Scrapbook Mini Album: My Top Tens

It's been a while since I've shared anything about scrapbooking...mainly because I haven't been scrapbooking! :( I plan to have another one of my "Scrapbook Frenzy Weeks" very soon to get myself motivated and on the slow journey to getting caught up.

But that's a whole other post...this post is about a mini album. One that I happened to make back in 2004 before I had 2 kids. Don't worry-it's not outdated and is actually something great to make and look back on in say...eight years or so when you've changed a bit.

This album consists of lists of my top ten favorites in many different categories, so of course they have changed over time. And that's the fun part! Back in 2004, I chose to make a "Top Ten" album because, well, I actually used to have time before I had kids to think about something other than kids! LOL! Don't get me wrong--I LOVE my kiddos and I love to scrapbook about them, but I do miss those days of getting my photos developed and immediately scrapping them and then anxiously awaiting the next round! Now I'm about 5 years behind. Literally.

I haven't made many mini scrapbooks over the years. I usually prefer to work with 12x12 and document the everyday happenings of my family as well as birthdays & holidays--you know, the usual. However, I found that creating a mini album is a great way to contain one subject matter and keep a continuous theme going throughout to unify it.
But enough babbling--Here's the album! I hope you can gather some inspiration and go make your own. Or if you've already made a top ten favorites album, please leave me a link in the comments so I can go check yours out.


The front cover: I added the stickers for the title. The album is a retro shabby chic style. Or if you know of a better way to describe it, let me know. :) This style was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad I tried it. Oh, and it's a 6x6 album.

(Click on the photos to see them a little bit bigger...)

Page 1: An explanation of what the album is. I also included the year and my age at the time for posterity.

My Top Ten Favorite...

Pages 2 & 3: Movies

Page 4: Books
Page 5: TV Shows

Page 6: Stores
Page7: Clothes & Shoes (A true sign of the times! Try to imagine if your great grandmother would have made a page like this...Priceless!)

Page 8: Singers & Bands

Page 9: Restaurants

Page 10: Drinks
Page 11: Food

Page 12: Songs I listen to when I'm Sad
Page 13: Songs I listen to when I'm Happy

Page 14: Smells
Page 15: Sounds
Notice we're using all of our senses? :)

Page 16: Things I Like To Do in My Free Time
Page 17: Colors

Page 18: Holidays
Page 19: Places

Page 20: Actors
Page 21 Actresses

Page 22: Things That Make Me Cry
Page 23: Things That Make Me Laugh

Page 24: Sports

Page 25: Things I Can't Live Without

And for some reason, I stopped there & left the last back page blank. Weird.

Anyway, I'm sure you can come up with some other great categories...What about Top Ten Fave:

Vacation Spots, Things I love to do with my kids/husband/friends/mom, Scrapbook Supplies...So many fun things to document!

"Bye-Bye Tree" Scrapbook Layout

I'm scrapbooking out of order these days, which not-so-secretly drives me nuts! I'm just trying to get some layouts done in my "spare" time, so I'll pull out whatever topic inspires me at the time. A few weeks ago, I pulled out these pictures of when my son was 18 months old. (He just turned 5 years!! And yes, his hair is crazy in these pics!) Hope you're in the mood for a Christmas layout!

We were boxing up the Christmas tree after all the holiday festivities were over, and he was a little sad about it--until we put him inside the box, too.



To make this layout I used 4 photos, a piece of 12x12 patterned scrapbook paper, part of a cardboard box that I tore into the shape I needed, some baker's twine, some pearlescent green paper that I hand cut the little trees out of, letter stickers, and a little bit o'bling! It went pretty fast, which is good since I'm several YEARS behind! lol

Scrapping here & there...

Well, I have not been keeping up with scrapbooking at least 1 layout a week, but maybe 1 a month! Which I guess is still better than Zero.



I made this one recently about my son's favorite toys when he was 19 months old. He's now almost 5 years!



Man, am I glad I took the time to lay out his toys and take these pictures back then!! I need to do it again now that he's older & into different things.

It's like a time capsule of his childhood & helps me remember the little things...



I used bright colors to reflect the "fun" of the toys, but put the photos & title in straight lines to give the layout some order since the subject matter was so "busy." I used my old-school Dymo labeler to label the top corner of each picture. One layout down, a million more to go!



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Crown Plate

Several months ago, we changed our front guest bathroom from pale green with a palm tree theme (yuk--So sick of that!) to a soft blue with chocolate brown. We still haven't gotten any chocolate brown towels, but we will get there! (we had a baby 7 months ago, I might add) There was also a little wall that had nothing on it that was bothering me, but I couldn't figure out what to hang there.

I finally decided upon 3 of my favorite things: A fleur de lis, a crown, and a cross. I already had the fleur de lis--it had been begging for a home for some time. I am still shopping around for the perfect cross, but in the meantime, I made this little crown plate.

I bought this 6" diameter plate at Hobby Lobby for $3. I had all the rest of the supplies on hand: patterned scrapbook paper, vinyl, Cricut die cut machine, paint, mod podge, & ribbon.



I chose a piece of scrapbook paper & cut out a circle the size of the inner plate. I then made small 1/2" cuts all around the circle so it would lie flat inside the circle & hug the round edge without puckering.


I looked everywhere for my brown Tim Holtz distressing ink, but ended up having to use acrylic paint to add a distressed border around the edge of the paper. It turned out just fine.


I then cut a crown out of vinyl with my Cricut. If you don't have a die cut machine, you could always cut out an image off the computer or use one at your local scrapbook store.
I stuck the vinyl crown to the paper, then mod podged the paper to the plate.
I threaded ribbon through the holes and ended up with a bow at the top.
Here is the little crown plate hanging in its new home! The cross will go to the lower right when I find it. (lighting is making the wall color look weird in this pic)

Here's another view of the bathroom (dying for chocolate brown towels!)
The supplies cost me around $5 total for this project.

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Small Crafty Things

I have been cranking out the (Small) craft projects over the last 2 weeks! I've finally got my groove back somehow & I hope it lasts! First, I have been bitten by the thrift store bug lately! I've found some really cute stuff--and of course it was dirt cheap.

I found this little cutie for 50 cents, just begging to be the new addition to Madelyn's woodland animal/owl nursery. It's a little pencil cup/caddy sort of thing. I cleaned it up & painted it to match her room, and while it's not perfect, I'm still in love with it!

BEFORE:

AFTER:


Then, tonight I "made" this little snack container for Madelyn. I bought it a few weeks ago at Hobby Lobby. I just used some scrapbook paper and letter stickers I already had. (The insert is removable for washing) I cut the paper to fit & then I was worried the thick foam letter stickers I wanted to use wouldn't fit into the insert area, but I was so glad they did! I just love how it turned out & now it's ready to hold little snacks. Now she needs to sprout a few more teeth...:)

Lastly, I will admit that I spent Waaaaaayyyy too long making these little leprechaun guys & accessories with Mason this afternoon on the Cricut. We ended up making 3 leprechauns, 3 pots o'gold, and some shamrocks! I wanted to make one for each of the kids' scrapbooks and he wanted one to play with. I got the cartridge for Christmas from my Grandma-it's called Paper Doll Dress Up & there are so many cute costumes!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've also painted & embellished some new frames that you can view over at my Fiddlesticks Art Blog, but I wanted to share these little projects here. I'm also currently working on a project for each of the kids' rooms, which I'll share when I'm done~can't wait!