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Wednesday 26 June 2013

Project Life Mini Album Part 1

Hello folks -

Life is so madly busy at the moment, that it is hard to catch-up with anything, let alone technical difficulties of the maddening computer nature!

Last week, my computer did some kind of update and the Camera Launcher I received with the Canon 350D package decided to become incompatible with Vista!  I have only had both for many years, so I have no idea why they suddenly decided they no longer wanted to play together!

I have spent many many hours last week trying to find a software solution, but to no avail.  I am not the most technical person in the world, so thank goodness someone suggested getting a card reader.  I have now purchased a Compact Flash reader from Amazon and am hoping that it will arrive tomorrow, and that specific difficulty is then resolved!

In the meantime, I have been planning the boys' second birthday party and our combined farewell bash.  I made the bunting at the Bellaboo crop last night and have designed the birthday invitation this lunchtime.  Not as handcrafted or arty as I would have liked, but time is definitely not on my side!  So I resorted to knocking up one in Word instead. 

On the crafty side, I made Paul's Mum and Dad an album covering the boys' first two years.  I bought the PL mini album from a seller on UK Scrappers - it was a beautiful lime green with a faux leather cover.  I loved the quality of the album - for me, the only downside of this was the design - the pages are all landscape, and none in portrait.

I purchased it to use as an interim scrapping medium whilst we are on the move, but the landscape format only would bug me - so I decided to use it as the basis for a present.  Whew!  A much larger project than I thought. 

I am going to be sharing my pages, but I will break it down into a series of blog posts to make it more digestible, and for me to edit the photos gradually!

 
Page 1 - Welcome to the World.  I used First Edition "Up Up and Away" stack, some old K & Co letters which I outlined in blue chalk ink and added the boys' names as a banner using old rub-on circles and letters.  I ensured that they wouldn't "rub off" by covering with Glossy Accents. 

 
Even I had to look closely at some of these pictures to know which boy was which! I added some Artemio felt teddies and some October Afternoon rub-ons which otherwise won't get used. 

 
Tara once again shared her stash with me - the "2 Peas in a Pod" was an old rub-on from Poundland, I think.  I've actually used washi tape here as it was intended and some scraps of paper from the pad serve as decoration.  I have cut out quite a few of the letters from the pad; otherwise they won't get used either.  The sticker letters were actually a new purchase - Studio Calico.  I should have realised before how versatile grey is as a colour - coordinates with so many things!

 
My husband's mother and our niece meeting the boys for the first time.  The cupcakes were a celebratory gift from my lovely friend Tara and could be cut down easily.  I have also used a lot of the roller stamps - the newer American Crafts ones from Tara, and my own from Inkadinkado which I have had for a couple of years.  Very versatile!

 
Now onto my Father-in-law.  Decoration was a freebie stamp set coloured with Promarkers.  I stamped out a sheet sometime ago and had no idea what I would use them for.  They have come in very handy for this project. 
 
I think the album slots (4 x 6 inches) fit 80 photos so whilst you can easily flip through, it does take some time to "decorate!" My supplies have been a real mish-mash of things, but once again I advocate that this divided Page Protector system (albeit in a mini format) really does get the stash used up, which is great.
 
I'll be back soon with the next instalment.  :)


6 comments:

  1. Having seen this album 'in the flesh' as it were I can vouch for the fact that it is lovely and a truly thoughtful present. It convinced me that I need to look at the divided page protectors......the way forward I think! Thanks Ali! x

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  2. This is looking fab and I am sure they are going to absolutely love this x

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  3. Beautiful photos, sure this album will be very treasured :)

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  4. What a lovely present for your in-laws Ali. I've done my first project life style pages this week, Don't think I'd want to do that all the time but to use in and amongst 12x12 will be useful. I want a mixture if page protectors though

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  5. Great photos and an album to be proud of too!

    Lisa
    xx

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