Gingersnap Creations Office Supplies Challenge GC94

There's a new challenge up today over at Gingersnap Creations, and I happen to think it's a particularly fun one!  Today we are challenging you to use Office Supplies in your creation.  I love office supplies - just standing in the store staring at all the labels, paper clips, tacks, magnets, pens, notepads, etc. makes me happy.  Okay, maybe that's a bit strange, but I knew I couldn't pass up this challenge.  And when I happened upon a package of six 5"x9" document envelopes for less than $2 at Wal-mart, an idea popped into my head.  I've created a little vacation mini album with them, along with a few other fun supplies that you can get for very little cash. 

I started my album by scoring down the center of two 5x9 inch document envelopes.  I lined them up on top of each other, clipped the edges together with a few of those "bulldog" clips, and used my sewing machine to stitch down the score lines.  Don't forget to reverse the stitching for a little bit both at the beginning and at the end to get a really secure edge.  This gave me four "pages."  

For the cover, I tore off one end of an airmail envelope (any kind of envelope would do) and inserted a "Tim Holtz-sized" tag for journaling.  A bit of stamping and distressing, and a feature picture from our trip to Niagara Falls finishes off the front cover.

One the inside, I added a bit more distressing and stamping.  I added another journaling card, some photos (I cut out the clock from the Maid of the Mist ride), and a sticker.  The flapped portion of the envelope (on the left) provides a great place for extra photos.  I cut off the edge of the bottom portion of the envelope that creates the page on the right, so that I could put in some memorabilia (tickets, postcards, etc.).  I will secure these in with a large, fun-colored paperclip.  (And yes, I still have some journaling to do.)

The next set of pages includes a library pocket and card for more photos and journaling.  I punched a hole in the library card and added a reinforcer (distress inked) and some red, white, and blue twine to turn it into a tag.  I also slipped that ripped off portion of the airmail envelope onto the bottom of the library pocket for some more color and interest.

 The last set of pages has a split photo where the envelope flaps over.  I just lined up the photo and made a little mark where I wanted to cut, and where I needed to punch a hole for the metal closure.  More photos will go in this second pocket.  Blank address labels make great stickers for titles or for journaling, too.

That's it! This was quick (I kept stamping/embellishing to a minimum), easy, and inexpensive.  I will definitely make more of these, but this time I will do it *before* I go on a trip, so that I can journal as I go, and also have a place to stash the mementos while I'm traveling (so that I don't have to dig through my purse, my luggage, my glove box, etc. searching when I get home!).  I think I'll probably sew together three envelopes for the next one, too.  Depends on how long the trip will be. :) 

I hope you have time to play along.  Use whatever you have on hand, and get those creative juices flowing (the Design Team has lots to inspire you).  Happy Wednesday!