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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 7, 2015 19:32:01 GMT
Hi, all-
first off, I am not a mini-book type scrapper typically. But, we just got back from a week's vacation, visiting both of our families-- my BF's family has a reunion every year that ranges from 20 - 40+ family members. The group includes a number of cousins, second cousins, older generation folks (his grandmother is 98 yrs. old this year), and folks who are no longer with us due to passing away, as well as newer generation kids and spouses that have been added to the family.
SO, I'm thinking it might be nice to use some of the photos I've taken over the past 5-10 years and make mini albums as Christmas gifts. There are certain things that are always part of the week's activities, sort of 'traditions' if you will-- sitting around the bonfire talking and catching up; roasted corn; brunch on Sunday morning; swimming in the pond; the guys shooting up at the shooting range; kids playing in the sand... that sort of thing.
For people who make mini-books (or have good ideas for me):
1) are there any easy designs for making mini albums out there? I don't want ones that are full of nifty flaps, tags, envelopes, and ultra-decorated pages, because if I do this, I'll have to make, like, 10 of them. (I don't have anything against them, but if I give these books to non-scrappers they might not understand all the flaps, envelopes, etc.) I've looked on Pinterest and googled, but most of the tutorials and videos I've found all show the really fancy, decorated ones. I want something I can mass produce easily and add a bit of decoration to, but still be able to add 4x6, 4x4, or 3x3 photos to the pages; I think I want more of a Simple Scrapper type look. (I also don't want to buy divided page protectors, or anything like that-- I want to be able to make these books from cardstock or heavy patterned paper with a binding I can do by hand.)
2) how do you divide your books into sections for adding the photos, or do you do this? I don't know that I want to just add random photos, so I'm thinking of making sections based on the different 'traditions' that are always part of the week, but I don't know how broad or specific to make them.
any advice or links you can give will be helpful!! thanks!
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Post by LisaDV on Aug 7, 2015 20:32:03 GMT
How many pages would you like to have? How are you binding the book? with a binding system? or a office ring? making your own? I used to make a simple mini with double-sided pattern paper (medium weight for the inside pages and heavy weight for the outside). It did give you pockets that you could stick tags in. But the design was simple. I'll take a photo of a couple so you can see.  MiniAlbums1Web by elizabeth_davolt, on Flickr But if you just cut heavy chipboard for your covers and then use a lighter for the interior pages and then decorate as desired.  Summer-MiniWeb by elizabeth_davolt, on Flickr  summer-Mini4Web by elizabeth_davolt, on Flickr Or take a simple photo sleeve album and put photos on one side and the journaling on the other (either with traditional or a digital (so you only do it once which is great for multiple prints.  MiniAlbums2Web by elizabeth_davolt, on Flickr These are just thing I have done in the past. There is also just digital books. Hope that helps |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 7, 2015 20:55:38 GMT
thanks for the ideas! I like the embellished photo-sleeve album idea, for sure. Good point about multiplying the amount of journaling as well as the photos; I hadn't really thought about that.
I know I want something I can bind by hand with ribbon, maybe, or perhaps with book rings, but nothing fancier than that... I hadn't even thought about the number of pages or photos yet, either. I'll check out all the pics you posted, but I will definitely need to do some more planning!
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Deleted
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May 17, 2024 9:48:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 21:08:11 GMT
I like a simple mini made of cardstock weight paper, hole punched, and bound with book rings.
For dividers, use punched / die cut tabs, or make your own divider pages -- you could use chipboard and cover it with paper if you want heavier dividers.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 8, 2015 5:04:16 GMT
All I work on are mini albums and for your mass production needs, I think accordion albums are an option. You can make the pages any size you want and you can have chipboard covers with tie or Velcro closures. These kinds of albums can be simple but still have some embellishments in them. I once made 40 of them for a nursing school graduate who wanted to give albums with photos spanning their nursing school years.
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on Aug 8, 2015 5:11:58 GMT
I like papersilly's accordion album idea. I was going to suggest premade chipboard albums from Michaels as an option. There are also some Fancy Pants brag books available in different styles on Crafty Steals.com. That way you can focus on photos and embellishments without having to make the books, unless you were looking forward to that part of the process. That sounds like a really thoughtful gift that anyone would love to receive. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 8, 2015 18:53:09 GMT
Personally, I like the 6x6 post bound albums you can get at places like Hobby Lobby or Michael's for mini books. I have made other kinds but I really dislike having photos on pages without page protectors. In my house, that would be a recipe for disaster! I also like that size because you can easily cut down 12x12 paper and cardstock without any waste. There's enough room on the page for standard 4x6 photos with some journaling or embellishments.
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on Aug 9, 2015 14:45:30 GMT
There is a really "old" idea for a simple 6x6 album -- essentially one sheet of 12x12 pattern paper, cut in a specific manner, then the pieces separated on to 6x6 cardstock -- a square with the center cut out creates 2 pages; a square cut on the diagonal creates 2 pages; a square cut on the horizontal creates 2 pages, one pocket places on the bottom on a page, the other across the center of the base cardstock; some of the pages have, essentially, just a strip of pattern or pattern in the corners ---- something like that. It can create a very coordinated look very quickly and still be embellished just a bit more (on one that I did, I added another coordinating color and, in essence, matted each pattern piece). There is a pattern that I haven't found in my information as yet --- but maybe someone else will recall what I'm thinking of. I've done it in a 6x6 format ... and, in its essence, in a 12x12 format I'll come back if I can find the pattern or a link ... This is not the design I was thinking of, but similar. www.stampinup.com/us/images/1105Snappy_Scrapbooks.pdfSearch one sheet wonder (or one page wonder) |
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on Aug 9, 2015 15:25:45 GMT
With the wide availability of 6x6 paper pads now, the type I'm thinking of could be even easier - and a bit more varied. One coordinating 6x6 page cut (or ripped for variety) with a single coordinating cardstock, a 6x6 album and page protectors ... and zoom! Hobby Lobby had their brand of all supplies on sale last week -- the 6x6 albums were about 5 dollars and came with 10 protectors
message me if you'd like more info about the style I'm thinking about ... it is very simple but effective (especially for non-scrapbookers!)
do we have private messaging here?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 9, 2015 19:09:28 GMT
Loydene, thanks for the ideas-- although at first I thought I would rather make the albums myself, maybe 'easy' and 'quicker to complete' would be the words of the day, here, and I really should think more about making this project easy to complete, or else it won't come to fruition. I think we DO have private messaging here, so I'll try it out-- thanks!! (or if not, you can always just reply to this thread.)
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on Aug 9, 2015 21:24:04 GMT
Hi -- I've replied to the message -- but I can't attach what I found -- the cutting pattern. Then I scanned some pages from an "example" I've used to teach this concept. It is a simple and quick to complete idea -- but NOT pre-made pages -- you would be using your own supplies and color choices to create the pages. The cutting pattern (from one 12x12 pattern paper) creates 10 6x6 layouts (you attach the pattern paper cut to a 6x6 background). Seeing it is probably easier to understand -- and I can't seem to get the info attached here ---
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Post by katyscrap on Aug 10, 2015 0:50:26 GMT
Check out Stepanie Bryan's series on YouTube. She did Project Life mini album style each month this year. She's made a different type each month so you should be able to get lots of ideas from the videos.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 10, 2015 1:02:02 GMT
Loydene, thanks for the ideas-- although at first I thought I would rather make the albums myself, maybe 'easy' and 'quicker to complete' would be the words of the day, here, and I really should think more about making this project easy to complete, or else it won't come to fruition. I think we DO have private messaging here, so I'll try it out-- thanks!! (or if not, you can always just reply to this thread.) Tuesday Morning often has the small albums for sale. |
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Post by kayk on Aug 10, 2015 2:35:56 GMT
I have a suggestion for you. It is a super easy one that I saw on you tube by a crafter named "the snazycrafter". It was made in 2009. The pages end up being 6 by 5 in the tutorial but you could easliy make adjustments to make slighter larger or smaller. She uses acrylic for the back and front covers but you could substitue chipboard or cardstock.
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Post by kayk on Aug 10, 2015 2:49:03 GMT
Ok.....she changed her name from the snazy crafter to " Lisa V"......it's a super easy one!
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Post by penny on Aug 10, 2015 2:53:27 GMT
If you don't want page protectors, consider making the covers of chipboard, pages from cardstock/sturdy patterned paper, and having it bound... I bought a Cinch tool because that's my go to for little books, notepads, etc... But you can take stuff in to Staples or your local copy place and they'll bind it for you... If you do that, cut a sample cover and page and have them punch it for you before you start your album - you'll be able to look at those to make sure that when you're making them no one's face ends up being in a spot where a hole will end up being punched...
I was just at Michael's, and Heidi Swapp has new smaller albums out... I think they were 6x8 or so... A little bit bigger than the 6x6 that was mentioned, but easy to come by and find inserts for... (Tried to find a picture but haven't yet - they were ringed albums, and not the agenda type...)
If you're on Pinterest, search for December Daily or Journal Your Christmas too... A lot of those are mini albums and they might have some ideas for you...
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 10, 2015 16:10:13 GMT
Do you have a Silhouette? They have some really cute mini album files there. Not sure if that is what you are after - but they look like fun.
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Post by RoselynR on Aug 10, 2015 16:26:16 GMT
The easiest mini I make...provided the book is not to thick is made from card blanks glued back to back or stapled down the spine. Think PASSPORT. You don't even have to use card blanks, just card stock folded in half cut to size.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 10, 2015 16:32:42 GMT
Do you have a Silhouette? They have some really cute mini album files there. Not sure if that is what you are after - but they look like fun. duh-- yes, I have a Silhouette, and I'm sure I've purchased a number of mini-album cut files!! thanks for the reminder! |
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Post by saralovesducks on Aug 10, 2015 16:50:04 GMT
I recently took this class at BPC and Liz Tamanaha from Paislee Press posted something very similar recently in her blog. Quick assembly, no page protectors and you can make any number of them, easy.    |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 10, 2015 17:03:51 GMT
thanks for the additional ideas, guys! I definitely like the focus on the photos in the albums you linked and showed, saralovesducks. I could definitely do something like that and add a bit of embellishment and more journaling. I really like how they're divided into sections, too. And I found the Lisa V youtube video you mentioned, kayk. (At least I think it's the same one-- the pages are made from really cute chevron-printed paper bags?? If that's not it, it was still really cute!) So I've gotten some great ideas, here. Now to think about all of them, choose some pictures, and actually go for it! (before Christmas, that is-- that's the tough part, lol!!) |
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Post by kayk on Aug 10, 2015 18:30:00 GMT
Crimsoncat05, yes it is a pink album. She titled it " mini album made with cardstock". I can't tell if she used chevron paper. The video is slightly blurry.
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