Good morning all! Brenda Smith here with you this morning to share a 6x8 mini album I've been working on.
Since the beginning of my scrapbooking days 6 years ago, I have said that I needed to make an album about me. But then I would always manage to talk myself out of it. What would I put in it? Wouldn't it just be the same stuff that's in my other albums? I've realized that the answer to these questions isn't really important. I'm doing this project purely for the joy and therapeutic nature of scrapbooking. I'm doing this album to document anything I want. To use whatever photos I want. To repeat everything I've said in our family albums if I want. There is no wrong way to do it in my album and that has been an absolutely freeing way to create.
I've combined the Posh planner and scrapbook lines to create the first part of this album. I used the planner dashboards as dividers and extra layers.
Layers are one of my favorite parts about a mini album so I wanted to be sure to include lots of moving parts.
I used Photoshop to duplicate the "simply amazing" text layer that was on a journaling card and then used that file to make a pattern to print on to my own vellum divider.
This tabbed divider is intended for the Carpe Diems but thought it would serve me well to separate each month going forward. I knew I wanted to embellish the tabbed divider in some way but couldn't make any die cuts work well. Finally, it occurred to me to use my Silhouette Cameo and my sketch pens to "print" this quote on the divider. (If you would like more info on how to do this, I have a video tutorial here)
Since this album is all about me, I figured it'd be the perfect place to house my Listers Gotta List lists. I don't embellish my lists, I simply handwrite the prompt and then my answers. I try to be thoughtful in my responses but leave the actual list-making fairly simple.
I trimmed down a 6x8 page protector to 3x8 and filled it with sequins before fusing it shut. I then took two numbers from the Classic Christmas Pocket Pieces pack for the age I turned this month.
Labels are my friend when trying to add more journaling to my minis.
I punched holes in a 4x6 card (with a single hole punch) because I liked the pop of coral and the sentiment expressed.
I used a 3x6 page protector from the Vertical Pocket Pages Variety Pack and threw in a couple photos of my kids. I trimmed down a piece of paper from the 6x6 pad to make my 3x3 journaling card.
The layers already add so much to the album, I tried not to overwhelm the photos and cards with embellishments.
One of the things I've found I like about this album so far is that I am putting in pictures that wouldn't ordinarily make it into the main pocket page album.
One rule that I have given myself in this album is to be genuine in my journaling. In my family album, I have a tendency to gloss over more difficult things because I feel some things are just awkward in that setting. But this album can be home to all of that stuff that's missing from the main album.
I used a sheet from the Posh Bookmark Tablet to get a lot of extra journaling (front and back!) in.
I used the Make it Happen Roller Stamp to add a lot of little sentiments here and there.
I'm sure I'll have a few more spreads for August, but I imagine that this is the general form my album will take every month going forward.
