Saturday, May 5, 2012

An early Cinco de Mayo birthday gift that was nearly late

I made this book nearly two months ago, before spring was even on its way. I wanted to get it finished early and in time for my dear friend Halle at Halle's Hobbies. For the past two years I have been late with every gift I've made for her. I wanted to break the cycle. So, after making the pages to this book, which are ATC size (2.5 inches by 3.5 inches), I set it aside and didn't bind it until it was nearly too late to get it to her on time. She called me yesterday to let me know she got it, so here it is for your enjoyment.

Some of you may have seen this side, honoring spring.


Even more may have seen the left side, which I used in an Inspiration Avenue Challenge last month, also honoring spring. For the right side, I used a small piece of sheet music (quite old), some of my handmade paper that I broke off from a larger sheet, a nearly matching piece of colored tyvek, and the sentiment that I printed out for the spread.


For the "Farm Angel," I created what I hoped looked like an angel flying over a field. Her head was made using a circle punch, her feet from a star punch and her body from a cheese label. I colored the telephone page using H20s. I have no idea where the 1.75 came from.

The right side is a bit ambiguous in its message. There is a heart, a gear, the word forever, and the number 2, overlaid onto a heavy substrate of color and a foreign text napkin. It's one of those pieces you can interpret however you choose.


This side of the card is not ambiguous. Talent has definitely been unleashed by the little girl and it is hopefully passed on to anyone who sees this book. The background is a page from an old book.

The right side is all about St. Patrick's Day, with stickers of rainbows and a pot of gold.



The rainbows continue onto the second side, where Leprechauns dance among mushrooms and a lucky horseshoe. A bit juvenile, and not exactly my style, but I had the stickers and needed to fill the page!

The right side is pure collage, with a star ticket and a crow complementing a warning label from a dead lighter I found in my yard.


For the reverse side, I began with a tape transfer of a feather, then added a strip from a dictionary page, a golden egg, and a pheasant. I topped it with a nest made of string, and the words "A bird in the nest is worth . . ."

For the next page, I used some darling fuzzy bunnies, along with heads of lettuce, carrots, a bird, shamrocks, and grass. Mix and stir and you now have "Bunny Dreams."


On the left, I started with a gold paint chip, then added an image and sentiment (If you never did you should.) I found in art magazines.

The right side has a background of a paint chip, to which I added a bit of colored book page, a large sticker from the USPS liberty bell, and some ledger paper I used to add my name and the date after I scanned the book.


The back page has another paint chip background, a flower I cut from the same paint chip, a postage stamp, and the sentiment "Spring is all about flowers."

Today is Halle's birthday, and thankfully she has received it in the nick of time. It seems no matter how early I start something for Halle, I end up running late, or nearly late. Happy birthday, dear friend, and remember, I'm thinking about you today!

By the way, have a great Cinco de Mayo, too!!

____________________

13 thoughtful remarks:

kay said...

this is brill,bet you had fun making it,x

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...wow...so much thought & loVe has gone into this amazing bundle of gorgeousness...bet she loVed it...super super work...Mel :)

~*~Patty S said...

Thanks for letting me know it's Halle's birthday AND your book is so colorful and fun.
You are funny with the being late story ;)
Good things are always worth waiting for!
Happy Cinco de Mayo to you too!
oxo

Halle said...

Thank you so much!! Such a sweet gift.

Lisa Richards said...

I love the idea of a little book like this held together with tape! I never would have thought of that! Now I feel like making books is possible!

Margaret said...

Superb gift and well done you for getting it there on time, sometimes it's worth sticking at it!!
I love all your pages, the colours and images that make me smile! totally inspired the way they're taped together, fab!
Mx

Michele Bergh said...

I love the simplicity of the tape to "bind" the book and had never thought of doing something like this. I love it!

Craftymoose Crafts said...

That is such a beautiful gift! It is sure to be cherished by your friend. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

SandeeNC said...

Like some of the other comments I read we all seem to be impressed by your binding technique! How did you do the outside covers as I don't see any tape on those 2 pages? You are an awesome friend, watching the Kentucky derby from the hills of North Carolina :)

Lynn Cohen said...

Bet she loved it!!!!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely gift, glad you got it in the post in time this year. I am sure she is savoring every page. xox

Dianne said...

what a terrific little book! I love the quirky combinations of materials and the Spring sentiments.

Hank hendricks said...

I would never had thought of that..Now i think this is possible.

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