Really Reasonable Ribbon February Club Matches Graphic 45 Ocean Blue!

 

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon February Blog Hop! You should be coming to my blog first this month as Bonnie is taking a break. (For the complete blog list, scroll to the bottom of the post.) After visiting me, hop over to Ginny's Blog next!

At the end of the hop, comment on the RRR Blog post, answering the question listed, for a chance to win the February Ribbon Club Assortment shown below. (The Design Team appreciates your comments, too!)

I have an extra treat for you this month, because I am featuring the NEW Graphic 45 Ocean Blue Collection (coming soon)! By happy accident the February Ribbon Club perfectly matches the Ocean Blue papers! How amazing is that?!

The February Ribbon Club Assortment is called Blue and Brown Assortment, but I think we should rename it as the Ocean Blue Mix! 

I love a tall, skinny mini album! I have been making some planners and such lately, but I was a bit sick of doing those. But, I also love a flip album with pockets and flaps, but did not want to make a square one again this month! So, I went to town with this amazing paper and ribbon combination and created this lovely ocean-themed planner-style flip-fold mini album!

This mini is 8 1/2" tall and 4" wide, with a 1/2" spine. There are six pockets and two waterfall elements!

I used the 5/8” Plaid Blue/Ivory/Gold ribbon as a tie closure. This ribbon is beautiful in person. The gold threads are very sparkly, plus this ribbon has a bit of "stiffness" so that when I curled it around my fingers the curls stayed in the ribbon! 

The album has four different flaps that open to reveal pockets and the waterfall elements. Each pocket has tags or tall photo mats! 

This beautiful paper evokes calm, serene beach days! I only had the 12x12 paper, so I can imagine how much more I could have added if I had the full collection with all the bells and whistles. However, as you can see, even with "just" that 12x12 papers you can make a stunning project.

I added Light Navy Checkerboard Satin ribbon to the spine area, wrapping it around to the outside. I knotted the ribbon on the outside of the spine. This ribbon i wonderfully shimmery and such a lovely shade of blue!

When you open the flaps, you can see all the inside pockets, (To see the album "in action" check out the video below.)

I have used the wonderful ribbon on each of these pocket pages: 5/8” Tan Taffeta, 3/8” Blue and Brown Chevron Stripe Grosgrain, 5/8” Light Navy Taffeta,  3/8” Blue and Brown Confetti DotGrosgrain,  3/8” Smoke Blue Diamond Satin ribbons.
There are two waterfall elements, each containing five pages. 

The ephemera cut aparts are perfect for the waterfall. I do wish I had the actual ephemera cards, but, alas, I won't get my hands on those for a few more weeks.

If you want to make your own album, follow the directions below to make the album base.

Cut tan cardstock to 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" and score at 4" and 4 1/2". This makes the album base with the 1/2" spine in the center.

Cut four pieces of tan cardstock to 8 1/2" x 4 3/8" and score at 1/2" along one side to make tabs. Place double-sided adhesive on one side of all the tabs. Fold and burnish.

Place two of the panels onto the base with the tabs on the inside and the folds on the outside edges as shown above.

Add pockets to both panels. Cut tan cardstock to 4" x 4 7/8" and score on three sides to make the pocket. Attach a pocket to each flap. Each pocket will be approximately 3 1/2" tall and 3 7/8" wide. (You will need to make four total pockets, plus two diagonal-style pockets.)

The pocket inserts/photo mats are 8" x 3 1/2" with four rounded corners. Cut these from tan cardstock. You will need to cut four inserts/photo mats.

Attach two more of the cardstock panels to the left and right of the center spine on the base piece. The folds with be toward the spine as shown above.

You will add diagonal pockets to the first and last panels. I made my pockets from paper rather than cardstock. (This was a mistake, but before I realized it, I had the pockets glued down!) Cut the paper to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" and trim on the diagonal. Then trim the corners off the as shown so that the pocket is 4" tall and 3 7/8" wide. 

Attach the square pockets to the center two flaps as explained in the previous step.

Add tags and photo mats to the pockets. Trim the photo mats as explained above. 

The larger tag is a pre-made kraft tag, 6 1/2" x 3 1/8". I traced the tag onto the paper and then cut the paper a bit smaller. The small tag is a Graphic 45 Kraft ATC tag.

I used the G45 ATC tag die to cut the paper for the small tags. 

I love how the ribbon looks with this paper! So fun and pretty! The knotted grosgrain is especially cute!

The inside panels each have a five-page waterfall element. Cut 10 pieces of tan cardstock to 4 5/8" x 3 1/8" and score on the top at 1/2" to create tabs. Round the bottom two corners.

The pages will be 4 1/8": x 3 1/8" and can hold the 4" x 3" ephemera cards to pieces of paper. 

Add the second waterfall as shown above. If you need help construction and adding a waterfall element, see THIS POST for directions. 

I added magnets to keep the waterfalls closed; one on the base and one on the top waterfall page. 

Here is the album all folded together. I do wish I had added extra inside spines to the first flaps because the mini got a little chubby and hard to fold closed! I always say that every mini can use improvement. That is why I make so many! If I ever make the perfect mini album, I will have to quit!

Attach the 5/8” Plaid Blue/Ivory/Gold ribbon as a tie closure by gluing it to the center of the album and wrapping it around the back. I used a yard of ribbon so that I could tie a nice, big bow!

Add your decorative paper over the ribbon, making sure to place extra adhesive around the edges to keep the ribbon from pulling up.

I did not add a lot to the cover, mostly because I was nearly out of paper! I added some of the border strips, and then one of the cut apart ephemera cards. I had planned to glue a bunch of stuff to the front, but in the end I felt that a simple cover was best!

If you wish to see all the insides of the album, and how it folds open, please view the video below.

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for stopping by to see this magical pairing of Graphic 45 and Really Reasonable Ribbon! Now, hop over to Ginny's Blog to see what she has for you!

Here is the RRR Blog Hop Order in case you get lost!

Gloria - YOU ARE HERE!

Ginny

Cheryl

Karen

Kathy

Linsey
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings 
REMEMBER, LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE RRR BLOG FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon February Ribbon Club (see the body of the post for direct ribbon links)

Cardstock: Neenah Sand Storm

Printed paper: Graphic 45 Ocean Blue (coming soon)

Tags: large (unknown), small (Graphic 45 Kraft ATC)

Dies: Graphic 45 Large Tag, ATC Tag, and Flower Dies

Ink: Ranger Distress Vintage Photo (or G45 Decades Dark Cashmere)

Magnets: Basic Grey

Adhesive: ATG tape, Scor-tape, white glue