U R 4... Easiest Mini Album Ever!!!

Okay, so this album came together literally from conception to completion in about 2 hours (give or take, as I wasn't really watching the clock...)!!!

So, with my instructions, it should take you even less time...  lol

I don't know about you, but I have tons of random 4x6 photos stored in photo boxes, just waiting their turn to be used on a project.  So I grabbed 12 of those random photos of my son during the course of the year that he was 4 years old.  (Way back in 2004-2005.)

I love the ease and convenience of using 4x6s whenever I can, so I wanted to come up with a mini album to fit this size of photo.

First I'll show you the entire album, then I'll go over the how-to's...

Now, I KNOW  you will all want to know how I created the album!

It's sooo easy, I just have to spill the beans...  hehe

I had the basic concept of the mini album in mind, but I was trying to figure out the easiest way to do the binding, keeping the 4x6 size photos from being hole punched on the sides.  And I wanted to use sheets of 12x12 cardstock... well, let me tell you... Pinterest came to the rescue!  I didn't even have to wait... it was like it knew I needed the solution and it was there, just waiting for me!  lol

Here's what I found.... a great Mini Book tutorial on the Crate Paper blog.  (I didn't do the stitched pockets, just adhered the pages together, back-to-back.)

So literally, all I did was cut 7 sheets of 12x12 cardstock to 8"x12", then scored each of them down the center at 6".

Then I proceeded to glue them back-to-back to create a "book".

For the insides, I adhered my 4x6 photos to the tops of each page, in this case chronologically.

And then I cut up two 12x12 sheets of the same patterned B&T papers from Fanfare into 4x6 pieces and adhered them onto each page below the photos.

Then just to cover any discrepancies where the paper and photos didn't quite meet, I cut 1/2" x 6" strips of Black cardstock and adhered them onto the pages to cover any gaps.

Then I just used a shaped punch and journalling pen to add little journal spots for each photo.

For the inside cover and inside back of the cover, I used 6x8 pieces of the same patterned paper from Fanfare, just the reverse side.

The cover was made from 1 sheet of 12x12, just cut down the middle at 6", then each piece trimmed to 8" height.

The spine cover was another piece of patterned paper cut at 2 1/4" x 8", and I only glued down the front and back part, keeping the part along the spine free of adhesive so it can freely move when opened.

Lastly, I simply just decorated the cover, and a few places inside the album, mostly with matching Fanfare MyStickease.

Now how easy was that!!!???

♥♥♥

My plan is to do more of these, for when he was an infant, 1, 2, 3... and so on.

Wouldn't that make the cutest set of minis???

A great keepsake.

One day, I will pass them along to him.

I hope you enjoyed my mini.

Happy creating!  :)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  Fanfare B&Ts - retired; White Daisy, Black, Cranberry, Sunkiss Yellow CS

Stamp:  Keepsake Alphabet

Ink:  Black

Embellishments:  Fanfare MyStickease - retired, Black Licorice opaques

Other:  Cricut Art Philosophy cartidge, Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge (Provo Craft), Real Estate Sign punch (EK), Black journal pen