Gratitude Album, Graphic 45 Style

I have two posts today. Scroll up for the Hampton Art Stamps post.

Lots of cards with step-by-step directions!
 

It is my turn on the Graphic 45 Blog today! I used the new Graphic 45 Place in Time cut-apart papers, combined with papers from many of the older Graphic 45 collections to make a gratitude journal. It is easy to see that papers from many of the different Graphic 45 collections work together, plus Place in Time papers are a perfect complement to all of them! (A full supply list is located at the end of this post.)

I enjoy creating mini albums "from scratch." For this one I cut covers and pages from heavy weight chipboard and covered each chipboard page with Graphic 45 paper prior to decorating. I used the Cinch binding tool to punch the holes into the pages. This creates uniform holes in each page.

One of my favorite types of mini albums is the "waterfall" style of album. What that means is that each page is approximately 1/2" longer than the preceding page, creating a waterfall effect. To create your own album cut the following from heavy weight chipboard:
 

1. Two covers 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"

 

2. One page 5 1/2" x 4 1/2"

 

3. One page 5 1/2" x 5"

 

4. One page 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

 

5. One page 5 1/2" x 6"

 

6. One page 5 1/2" x 6 1/2"

 

7. One page 5 1/2" x 7"
 

Once you have all of your pages cut to size, you can begin to decorate! Gather your papers, journaling spots, stamps, and other embellishments and have fun!

 

I created a fall bouquet from floral picks purchased at the craft store. I added paper leaves and flowers. The little bouquet is the perfect accent for the Place in Time November Cut-Apart.

I decorated each page of the album with journaling spots and tags. You could use this journal to record your own thoughts and memories, or pass it around the table at Thanksgiving and allow everyone to jot down a few words about what they are grateful for this year.

I used elements from both the 12x12 and 8x8 Place in Time paper pads.

This sheet of Bontanicabella Eden's Symphony paper contains postage stamp elements. I covered them with images from the Place in Time November Cut-Apart sheet. The larger postage stamp is from the 112x12 pad and the small one is from the 8x8 pad.

Several of the older Graphic 45 collections have "fruit themed" papers. I sorted through my stash of papers and picked out all of the papers that either had the color palette I wanted or contained fruit images. You can still find older papers at many local and online stores. Or, you may be like me and already have a vast hoard of papers to use! Just because a paper is "retired" does not mean that it is not pretty and useful.

One of my favorite older papers is this cherry print from the Times Nouveau Collection (Bee's Knees). This is a retired collection, but I have lots of this paper in my stash. I think it was one of the very first Graphic 45 papers I purchased!

The cherries on this sheet of Times Nouveau Copacetic paper matches perfectly with the Place in Time August Cut-Apart sheet.

I used an envelope to create a pocket for tags.

It is no secret that I love postcards and postage stamps!

Mini albums are wonderful canvases for adding your lumpy embellishments. Since you don't need page protectors or need to worry that the album will lie flat when closed, feel free to "lump it up"!

I created a side pocket from this image from the Place in Time September Cut-Apart sheet. Simply add adhesive to three sides of the image panel and slip the tags into the pocket.

Clear glue works great for attaching clear and frosted journaling spots.

This is the back cover. You can see the wire binding. To finish off the binding, I tied a few lengths of ribbon into a big bow.

There you have it! I big project, but worth the time and effort! I hope you try to make one of your own!



Graphic 45 papers:
Place in Time: November, August, September, cardstock stickers, chipboard
Botanicabella: Botanical News, Eden's Symphony, Summer Sonata
An ABC Primer: An ABC Primer
Le Cirque: Greatest Show on Earth
Times Nouveau: Copacetic, Hot Tomato, Sitting Pretty, Bee's Knees
Old Curiosity Shoppe: Butterfly Specifics
Bird Song: Shanghai Girls
Steampunk Debutante: Victorian Transformers

Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan, Yellow Cadmium, Blush Rose; Memento Rich Cocoa
Other paper: Simple Stories Harvest Lane paper and bingo cards; Basic Grey Basics Manila
Die cuts: My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips, Fishtail Flag Stax; Sizzix Tim Holts Alterations Ornamental; Papertrey Ink Button Card
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Gratitude Journal; Stampin' Up!; Unity Harvest of Memories; JustRite Autumn Blessings
Flowers, Leaves, other Floral: Petaloo; Prima; Craft Store
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Journaling spots: Jenni Bowlin Brown Memo Book; Maya Road; My Mind's Eye
Tags: Office supply store
Tools: Cinch
Bulk chipboard: Grafix
Adhesive: Scotch 3M tape; Heidi Swapp Scrappy Glue; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; Ranger Glossy Accents