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Post by Restless Spirit on Sept 12, 2017 19:52:41 GMT
I've been away from actual "scrapbooking" for years. I have thousands of pictures to scrapbook, but I have no interest in going back to traditional scrapbooking. I do love papercrafts. I've been doing mostly cardmaking and really enjoy it. Recently, I've noticed a number of threads that mention "mini albums". I confess, I'm not at all familiar with mini albums. In fact, I'm really not sure what, other then physical size, what makes an album a true "mini album". I thought you all were just talking about albums that were less the 12 x 12 or 8 x 8! It appears that mini albums can be any type of small album. Searching Pinterest revealed a mind-numbing number of styles and possibilities - waterfall, wallet, folio, gatefold, etc, etc, etc. Most are relatively elaborate. They are beautiful works of art. I'd like to be able to create mini albums similar to those some day, but, I need to start simple.  So, for my question: Is there a style/type you would recommend for a beginner? Like another poster, I lead a pretty boring life and would mostly like to scrap random life type things (recipes, maybe my ornaments collection, my DH's photography, and oh my dogs. (That was a great thread with many great ideas on possible things to scrap.) Also, I know there are YouTube videos, but some seem to be geared to the experienced scrapper. Is there a particular artist you would recommend? Thanks for the help and suggestions. |
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Post by ellewood on Sept 12, 2017 20:10:57 GMT
I would definitely begin with a 6x8 project life style album. You can get 6x8 page protectors of different configurations from amazon (or hobby lobby/michaels, etc). It's small, easy to coordinate, inexpensive. ETA since you asked about youtube, just a few days ago I posted a process video of a few pages in my 6x8 vacation mini album. Nothing too fancy or artistic, some basic stamping and lots of photos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol7luaubGbE (also, shameless self promotion!  ) |
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,607 
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Post by Elsabelle on Sept 12, 2017 20:38:32 GMT
You can't get any easier than an accordion album. I've made several in many different sizes. I'd say the easiest is to cut two pieces of 12x12 cardstock in half. Adhere one piece to another so you have one continuous piece. Or you could cut it into three 4x12 pieces for a longer but smaller mini album. Then decorate!  |
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Post by sleepingbooty on Sept 12, 2017 21:05:51 GMT
Big mini (ha, punny!  ) album lover here. Always ready to convince someone to try one... I can't recommend you anything until I know more. Mini albums are still albums. They give shape and place for a certain content. So, until you figure out which project you're willing to try in mini album-style, you won't get a decent answer to your question. Here's what I suggest you should think about before setting on a format: 1. Do I have a specific project in mind I wish to use this mini album for? 2. If so, how many photos? How much writing? Do I want my photos to also include larger prints (if you've got family photos with many people, detailed landscapes, etc.)? If so, how big do I want these larger prints to be? --> this will determine your surface space 3. If not, how much time do I want to spend on this mini album? How quickly do I want this project to be completed? 4. Do I have any album preferences? Do I want to work in a ring album or am I cool with O-rings and front and back covers? Do I want to try a slim elongated format like a Traveler's Notebook? 5. Do I want this to be heavily embellished or more minimalist? --> this will determine your height space (and rule out specific spines in certain cases) 6. Is there a/multiple mini album(s) on Pinterest or elsewhere that stood out to me and grabbed my attention? 7. Do I have any money to spend on this or do I want to make-do with my stash? Once you start getting a better idea of the project you're willing to commit to for your first mini, you'll notice the fog starts to clear... Don't hesitate to ask us more questions! There are several mini album fans on here who'd love to help you out (and I'm one of them). |
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Post by papersilly on Sept 12, 2017 22:08:02 GMT
mini albums are all i work on. if you are getting started, i would suggest:
1) make an album focused around a certain paper collection, color or design you like. it doesn't have to be a specific birthday, vacation, event, etc.
2) start with just a few pages. 6 pages or less which gives you 12 face pages. not a lot of pressure to come up with a ton of pics.
3) create pages that will hold one photo or no photos (maybe just a small piece of journaling or memento)
4) create decorated albums that you can just add pictures to later. this will get you back into the swing of things with laying out a page and organizing your embellishments on a page.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 12, 2017 22:09:34 GMT
I think part of it depends on the kinds of things sleepingbooty asked, but maybe just a bit simpler- 1) do you want to make the entire album yourself, or just make pages? 2) do you like the concept of page protectors to *protect* the pages / photos, or are you okay with no page protectors? 3) Do you like to add a lot of dimensional embellishments onto your pages that might not work with page protectors? Depending on your answers to those questions, you can start to think about the page size, kind of album, etc. Handmade mini albums can go from as "simple" as the accordion-style one shown above to ones that actually have entire binding systems like a 'real' bound book, and the page styles can be plain cardstock, or can have all manner of pockets, flippy tabs, fancy waterfall-type mechanisms, etc. Purchased mini albums can be strap-hinge, pamphlet-style books that don't allow page protectors, or 3-ring binder type albums. The page protectors also come in different configurations, from a regular style full-page protector to divided ones that allow for different configurations of photos. ------------------------------------- Once you think a bit more about whether you want to make the album or just fill it, then yeah- we can help you out with more specific suggestions. One important thought- do NOT let yourself get overwhelmed with all the gorgeous, beautiful, handmade mini albums out there on the internet, especially those on youtube / pinterest! You can certainly make one of those if you want, and they are gorgeous, but mini albums don't have to be nearly that involved to turn out really cute and fun to make / fill. (and some of them posted are design team submissions or design team projects, so they're very elaborate-- and intimidating to think about making yourself.) |
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Post by Restless Spirit on Sept 13, 2017 2:33:02 GMT
Thank you all so much! Lots of 'food for thought' - exactly what I was looking for.
I think I'll start an idea journal to try to formulate a sense of what I'd like to put in a mini album. I think answering the questions you all have posed will be a good way to jump-start the creative process.
Thanks so much for all the thought provoking replies!
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Sept 13, 2017 3:10:41 GMT
Look at Kathy Orta King - Paper PhenomenonShe makes a TON of mini-albums and you should be able to find a size and style that you like - then it is just a matter of paper and photos. My all time favorite is the "lap book" with the base from file folders. But it would be helpful for you to have an idea of where you are going before you chose the vehicle to get you there |
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Post by sleepingbooty on Sept 13, 2017 7:35:19 GMT
For your more grab-photos-and-memorabilia-and-just-bunch-it-all-together type of mini albums (which may be just what you need as a beginner), you should check out all the videos on Studio Calico's YouTube account that feature Stephanie Bryan's Project Life. She did a monthly mini album for a year of PL, giving you several ideas of formats for mini albums you don't need to spend time on constructing (although that can be part of the fun!).
Here are a few of them (and a good variety of what finished projects in different formats look like and would require as number of photos):
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)
) album lover here. Always ready to convince someone to try one... 
