on occasion so I included a divider for them. Another Die-namics Christmas Ornaments die only embellishment and the sentiment, again from WTG Lovin’ From the Oven, was stamped on a Die-namics Sentiment Strips die cut.

Last one! I love home made caramel corn, so I’m including it in the category, thus the popcorn container from Die-namics At the Movies die only, and the sentiment from PI – Popping By. The decorated Die-namics Teardrop Tree finishes it off with the obligatory Christmas reference!

 

The inside back cover is just patterned paper—the front and back covers didn’t come with the album but I wanted them to be extra so I used some heavy chipboard that I had on hand and made my own.

The back of each divider (and the front and back covers) were simply covered with red card stock.

Here are the Die-namics dies I used on this project:



















Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I’ve convinced you that albums are not just for photos and that maybe I’ve inspired you to do a one of your own!

 

 

 

 

~Supplies~
Stamps: WTG Lovin’ From the Oven, Typewriter Alphabet, WTG Coffee? Tea?, PI – Fresh From the Oven, PI – Popping By, PI – Lollipop Girl, à la modes What's Cooking? (MFT)
Paper: Natural card stock, Jellybean Green card stock (MFT); Cherry Cobbler, Sage Shadow (SU!); Jingle (Lilybee Design)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler (SU!); Memento Tuxedo Black; Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger)
Accessories/tools: Vagabond; Die-namics Triple Scallop Borders, Die-namics Upsy Daisy, Die-namics First Place Award Ribbon, Die-namics By the Letters, Die-namics Photo Corners, Die-namics Medium Leafy Flourish, Die-namics Christmas Ornaments die only, Die-namics Sentiment Strips, Die-namics Always Time For Tea die only, Die-namics Traditional Tags STAX, Die-namics At the Movies die only, Die-namics Teardrop Tree,  Die-namics Paper Doll Border, Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX, Die-namics Star STAX, Die-namics Lead the Way, Die-namics Circle STAX, Natural buttons (MFT). twine, flat back pearls