Marvelously Magical Mini Albums + A Tutorial
Happy Tuesday, G45ers!
Welcome to our marvelously magical blog today! It's a beautiful Tuesday for some inspiration and we have it here for you. Today we are featuring two mini albums using the Tropical Travelogue and the Little Darlings collections. Our fantastic designers Betto Cesare and Susan Lui have created some crafting magic for us today. Susan even included a tutorial of how to make a mini from scratch. Get ready for some fun!
First off, we have a beautiful 5X5 Altered Art Box with a Tropical Travelogue mini inside from Betto Cesare! The texture is so rich, this mini album is sure to impress! Beautiful details with the rolled and distressed edges on the cover.
Betto Cesare is a masterful fussy cutter. Don't you Love seeing these details on the cover?
Betto maximized his altered art box by creating a beautiful scene on the far right panel. Great idea!
And now, the magical mini inside!
Supplies:
Next, we have Susan Lui's stunning Little Darlings Mini Album she made from SCRATCH! Including a tutorial so you can make one too. Fun fun fun!
This is what Susan Lui has to say about her Little Darlings Mini Album: "I whipped up this mini album using Graphic 45’s new Little Darlings collection as a gift for the grandparents. The raw mini album is really quick and easy to make. And all you'll need to do after making the album is to decorate it with your favourite Graphic 45 papers and embellishments. Here is a photo of the completed album:
So let's get started on how to create the raw mini album. Here's what you'll need:
Supplies:
Instructions:
1. Cut 2 sheets of 7x7 inch patterned papers for your cover. Adhere the 6x6 inch chipboards on to the back and centre of these patterned papers.
2. Cut a diagonal off the corners of your patterned papers. Fold over the sides of the patterned paper on to the back of the chipboard and adhere securely. Repeat for the back cover.
3. Place the front and back covers side by side an inch apart. Lay the ribbon across the centre of the back of the covers and glue down.
4. Now onto the spine of the mini album. You'll need two sheets of vanilla cardstock measuring 5 3/4 x 11 3/4 inch each. Score each cardstock at the 5 3/4" mark. Then score at intervals of 1" apart. Accordion fold the cardstock. Do this for both sheets of cardstock.
7. Cut 5 sheets of Little Darlings patterned paper measuring 5 3/4 x 11 1/2 inches. Fold each sheet into half and glue the ends together.
8. Adhere each page on to the spine of your album and you're done! To securely close the album, just tie the ends of your ribbon together into a pretty bow. How simple was that?
Now all you need to do is decorate and embellish the mini album to your heart's desire. I decided on a lace cover for my spine and this is how it looked before I embellished the cover.
The inside pages - again I embellished the spine.
More photos of my completed album which I decorated using images from the Little Darlings patterned paper, chipboard tags, fabric, seam binding, pearls and flowers. The images were given more dimension using 3D foam dots.
So if you're thinking of making a pretty mini album for a mum-to-be or a brag book for the grandparents, why not give this a shot? Happy scrapping!" - Susan Lui
Wow! That WAS magical! Thanks to Betto Cesare and Susan Lui for their amazing mini albums today. Join us tomorrow for more inspiration! The fun never stops at Graphic 45.
Happy Papercrafting!
The Graphic 45 Team
I can't wait to make one of my own...maybe even make a bunch for Christmas gifts!
Posted by: Debbie | June 12, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Love both projects! I'm going to a Little Darlings mini-album! I'm so excited!
Posted by: Cherie | June 12, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Simply gorgeous albums! The fussy cutting on the first one is amazing and the tutorial for the second one means that even I should be able to make one! Thank you.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Wild | June 12, 2012 at 11:17 AM
I have a real soft spot in my heart for mini books and albums. These are both amazing. I really appreciate the ingenuity of Susan's design, and her generosity in sharing it with us. It is gorgeous!
Posted by: kathy/NorthCarolina | June 12, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Wow!! Such beautiful images and colors! I love seeing how others can create things in a way that I would havenever thought to do!! Truly beautiful creations!!
Posted by: Theresa | June 12, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Both of these are beautiful. I am always amazed by the talent people have. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Phyllis Rademacher | June 12, 2012 at 11:49 AM
A beautiful mini and a great tutorial - thanks! Best wishes Karen x
Posted by: Karen | June 12, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Quelle talent vous avez tous les deux !!!!
I adore mini albums and today this projects are gorgeous Thanks for sharring :) Kiss from France
Posted by: Marie | June 12, 2012 at 11:51 AM
I absolutely love mini albums--and these are beautiful. Love the tutorial, too! Thanks for great ideas!
Posted by: Sara Nell Langland | June 12, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Don't know which one I like better. Thank you for the tutorial!
Posted by: Donna Laipply | June 12, 2012 at 12:18 PM
What great mini albums. So had to pin the tutorial :)
Posted by: dogmatix | June 12, 2012 at 12:22 PM
All great ideias! Love it!
Posted by: Marta touguio | June 12, 2012 at 12:32 PM
I love the way the book is bound!
Posted by: Elissa Lyman | June 12, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Stunning minis, i can see future projects for me! lol now, to get some Graphic 45 paper pads...........................
love angie xx
Posted by: Angie Ayres | June 12, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Fab way to save those special moments. Both are excellent.
Posted by: Nadine | June 12, 2012 at 12:50 PM
OMG! What fabulous projects today!! I can't wait to try my hand at one of those sweet mini albums!!!
Posted by: Dee in NH | June 12, 2012 at 03:35 PM
Both are amazing! Would love to make both right now. Love how easy and beautiful they make their paper crafts look! Great Work and great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: syd egan | June 12, 2012 at 03:42 PM
Love the minis and really glad you shared a tutorial!
Posted by: Kelly Massman | June 12, 2012 at 04:23 PM
What fantastic albums & I really appreciate the great tutotial.
Posted by: Tona | June 12, 2012 at 04:27 PM
Simple ideas + great papers = wonderful gift!
Posted by: Cheryl M | June 12, 2012 at 05:13 PM
just gorgeous will put that on the to do list for sure
Posted by: debbie waters | June 12, 2012 at 05:46 PM
I love that binding technique! I must make one of these for my lil one!
Posted by: Kapree | June 12, 2012 at 06:14 PM
Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my tutorial. They're really appreciated. :)
Posted by: Sue Lui | June 12, 2012 at 06:35 PM
Great albums and a fantastic tutorial. You guys really make it look easy. Can't wait to get started on one.
Posted by: Eugene Bellion | June 12, 2012 at 07:14 PM
I cannot believe how many amazing projects you have on your blog everyday! Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Bethany Becker | June 12, 2012 at 08:01 PM
Love both of these projects and really like it when you add tutorials!
Posted by: Katina | June 12, 2012 at 09:02 PM
I love the beautiful ideas for the mini with the Tropical Travelogue papers! I am currently working on a Hawaiian album and saw a couple great ideas! Thanks!
Posted by: Cathy Gomes | June 12, 2012 at 09:11 PM
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. . . . I am LOVING the Little Darlings mini album. I love that whole package to begin with, but this album, OH MY!! The tutorial is so complete I think even I could make one, and I am excited to try. It is so lovely and would be a beautiful album to gift, or to use for special thoughts and photos.
Thank you for featuring such talented designers and providing such inspiration to us all.
Posted by: Maureen | June 12, 2012 at 09:23 PM
Gorgeous projects! Love the papers! Thank you for the mini tutorial, I always wanted to make a mini album, and I thought they were difficult to make, but the clear tutorial made think I can do it. Thanks again!
Loly Borda
Posted by: Loly Borda | June 12, 2012 at 09:32 PM
Love both projects the mini album is just great, thanks for sharing them.
Posted by: Carol E Brooker | June 12, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Oh wow! These mini albums are fabulous!!! I love the contrast between the two projects done with such different collections! Would love some Graphic 45 of my own to play with!
Posted by: karenladd | June 12, 2012 at 10:33 PM
What a great tutorial on the mini, can't wait to make my own, fantastic! Love Graphic45 papers!
Posted by: Sally | June 13, 2012 at 02:51 AM
thanks for this tutorial. I really like the way you did the pages with the folded paper. Will have to try this out. Beautiful work on both projects today
Posted by: karen Stephenson | June 13, 2012 at 03:20 AM
Fabulous mini albums! Will definitely give these a try! Thanks to the great inspiration from the DTs!
Posted by: Nan G | June 13, 2012 at 03:47 AM
Both of these projects are a WOW!
Posted by: LucyA | June 13, 2012 at 04:00 AM
Thanks for the tutorials, especially the mini-album. I plan on trying that technique in making an album for my grandson for a trip we'll be making in July.
Posted by: Linda from Lockbourne | June 13, 2012 at 04:17 AM
Wow! These designers never cease to amaze me!
Posted by: Margie Visnick | June 13, 2012 at 05:15 AM
Wow! What inspiring albums by Betto and Susan!! Just stunning pieces of art!
Posted by: Beverly Jordan | June 13, 2012 at 06:02 AM
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous albums!! Betto's tropical album gave me tons of ideas for my honeymoon album! And Susan's baby album - thanks so much for the tutorial - easiest baby album I think I have seen recently and I am in need of an easy album :) However, went to my favorite LSS yesterday and they did not have Little Darlings!!! Will have to check out my other LSS to find it! LOVE both albums!
Posted by: Becky D | June 13, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Thank you Susan for the mini album tutorial. I have been wanting to make one for ages, but have been too scared!
Posted by: Disco Queen | June 13, 2012 at 12:37 PM