Login | Manage Account | Join

Paperclipping Home

Big on Photos, Short on Time: A Summer Mini-album with 44 Photos

July 2011 4717

Forty-four photos for a mini-album? Plus lots ‘o journaling and some ephemera too? That’s a lot!

But this was one of my easier projects of all time.

I made it last year, then pulled it out yesterday. After we got the kids down to bed, Izzy and I sat with a glass of wine (each) and read through the entire album. It’s interesting in a strange sort of way to read about so many of life’s mundane details just a year later and remember things you already forgot you used to do.

everyday_summer1

everyday_summer2

everyday_summer3

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

It did not take me long at all to make this mini-album, which I’ll get to in a minute.

But there is still one thing I would do differently if I were to do a similar modern-style clean mini-album again.

What would I do?

I would go even more digital.

I’d ditch the traditional paper and do digital paper instead.

But I would keep the metal pieces.

And I would print them on 6×6 prints from Persnickity rather than put four 6×6 pages onto 12×12 canvas prints. When you have to cut the prints down you don’t get exact uniform sizes.

Which is no big deal to some of you.

But those extra millimeters of white from the back pages that peek through on the side or top really bug the types of people who also need to feel like their bodies are laying perfectly symmetrical on the bed before they can relax and fall asleep.

…but we’re not here to talk about my issues. Just my scrapbooking.

everyday_summer4

everyday_summer5

everyday_summer6

My Guest Spot in the Paper vs. Digi Discussion on The Digi Show

When I want my photos to be the bulk of the canvas, if not the canvas itself, it makes sense to me to go digi.

I got to have a fun discussion about this with the girls on the Digi Show this week. We also chatted about the differences and the similarities between product designing, shopping, and starting a page in paper vs. digital scrapbooking.

You can head over and listen if you haven’t already to The Craft Closet of Broken Dreams at The Digi Show.

everyday_summer7

everyday_summer8

Why Digital is Great for Summer Albums

There are so many reasons I gravitate toward digital for these bigger summer time projects.

  • You can keep things a lot more simple with digital, especially when your project is mostly daily, as mine was.
  • If you have a lap top you can travel with your “supplies” and work in the car or on the plane, at the hotel or in a family member’s home.
  • You can have different projects going on at the same time to meet your creative mood. When I made this album I was also working on a paper mini-book and I liked being able to choose which I felt like working on at any moment.

everyday_summer9

everyday_summer10

everyday_summer11

everyday_summer12

I have a tutorial that shows how I task-batch to simplify big projects like these.

  • I show how my process makes it quick and easy to make intricate-looking paper mini-books.
  • I also show how I made the digital summer album you see in this post using the task-batching approach.
  • I explain how, with this process, you can simplify the project at the last moment if you’re getting sick of it, without having a book that looks intricate at the front but simple and plain at the back. You’ll get a consistent look and nobody will know that you have A.D.D!

If you’re ready to become a Paperclipping Member you’ll get instant access to this tutorial along with the other 171 videos!

Click here to get your Paperclipping Membership

Then look for Paperclipping episode 150 in the Member’s Area!

everyday_summer13

July 2011 4718

Tags: , , , , ,

  • Robyn

    Fabulous post Noell, great tips…I needed the extra “push” to get back to scrapping.  Thanks!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Alright!!!

  • Deb Wisker

    perfect, like always!! TFS!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Thanks, Deb! Nice to see you!

  • sweetart

    I love the paper version. I guess that I’m a little old fashioned. I’ve never done a scrpbook before. I bought a few supplies, but am having a hard time getting started. I am trying to organize my pictures first, which are few, but I guess a few is all I need right?

  • sweetart

    I love the paper version. I guess that I’m a little old fashioned. I’ve never done a scrpbook before. I bought a few supplies, but am having a hard time getting started. I am trying to organize my pictures first, which are few, but I guess a few is all I need right?

  • Tammye in Texas

    I find I’m doing more digital – because I get more done. However, I do really love all the 3-D goodies, too (and have amassed a sizeable stash!) I love getting the bulk of the work done on the computer, then adding pretty little things on top to make it interesting. Love this mini of yours. Can you tell us where/who makes the 6X6 page protectors you used?

    p.s……really enjoy the PRT and DigiShow!

  • Marcia Corsiglia

    ohhh thanks – I need to go now and get started – I’ve so many ideas- was a great post

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Definitely! Some people never start b/c they’re overwhelmed by their huge numbers of photos! You don’t have to worry abt that!!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    I don’t know abt these ones but I have purchased 6×6 protectors from American Crafts. :)

  • Terri C

    Thank you for sharing this album and all the suggestions. I’m inspired to make a contribution to my Project Life album this weekend that I’ve been neglecting for so long.

  • Gabbu Gosha

    Thanks a ton.. looks awesome

  • fancyscrapper

    44 photos? Awesome! I love that you have such a varied group of pics, both people and objects and food. . . . all the stuff of life. Very fun. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • KatieK.

    Your mini album is so summer. Up close shots of foods - clean, crisp images – its wardrobe is that of a summer closet.
    Some more reasons I like digital in the summer: can move to where ever the ac is or the sun or the pool, can scrap and be with family while off together, , the longer days of light pull me to the areas of my home where the sun is instead of hiding in my crop cave in my basement.
    You keep on pumping out the inspiration! Where do you get your energy?!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Thanks! Where does the energy come from? It’s true, I have tons of energy.
    You might not like the answer, but here it is:

    I am vegan.

    My main source of carbs is beans. I only eat a small amount of the other
    carb sources during the week for just one or two meals, sometimes not at
    all. (on Friday evening to Saturday I indulge all those other
    energy-sapping, fat-inducing, and addicting carbs).

    I drink mainly water all day plus a cup of tea and a glass of wine. I don’t
    do soda.

    I exercise regularly.

    People think it’s hard to change their eating to the way I eat, but it’s
    simple and easy, and you feel amazing. :)

  • Susanlotus

    Great idea! Lovely album.

  • http://www.ihanna.nu/blog iHanna

    What a nice album Noell, it looks lovely and very inspiring. :-)

  • VinesEliabeth

    Thanks for the help!  Looks good!

  • Tina

    Thank you bunches for sharing this album. I’m in the midst of creating a photo a day summer album (yes ~ it’s going to be hard to narrow it down to one photo per day. :)) Your summer album has been so inspiring and has reminded me of the clean lines and minimalist design that I love so much. Thanks again!

  • Julie

    Wow!  I have had a hard time finding 10 x 10 3 ring albums and sometimes 8 x 8.  However, 6 x 6 seem to be everywhere, they just didn’t seem like enough space to me.  Noell, you have totally sold me on 6 x 6!  What an awesome album.  It’s meaningful, not a ton of work and the single photo then photo collage is such a good blend.  THANK YOU!

  • http://www.paperclipping.com Noell

    Julie — 6×6 is definitely my favorite size mini album!!!! When I did the
    tutorial on how to make a mini in 2 hours, one of my tips was to use 6×6.

    You can see a few of the pages here: A Mini-book in Two
    Hours

  • cheap nike

    because you made it through yesterday without being
    found out.  Today is always a risk, and
    therefore much less enjoyable until it’s safely over.