Mixing it up.

Ali, loved the link to Lisa's layout...it is very inspiring. I am going to challenge myself to use something as simple as a three ring binder for my childrens scrap books instead of paying a fortune on name brand ones. It is a simple equation...Less on the book=more $ for paper and embellishments!

Wow wow wow!I absolutely love it. Like LIsa, I love the look of 8.5x11, but wasn't ready to go out and buy the albums because I am a 12x12 scrapper. This is the perfect solution and I can't wait to try it. THanks so much for sharing Ali! Kudos to you!

Thank you so much for leading us to this. I LOVE this idea!

THANK YOU so much for sharing that awesome link. Lisa's approach is exactly what I've been seeking. I'm going whole hog!
Susan
PS- It is so amazing to see your badge approaching $60,000. WHOO! HOO!

I love this! You know, the different sizes is what I saw and loved when I first looked at the minibook that Kristini Contes made with your Everyday Beauty kit. Hers had such an awesome REAL, raw feel to it. Thanks for sharing!

I saw that last week and it TOTALLY rocks my 12 x12 world! I am going to be on a mission to convert everyone I know to doing this and break out of my 12x12 mold - b/c the storage issue/different sizes of albums is solved!

a friend of mine showed me this album...and i loved it ! what a great idea to mix it up like that ! and to "title" it a "life book"...sounds too perfect!

that is a great idea. thanks for sharing it with us!

This is BRILLIANT!!! I just got a 12x12 album a while back, and and since I already do 8.5 x 11 AND 12x12, this is such a great solution - it's like life encompassed in one place. Thanks so much for sharing with us!

I saw this a couple days ago and I absolutely LOVE IT!! I love Lisa's style as well and I felt extra happy when I saw it because I have some of the AC albums. WOOHOO!!

Thanks for the great link. I love that idea sooo much!

thanks for the link! I love it! what a great way to store my son's artwork from daycare along with 12x12 layouts! I love the way my 'week in the life' album is turning out with all the different size pages! :)

Hi Ali,
I bought several strap-style 12x12 albums a couple years ago to use for my family's chronological layouts. I have scrapped but have the layouts in a neat stack and haven't opened the "new" albums yet. When I attended your CKU Detroit album track recently and you used a 12x12 three-ring binder to keep different sized layouts in, a bell went off in my head and I thought, "This is how to organize my layouts because I can organize everything into page protectors, 12x12 and smaller just by cutting/trimming the page protectors!" It was an "Ah-ha" moment for me. Now I look at this article you suggested we read and it happened again, but I thought, "What will I do with my brand-new (expensive) strap-style albums?" It seems expensive and wasteful to me to switch gears now...what do you think? I've never sold anything on e-bay before, but I may try it now. Anyway, just my thoughts. Did you use 3-ring binders from the start? I wish I had!!
Sorry for the long post! Take care, PAM

love that! have been doing this with a disney vacation album--but only 8.5x11 and 12x12..made no sense to have 2 different albums..but i LOVE to scrap two sizes!
totally want to incorportate some of the ideas though about adding in photos and artwork..awesome!!!
tfs!

no shit. I actually just started trying to put all my crap in books and at the point where I started w/ the 12x12s and 8x8s I envisioned doing this (how I rock the minis, you know) and DDDDDDDUUUUUHHHHH just punch an extra hole. I think to punch holes in everything else, why not the grandes??And add those killer unscrap worthy photos. Genius genius genius. GENIUS.

Guess what I got in the mail today?!? That's right! My Beautiful Kit of the Month! It was so fun going through all the stuff! Congrats - it really is an awesome kit!
Now, if I could only get myself to actually USE it, I'd be all set! You see, I suffer from exactly what you spoke about a few days ago - I should take your challenge. I tend to fall in love with product and then am afraid to actually use it on pages for fear that I won't have any left! But this kit is soooo to die for that I will have to make sure to use absolutely everything!
Thanks!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...*jumping up and down and screaming out loud!* thank you so much for that link. I'm so excited I can barely type. I have been struggling with wanting to try 8 1/2 x11 for so long, but feeling married to 12x12 (and that is okay with me)...that along with saving a ton of my kid's stuff and trying to figure out what to do with the stuff I don't photograph. Okay, so you totally made my day! thanks! Kristen :)

I suddenly feel so liberated! I think this is just the format I need to quit obsessing and just DO.

YOu know what makes me laugh about this idea? Somewhere, someone's head is exploding with the thought that 8.5 x 11 are in the same album w/ 12 x 12!! It can't be, save her!
And oh have mercy, she doesn't scrap in chronological order!! There's going to be a rip in the space time continumum!!

Cool link - thanks. I've used a 6x6 between a double page spread when I have a few extra photos I can't *bare* to exclude, but don't really justify another page.