Not fabric, but still fibre

Yesterday, I finally photographed a little book I finshed a while ago. 

From the outside, I suppose it just looks like any old book.  I used a coptic binding  (or here)(with beads!) and recycled the cardstock from my paper and cardboard collection (otherwise known as my recycling baskets)

However, it's the inside that I really like (Beyond the fact that it sits so flat when open!)
It is made from bill envelopes, the kind with the cellophane window.  I got this idea from Laura Kemshall in a design matters episode (It costs money to subscribe, but is certainly worth it)
My book is actually a little different to Laura's, but if you know me, you know I can never follow instructions without altering them.  Same with rules - lol.

I cut my envelopes so that each one opens at the top and the window is a vertical strip in the front of each pocket.  I wanted the pockets to be secure and only open at the top.  I glued the spine part (what was originally the open top of each envelope) into a pair of paper slips or tip-ins which were then bound (I got this method  from the new Cloth Paper Scissors Pages magazine.  This is so full of great stuff!

Finally, I couldn't finish without showing my wonky beading on the spine.  I do like making books like this - they are soo cute!

Making a card for Mum

This is a quick card I put together yesterday for my Mum to use as an acceptance.

I ised my old ZAZ embosser to emboss a flower on silver paper.  (I seem to have lost or broken most of the bits and pices over the years, but I have just made new bits out of stuff that worked, like this thin foam here from a dishcloth, lol

Here are two embossed flowers.  The one on the left is the one I used and is made from paper backed silver foil with a floral pattern.  This is the type used to cover boards for decorated cakes.  The one on the right is thinner and is made from a roll of cigarette foil I got from my sister when she worked at a factory.

I wanted to use these tiny brads, but being gold coloured, they were not right - so

I painted them with nail polish, and then they were very nice.

I arranged my bits; a piece of watercolour paper for the card, a bit of gorgeous black fibre paper with leafy bits in it and the embossed foil.

All trimmed and arranged.

And all finished, ready to post to her.  Oh, I forgot, I added a bit of pearly gold nail polish and a tiny dot of blue to the embossed flower and it looks yummy.

Just goes to show, you really don't know what's in your stash until you have to make something in particular for someone.