Summer Lovin' Mini Album

    Hi there!  I have been hard at work completing a summer project that is about 80% finished now.  I'm very happy with the way it's turning out and can't wait until I'm able to share it with you.  :)  

    Last night I took a break from 'my big project' and decided to put together this little Summer Lovin' mini album.  I love how it turned out!  I love. . .well. . .the 'orange' used throughout (total fav!), the 'list style' on the pages inside, and the fact that I was able to include lots of little pics within. 

    I really don't believe that it's always most important to have the fanciest layouts, or only use the newest products, or spend a ton of time trying to get it 'just right'.  What is important is to get the story, images and memories documented. . .with a touch of your favorite products to spice it up a little.  This little album does just that. . .I can't wait to see people flip through it! :)

Here are a few photos:

You can see that I have placed journaling on both the left and right sides of the 'notebook' paper.  In between, you can thumb through a bunch of my favorite photos the fit within each category.

I used lots of layers and punches (always a fav) to create the cover.  I think that the chalk distress ink really helps give it dimension. 

**Tip:  I love 'hiding' little secret messages, or symbolic 'stuff' on my layouts.  On the cover, I did this by intentionally punching out a portion of DP that had a '3' and '4' on it.  As soon as I saw it, I thought about my children.  I now have 3 sons. . .but really have 4. . .counting Chase, who passed away 5 years ago, next week.  Being that my eyes were instantly drawn to this, I knew that it had to be included.  Now, I will forever know a 'little secret' about this album that not everyone will see/understand.  It simply helps to personalize my creations. . .and I love doing it.  :)

I really love the peek-a-boo style albums (this one is from Jenni Bowlin Studio).  They are so fun to use.  For this book I chose to cover the heart shaped hole so that the smaller photos/pages inside didn't show through.

    In this last photo you can see that there really are a lot of little photos squooshed in between each category/reason.  I took kraft paper, cut it down to 3 X 3 1/2, rounded the corners, adhered the pictures, lined-up and punched holes for the rings to go through, and finally inked the edges with distress ink.

You could totally do this too!  :)

Recipe:

Album:  Jenni Bowlin Studio

DP:  Scribble Scrabble, Fancy Pants

Punches:  Fiskars, Stampin' Up

CS:  Stampin' Up

Alpha Stickers:  October Afternoon

Button:  Papertrey Ink

Bakers Twine:  Studio Calico

Ink:  Ranger, ColorBox

Thanks for looking! 

love, lisa