my favorite memories of us | oh my crafts giveaway

My first thought when I was approached by the kind folks at Oh My Crafts! was "Yippee, I've had my eye on those Smash albums for a while!" But once I started looking around, the particular Smash album I wanted was out of stock. 

Was I going to let that stop me? Absolutely not. I decided to make my own Smash style mini book! I started with a sheet of textured cardstock for my cover and from there I just started trimming and layering page after page. For the title of my mini book, I used one of the journaling spots in this set  and slipped it through a slit I cut in my die cut shape and added letter stickers, spelling our last name.


Each of my mini book pages is folded so that I essentially get two pages out of the cardstock, like this one: one page on the left side of my stitch line and one page on the right side of my stitch line. And this is why it's nice to choose double-sided patterned cardstock.


Using this piece of cardstock, I trimmed several elements from the sheet to get several fun pages for my mini.


And here is a close up of how I used another element from that same cardstock sheet, machine-stitched onto the edge of the page.


...and here's the back of that stitched element. I slipped in another journaling spot as well.


Just a simple cardstock sticker here.


Attached to this page, I used a clip from the Smash clips set of goodies.


Another piece of this cardstock trimmed and stitched to the edge.


Can't wait to fill this page on the left. I do adore him.


More cuteness. I'll be adding photos or a private story inside the pocket I stitched on the right.


The cardstock stickers you see {1, 2} are leftovers from the inside front cover I forgot to photograph. The page to the right has a stitched pocket with a round punched shape in the middle so that I can pull out even more journaling spots I tucked inside.


This journaling spot is part of the Smash Captions set. When you flip open the border punched page...


...you see this. I think that if I'm going to journal about something that drives me crazy about my Sweetie, perhaps I should not have it out front and center. Don't you?


The back cover has a fussy cut cardstock strip and a sticker over the stitching. I left the top open so that I might be able to tuck something inside and behind the paper strip. I used this handy glue stick throughout the mini book and it is one of my favorite adhesives. It sticks so well and its fine tip is a definite plus in my book. 


I'll be using this mini book as a 14th Wedding Anniversary gift to Gordon in June, so I have a bit of time to collect what I'll put in it. Just as one would fill a true Smash Journal with memories, photos, special handwritten messages and fun recollection...I'll do the same thing with my handmade Smash-style mini book as well.

Here's the blog post with detailed photos of how the mini turned out!
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This giveaway is now closed.

For your chance to win a $25 credit to Oh My Crafts!, hop over to the Oh My Crafts! Facebook page, LIKE them and tell them I Love It All sent you. Then, be sure to come back and leave a comment here before Friday at 8pm EST when I'll be choosing a winner from the commenters.

58 comments

  1. how exciting!!!! i liked them on FB :)
    i love love LOVE that mini!!!!! it's perfect!
    thanks for sharing and also for the giveaway.

    sarabeth

    saraburke13 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  2. I so LOVE your smash mini .... consider it "pinned"! I LIKED Oh My Craft on FB. Thanks for the inspiration and the chance to win something really cool!

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    1. My email is theparge at gmail dot com
      Have a happy day!

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  3. I so love this mini...great idea as always..TOTALLY love your blog...I just liked Oh my crafts on FB...thanks for the chance to win..

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  4. the mini is awesome- you have such a knack!!
    Going over to like them now.

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  5. visited them on facebook (already a fan). LOVE LOVE LOVE the mini.

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  6. Went to facebook and liked them!! I am SO in love with this, Monika!! Absolutely adorable. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. holy cute!! i love the way you put things together and this is my new favorite. I could have pinned all the pages but picked 2. Most of the paper is Dear Lizzy... what is the yellow gingham and the bike with the bird on it? Thanks again for the mini and inspiring me to do 30 lists!! have to get pics of my pages and put them on Flickr... can't wait to see your new lists!

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  8. I like OMC on facebook and I post on their wall

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  9. Love your Mini! I went to facebook and have already liked Oh My Craft...they are the best . I did tell them you sent me. I hope to win dtullier at charter dot net

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  10. Yet another amazing mini from you....pinning this one (actually, I pin most of them). You really have such an amazing gift for putting these together. I love your choices and the little bits you combine, this one is going to be a great gift! Thanks! (Oh, and I'm headed over to OMC's FB page now).

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  11. wow Love Love the smash book. I have never made one but I did make an Altered Journal. I liked facebook already and I left the comment on there wall.
    thanks for the chance to win. Love Love your products. I love all the great Ideas and always you have beautiful Projects to share with us. thanks for sharing

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  12. I love your mini-Smash book. It is very creative. TFS. And thanks for a chance to win. I am A fan of Oh My Crafts on FB. Thanks again

    julieshearer@sbcglobal.net

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  13. This is so cool! I love it! Funness! I liked oh my crafts for a while and told them u sent mne! Thanks CallyAnn
    callyannc@live.com

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  14. Very cute album!!! I posted on their facebook page!
    melinda at sbmsystems dot com

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  15. Cute! I've been scheming to make a Smash-style book for awhile now and this reminded me I need to get on it. Adorable!

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  16. I'm definitely going to have to try this! I love it all!! So awesome and creative!!

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  17. Wow. Your mini album is just beautiful. It is so cute, and so perfectly coordinated. I wish I had your talent.

    crazyangelgurl@gmail.com

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  18. I love your album! I am definitely going to scrap-lift the idea. I have already liked OMC, but I posted on their wall. Thanks for the chance to win. khardy1999@gmail.com

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. Thanks for the chance to win. wendyfellers@hotmail.com

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  21. I already "like" on FB wendyfellers@hotmail.com

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  22. What a Fab mini you've made! And what a terrific anniversary present it will be. aloveaffairwithpaper@yahoo.com

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  23. This is fabulous! Totally love it. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  24. Love your mini smash book!! I have one I am planning on using during my trip to Germany. I think it will keep me organized and when I get home it will be, hopefully, all done and up to date.
    kilodelta26@yahoo.com

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  25. Like on facebook and commeted on Oh My Crafts page (Iheart Bubba)bttrflywmn at gmail dot com

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  26. LOVE this Smash book! I'm inspired! I LOVED Oh my Crafts!
    kristagos@gmail.com

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  27. Your smash book is wonderful! I love all the "graph" type paper, but how you also included lots of artsy elements and the fact that the pages are different sizes and shapes is so much fun! Thanks for sharing!!!!!
    I already liked OMC on facebook, but I did comment on their wall that you sent me (as Ruth Suttie Gauss.) rgauss at sbcglobal dot net.

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  28. Great book,I might make my own now. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  29. i like the oh my crafts fb page and told them you sent me. I LOVE your mini smash.. super cute!! thanks for sharing and the chance to win.
    -jamie
    babyblueangel_30@yahoo.com

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  30. This is just fabulous! Amazing job!! Liked Oh My Crafts fb...thanks for the chance to win!! :)

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  31. I already liked OMC's facebook page but I let them know you sent me

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  32. I am already a "liker" of the Oh My Crafts FB page! Your smashbook is absolutely charming! I am so ready to try one of my own... thank you for the chance to win, too!

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  33. I already like Oh My Crafts and I left my hello on their FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150667812969812&id=31250764811
    Just love your cute little smashbook...so fun! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  34. Wow, I love your home made smash book! Honestly, we're all creative enough to make our own...why limit ourselves to pre-made books and kits, right?
    I left a message on OHC's facebook page and I LIKED them! Would love to get my hot little crafty hands on a gift certificate!!

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  35. I absolutely love your smash book. It's given me inspiration to go back and work, no, play with mine. Life gives us so many things to put into it, doesn't it?

    Thanks for this opportunity.

    Sharon
    sfinkbiner2@gmail.com

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  36. I already liked OMC FB and left a comment there. Thanks for the chance to wi.

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  37. Adorable album! I have all kinds of ideas running through my head of making my own. :)

    Thanks for the chance to win from OMC....I liked them and told them you sent me. :) rtacoma at centurytel dot net

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  38. I love your mini 'Smash.' You are such an inspiration. I liked them on facebook and left a note. Thank you for the hande!

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    1. Haha I meant thank you for the chance. My email is kelsterjean@gmail.com.

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  39. This is fantastic! LOVE

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  40. oh my gracious!
    monika...you have outdone yourself!!!
    i.love.this.mini.
    i can't stand how much i love it.
    can't wait to do something like this and my inspo will be pure you.
    oh...and for a chance to win! that would just simply be a hoot!!!
    ~j

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  41. I LOVE OMC and I Love it All blog! Would love to win a gift certificate to buy a smash journal!!

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  42. I visited the OMC Facebook page, liked them and told me you sent me over and how fabulous your mini-album is. I LOVE it!

    Sandi
    ampressley@cfl.rr.com

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  43. Okay I went to the Facebook page wrote I Love it All ... now to go and look at their store!!!!!

    dnpjs at hotmail dot com

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  44. I already love OMC!!!! But will leave some love on there wall!!! That smash book looks like fun!!! I may give one a shot!!!! Lsunflower58@aol.com

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  45. I love this type of mini Monika and your is just a jewel!
    Thank You!!

    xxx

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  46. I just love your Smashbook, Monika!
    I have always liked OMC too.

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  47. Love your homemade Smash book! I have a lot of that same paper and might try this myself. Very clever and fun!! I "liked" OMC - would love to win!

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  48. I love Oh My Crafts so it was so strange that I hadn't "liked" them on FB yet. Thanks for the promt. The mini is FANTASTIC! Been meaning to make one but am still practicing how to machine sew straight so I don't ruin the binding. :) That Dear Lizzy line is so gorgeous- the layering in your book really shows it off.

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  49. Thanks for the opportunity to win this prize. I love your journal!
    I also left a comment at OMC and i liked them!

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  50. I love this project! So cute! I hope you will link these up to The CSI Project. The challenge is Embossing and paper crafts. You can link as many as 3 projects and we are having a great giveaway!
    http://www.thecsiproject.com.
    Come back every week for a new challenge!
    I also love your blog and I would love to have you as a guest judge or do a tutorial sometime.
    email me at dee@thecsiproject.com
    I love adding fresh faces and blogs to my site.

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  51. I am already a fan of Oh My Crafts. I want to say how much I adore your journal - I've been wanting to do one, but haven't gotten the courage to make one for messing it up. I love the pages you used.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Carmen L
    cal8007 at aol dot com

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  52. This mini album is amazing! Love how you have put it together!

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  53. I love you mini and thank you for sharing with us! I almost understood everything but I've a doubt...how did you assemble the pages together? Only with the glue? I mean...the pages to the cover! Thank you a lot from Italy! I obviously pinned your project!!

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