Seen any fabulous mini albums made from random children’s board books? If not…you’re missing out! They can turn out to be the most amazing mini albums you’ve ever seen. And they are definitely unique. This album is made from a specific type of children’s board book; a board book based on the basic “colors.”
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Where should you look for a children’s board book on “colors?” The first place we suggest looking is the bookshelves in your home. If there have been children in the home there is probably a board book or two randomly dispersed in the bookshelves. And fairly often there are board books left hanging around when the children in the home have passed way beyond the point of being interested in them. If this isn’t the case in your home…you can head to your nearest thrift store. After getting your board book you can get started. The sample book we made has 10 pages but the number of pages depends on your book and your needs so expect to make adjustments.
Cover the pages with paper. For the red page we used Graphic 45′s Happy Homemaker Paper from the Domestic Goddess Collection and Fashionista from the Fashionista Collection along with red rickrack, a paper flower created from Pink Paislee’s Captivating paper, and a pearlescent, self adhesive, red flower by Jenni Bowlin. Cover the pages so that you work in the “colors” theme from the board book, but re-create most of the background using your paper designs. The sample book uses the papers to create a page size pocket on the right hand side that holds a photo, a Guest Ticket for journaling, and a program from a night out with the girls.
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On the left side of the red layout we journaled right on the page on the bottom half of the page, “Roses are Red…Violets are Blue…Girls’ Night just wouldn’t be the same without You!” This brought the “red” in for our red layout and made it possible for us to use the red layout to document a fun night out with the girls. It adds a fun touch if you ink the edges of the page gold and lime green. It gives it a cool vintage look. Any number of inking tools will work for this, but we used Ranger Dabbers. They are a favorite around here. Also incorporated on the red page was a basic distressing stamp. Use your favorite. It just breaks up the page, adds some texture and color. On the right side of the two page red layout we used Glossy Accents by Ranger to make the red parts of the Fashionista paper pop. It’s an amazing look if you haven’t yet tried that particular tool.
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For the yellow pages we used the Fashionista paper again. The Fashionista paper was on the right side (full page). Then we used the Pink Paislee Joyeux Noel paper to back a photo (your choice, of course) and Pink Paislee’s blue paper from the Captivating line is a journaling strip on the right page layout. Ink the edges of the left side and use a distressing stamp to add some extra fun. Now pick up your corrugated cardboard.
Cut the corrugated cardboard to fit in your mini album. We cut ours to fit as half a page (make sure it will hit two of the three rings or it won’t work) and left a tab that sticks out of the edge of the album. You can leave it plan or you can ink it up like we did. We reached for some household acrylic paint in yellow and we gave that baby some color! Then we used the blue Captivating by Pink Paislee again to create a small tag for journaling since we adhered a pic on the corrugated insert. In the hole of the tag we tied a knot using the cream colored tulle and the navy trim. And then we journaled on the tag prior to application (of course!) We inserted the corrugated cardboard piece in between the two sides of the yellow pages. It’s fun layer!
On the blue page we worked with the Pink Paislee blue Captivating paper and the backside of the Fashionista paper by Graphic 45. (It’s blue with cream polka dots). We backed the photo with the backside of the Pink Paislee Joyeux Noel Paper. For the purple page we used the front of the Pink Paislee Joyeux of Noel to cover the page and the backside as accents. We made big, bold photo corners and a journaling strip the width of the page. We then used several of the Glitz papers to create decorate flowers for the page, inked the edges and journaled.
For the remaining color layouts…you’ll have to visit the original instructions on the LBD blog. A Colorful Life Mini Album is featured in one of the early blog posts. But don’t miss the other layouts, altered art pieces and projects. If you like A Colorful Life Mini Album you’ll love some of the other pieces as well.
Contributed by Alyson Lansen, scrapbook addict, layout lover and embellishment aficionado. She considers Little Black Dress Kit Club an online hot spot and frequents it often. She’s always looking for new ideas and project suggestions at the LBD Ideas Page.