I am so excited to be on the blog today sharing this mini book I made using my Practicing the Possible digital set that’s currently available in the Print and Pray Shop. When I was working on this collection, I was thinking about these spirited girls as kind of cheerleaders, encouraging us all to keep going, so they were just the things to use to make a little book for my friend Julie.
After months of big changes including a move from the small town she’s lived in all her life, I wanted to make a mini book for Julie that was encouraging, but also left space for her to connect with her dreams, prayers, praises, creative play, and verses that speak to her over this next period of transition. Making a new home, finding a new church, creating into a new rhythm of life, even when it’s really good, is still full of change and growing pains, so having a space to capture one’s feelings and hopes during that time can be so incredibly helpful for both future memories, and those days when it’s not as easy as it’s been.
To get started, I printed and cut out two full sheets of each page of the set, plus I recolored the girl from the freebie “The higher the bun, the closer to heaven” to look a little more like Julie. That is what is so great about digitals – you can recolor them to fit your needs! I also grabbed some patterned paper, white cardstock, and a piece of chipboard I’d saved from a recent shipment. I cut everything down to size (5×6 this time), and punched holes in the top of the pages. The cover is just a little note I wrote out and then recolored in Photoshop Elements, then printed and glued to the chipboard. Easy peasy, but fun!
From there, I decided that I wanted to create five little spaces Julie could add her own words and images regarding her prayers, praises, etc., but I also wanted to use the girls to give her a little visual pep talk every time she flipped to a section. I added the girl cutouts, flowers, and speech bubbles to the white cardstock to help them “pop” a bit, and then attached a glassine envelope filled with cards she can write on into the envelope on the opposite page.
Repeating the pattern on each page with a new girl/topic really helps to make the process of putting the book together so fast, but also keeps the book interesting.
The first page includes a note from me to her in the envelope, but all the rest will hold her voice, her favorite verses that are moving and inspiring her, her prayers, dreams, and praises.
I adhere a little fold over tab of paper to help keep the notes inside the envelope when the book is closed and stored.
One of my most favorite spots is the last page, which holds and envelope marked by the speech bubble “Amen!” This spot is perfect for her final thoughts as she finishes this book. It’s a fun way to look back in years to come and read her thoughts during this time full of so much beauty, challenges, and change.
The entire mini book is small with only five main prompts, but it’s packed with love and hope for writing down these things that weight so much on our hearts.
-Brandi
You can find the talented Brandi Kincaid designing kits over at the Feed Your Craft Etsy shop. The lover of paper & pretty patterns inside you will rejoice! Also, be sure to go say hello on her Brandi Kincaid website!
Illustrated Faith Practicing the Possible digital set by Brandi Kincaid | patterned papers from Feed Your Craft kits on Etsy | binder rings
LOVE THIS!!! Thanks for sharing this with us, such a thoughtful way to use up those cute girls:)
This is such a great idea! Looking forward to making a book like this. Thank you for the inspiration!!