A while back, I got into making handmade albums. These evolved into my Paper Bag Albums. These are, by far, one of my most favorite projects to make.
I have these books down to a science now. I no longer have to look at my list of dimensions to know what to cut my paper at, what to cut my ribbon at or what to cut and score my binding at. I can almost make these books with my eyes closed.
The best thing about these books is that with all the awesome patterned paper and embellishments out there, you can just keep making and making these and they'll never turn out the same.
While I love to use all kinds of paper and embellishments, my favorite product to use is Stampin' Up's Simply Scrappin' Kits. I love that all the papers and cardstocks coordinate and all the embellishments are right there in the kit! The only thing I have to come up with is some ribbon for the tie on the book and that's not hard at all considering that I'm a ribbon hoarder (yes, I admit it, I hoard EVERYTHING!).
When I say that I have these books down to a science, I really do. I can actually create one in under 2 hours! I DID tell you they were one of my favorite projects!
These books make amazing gifts for new moms (I just brought one along as a gift to a baby shower that my daughter and I attended recently), for a young woman going off to college, as a travel journal for a friend going away on a summer trip, a gift to a teacher.....or even as a way to create a whole library of interesting and interactive albums of your own.
You can put all sorts of things on the pages.....pictures, journaling blocks, stickers, etc. And you can put all sorts of things in the paper bag pages, as well. Pamphlets from tourist destinations, boarding passes and train tickets, receipts, recipes, pictures, tags with hidden journaling, etc. These albums truly become interactive and treasured keepsakes. They're so much more than an album. So much more than a book. So much more than a scrapbook. They're ALL of those things and more.
The holidays are coming up.....these make the perfect home made gift. Even for the non-crafters on your wish list. You could make the album and the kids could help you put the pictures and trinkets inside....a true family made gift.
For the semi-crafter, you could make the album and let them finish it off with their own pictures and memorabilia.
And for the crafter on your wish list, you could give them the gift of creativity....by getting them the Paper Bag Book Tutorial CD and some goodies to craft with.
Hope you all have had a wonderful Tuesday! I'll be back tomorrow with some new projects to share!
Happy Creating!
-Stampin' Mama