A Soul's Heartbeat: Double Mini in a Box

a Country Crafts Creations design team project

Hi everyone, I'm sharing with you a project using Tammy Merrills 8x8 mini in a box tutorial that she shared on her Group Page Coffee Talk. If you haven't yet discovered Coffee Talk, Scrapbookers of Country Craft Creations or the Country Craft Creations store you're really missing out on some amazing tutorials and projects made just for you to try out yourself along with an array of wonderful products to create with. I'll link all these fabulous places at the bottom of this post so be sure and check them all out.

My mini is created using the Graphic 45's Midnight Masquerade collection. Oh my goodness what gorgeous color combinations you have to work with in these papers. I made my own mask to decorate the front along with feathers and baubles.

My mini is actually a double since I added a second to the underside of the lid. On the video I'll share each page, how they flip and fold and all the tuck ins included.

The right side is a regular mini, with a spine with hinges and swinging pages which include a large side pocket and pull tab. I used some clear acetate for the pocket on the first page with a lovely fussy cut lady from the collection as decoration.

Here is a double page spread featuring belly bands and accent pieces for journaling, a photo or to leave as is. Slipped underneath are two mats of different sizes. There's amble room to leave more photos tucked in as well

These two pages each share a large cut apart on the swinging flip and an extra mat tucked under the edge. Magnets hold the flips securely in place.

Probably my favorite of the pages are these two. Each side boasts three flip ups which will hold photos just shy of 4x6". They tuck nicely under the chipboard accents to keep everything neat and tidy and the book is looked at. Fussy cut elements adorn each flip up.

The last pages share cream colored Artisan Paper embossed with Swiss Dot. On the left I've fussy cut a large image and backed it with the embossed paper to form a extra large pocket. On the right there's a side flip with a open tuck in area at the top. This finished up the mini on the right. But wait, there's more, there's another mini on the other side (the underside of the top of the lid).

This side simply utilizes the waterfall technique where each right/left flip out has an extra 1/2 inch flange that's scored and glued to allow the swing outs. Each flip is graduated in width so they tuck nicely one side into the other. The heights remain constant. This whole mini is secured with numerous magnets at the beginning to keep it nice and snug when closed. The pocket houses a couple of tags with a huge area underneath to attach a photo. Don't you love that beautiful teal border? That's achieved with one of the Bo Bunny flexible stencils and the Bo Bunny Glitter Paste in Turquoise.

Flipping that first page open to the left you have a huge area to cover with a photo or collage. The middle section is a pocket with an open area and large mat tucked under.

Here you can see both the left and right flip out. I also heat embossed one of the stamps from the collection onto the center panel using Blue Fern's Turquoise embossing powder, the perfect color to complement this collection. You have to keep in mind while making a mini in a box that it's tight quarters and allow for the bulk the photos are going to add to the finished project. That's why you'll notice I have very few bulky elements. Stamps etc are a great balance to give extra detail with out extra bulk. Not adding flowers, bling and chunky pieces is hard for me.

When you flip the center section with the solid orange to the left you get this next set of pages. Pockets both diagonal and horizontal.

Flip the right and you get the center panel, with pocket and the mirrored right side to the left flip out.

Flip to the left again and you get the high orange pocket and the center section that's secured with a swinging chipboard piece, swivel it to reveal the top spot ready to house your photos.

Continuing the alternating flips when you flip the one on the right you have the end of this side. Two orange high pockets on the outer flaps and a small corner pocket and tag in the middle.

So that's it my friends, a huge area for photos left and right all tucked together nicely in a box. Love this tutorial from Tammy, it's so versatile and can be used with endless possibilities. Don't forget the video to follow, it will give you such a greater perspective than the still photos. Thanks for joining me. Be sure to stop by and join and like both the Group Scrapbookers of Country Craft Creations and the Page Coffee Talk on Facebook, you'll be so glad you did!!