Thursday, May 3, 2012

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




3 comments:

Mary Gunn FUNN said...

So very cute! I've been grabbing random photos lately, too! Great FUNN! Nice tutorial, too!

Unknown said...

This is awesome and I'm so excited to try it! I know what I'll be doing tomorrow morning...LOL!

Unknown said...

I wanted to say thank you again for posting this. I FINALLY made one as a 30 Gratitude Journal. Here's the link if you want to check it out:
http://michelleshandmadeworld.blogspot.com/2012/11/30-days-of-gratitudea-journal.html

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