Envelope Mini Album DIY

     Today I'd like to show you how to make a quick and easy mini album that you can put together in under an hour. After following these few easy steps, all you'll need to do is add photos and you'll be done! That's the beauty of mini albums. . . they are a project that you can complete in 1-2 sittings.

     With this project, you can go with any theme- camping, birthday, vacation. . . This album is so easy, you'll be able to make them and give them as gifts!
    

Here's the cover of  my album.

Yours will look slightly different depending on your paper and sticker choices.

 

 

To make an album like this, you'll need:

two 9"x12" Manila envelopes

two pieces of 12"x12" double-sided pattern paper 

one piece 12"x12" pattern paper that has different pattern strips as seen on the right

 

one yard of ribbon

24" piece of twine

one sheet of themed stickers (7 Gypsies has a lot to choose from; you can also get great sets at Hobby Lobby)

 Glue Dots

hole punch

paper trimmer

scissors

stapler

hole reinforcers

optional: 2-3 small artificial flowers

tickets or other embellishments

 

To start, you need to close the flaps on the envelopes, then fold them each in half.

 

Trim the two pieces of pattern paper to 8 3/4"x 11 1/4".

 

Fold both pieces in half.

 

With one envelope sideways, center one piece of pattern paper on it so that the folds line up.

 

Slide your hole punch as far as it will go on the each end of the folds and make a hole.

Do this with the other envelope and pattern paper.

 

Place hole reinforcers on the fronts and backs of all the holes except one envelope. On that one, just place reinforcers on the inside like this. This envelope will be our cover.

 

Now it's time to stack our pages to create our book:

1. First, lay down the cover envelope with the opening on the right side

2. then one piece of pattern paper

3. next, the second envelope with the opening on the left side

4. finally, the last piece of pattern paper.

 

Now take your twine and place each end through the holes.

 

Pull the excess twine through to the back of the stack and tie a tight knot.

 

 

Next, take the third piece of 12"x12" pattern paper and trim it along the strips.

 

Trim four strips to a length of 9". We'll be placing these strips on the blank envelope pages.

The first strip goes on the inside cover opposite the first page.

 

 

Flip the page and adhere another strip on the right edge of the envelope.

 

Flip three pages until you get to the next blank envelope page and adhere a strip along the right edge.

Turn that page and place a strip on the left edge of the blank envelope page.

 

Now there's a little color on every page except for the two ends that open.

 

 

Let's work on our cover.

We're going to use the two pieces of paper that we cut off of the 12"x12" pattern paper in step 2. Trim each piece to 3 1/4" x 5 3/4". You should have four pieces.

Take one piece and adhere it to the bottom of the front cover. Take the coordinating piece and adhere it to the bottom of the back cover.

 

Now you'll need one of the strips from the 12"x12" paper with the different pattern strips. You need a two inch strip- you may have to use two strips.

Trim it to 5 3/4" and adhere it right above the bottom strip. Do this on both the front and back.

 

 

Now, take the last two coordinating pieces and adhere them to the top of the front and back covers.

 

Take the ribbon and line it up across your book. It should evenly stretch across the front and back with the excess hanging off the right side.

Attach the ribbon with Glue Dots- place one to the far left and right on the front and back.

 

Place your title sticker in the lower right corner, slightly overlapping the ribbon.

 

 

Use the excess ribbon to keep the book closed.

As you fill it, you'll be glad we added this.

 

Here's a look at the completed book. If you have extra embellishments, feel free to add them. Don't feel you have to, though.

 

This is the first layout.

I folded a ticket in half and stapled it to the upper right corner.

 

Here's the second layout. See the other half of the folded ticket?

If you don't care for the look of staples, you can use Glue Dots.

 I placed one of the pattern paper strips near the bottom of the left page.

 

The third layout has the envelope on the left.

This gives you more room to store photos or mementos.

I stapled a ticket to the flap.

I also added a small artificial flower with a sticker in the center to the lower right corner.

 

Here's the fourth layout which is the center of the book.

 I placed a sticker on the bottom right corner and added a ticket to the top of the right page. I let a little of it hang over the edge of the paper.

I love the look of embellishments hanging over the edges of the paper. If you do this, be careful to not let too much hang out or the items may get bent.

 

Here's the fifth layout. I folded an artificial flower in half and stapled it to the bottom right side.

I also added a strip of pattern paper to the bottom of the left page.

 

For the sixth layout, I folded another flower in half and stapled it to the top right corner. Then I overlapped the flower with an oval sticker.

I also added a strip of patten paper along the bottom of the right page.

 

The last layout has the second envelope pouch. I stapled a ticket to the flap and added another ticket to the upper left corner of the left page.

 

Feel free to go through and add more of the themed stickers. Once I add photos, I'll also add more stickers. 

 

Here's the back cover. Looks just like the front cover without the title sticker.

 

I am going to fill this with photos and give it to my mom for Mother's Day. Stop by in May, and I'll show you what it looks like once it's done.

 

If you'd like to see an envelope album similar to this completed, you can go here.

If you'd like to see a tutorial using business size envelopes to make an album, go here.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

 

This post is linked to Craft-O-Maniac, Too Much Time on My Hands, Making the World Cuter, Today's Creative Blog, and Skip to My Lou.

No Key Needed

     I love products by Tim Holtz. . .whether it's scrapbook paper, tiny faucet knobs or beautiful vintage style buttons. I just love standing in the aisle looking at all his pretties. He and I have such similar tastes, I really think we could be friends:)

     Today I used one of his products to make a necklace.

 

I had a pack of his keyholes and thought they'd make a darling pendant.

 

I added a dangly bead and attached it to a chain.

 

It was really quite simple.

     My hubby knows when gift giving time comes around that he can't go wrong with getting me anything by Tim Holtz.

     I've actually had the pleasure of meeting Tim in real life. My friend was signed up to take a class taught by him. She had just had foot surgery and was getting around on crutches. Naturally, she couldn't very well carry around her scrapbook tote on crutches. So I took her bag in for her, then hung around in the back of the class. When Tim started teaching, he thought I was one of the assigned helpers and had me start handing out stuff. I wasn't about to correct him, so I just did as he instructed and pretended I belonged! My friend and I sure chuckled about it afterwards!
     
     Thank you for stopping by and God bless.

He has put a new song in my mouth-

 Praise to our God

Psalm 40:3

This post is linked to Happy Hour Projects, My Repurposed Life, Five Days Five Ways, Between Naps on the Porch, and Tatertots and Jello.

Thrifty Thursday #63

     I had a wonderful and successful time at the community yard sale that I recently went to. Last week I showed you some of my purchases- and now I'll show you the rest!

 

I saw this pot and instantly recognized it as Jewel Tea. My mother-in-law had a large collection of it, but I don't think she had this piece. Even though I'm not collecting it, I had to get it. It was $8 which is more than I usually pay for a dish, but my nostalgia got the best of me . . .

 

especially when I saw the matching salt and pepper shakers- which were included in the $8 price tag.

I've seen different Jewel Tea pieces at antique stores and

I know that they usually cost a lot more than this!

 

Got this old grater for a dime.

I'm going to use it for a project- I just don't know which one yet.

You can go here and see what I did with another old grater.

 

Found this biscuit cutter for a quarter. I don't know if I'll use it for what it's intended for

or if I'll make a mini wind chime out of it.

 

This box of dominoes was just my price- a quarter. I just never know when I'll need old dominoes for a project. They'd even look cute sitting in a jar on my fireplace mantle.

 

I loved the cover of this fifty cent book . . .

 

then I opened it up and was smitten! Yes, I'll be cutting this fella up for projects!

 

Best of luck with all your thrifting adventures this week! Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

So he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,"

and "your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:27

 

 

This post is linked to Be Different Act Normal and Shabby Creek Cottage. 

 

Layout of the Week #49- Using Strips of Pattern Paper

     This week for our Layout of the Week, you can dig into your stash of pattern paper and trim a few random strips and we'll put them all together on one piece of pattern paper to make this cute and busy layout. . .

 

Do you see how many different strips I used?

My strips came from a pack of strips by Teresa Collins. K and Company makes some, too.

If you don't have a set of these, no problem. You can cut strips from pattern paper.

 

To make this layout, you'll need:

one piece of pattern paper

four strips of pattern paper measuring 1/2" x 12"

one strip of pattern paper measuring 1" x 4 1/2"

one note card

two word stickers (I had paper with words printed all over it- I just trimmed off two words that fit my theme)

three vertical 4" x 6" photos

paper trimmer

adhesive

optional: six mini brads

letter tab

 

Start by adhering one strip to the top of the pattern paper.

Save the brightest strip of paper for last.

 

(Throughout this layout, feel free to ink the edges of your papers. I always do.)

 

Now place the 1" x 4 1/2" strip slightly overlapping the right side of the top strip.

 

Next, adhere another strip to the bottom of the paper.

Notice that all my strips have different patterns- it will make a "fun" look when we're all finished. 

 

Adhere your three photos about 2 1/2" from the top of the paper. They should touch each other and stretch all across the paper.

 

Now take another strip of pattern paper and slightly overlap the bottoms of the photos.

 

Take you final strip of pattern paper- this should be your brightest strip. Trim it so you have one piece that is 5 1/2" long and one that is 6 1/2" long.

Adhere the shorter one on the top left side of the photos.

Adhere the longer one on the bottom right slightly overlapping the strip of paper that is under the photos.

 

Now we're going to make a journaling and title card.

Choose the word from your word paper or stickers that you want for your title.

Trim around it, then adhere it to the bottom of the note card.

 

 

Trim the note card so it is just a little longer than the word sticker.

Ta-da- you just made your own journaling and title card! That's a technique you can use again and again! 

 

Place the journaling card at the bottom right corner so it slightly overlaps the bottom strip of pattern paper and the strip underneath the photos.

Optional: Place your letter tab above the photos and put a word sticker on the tab. This will customize your tab so that it matches your theme. (Another technique you can use again.)

Add three brads horizontally to the right of your tab.

Add three more horizontally next to the left side of your journaling card.

 

We're done! Isn't the mix of all the different patterns cute?

 

     I do a layout tutorial every Wednesday. I try to give general directions so that you can make a similar layout using supplies that you already have.

 

     If you have photos that you need to scrapbook and you just don't know where to start, swing by here and try one of my layouts. If you follow along every week, you could have four layouts done a month!

 

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Be strong and of good courage;

do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you

wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

 

This post is linked to Too Much Time On My Hands, I Heart Naptime, and Cheerios and Lattes.