As a scrapbooker, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I LOVE paper. Lately, I've been especially drawn to vintage papers and discarded papers (like old books, dictionaries and library slips found in thrift stores and flea markets). I've also found a beautiful array of found-paper inspiration on the Web.







(images from Magic Jelly)

How gorgeous is the vintage letter and design book? Oh my, would I love to get my hands on one of those! But I suppose that's going to be a little trickier to find than discarded library slips. :)

Last night, I gathered some of my found papers (like text from an old dictionary, office supply envelops and a little manila book I found at a fun paper store near my hometown) to create a little mini-book.

I plan to use the little book to collect paper scraps, as well as document little bits and pieces of my life like What I'm Loving Now lists, playlists, quotations, etc.

Here's the cover:

I'm ready to ring in the New Year tomorrow night, and I have big plans to organize and scrap this weekend. I have a holiday mini-album I want to finish, and I know the longer I wait, the less likely it is that I'll get all of my holiday photos and memories scrapped.

Lucky for me (and you!), Master '07 Crystal Jeffrey Rieger created a variety of digital labels, overlays and journaling blocks to help document holiday moments.



Click the following links to download her super-cute FREE files:

*Photo overlays

*Journaling cards

*New Year's Resolution Labels

Happy New Year, and happy scrapping!

Katie

... Mini-Albums. I love them! I take a ton of photos during one event, and rather than choosing one to three and create a layout, I can fit a lot into a small album. Combine hybrid scrapping + a mini-album and you get a great time-saving solution for using lots of photos.

Luke and I had our engagement photo session with our photographer at the beginning of June. We had a lot of great photos. I narrowed it down to 12 of my favorite and created this little album to display at our wedding. I also included journaling describing our different personalities and little quirks.

While it's convenient (and tempting) to go out and buy an album, I am on a tight budget these days with only 5 weeks to go until the wedding and house hunt. So I made my own album out of corrugated (cover) and thin cardboard (inside pages) that I had leftover from another project.














Here's the step by step:
1. Find a mini-album template from your favorite digital designer and download it. (I downloaded the Tutti Frutti 4x6 Quick Page Album from We Are Storytellers.) Gather some cardboard or a blank album you already have.

2. Design your album in PhotoShop, PS Elements, or any design program with the digital template you downloaded.

3. Print and trim your pages. (I printed my pages on our Epson R1900 and trimmed them with an Xacto knife).

4. Now is the time to add embellishments to your pages that you don't want sticking through the other side of your cardboard. For example I wanted stitching on my cover, but I didn't want to see the stitching on the other side of the cardboard. So I stitched the cover before I adhered it the cardboard so that it looked seamless. (This would be a good time to add any brads.)

4. Measure and cut out cardboard to match the size of your album. Adhere your designed pages to the cardboard. (My album is 4x6 and I used Tombow Mono Adhesive)

5. Use a hole punch to create holes for binding. Use ribbon, binder rings, or other binding method to finish your album.

6. Add any stamps, embellishments or handwritten journaling to finish the album.

This hybrid album took about half the time it would have taken me if I didn't start with a digital template. Do you have any time-saving tips to share for making mini-albums or multi-photo layouts?

Have a great weekend!
Christy

Growing up, there has always been a dog in our home. When I moved out of my parents house I got two of my own. There's something wonderful about coming home to wagging tails and endless kisses. And nothing compares to a stress reliever like a long walk at sunset with two faithful companions. A mini-album documenting some of my most favorite memories with Maizie and Haylee was long overdue. I finally got inspired to create by the KI Memories, 2008 Love, Elsie line (DAISY).

I used few embellishments and did a lot more journaling in this album. I added captions to photos and documented the pups unique personalities. Now I have some of my greatest memories all in one album. I even left a few open pages to finish later when I take more photos.






 


Creative prompt: create a layout or mini-album about your beloved pet with multiple photos and journaling. It'll surely bring back some warm, fuzzy memories :)

christy