Cutesy Pocket Album

I was trying to think of a cutesy name for this project but couldn't come up with anything. So that's where the "cutesy" came from, just in case you were wonderin'. And some people doubt my ability to be clever and witty, day-in and day-out.

ANYWHO... We haven't had a project for a while, so I thought I'd give you this to keep all those darned wallet-sized photos in. You know how the order forms come home and you think, "Sure, we need 24 wallet-sized photos! I'll send them out in the Christmas cards to all the relatives!"

Well, if you're like me (and seriously, folks, for your own safety I sincerely hope you are not), you:
1. Never get the Christmas cards sent out;

2. Forget where you put the wallet-sized photos;

or 3. Forgot that you only have maybe 5 people who would like a wallet-sized copy of Junior wearing his chess club beanie (most relatives, I've discovered, actually prefer the 8x10 version).

The upshot: You are left with a stack of wallet-sized photos you don't know what to do with. So... get these supplies together:

1. 2 sheets 12x12 cardstock in complementary colors
2. Scraps of coordinating patterned paper (need to be at least 3” long)
3. Letter stickers, rub-ons, or stamps
4. 1 piece of ribbon about 6 inches long
5. Hole punch
6. Adhesive
7. Deco-edge scissors (a variety is nice)
8. One sheet of label stickers (or you can use an index tab punch, pre-made index tabs, etc.)
9. Wordfetti, if desired (from Making Memories)
10. Distress ink (I use Tim Holtz's line from Ranger, for no other reason than I like his hair)

Step 1. Cut the cardstock into four 3-inch-wide by 11-inch-long strips.  (If you are like me, you will discover at this juncture that you have not removed the deckle-edge blade from your rotary trimmer and you will momentarily freak out. But then you will realize that the people who are reading your blog already know you, and expect nothing less than the occasional mishap. Then you will calm down and go get another Jenny Craig cheese curl.)

Step 2. Create a "gate fold" by folding one end of the cardstock strip into a 1" fold, and the other into a 4.5" fold, with the edges of the paper meeting. If you have trouble figuring out what the heck I am talking about, think of a matchbook with the longer edge meeting the shorter edge, rather than being tucked under it.

Step 3. Eat more cheese curls. Make sure to wipe off your hands before you do any folding and creasing (unless you are using orange or tan paper, in which case the cheesey fingerprints could be seen as distressing).

Step 4. Adhere both sides of the "gate" down. In case you are wondering, the purpose of the "gate" fold is twofold (don't you love that word??). First, it provides a place for the cardstock to bend as you leaf through your album. Second, the adhesive provides a reinforced binding for the ribbon and makes it tough -- Ram tough!

The following picture is supposed to show a strip of adhesive but I am not sure if you can see it. Oh well.

Step 5. Repeat for each strip of cardstock, then shuffle the colors as desired and put in a cute stack so you can admire them:

Step 6. Distress the edges. If you are going to place photos on both sides of each page, distress both sides. If you are not using both sides, then skip the back unless you are completely anal (and if you are completely anal, not only are you reading the wrong blog, you are probably in the wrong part of town).

 

Step 7. Cut eight 3"x1" strips of patterned paper (unless, like me, you forgot to remove the deckle-edge blade from your rotary trimmer. In that case, you will want to trim these pieces to slightly under 3" wide).

Step 8. Trim one long side (3" side) of each of the patterned paper strips using a pair of deco-edge scissors. For this project, I used "Cloud" (light blue handle), "Cotton Candy" (lavender/pinkish handle) and "Colonial" (I believe navy blue but I am too lazy to get up and go in the other room to check). Adhere a piece right above the "seam" where the gatefold meets on seven of your eight sheets. On the eighth (the one I used for the front) I placed mine BELOW the seam, where the ribbon is going to go. But do whatever floats your boat. I will never know.

Step 9. Adhere wallet-sized photos to each page. You may want to trim the pictures a bit to give a little frame on the page.

Step 10. Embellish as desired. I used a JoAnn's monogram rub-on for the front, coupled with Heidi Swapp bling (don't get me started on a rant about this right now), and Wordfetti stickers from Making Memories. I also tossed in part of a sticker from Ali E's Everyday Beauty kit, and created index tabs from a McGill punch (another rant-worthy topic).

Step Whatever (I lost count). Punch holes in the bottom, then thread ribbon through and tie in a knot. Sit back, take a deep breath, and sigh. Another wonderful scrapping experience has been completed!

Here's another version of an album I did for Ben:

Isn't it adorable? Can you count the differences between this album and the other??? I knew that you could.

 

Total time elapsed: About 20 minutes, almost exactly the same length as my podcast. A coincidence? I think not.

Comments

[tonya]

THis is an EXCELLENT project! I am one who doesn't buy the wallet size, just to avoid the whole situation, but I think this looks great to make anyway! I'll post it when I do!
xoxo, t

[tonya]

OH, and should I mention the unstarted McGill rant? Could it be that the frickin thing rarely works?? 'Cuz that is the case with mine. uurrghhh! I want index tabs not stacks of cardstock with partial index-tab-like indents in only the corners.
xoxo, t

[Jamie ~ Alabama]

Very cute idea!

[Juel]

I love this! I haven't ever had a problem with my McGill punch.

[raesha]

I LOVE IT!!! I think I will make one right now:) I laughed my butt off at Step 1 - I have the same problem, except it's the zigzag setting on the sewing machine. It NEVER EVER fails that I forget to put it back on stright stitch!!