It’s the unofficial end of summer, and it makes me sad. But I can look back at the summer and say that we banged off a big number of items on my summer bucket list. This is the first year that I took time out to create a “summer things to do” list. Yes, yes, I am a Type A personality. Believe me when I say it worked great. I am a planner girl, and when I noticed a weekend with few commitments, I looked at my list and made it happen. I also booked reservations in advance. You’ll notice they aren’t physically crossed off my list. That’s because this planner goes into next year hence I am keeping the same list for Summer 2016.

With all the activities we did during the summer, I thought it would be nice to have a little album with some pictures to showcase our adventures. My most recent Stampin’ Up! shipment included items from the new Holiday Catalog. There are some amazing products in the catalog that you can use outside of the normal holiday hoopla. I haven’t been able to keep my hands off of the Winter Wonderland Designer Series Paper (DSP). When inspiration arrives, you have to run with it.

Here. We. Go.

CATHY’S GUIDE TO CREATE A MINI ALBUM IN ONE NIGHT:

1. Pick out some paper and some coordinating embellishments. This may come from a kit. Stick with it and don’t stray.
2. Print your photos. Print them in black and white if you want some consistency.
3. Decide if you will use an album or create your cover. Give yourself 20 minutes to create.
4. Cut up your paper in the size you choose (In my case, this was 4×6”). Five pages is plenty to start. Punch the holes and loosely put your album together. You should now have your bare bones album.
5. Stick your photos in your album by placing a glue dot on each one. Place them in the album. This is NOT meant to be permanent. It’s meant to have your pictures and album organized.
6. Decide if you want something interactive like a tag or and envelope. This is always nice if you have extra photos or tickets, etc. Add into the album.
7. Embellish and tell the story. Set your timer to 10 minutes per page. It’s okay if each page looks the same. In my album, I left most of my pictures 3×4” and used a lot of pearls and washi. It gives it consistency.
8. After going through each page, flip through the album and admire your work. Adjust where necessary.
9. Congratulations. Another job done.

And that’s how I worked through this album. (With an ‘I need to go to bed’ attitude.)

The above pictures included a lot of products from the Winter Wonderland collection including vellum, washi, and foil paper. You’ll also notice the lovely gold cording trim.

Below, I added a divider using watermelon cardstock with a “hello” sentiment cut out from the Greetings thinlet. This is a must have item. I also used the brand new woodland embossing folder. Let me tell you this. I don’t use embossing folders because I am frankly too lazy to move to my big shot machine. However, this is gorgeous. Dividers can help the flow of an album and in this case, I was looking to add some pink into the album.

The cover and back cover were both created using the 4×6” cardboard that is used to package the Project Life ™ card kits. I cut the Winter Wonderland Designer Series Paper (DSP) to cover the front and back of each side of the cardboard.

Within this mini album, I created a couple interactive pieces. The black and gold striped foil paper comes from the Winter Wonderland DSP package. It is folded in half length ways and sealed with red tape on the ends to create a pocket. On the top I punched a semi circle to indicate to the reader that they can pull out a sheet.

The glitter pocket was created in the same way as above but was folded at 3” (halfway). Inside I have a small tag with a photograph. The gold cording trim is super cute on this tag.

I am so glad that you dropped by. Be sure to tag Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine and myself @IntheCatCave so we can share your creations!

Cathy Caines, Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, St. John’s, NL

Supplies and images used are © 2015 Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated: Winter Wonderland DSP, Winter Wonderland washi tape, Winter Wonderland vellum, Gold corded trim, whisper white thick baker’s twine, 2” circle punch, banner punch, basic black cardstock,gold glimmer paper, black glitter paper, Curvy Corner Trio Punch, watermelon cardstock, white embossing powder, Day to Day Project Life ™ stamp set, gold glimmer paper, vintage tea doily, Neutrals Designer Series Paper pack, Greetings thinlit, woodland textured embossing folder, Beautiful Butterflies framelit, versamark, Momentum ink, stapler, cardboard. Non-Stampin’ Up! products: binder rings, machine stitching.