I everyone, Sharon here -- Happy Friday! Today I'm sharing a fun (but practical!) little altered album with you, that can be used in a few different ways:
I'll be using it to organize my postage stamps!
This new little album will replace this . . .
. . . Postage Keeper I made SIX years ago (click on the photo to be taken to the tutorial here in the CLASSroom, if it may suit your needs a little better). The old one was finally getting a little worn and my needs had outgrown it, so I set out to make an updated version!
You could also use this new version as a mini album that's smaller, less bulky, and a little easier to mail or carry around in a purse/handbag, when you want to whip out current photos of your children, grandchildren, pets, etc!
Here are the easy steps (bold products are linked below in the supply section):
1. First, I started with a base of Craft-a-Board cut to 9-7/8" x 4-7/8" and scored at 4.50" from each end:
2. Next, I cut this awesome BasicGrey South Pacific Collection Pack paper (Papua New Guinea pattern) to approximately 1/2" larger on all sides (11" x 6") ... because, well it's pink pineapples, people -- how adorable is that?!! They make me very happy! :) This will allow for a little paper "shrinkage" when covering the album's spine, and give you a little extra to fold over to finish the inside of the album. Place a We R 4" photo sleeve onto Craft-a-Board and mark where you need to punch holes in the spine. Punch the holes with Crop-a-Dile:
3. Use Ranger's Multi Medium (your choice of either Matte or Gloss finish) to adhere the paper to the Craft-a-Board. Be sure to fold the album closed when you are smoothing the paper onto the Craft-a-Board -- otherwise, it may not close, or may crack or tear the paper once it is dry and you to to close it. Then miter the corners and fold the edges to the inside of the album. Use your Teflon Bone Folder to smooth and press the paper onto the Craft-a-Board, to help ensure a good bond:
4. To cover the inside covers of the album, cut two pieces of pink BasicGrey South Pacific paper (Fiji) 4.25" x 4-5/8" and one strip 4-5/8" x 3/4" for the inside spine. Adhere with the Multi Medium:
5. To finish covering the album, I adhered a few cutouts from more of the BasicGrey South Pacific Collection Paper Pack on the inside and gave them a good coating of Gloss Multi Medium over the top of the papers, to help seal and protect them, and help to waterproof the covers:
6. Once the Multi Medium dried, I placed some Tim Holtz 1/2" Brads through the holes I previously punched in the spine (re-punch the holes after covering them with paper) and attached four We R 4" photo sleeves inside the album. By attaching the photo sleeves with brads, you are able to add more sleeves as needed!
7. To finish the front cover of the album, I cut a strip of the back of the pineapple paper and created the POSTAGE word with alpha stickers from the BasicGrey South Pacific Collection Pack paper. TIP: To get perfect sticker letter alignment, place the letters lightly along the top edge of a ruler, then line up the word where you want it. Lightly press down the tops of the letters, keeping your fingers in place to hold the stickers. Then you should be able to gently pull the ruler away from the bottoms of the stickers, leaving them in place on the paper!
The green POSTAGE strip was adhered to the front of the album with Gloss Multi Medium and the front and back covers also given a coating of the Multi Medium:
8. To finish the album, bone crochet trim was added to the top of the green strip on the album cover, as well as a piece being added to the back cover of the album and wrapped around to the front to form a latch closure.
A Jenni Bowlin cream vintage button tops a dot of Velcro sewn onto the end of the crochet trim and closes by attaching to the other piece of Velcro on the front cover:
The finished album measures approximately 4.50" x 5". I can't wait to see what you may create with this little mini album idea!
~ Sharon
