Family History Photo CD Tin

I've spent the last 4 hours working on a family history photo tin.  It's a project I'm preparing for my family reunion/campout this coming weekend - and I've got to make 35 kits.  I've actually prepared this type of project for another family reunion I did a few years ago and it went over so well, I offered to do it for the Schaub family this year.

In case you're interested, this is a small 4 generation accordion photo album.  My dad helped me with the family group sheet and collecting all the photos.  Fortunately I was born into a family that likes to take photographs and we've been doing it for generations.  Probably one of the most enjoyable parts of this project was going through old (as in 1800s) family photos - it's interesting to see how prevalent some genetic traits are.

Here is a little tutorial if you'd like to make you're own CD Photo Album.  I've also created an instruction sheet with supplies and dimensions. You can download it here - CD Photo Accordion Album Instructions.

Here are the general supplies:

The instruction sheet will give you the dimensions of everything.  First, cut three strips of cardstock each at least 5 inches wide.  I'd recommend using 12x12 cardstock so you can get at least 2 strips out of it; however, if you want to you can use 8 1/2"x11", but you'll only get 1 strip out of each sheet.  Fold the strips at 4.25" (again check out the instruction sheet for details).

Here the strips are folded, and you can see where you'll need to glue them together.  You'll need to attach (glue sticks work great) square "A" to square "A" and square "B" to square "B" making sure that each square is 4.25" tall.

Then you just add your photos and decorate with paper.  I try to stay away from any embellishments that will add bulk (i.e. - pop dots, brads, flowers, etc) because the album is going to have to fit into a CD tin and with too many puffy embellishments the tin will look like an over stuffed suitcase.  Make sure that you do NOT decorate the top and bottom squares.  The bottom square will be adhered to the inside of the tin and the top square will have your "cover page".  Also make sure you check regularly to ensure that your photos are all going in in the right direction.

To adhere the album to the tin you will have to use glue dots -- these are the only things "powerful" enough to hold the paper to the metal.

Pretty simple and straight forward.  Here are a few photos of the finished album.

You should make a tin of your own.  They're a very simple way to share family history and they make great gifts.

Girls Getaway in Flagstaff

A friend of mine has a house on a golf course in Flagstaff. The deck off the back of her house over looking the San Francisco Peeks may be one of my most favorite places on earth.
Two weekends ago several of my friends and I went up and spent the weekend at Marie's house. What started out as my card club (there are 5 of us) blossomed into 10 women getting away for a fun filled weekend. Fortunately Marie had enough room for everyone.

So Friday after work we piled into our various cars and drove 2 hours north. And the temperature dropped by 20 degrees...yahoo!!!! Friday night we went out for dinner -- Olive Garden, where their grill was broken so they could only do sautee'd and baked dishes, hmmm. And then it was late night chatting on the gorgeous deck while we watched the practically full moon cross the sky.

At this point I must mention Marie's deck chairs. She has two of the MOST COMFORTABLE deck chairs I've ever had the privileged of sitting in. They are SOOOOOO comfortable and they have nice big ottomans to go with them. They contribute to the overall appeal of Marie's deck.

Saturday was Craft Day...all day. My card group - Serena, Rhonda, Camilla, Elizabeth and I - brought up our "anything-but-a-card-craft" and spent most of the day assembling, embellishing, cropping, decorating and in general just having a great time. All the other ladies just kicked back and relaxed.

Saturday night it was dinner down town and then back to the house for games.

Sunday morning I engaged in my favorite activity...about 6:30am I dragged a blanket outside with me, onto Marie's deck. The air was still crisp and cold. I snuggled up on one of the FABULOUS deck chairs with the last of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book and read and read and read. I was in heaven!! I was out there for a good 2 1/2 hours. I really could have been out there all day.Eventually we did have to leave :(. I can't wait till next time.

Back from Sabbatical With New Flower

So it would seem that I've returned from my month long sabbatical. It's not that I haven't had anything to blog about, it's almost the opposite in fact. I have had too much happening and not even a minute of time to sit down and blog, literally. From the moment I wake up (I trying to get back on the 4:30am work out schedule - not going exactly as I had hoped, *sigh*) until the moment my head hits the pillow (somewhere between 9:30pm and 10:00pm) I'm going -- work, RS, RS, friends, and more RS (it sure would be nice to fit some dating in there *huge sigh*). Besides, after spending 8-10 hours a day at work on the computer, I'm always hard pressed to want to turn it on when I get home.

HOWEVER, I need to blog for me -- my personal record, and to connect with the outside world, through something other than Facebook *another big sigh*.

Anywhoooo, last Saturday my friend Jacque and her mother taught Susan and I how to make these FAAAABULOUS flowers which can be worn in your hair, on your shirt, on your purse, attached to a necklace, basically any where you need a little dazzle. They were super simple to make and are super cute. All you need is synthetic fabric, a candle, needle and thread, a button, and some felt for the back. I can't wait to make more. Here's my first flower. It's roughly 3.5inx3.5in and has an alligator clip on the back.

I took several shots of the flower, some with my camera on a tripod and others just holding the camera

First 2010 Card Club Meeting

So I have a bunch of friends who like to craft like I do (surprise, surprise, surprise). Several decided last year to get together once a month and do a card kit exchange. Deal is, you make a card, then you make several "card kits" which include everything you need to make your card. We get together once a month swap card kits, and then work on putting them together while we visit, talk, and snack. I really look forward to these nights.

Anyways, last night was our first meeting of 2010. Other then catching up a bunch, finding out about Rhonda's cute new hound dog named, Beauregard Walker McGraw (isn't that just the best name for a southern hound dog), and going over who's getting married that we know, we did manage to get some stinkin' cute projects done. Here they are:Can you guess which one was my card that I shared?