Fiskars Rocks with Midnight Kisses

I love Heidi Grace's Midnight Kisses line for Fiskars, and it was the perfect product choice for an elegant tag album as a gift for a friend recently married. When I volunteered to make this album I immediately knew I wanted to use Midnight Kisses. As fate would have it, the colors of the bridesmaid dresses in the wedding was midnight blue with red accents. Coincidence? I think not!

All of the gals in our study group sent me a quote, scripture and/or message to be used inside the tag album for our friend. The hardest part of this album was typesetting everyone's messages to fit the text within the small space, and have it look uniform. Coordinating papers made creating the album itself a breeze!


In addition to the quote pages, I offered the bride several blank pages for her and her new husband to include their own favorite quotes, or perhaps scripture used in the wedding. I also used midnight blue cardstock on several additional tags for the addition of photos.


I discovered several shortcuts along the way, and thought I would share instructions here. Namely, by folding strips of patterned paper that go on both sides of the tag, not only do you save a cutting step, but it offers a wonderful finished looking edge to have the crease of the fold on the edge of the tag.


Midnight Kisses Tag Album

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Heidi Grace Midnight Kisses for Fiskars
• Definitions
• Pinstripe
• Bold Flourish
• Décor Stripe
Chipboard: Frame and Heart by Heidi Grace Midnight Kisses for Fiskars
Other: Raw Chipboard trimmed to 3x6” for front and back cover
Cardstock: plain white, Worldwin coordinating colors: Blue and Red (CBRD 12U), white embossed heart stock by The Paper Co.
Brads: Heidi Grace, Making Memories (gem brads used on front)
Ribbons: Heidi Grace Décor Ribbon Assortment -Midnight Kisses for Fiskars
Flowers: red (used “velvet” flowers plucked from a Bordeaux bush purchased at Michael’s)
Other: Binder rings, black ink
Tools: Fiskars deluxe trimmer, self healing cutting mat, craft knife and “Threading Water” border punch

How To:
1. From plain white cardstock cut desired number of tag pages to 5.75”x2 7/8”
2. Using pencil and ruler, on each tag indicate 1” mark from inside gutter margin, and ¾” mark from outside edges, both front and back of tag
3. On light blue cardstock print quotes or other text – live area for each tag page is 4” wide x 2.825”, and trim to size, inking edges in black
4. Using guide marks, position quote blocks on each tag and adhere
5. Cut one inch strips of pinstripe patterned paper, trimming into 5.5” sections
6. Crease in center and apply adhesive to floral side (note that by folding in half it eliminates a cut step and also makes flush alignment to tag easier)
7. Position stripe patterned paper onto tag, with fold going over top edge of tag (trim any excess along bottom edge of tag)
8. Trim floral paper into 2.825” x 1.75” pieces – folding lengthwise in half
9. If a brad/red floral embellishment is desired hole punch paper, add flowers with brads, flattening prongs
10. Apply adhesive to striped side, and position floral onto tag, and with fold going over outside edge of tag
11. Run red cardstock through Xyron machine, if available. Cut cardstock into approx. 1/8” strips and position over seam where striped paper meets solid blue (this offers a balance of red)
12. COVER: Trim from raw cardstock two pieces 6” x 3” and create covers as desired. Designer used:
a. From Décor Stripe paper cut red dotted pattern strip, ink edges and apply to inside margin of front cover
b. From Definitions paper trim 3” tall section of one column width, adhere to cover butting against red dotted paper.
c. Cut ¾” x 3” piece of pinstripe paper and position on cover.
d. Print tag album title on white cardstock and trim to shape of chipboard bookplate (slightly smaller than actual frame so adhesive of frame will stick to cardstock), heavily ink edges with dark blue
e. Mark holes for brads to secure bookplate, punch holes and secure bookplate, adding chipboard heart if desired
f. Apply flower to front cover if desired
g. On inside of cover, cover brad prongs with white heart embossed cardstock; apply to both covers, with pinstripe paper for the inside margins
h. Finishing Touches: Threading Water punch was used to punch ¾” strips from floral paper. Apply one strip to outside edge of tag cover, paying attention to scallop design and uniform appearance on ends
i. Apply adhesive to back of second strip and line up holes and scalloped edges, trimming ends. Burnish two scalloped pieces together. Ink outside edges.
j. Mark hole punch positioning on each page, punch, and bind album with binder rings
k. Tie ribbon on rings to finish the look.

Once I had the quotes printed on the light blue cardstock the entire album took me less than 2 hours to create - less for you now that you have these instructions. Another idea for this album would be to make 4x2.825" cards available at a graduation or other type of party, and ask guests to write a message to the guest of honor; later assembling the cards into a gift tag album! The Definitions patterned paper also has definitions for family, friendship and more, which makes it very versatile for a variety of tag album subjects. Enjoy!