Dad's Day Mini Album

Welcome to a scrappy edition of The Cherry On Top.

We've rustled up another Father's Day project for you using our apron template.  You can make this simple, paper/hybrid craft, too either by tracing around the provided, free template or doing it digital style.  It's a lot faster and there's little mess. You decide what's best for you and we'll show you how.

Grab the jpg right here or head over to our original entry where you can get the tif version if you want to go digital.

I went with both methods for my dad's mini album.  I did all of the inserts digitally and left the outside traditional, by tracing around the template and then cutting out the tools, like you see right here in this image.

Supplies Needed:

template

inserts (if you choose to go digital)

paper/card stock (if you choose to go traditional)

scissors

adhesive (glue dots, glue)

twine, string or ribbon

embellishments

The first thing I did was design my inserts using stuff from my digital stash.  Mostly using Touched By A Butterfly's Grandpa's Workshop.  The tools were really great.  My dad is a total fixer upper kind of guy.

I printed out the 6 inserts with journaling, a couple of embellishments that were tool related and added bolts, screws, nuts, etc around the places to punch out at the top of the apron.  Then, cut out everything I printed as shown, below.

My next step was to ink around the edges of everything I cut out.  It gives your project a  more polished, finished look.  Either wipe or dab.

On to the cover.  I chose very rigid card stock, traced around my template, punched the two holes at the top and inked around all of the edges, here as well.

Then I applied my pocket, leaving the top open so I could insert the tools.  (In our kitchen apron, we inserted our recipe cards here.)  Use it for anything you like.

Then, I cut out all of the tools and stuck them in the pocket.  It has to go thousands of miles through the mail, so I did adhere each one, just slightly with a tiny glue dot.  Glue dots do a lot better when it comes to heat and cold.

You can see really well in this image, that I chose a paper that resembled canvas and it gives the album a textural feel.

I have a traditional hole punch.  So to be sure, I lined up each insert with the cover and punched through. This makes sure that all of the holes from each insert line up properly.  If you've got a super duper hole punch, you could align all of your inserts, cover and punch through all of them. 

I decided to adhere my inserts back to back since I had just the right amount of pages.  It added to the durability and I didn't have blank backs this way.

I took one end of my twine, inserted it through one of the holes at the top of the apron, and knotted the end twice, so that the twin wouldn't come through the hole.  Then took the other end and did the same.  So easy!

I decided to do silly and sweet for my daddy because that is what he is, too.  Hehehe...I used funny pictures of the boys because he's got one heck of a sense of humour.

Here are what the inserts look like.

As this image demonstrates, you can stand up your mini album or hang it up.  My parents love putting stuff on their refrigerator because they see it all of the time.  Some magnet tape on the back would do the trick as long as it's not too heavy.

Use the same template to make this really easy card if you prefer.  Click the image to get to the tutorial.

We've also got a great tutorial and link to this free template to make a fabulously, easy card.  Even the kids can do this one!  Click on the image to find out more.

Just a couple of days until Dad's Day!  Be sure to make it extra special.  If you are looking for gifts or other crafty ideas for dad or the men in your life, check out our Pinterest board, Gifts For Guys.

Happy scrapping!

Fabulous Free Paper Apron Project

Welcome to The Cherry On Top!

We couldn't wait to bring this fun, easy, fast and low cost paper project to you.  Seriously, the laminate is still warm as I'm typing.  Hehehe...This project can be made within an hour and you only need a couple of materials.

We wanted a place where you could put all of our recipe cards and keep them handy or give them as a gift. (Scroll down to the bottom to get the free recipe cards.) We designed this rigid, stand alone apron with pocket to hold your recipes.  You can also hang it up and/or it will stack nicely with your other recipes, too.

Materials Needed:

printable

scissors

recipes printed in a small format to fit in pocket (around 4")

thinnest, double sided tape or glue

buttons 2x

ribbon  approximately 4"

glue dots, gun or adhesive

*laminator

Down load the template at the bottom of the page.  You can simply print it right out from here or you can click on the image and download or download the tif version available at app box also for free and design your apron like we did here with your favourite digital stash.

I used my go to kit from Just So Scrappy, With A Cherry On Top.  Isn't it absolutely fabulous?  It's an older kit, but I use it all of the time.  Click on the image to get a closer look and see more goodies in this line.  It's available at the Digital Scrapbooking Studio.

Tip:  Make sure when you print you get it just the size you need.  This template worked just perfect.  Hopefully, you won't have to make adjustments.

You may want to ink around the edges of your apron.  As you can see I made two cut outs so I can stand it up like a book.  You won't need two if you are going to hang it. For edging, simply take an ink pad and wipe around the edges.  It will give a more finished feel to your projects.  I inked around both.

Laminate both of your pieces separately and your recipe cards.  This will add to the durability, you won't have to use card stock and it's ok if it gets wet.

Carefully cut around all of your laminate.  Do not cut into the paper, just before it.

Play with your pocket placement before adhering so you get in the right spot.  You may choose to make a small mark to get it right in the centre.  I used that super thin double sided tape on the three, outside edges of the pocket, leaving the top open and getting as close as possible to the edge so that there is maximum room in the pocket for your recipes.

Adhere the two apron cutouts at the top of the apron.  I used the thin double sided tape.

Look carefully and you'll see how I applied a large, flat glue dot right on to the button to adhere the ribbon.  This makes the alignment perfect and it's so easy, right?!

You may also choose to cut around the paper of your glue dot so you don't have to drag the entire roll.  This makes for much better accuracy.

Put another glue dot right over the top of the end of your ribbon so that the ribbon will be sandwiched in between the two glue dots.

Place your button on top of each glue dot, covering the end of the ribbon.

You're finished!  This card is so sturdy, it stood up no problem with this spoon against it.  You may insert your recipe cards as shown here or you can insert them horizontally as well.  They fit both ways.  You could go a tab bit larger with your recipe cards if you put them in vertically.

Hanging your apron is also an option. (Then you will not need two cut outs.) Ooh!  Hang it on a bottle of wine and use it as a tag.  Of course you could print the template out small and use them as a tag.  You could sew around the edges, too.  Customise until your heart is content with ribbon, stitches, buttons, flowers, fabric...

Here is the template.  Simply adjust the size as you wish, print and cut it out or use the tiff version with the link provided to insert your paper/background of your choice and digital elements.

Wasn't that so easy?!  Enjoy the free template.  Remember it's for personal use only.  Do not sell it as your own and please share the link of the blog.  Thanks!

If you're looking for those free recipe cards check here, here (there are 2), here
are also two, here, here and here. That's 8 delicious, healthy and easy recipes.

Happy crafting!