Hi my name is Elizabeth and I’m thrilled to be guest posting for Nap Time is My Time! This is one of my favorite blogs for recipes and crafting. I am a Mama that stays at home with my three precious children ages 6, almost 5 and 2 1/2 years. My oldest started kindergarten this year so we are going through some major changes in our house – new routines. I am a passionate crafter (mostly paper crafts and scrapbooking) since I was a young girl and just love all things creative! My husband is a youth pastor and I just started an Awana program at our church. In addition to that I teach crafting classes in my home, attend the local MOPS, help out with the PTO and an am independent consultant with Close To My Heart, a stamping and scrapbooking company. I also blog (when I can) over at Broken Treasures. Before you go and think I have it all together be assured I do not! I do a lot but not all of it well and it is a constant battle to keep the Main things the Main things in my life.
Today I created a mini scrapbook album made from kraft cards and envelopes. These will make some great Christmas gifts for family members, super cute baby album for a mother-to-be or even teacher gifts at the end of the year with photos from her classroom.
You will need Cardstock, 6″x6″ cards (5), a strong adhesive , photos and embellishments (paper flowers, buttons, stamps, etc.)
Materials I used: Kraft 6″x6″ cards (5), Paper flowers, Chalkboard Shapes, Chalk marker,
- Cut your cardstock (I used Colonial White) to 6″x12″. Cut your other papers down to whatever size you want to layout each page. There is a ton of creativity and flexibility here. Take your 6″x12″ piece of paper, and score along the 12″ side at 1″ all the way across your paper.
2. On four of the cards Add ¼” of Liquid Glass along top and bottom of the cards cards, creating a pocket with the accent flap free of Liquid Glass; set aside to dry and place heavy object
on top, ensuring they dry flat. I used a tape runner for this part but it did not hold so then I used the liquid glass.
3. Cut one card base down the main fold, leaving accent flap fold intact; set both pieces aside
4. Fold the scored sheet of cardstock like an accordian. Apply Liquid Glass to left and right sides of first valley and place square piece of cut card in valley; close valley to secure page in place. Apply Liquid Glass to right side of next valley; attach pocket card, making sure to orient the pocket so it is on the left and the flap is folded over to the right.
5. Apply Liquid Glass to right side of remaining valley and attach remaining half of cut card with accent flap to the right. Turn book over and apply Liquid Glass to all open valleys; pinch spine together to secure; set aside to dry.
Then decorate your album however you want. I made two for grandparents (each of my kids will write a love note to their grandparents to put into the envelope) and one for my husband – maybe I’ll give it to him for our anniversary coming up in November.
You can do the same thing with the envelopes only the spine will be 6″x 10″ and you will not cut any of the envelopes. These work great for school year albums to keep a sample of some of your child’s work in the envelope pockets. I have one I made for my oldest to progress his writing from year to year. If you use both the cards and the envelopes one pack of cards will make four albums!
Thanks again for having me here, Emily!
Paula McLane Jennings says
beautiful job Elizabeth!
Cara Goedeking says
Great tutorial Elizabeth…what a sweet mini book! Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!
Tracey Sabella says
What a wonderful book and tutorial. Love Elizabeth’s work!!
Anne Payne says
Elizabeth does beautiful work! I love this project and will have to give it a try 🙂