Mini Album Monday #74- Vintage School Album

With the school year rushing to an end,

I thought it would be fun to take a look at a vintage school themed mini album.

I used a new, but retro looking Crayola crayon box for the cover.

To give it extra stability, I added a wooden ruler to the binding.

The title block consits of a piece of notebook paper,

topped with a library card,

 topped with a piece of cork paper, 

topped with a mini file folder. 

Once I fill this album with photos and memories, I'll add the name to the front of the mini file folder.

This is what it looks like when you open it up.

I used two office rings to bind this album.

That gives me the opportunity to switch around pages or add more pages if needed.

Here's the backside of the crayon box.  

I added a strip of pattern paper along with 

this awesome book "sign out box" (not sure what it's really called).

When my boys were learning to read in elementary school, they came home with small paper books that had these on the first page. After they were done with them, I cut them out to use for projects.

I also turned vintage Dick and Jane images into buttons and added one here.

To do that, I just adhered the image to a piece of chipboard, then used a circle punch to make the button.  I finished them off by adding two small "buttonholes."

In keeping with the school theme, I used a lot of office/school items throughout this album.

This page is a file folder that I trimmed down to size.

On the background, I added a piece of handwriting paper that I had crumpled and inked.

The "My Name Is" sticker is only adhered in the bottom outer corner 

so that a photo can be added behind it.

On the back of the file folder, I just added a strip of paper from an old dictionary.

Notice the clip at the top: it was a plain black office clip 

that I covered with a small piece of vintage book text.

I love how this page turned out.

It's actually an old flashcard attached to a page out of a children's picture dictionary.

I taped the two together, then covered up the tape with a strip of old map.

Here's the backside.

I used a bit of pattern paper to cover where the pages joined.

This next page is actually extra long with a flap folded at the right edge.

I added two stacked floweres that I punched from an old map. 

A brass brad holds the two together.

The page opens to allow room for more photos

and shows a strip from another children's dictionary.

I left the backside of it blank.

This page is actually two office envelopes fastened together to make a page.

I placed a bit of adhesive on the back of the smaller envelope and overlapped it on the large.

Then I added the strip of pattern paper to reinforce the page itself.

This flower is punched from a piece of old ledger paper and attached with a brass brad.

I remember using those old brads when I was in elementary school.

Here's the back of that page. 

I added an image from an old reading textbook which is cute, 

but it also adds stability to the page itself.

The next page is very simple.

It's just part of an old handwriting page with numbers stamped along the outer edge.

I used part of a page from a children's encyclopedia here.

I added a bit of ribbon to the bottom.

Here's the back.

I think these old images add a lot to the vintage feel of the album.

Here I used yet another file folder.

I covered it with a strip of paper from a Dick and Jane book.

In the lower left corner is a pair of star stickers.

I remember getting those in elementary school, too.

For this file folder, I left it the full length, then folded a bit of it to make it two pages.

I left the second page shorter that the first for a little variety.

I used a tiny paper sack for this page.

I got this sack from a gas station. You know how they keep the small ones that hold just one can?

Whenever I go into a gas station, I always ask if I can take one with me:)

This page incorporates some of the pattern papers that I've used on the previous pages.

Notice the silk flower: I used Staz On ink and stamped letters onto it.

The backside is pretty simple with just a strip of pattern paper across the top.

The last page/back cover is part of a manilla envelope cut to size.

I used a random letter stamp along the edge to try to keep it in the school theme.

I happened across this awesome vintage stamp in my collection.

I thought it was the perfect end to this album!

It's been awhile since I put this book together, 

but it was so much fun going through it again looking at all the details.

I think I'll use it to document some of my mom's memories- either from her school years 

or from when she was a teacher.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, 

be steadfast, immovable, 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Cor. 15:58

This post is linked to USS Crafty, Artsy Fartsy Mama, I Heart Naptime, and Tuesdays With a Twist.  

Alphabet Vase DIY

School is set to start in one week.

In some places, it has already begun.

Here's a little something that would be a great teacher gift or even cute classroom decor.

It's an alphabet vase.

I got everything I to make it at a dollar store.

1 large vase

1 medium vase

ribbon

2 packages of alphabet/letter magnets

I started with two vases- one should be able to slide into the other

 with just a little bit of space around it.

Then I dropped the magnets one at a time into that little space.

By dropping them individually, I was able to make sure they didn't double up on each other.

This photo shows that the interior vase isn't as tall as the outer one which is ok

 because that part will get covered up in the next step.

Then I added a bit of tulle. Ribbon would have worked also.

The final step was adding flowers.
I used silk flowers, but real would look beautiful, too.

Here's to the last week of summer!
Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The lamp of the body is the eye.

 If therefore your eye is good,

 your whole body will be full of light.

Matthew 6:22

This post is linked to Natasha In Oz, Plucky's Second Thought, Lil' Luna, and It's Overflowing.

MORE Low Cost Teacher Gift Ideas

Last week I showed you a few inexpensive gift ideas
for teachers as back to school gifts.

Here are a few more ideas.

Just follow the links to see more details.

  

 

Large Clothespin Photo Holder

 

All you need to make this is a little bit of scrapbook paper and a large wooden clothespin

 which you can find at Hobby Lobby.

 

Class Photo Clipboard

 

Clipboard + scrapbook paper= display for class photo

 

Dictionary Definition Necklace

This gift is easily personalized depending on
which word you choose to feature on the charm.

I hope everyone's school year starts off with a bang!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Be strong and of good courage, and do it;

do not fear or be dismayed,

for the Lord God... will be with you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you

1 Chron. 28:20



 This post is linked to It's Overflowing, Daisy Cottage Designs, I Heart Naptime,
 and Plucky's Second Thought.

Low Cost Teacher Gift Ideas

Here are a few low cost ideas for back to school teacher gifts.

 

 

For this school themed can, I used a container that had contained peanuts.

I washed it out, then trimmed scrapbook paper to fit along the outside.

I chose two different patterns and adhered them with Mod Podge.

Then I placed a school sticker where the two papers overlap.

I also added red ric rac (attached with Glue Dots) to cover the seam of the papers.

To finish it off, I added a tag to the lid.

 

This would be cute filled with candy or erasers, paper clips, or other school supplies.

 

I used the same method to make this gift out of a Pringles can.

 

 

For the tag, I used stickers on white cardstock to spell out "My Teacher."

Then I matted that to some pattern paper and placed a sticker along the right edge.

 

I overlapped three different stickers to make the tag on the lid.

 

Easy-peasy, huh?

I thought this one would be cute filled with pencils.

 

My last low cost gift idea is this bin for paper storage.

I got the plastic container at a yard sale for a quarter. It originially held pamphlets for some company.

You should be able to find something like this at an office supply store.

 

 

I trimmed a large piece of paper to fit along the inside.

Then I covered the front panel with some coordinating pattern paper

and a tag that says "Due Papers."

 

Cute, cheap, and easy.

I hope you all enjoy this last weekend before school starts!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

1 Chron. 29:13

 

This post is linked to The Creative Collection, My Repurposed Life,

Be Different, Act Normal, and Tatertots and Jello.



Mini Album Monday #36- Yearly School Album

It's almost time for school to start (enter cheers and/or groans here).

In honor of this time of year, I have a fun album to share with you this week:

a yearly school album.

 

 

The beauty of this album is that it documents seven years of school photos in one small album.

Let me show you how I made it. It's very simple if you'd like to make one.

 

The cover is made of chipboard measuring 5 1/4"x 8 1/4".

I used two pieces of school themed pattern paper to cover the front and back covers.

Then I added a title "School Days" printed on white cardstock and matted with red cardstock.

The book was bound with a Zutter Bind-It-All.

 

The title page simply says, "Kindergarten through sixth grade".

 

Each layout features that year's school photo,

a signature block to show how my son signed his name that year,

and a questionnaire.

 

 

This album has 8 pages and I used the fronts and backs of each page.

Each page is black cardstock trimmed to 5"x 8".

 

 

On the right side of the layout, is a vertical strip of pattern paper measuring 7 1/2" x 1 1/4".

Next to that is a questionnaire that got filled out every year.

The prompts include:

name

age

teacher

grade

school

favorite subject

least favorite subject

favorite lunch

best friend

most memorable day

favorite things to do at recess

field trips taken

notes

 

Each layout has a piece of colored cardstock measuring 2 1/2"x 4 1/4" in the lower left corner

with a grade level printed on it.

Above that, is a vertical strip of white cardstock measuring 5"x 1"

which provides room for a signature.

Next to that is space for a school photo.

 

 

Each photo measures 3 1/2" x 5".

  

 

Every layout is the same, but has a different colored block of cardstock

and a different type of school themed pattern strip on the right.

 

This is a great way to record a school year.

 

My son was looking at this album after I took photos of it and he said,

"Where's 7th and 8th grades?" which I took to mean he likes this album!

 

The back cover matches the front.

 

Seems do-able, doesn't it?

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!

1 Chron. 16:11

 

 

 This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, It's Overflowing, Today's Creative Blog,

and Natasha In Oz.

 



More Lovelies That I Love

It's hard to believe that we're in the last quarter of the school year! It's time to get out those photos and get them scrapped before summer.

I found some cute supplies to get you inspired. . . whether you're doing scrapbook pages, mini albums, altered projects, or gifts for teachers.

 

How uberly cute is this paper by Jenni Bowlin?

I just love vintage style school stuff.

 

 I love this classroom pattern paper by We R Memory Keepers. You can cut it up and use it for embellishments, journaling cards, or even as pages in a smaller album. Too awesome!

 

 

This one piece of pattern paper by Authentique has eight tags and three decorative strips.

Talk about getting a lot of bang for your buck!

 

 

I love these ledger paper chipboard letters from Jenni Bowlin.

 

How wonderful is this set of decorative tape by Cavallini? I don't know which roll I like the best.

You can find it here.

 

These school themed brads by Prima are great and can be added here and there for a pop on any project. If for some reason, you can't use them as brads, cut the legs off

and attach them with a Glue Dot.

 

I just love school themed items. My boys are both in junior high, and I have less opportunity to scrap school photos than I used to, but that doesn't stop me from looking! 

 

Other items that you could incorporate into school themed projects are library cards and pockets, old flashcards, and handwriting paper.

 

I'm not affiliated with any of these businesses, I'm just a huge fan of cute products.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

 

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Psalm 36:7

 

This post is linked to Embracing Change and My Girlish Whims.