Beach Tag Mini Album | Quick Gift

Aloha everyone!  I'm writing this blog post while on an amazing vacation in Hawaii.  I wanted to create a beach tag mini album to document our activities as a gift to my family.  The idea was to create a new page every day and add a small 2" x 3" photo of the day.  The photos show the album without pictures since we are just beginning our vacation.  I will be back home by the time you read this so join me on Instagram (@heatherleopard) to see it with photos included.

As you can see, I created a pineapple box to hold the beach tag mini album.  The mini album is made using many tags, die cuts and stickers.  So cool, so fun and so QUICK!

This project took a little planning ahead of time. I knew I wanted to give it to my family when I got to Hawaii but I didn't want it to get damaged en route to Hawaii.  With that in mind, I cut the box bits and tags ahead of time.  I knew I wanted to use my mobile printer that prints 2" x 3"  photos so I made the tags large enough to hold the photos.  I waited to put it together until I got there (super easy to pack since I left all the pieces flat!).

Pineapple gift box

I used a cut file from the Silhouette store.  The pineapple leaves came in one size but I wanted them to better resemble a pineapple stalk so I cut three sizes and layered them over each other as shown.

Naturally I had to use the pineapple patterned paper to cover the base of the box that will hold the beach tag mini album.

Beach tag Mini album

I pre-cut each pattern in various-sized tags including everything from standard tags and leaves to scallop circles. I liked most of the Side A and Side B patterns so I ended up dividing many of the the tags for greater variety.

The die cuts and cardstock stickers are great for adding dimension and layers to the tags.  Some of these will be tucked under the photos while others will go on top.  In addition, I also added mini puffy stickers because they are just too cute.

Beach tag mini album assembly

The first tag I created was the cover.  These are quite small so I had to keep it to a minimum. I started with a palm tree (and added a sun/puffy stickers later). Next, I included the location and year.

Here you can see the tags for the first half of the mini album. You can also see how I added the sun and puffy stickers to the cover tag. To make these, I sorted the larger tags in the order I wanted them and then I added the smaller accent tags.  I finished them off with additional die cut shapes and stickers.

Below are the tags for the second half of the mini album.

Once they were all complete, I tied them together with a palm tree leaf. Some of these will hold photos while the others are perfect for journaling and holding items we may collect along the way.  I may also add tickets and other items using a hole punch.

Ready for the memories

Once the palm leaf dries, it will become more sturdy.  However... I may want to add in more tags  or souvenirs, so a metal book ring or ribbon might be better suited for the job.  That way, I can tie on the palm leaf to when I get home.

So there it is. This beach tag mini album was very fast to put together. It seems like it took me only about 30 minutes once all the pieces were cut so probably 45 - 60 minutes max.  Simply cut the tags, embellish, add photos and journaling, you are done!

I can't wait to fill it up with details of our trip but I'm looking forward to creating memories with my family most of all.

Supplies: Sunshiny Days Flower Garden (733603), Sunshiny Days Summer Day (733606), Sunshiny Days Fresh Squeezed (733605), Sunshiny Days Beach Day (733601), Sunshiny Days Pineapple Float (733600), Sunshiny Days Flip Flops (733599), Sunshiny Days Daydream (733598), Sunshiny Days Paradise (733596), Sunshiny Days Puffy Stickers (733611), Sunshiny Days Chipboard Stickers (733610), Sunshiny Days Ephemera Die cuts (733609), Sunshiny Days Cardstock Stickers (733608), Sunshiny Days Alpha Thickers (733607)

Mini Summer Traveler's Notebooks | Quick Gift Idea

Hello everyone, I'm here to share a quick gift idea: Mini Summer Traveler's Notebooks!  Not only are mini summer traveler's notebooks a fun way to document your summer adventures, but they are so quick and easy, you'll want to make a lot!

Summer Traveler's Notebooks

We're taking a trip this summer with some friends, so I made mini summer traveler's notebooks as gifts to give to the kids using Pebbles' new summer line, Sunshiny Days.

I plan to take my little handheld printer to snap random shots and let them add them to the pages and add notes about their adventures. As I mentioned, these mini summer traveler's notebooks are very easy to make...let's take a look.

Start by cutting 4" x 6" covers.  I chose to use the patterned paper with the journaling cards for a cute front and back cover.

Next, cut the inside pages using coordinating patterned paper or plain cardstock.  Consider cutting them at varying sized to add a fun flair.

Also, cut them 1/2" smaller on the top and side so that they are 1/4" smaller around each edge.

After you've sorted your inserts in the order you want them, run them through your sewing machine and  stitch right down the middle. Make sure they are all facing the right way up. Using the journaling cards with the divider lines makes this very easy to do!

Fold these in half. You may want to use a bone folder to get an extra crisp fold.

I used a supersized journaling card as the inside center card for my summer traveler's notebooks. This can be used for a summer bucket list, bullet list, end of summer storytelling, or whatever.

Decorate your Summer Traveler's Notebooks

Once you've assembled your mini summer traveler's notebooks, decorate the outside with stickers and embellishments.  You may even wrap these up with stickers and embellishments for the recipient to add once they have their photos.

These only took about 45 minutes to whip up all 4 -- I wasn't kidding when I said these are a quick and easy gift idea! Thanks for stopping by the Pebbles' blog today!

Supplies: Sunshiny Days Hello Summer Quotes (733595), Sunshiny Days Pineapple Float (733600), Sunshiny Days Let's Float (733604), Sunshiny Days Summer Day (733606), Sunshiny Days Paradise (733596), Sunshiny Days Pink Flamingos (733597), Sunshiny Days Flip Flops (733599), Sunshiny Days Ephemera Die cuts (733609), Sunshiny Days Puffy Stickers (733611), Sunshiny Days Cardstock Stickers (733608)

#heatherhitsitalysolo2014 Part 2

So I have a confession: I didn't really do Italy completely solo. I mean I did but I didn't. After Day 1, one of my co-workers had arrived so we hit the city together. I had asked my Facebook friends where to go and Stephanie said I had to see Como so... when I told my co-worker that I was planning to take a train to Como, he was literally onboard to join me. We took the train from Milan to Como Nord Lago. We knew we wanted to take a boat ride around the lake and a tram to the top of the mountain but we had no idea where to find these things.

We got off the train, we didn't know whether to go this way or that way so we went that ---> way When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a gorgeous lake surrounded by villas, boats and lakeside restaurants. It took my breath away.

We strolled down the path along the lake until we got to that wall you see in the middle of the photo above. We walked out there and just admired the scenery.

Next, we kept on strolling until we got hungry. We settled at a lakeside restaurant for some pizza and pasta. Oh and some Marc Jacobs custom designed Coca Cola light (Diet Coke). (I was there during Fashion Week) And look at that view. I decided I could get used to having a view like this every day.

As we were eating lunch and enjoying the beautiful weather, we noticed that the entrance to the tram was right next to our restaurant. The stars were aligning! So we went up and up and up...

and up

and up

and up

 ...until we reached the top. We walked around and found the perfect spot to snap some photos, like this one.

We stayed up there for quite a long time, enjoying the different views of the lake as well as some businesses and homes that were at the top of the mountain. 

We spotted a beautiful church while we were up there and added that to our list of things to do. So, we took the tram back down the mountain and started walking in the direction of the church.

This photo above shows the beautiful steeple that attracted us to the church from high on the mountain. It's actually the back side of the church.

This is actually the front. It's soo pretty with a beautiful courtyard that I imagine lots of kids run around before and after church get all their energies out.

I didn't get too many photos on the inside and those that I did get, aren't that great...

After the church, we walked out and back towards the lake and whattaya know, the boat for the lake tour was right there. We got in line to buy tickets when I really large group of school kids, probably on a field trip, joined us in line. As much as I love kids, I really wanted a quiet, peaceful ride around the lake. We got out of line and went to the gelato shop across the street. Yummmmo! Once the kids were on the boat, we got back in line for the next one.

And off we went....

Hey! There's a view of the tram tracks going up the mountain.

Check out these mansions. I noticed that many of them had their windows boarded up, assuming they had winterized them since these are probably 2nd homes for the summer. 

Oh, the views were soo beautiful!  I was sad that I didn't get to stop in to say hi to George Clooney. The darn boat turned around before we made it all the way to his house. Sigh....

After that, we headed back for the train to Milan. I had to be back by 8 to set up for the event the next morning. 

On the way back to the train station, I saw this sign. COMO viva - enjoy COMO. I thought it was a perfect farewell for my time in this beautiful town. My co-worker must have thought I was crazy taking soo many photos. I spared you of them all and just showed the highlights.

Next stop, Helsink Finland and then South Africa. I'll blog about those trips soon.

#heatherhitsitalysolo2014 Part 1

I love my job, I really do.  I work for a major computer company as a Portfolio Marketing Manager and I have the flexibility to work from home. I wouldn't trade that for anything because it allows me to see my kiddos on and off the bus, I get more accomplished during the work day and it makes mornings with 2 kids (one with autism) a little less chaotic. If the hubby and I had to add getting us both ready, along with the kids, and do the morning routine, we might all go crazy. Anyway, I also love my job because I am able to travel. I don't go too often but it seems that when I have traveled lately, it's taken me to some pretty incredible places. In November I got to visit Sweden (and meet Alex) and Ireland. And I just got back from Italy and Finland a few days ago.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably already know that I was just overseas because I shared a few photos there using the hashtags #heatherhitsitalysolo2014 and #heatherhitsfinladsolo2014.  Here's a recap of my trip. WARNING: There's a ton of photos, like tons.  I'm only sharing a few and will spare you the 100's on my computer. Most were taken with my point & shoot and haven't been edited.

#heatherhitsitalysolo2014

It was a long flight over with a stop in New York City. These beautiful snow-capped mountains were my first view of Italy and a welcome sight.

I arrived at 8:40 am, got to the hotel and checked in early. I refused to listen to my biological clock that was telling me to go to sleep. I showered up and set out to explore Milan. I took the underground metro to Duomo not realizing the beauty I would see as I came up to street level.

Duomo do Milano: Milan Cathedral is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the fifth largest cathedral in the world and the largest in the Italian state territory. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Cathedral 

I bought a ticket to the top Terrace. I could have stayed up there all day. I must have been there a while, just enjoying the view, the weather, my religion. Here's what I saw on my way up:

Someone was creating his very own masterpiece and it looked great!

And the view from the top was just incredible:

In 1762 one of the main features of the cathedral, the Madonnina's spire, was erected at the dizzying height of 108.5 m. The spire was designed by Carlo Pellicani and sports at the top a famous polychrome Madonnina statue, designed by Giuseppe Perego that befits the original stature of the cathedral.


You can see the shine in my photo above but it doesn't do it justice. It was almost blinding and oh so beautiful.

I snapped a selfie on the terrace. Not sure why I am all squinty-eyes. Perhaps it's the sun shining back at me from the selfie.

This is where I could have stayed all day but there was too much to see and do, considering this was just my 1st stop.


I can't believe I didn't snap a photo looking down from the terrace. I definitely looked several times.  I found this one on the "Interwebs". This photo of Cathedral (Duomo) is courtesy of TripAdvisor

On to the inside. It was a Sunday so I was in for Mass. I couldn't understand anything they were singing or saying but it was simply magical.

There were two bodies encased in clear glass and preserved for all to see. The masks covered their faces but you could see parts of their bodies.

Andrea Carlo Ferrari (13 August 1850 – 2 February 1921) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Milan. His body is in the cathedral. Wikipedia

The Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster, OSB (18 January 1880–30 August 1954), was a Benedictine monk and Cardinal Archbishop of Milan during World War II. He was beatified on 12 May 1996 by Pope John Paul II. Wikipedia

Next was Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It was Fashion Week so I needed to get cultured. ;)

The grand entrance to the Galleria...

First thing I saw when I walked in was a photo shoot taking place in the middle of the hustle and bustle.  I slying pulled out my iPhone and snapped a photo. The model is the one in white in front.

He must have walked back and forth a million times for them to get the perfect shot. I was fascinated a watched a bit from the sidelines along with a gazillion other people. Oh and there was another photo shoot in Duomo square and another in La Brera that day. They were all over, everywhere I turned.

I left the mall on the opposite side and ran into a few street performers, like this one.

Tickets to see The Last Supper painting by Leonardo di Vinci was sold out. I had to do the next best thing and visit his statue. Add the museum to the list of MUST SEE when I come back with my family.

I ventured across the way to Teatro alla Scala - it's an amazing place for the opera and ballet.

For now, it was just me and I loved it. I walked and walked and walked the streets of Milan, bundled up in my warm jacket, just enjoying the architecture and culture.

I got to La Brera and walked into Brera Academy of Fine Arts. This is the 3rd spot where I walked upon a photo shoot but what was most interesting was the Napoleon statue that was taken down to be renovated.

It was inside a tent. The cool thing was being able to see parts of it up close. Otherwise, I would have had to look at it like this, if it was still standing in the middle like it's supposed to:

I snapped this pic from a book I found in the museum. Is that bad?

Keep on walking on the cobbled streets...

^^^ I spy a heart shaped rock ^^^ 

Flowers carved out of vegetables? Wha-what???

Finally, gelato!

Chocolate chip & pistachio. I added chocolate to the mix the next time and ordered a medium instead of a small. 

I had lots of Pizza margherita on this trip, though they didn't look like this.

Oh the wine...so smooth.

My dogs were tired and it was time to head home. 

After all, I had walked in and out and around the inner and outer yellow line multiple times, almost all day.

But not before I made it to Castello Sforzesco (Castle of Milan). It was closed by the time I got there so I've marked it down as another MUST See when I come back with the family. It was wonderful to walk around it though.

A trip to Como was on the itinerary for the next day. I'll cover that in another blog post.

Oh and if you are wondering what took me to these places, I am managing a Global roadshow to train our sales and channel partners on the latest product and solutions we have to offer. I manage the logistics, schedule, speakers, etc. for approximately 80 events worldwide. That's in addition to my regular job. ;) I am only going to a select few of these events, thankfully. I couldn't be gone too much from my family as it's hard on us all to have one of the parents away. But sometimes duty calls and sometimes it allows us to see parts of the world that we haven't seen before as well as get a bit of much needed respite. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon.