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
I love these binders, I love that I don't need a ton of different books for the variety of sizes I scrap in! I have made a few pages from leftover cardstock in 6x12 and 9x12. since my sewing machine is out of order I just take a 12x12 protector, place my LO in the bottom corner, trim and punch holes on the side with my cropadile. I find this works just as well as sewing and takes less time.
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Ali,
I am really enjoying your creative enthusiasm.
A question, but not really related to this post. How did you add the trim marks (using Photoshop) to the pages for your Valentines Book?
Thanks in advance
Nicole
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Hi Ali!
Great album. I love the different size layouts especially the stitched page protectors to give the variety. My question for you is: With the 3 ring album, do your page protectors ever tear at the ring holes from being turned so much? Do you use any kind of reinforcements?
Thanks so much for the inspiration and have a great day.
Tamara
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This is so great! Love that album and I love the mix of formats! I am sooo ready for doing this myself now. Have to find the abum now ;)
And thank you again for a wonderful and inspiring blog Ali! You make me understand again and again he reason to scrapbook :D
Thanx!
I hope you'll have a wonerful week-end!
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The number of layouts that you create is so impressive. I love the way you inspire us to just keep making stuff! In addition to all these pages you created wall art, small albums and gifts albums. So inspiring. It nudges me to set aside time--even an hour and realy devote it to making stuff. I sometimes can spend that hour looking at this and other creative websites, or organizing my stuff. At the end of the hour i've not created a thing. Now, log off and makke more gorgeous art! :)
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I love Simon's album with all the different sized pages. He is a lucky young man. Also loved the photo of him! Too cute!
Sue
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I'm back for another comment. The more i look at your album (in it's entirety) I'm reminded again not to focus on the tiny details of each page, but rather the important thing is getting those stories recorded. Though indiviudally your pages are stunning, that message really resonates for me when I see what a gift getting to the point of making an album can be. I can see doing a number of simple pages on grid paper (as you've done with the "go simon go" page that would be less complicated design-wise and inserting them throughout the binder, providing a repeted design element. As a page by itself, those might not "impress" as much, but can bring everything together visually and provide real value in terms of the story. The lessons and ideas just keep coming the more I spend time in this post!
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can i just say how overwhelmed this post made me? i took every picture in my house down and laid them all out on the dining room table. as you did, i'm going to take all my pages out of the albums and rearrange them. such an overwhelming task to me. but so worth it to see a finished album.
you are such an inspiration. you rock.
jen
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I was a 12x12 page scrapbooker, but I found it restrictive. I swapped after reading about your mixed albums a while back and I'm loving it.
My question... what are your favourite products / lines right now? and do you listen to music whilst you work?
Thanks for the Weekend Creative prompts and for kindly leaving a comment on one of mine in flickr.
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I was going to say pretty much what the very first commenter said - liked your mention of the ring vs. post albums. I've always preferred the ring bound albums, since I don't always work chronologically it is so much easier to go back and add the newly-minted pages in those than it is in to move all the layouts or get out the screwdriver and take the whole thing apart, etc. Plus, it seems to me like their can be a little more "room to breathe" for the pages in the ring-bound albums - especially those with any dimensional elements.
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Love this! Any ideas for the view hole on the outside of the album?
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Thanks for sharing this. When I first started back in 1997, I received 2 kits for scrapping my new daughter. One was a 12 x 12 kit with a 3 ring binder & the other was an 8.5 x 11. I originally started mixing both sizes. Then I started seeing such beautiful stuff online & thought how silly of me. I'm excited to go back to doing this, should have listened to my own instincts, LOL. Love your album :)
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Love all of your work! Thanks for sharing!
Question:
How do you decide on your photo sizes for your LO? Do you plan a LO then Order the sizes you want or order pics first then make them work on the page??
I'm having a hard time figuring out a good system for my self. I see layouts that I would like to try, with say a 12x6 photo, but I never have that size on hand.
Thanks for your time!
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Thanks so much for sharing.
You give me a lot of ispirations!
Giulia
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Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I love seeing all of those layouts in one album!
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Thanks for sharing this! I always LOVE seeing how people put together their albums!
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Hi Ali, Just popped over to say thank you!!
Have read your Life Artist book, love LOVE it. I love the 'pocket' file pages and after a recent purchase at the craft store I created a page that you can see here http://skruijver.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-do-these-3-have-in-common.html I also scraplifted one of your gorgeous pages. This was a challenge for me as I stuggle with scraplifting but I just wanted to say THANKYOU for inspiring so many to create and be creative in their everyday.
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Thanks for this post Ali. I always have a hard time putting my pages into an album. You are such an inspiration! Simon did a great job!
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first of all--I always love to see your pages, and some of those I haven't seen before, so thank you for sharing!
second of all--my question is not deep, nor philosophical, and I even know you've answered it before, but I can't remember/find it--where did you get that great stamp (flourish/swirl thingy) on the top of the last page?
TIA,
Ann marie
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You know what I love?
Your album's main thing is the pictures - not an overly intricate (and expensive!) design.
And for me - that is inspiring!!
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