The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home

Hello, and welcome by!  I really do believe that "The Kitchen is the 💓of the Home" because most of us gather in the kitchen....for talking, sharing, cooking, and SO much more.  And while our meals are later taken into either the formal dining room, the kitchen table area, or even to the couch in some cases...it all begins in the Kitchen.

When I first learned of the new challenge over at Double D Challenge Blog/Dar & Diane's Challenge Blog, this specific Bo Bunny "Kiss The Cook" line immediately came to my mind.  I made a cute little Kitchy Card yesterday using these adorable goodies, and it quickly reminded me that I had also started a mini album/cook book this past Summer while crafting with my BFF in Stillwater, MN.  You will see an antique milk cap on the cover page that is actually from Stillwater, MN.  (See photo below)  We found those for ten cents each at an antique store and swooped up oodles of them.  I put the finishing touches on this mini album today, and I'm sharing it now for the first time.

The second page of this book is covered in black gingham patterned paper, and has some cute lace and border on the left with a wool felt flower cut from a die-cut, and a little tag from the Bo Bunny collection.  This page is a photo page.  How fun will it be to place pictures inside this sweet book to capture memories of meals, cooking, and family.

On the right-hand side of the book (Page 3 of the album), I used yellow polka dot patterned paper, a border sticker with a "Recipe" tab, and a row of die-cut wool felt red hearts with machine stitching through them. At the bottom right of Page 3, I put a decorative little flower with some Natural Burlap string.  Because this book is made out of paper bags, there are built-in pockets; and this is the first page where you can see some of the recipe cards peeking out of the pocket.  There's also a photo spot on this page.

Next, you flip the book to Page 4 where, on the left-hand side, you will see red gingham patterned paper with a strip of the black gingham paper surrounded by a blue border, some lace, a sticker tab (a day to remember), and the soup can - which is from a sheet of patterned paper.  I dressed that up with some cute October Afternoon buttons with Ivory Burlap String tied through them.

On Page 5, the right-hand side of the book, I used a darling strawberry patterned paper with more of the kitchy blue hues.  I ran a deep red border along the edge, and then used this perfect yellow polka dot rolled rose ribbon that we found to match the album so perfectly.  This page is another photo page.  And again, I just LOVE that each page has built-in pockets where you can tuck in notes, additional photos, etc. for capturing memories.

OK.....let's flip the book to Page 6.  Here we have the red gingham, the kitchy blue photo mat, some of the strawberry patterned paper, a cute sticker tab, and then I placed the chipboard cooking utensils on the left. I told you this Bo Bunny "Kiss the Cook Line" is cute!

Here is a closer look at Page 6 (left side of book) and that adorable chipboard piece.  It is glittered and oh, so sweet!  And that little journalling sticker tab is the perfect place to write the year that the photo was taken.  Paper bag albums are such a great way to capture memories!

There's lots of machine stitching in this mini album, lots of room for journalling, and of course...LOTS of great pockets for the recipe cards where I'm sharing favorite family recipes.  I also inked the edges of my pages which is something I like to do. Every little touch just adds more joy!

Finally, on the right hand side you find Page 7 which has more machine stitching on the adorable papers, and a black photo mat with a little sticker (Be Grateful).  I can't stand it when I think about how ADORABLE this book is going to be with all the fabulous family photo glued to the pages.  SO SWEET!

The last photo (above) is just a look at the back cover of the mini album.  Even though it's the back of book, I wanted it to look cute.  I also figured that it would be a good place for some journalling, or the family name.  This sweet little album was bound using my Zutter tool with black binding rings, and is tied with several ribbon scraps.  I hope you've enjoyed my little album.  Here's where I am sharing it:

Double D Challenges:  Dar & Diane's Challenge Blog - The Kitchen Is The Heart of The Home

Scrapy Land Challenge Challenge Blog - Challenge #82 - Anything Goes - I used several die-cuts including the book itself which is Spellbinders, as well as the flowers on the cover and Page 2 which are Impression Obsession rolled flowers, Spellbinders scallop border, and a few others.

Mini Album Maker's Blog - January Challenge - This mini album was SO much fun to make, and great way to capture memories.

CropStop Challenge Blog - January Challenge #36 - Anything Goes:  I used Tombow Adhesive, May Arts Natural Burlap String, Fiskars punches, Spellbinders and My Favorite Things Dies, and lots of Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January/Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Challenge #452 - Old Favorites - The "Old Favorites" I used on this project include some of my favorite (SUPER old) die-cuts that I used on the rolled felt flowers, and my even older Fiskars border punches I used.  It's SO much fun pulling out older crafting items and giving them the use they deserve.  Great challenge!

Have a blessed day!

Karen