Anatomy of an Album
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Here's a look into Simon's 2007 album. It's a good example of what all the mixed-up page sizes look like when they are together in the album. I have also created a new photo album over on the side bar so you can see all the photos in a group.
The album interior you see here is not in date order for the year yet. I grabbed my 2007 pile and put them in randomly before heading to the Portland CKC Convention last weekend. Planning to move them around within the album so that they are as close to chronological as possible (taking into account single page layouts vs. spreads vs. different sizes).
I like chronology in the anatomy of my albums, but am not concerned with it in terms of story telling + creating.
I am using the cloth 3-ring binder albums from American Crafts - you can find them online here and here or check at your local store.
[ Many of the pages below are featured, with supplies listed, in my book Life Artist © 2007 or in my column in Creating Keepsakes © 2007 ]
This layout, created in 2007, shows a variety of different photos over the last few years. Makes a nice opening page.
For more information on divided page protectors check out this post.
The back of this divided page protector (and others you will see below) are currently empty. My plan is to create pages/content to fill in those spaces or just add in photos.
Another back that can be filled in with either a complete story or five different ones (each on their own individual canvas).
One of the big hurdles for people to move away from post bound albums seems to be a fear that 2-page spreads won't translate with the ringed-gap in the middle. I have no issue with 2-page spreads that don't "touch." I find that my eyes automatically connect the two together based on their shared colors, photos, embellishments, and design.
Another common question I receive is what to do about single page layouts. I have been doing a combination of single and double pages since I started scrapbooking. I like having variety. I just stick the single page layouts right into the album (in date order when I am paying close attention). Your children and your family will not even notice that there are single page vs. double page spreads. They are going to be interested in the photos and the stories. Some stories need two or more pages; others need just one.
And again, one of my favorite things about these sorts of albums is that it is easy to insert new pages and move things around to accommodate new stories you are telling.
This is the back of a divided page protector with two, 6 inch x 12 inch pockets. I am thinking that I will do two individual pages that are each 6x12 for these spaces.
In addition to the purchased divided page protectors, I also have quite a few page protectors that I have simply cut and stitched to fit my page size. The ""today you" page here is one that I ran right through the sewing machine to create the 6 inch x 12 inch pocket.
Such a great helper in turning the pages for me.
Here's an example of a layout where I stitched two page protectors together (which creates a seam that brings the double page layout together). I did this mainly because it was actually a three page layout and I wanted to literally communicate that within the album. Close up:
One of my all time favorites. Words + photos.
Thanks buddy!
Questions? Leave a comment and I will answer them in an upcoming post.
[ Follow up post with Q & A can be found here. ]
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180 comments
You really are amazing!
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What a wonderful album!
You are the bet inspiration a "scrapper" can have!
After seeing this I just have to sit down and scrap tonight!§
Thank you!
Marlene, Norway
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Wow. i literally teared up thinking about the work you put into your work and posting this. it's been a very emotional day and i just needed the inspirational distraction over a bowl of frosted shredded mini wheats more than i can tell you. i can't think of when i've enjoyed a post more. just wanted to say a hearty thank you. i really needed to see how that worked to believe it. I'm just starting my school days becky higgins albums and they are three-ring, a new thing for me. So, on the sewing, you are just stitching with no thread? you may have said that, but i read quickly. what do you set the stitch length to? the 3 page was very clever.
there are not many albums where i say, "that's what I want my whole albums to look like" , but you hit it.
I think one reason your non-matching singles go together is that you focus on the pictures. often, my bold patterns and colors would not go with a facing page that didn't match. well done! you've given me a new vision for my work altogether and i'm very excited.
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Ali, Thanks for sharing! You have been an inspiration for the last 6 months since I "found" you. You do awesome work!
My question for you...does it bother you (obiously not) that your page protectors are of different weight or texture? Do you put everything into a page protector? Does it limit your embelishment process? I like depth. THANKS!
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Ali,
I love this post and the time that you took to write about the photo album anatomy. I'm inspired to move to this new style of album! I appreciate your artistic talents to NO END!
Abby
www.abbyandries.blogspot.com
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Just can't say enough good things about this post...
love the album, the fabulous layouts, the way you explain it all AND your cool little helper!! Just so so good!!
A.
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I am having trouble finding your supply list online, and wondered what brand of album you used for this scrapbook?
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No question, just wanted to say your album looks fabulous and is really inspiring, thank you so much for sharing x
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WOW Always so inspring to see your work. Really, I never get enough...it's ALWAYS inspirational. Thank you. I'm wondering who makes the transparent large number 6. It is awesome. Again thanks for sharing...
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Super Awesome! Especially cause I'm rolling around to the how to put the album together phase. Couple questions, specifically about using the sewing machine. What kind of thread do you use? any special needle? or any specific sewing directions, like dropping the feed dogs, or tension adjustment? I've been wondering for use on page protectors, but also on paper. Any hints would be appreciated! Thanks so much!!
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Hi Ali
2 questions:
1. When you decided to take out and organize all of your layouts, are you putting them all into brand new albums (3 ring) or are you reusing some of your older albums?
2. Did you have to buy all new page protectors for the 3 ring albums or are you using all of the old protectors from the post bound albums?
Betsy
Liberty MO
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This is how I do my albums too and I just love it. I pretty much just use 12x12 and 8.5x11 but I have added 8x10 pictures as well. I think it is the best way to do your scrapbooks if you do multiple sizes. Thanks for sharing your pages.
Also, every time I look at your blog and my kids happen to see it, they think Simon is my oldest son, Brayden. I do think they look quite a bit alike and are the same age.
Have a good day!
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i really love your 3 ring albums. you've released a huge weight off my shoulder and reminded me that the albums don't have to be perfect, i don't have to use the same size layouts, i can SEW on the page protectors and its all about telling my story! you are so inspiring ali! thank you!!! :)
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Ali, you are amazing. thank you! Even after your column in CK and post I am still confused about the page protectors. I'm having a mental block and don't feel like I know enough to ask an intellegent question. Can you tell us more about them ... how you've altered the sizes? made pockets or bought them with pockets? where are you finding them? will any page protectors fit into the American Crafts albums? just any additional info would be great. Thank you for all you do to inspire us.
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What a post! Love the combination of page sizes. Real and refreshing. And inspiring, as always. Thanks for all you share of your work and yourself. It's wonderful!
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I am just starting to organize my layouts and pieces of papers which I have collected during my vacations. I am now INSPIRED!!!
Thank you very much!
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oh ali. this is so beautiful. so so so wonderful.
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Hi Ali, I really love the album, but I am a disaster at stitching with machines:( so stitching my own sizes page protectors is something I can only dream about.
My little girl's into Easter right now and I thougt it would be fun to give her an Eastercalendar: I painted 27 eggs (a mix of gesso and acrylic paint) and filled them with little Playmobiltoys that together become an Easterset she can play with all Easter long (afterwards it goes on the attic 'till next year). Each egg has its number and she really loves it!! Your Christmasboxes gave me the inspiration.
You can check the result at my blog:
http://www.bloggen.be/scrapalicious/archief.php?startdatum=1203857444&stopdatum=1203943844
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Ali, I am such a fan of your work. It's funny because as the pages turned I remembered these layouts from magazines or from your blog. I loved seeing it together and it all flows so well together with all the layers and styles. Thank you...
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This is wonderful to see! Thank you. Currently, my pages are just sitting around in a pile. I don't own any albums yet and this seems the logical approach. I'm wondering what the Heidi Swap clock is between the pages - is this a layout with photos/content only on the bottom half? I just purchased one of those myself and there are so many ways to use it.
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