love :: a mini-album

I often pick up these 6x6 American Crafts mini's when they are on sale or by using my coupon. Good deals can be found during the after-the-holidays clearance sales, too, so keep your eyes open. Who says that you couldn't use this same idea for a birthday. Or an anniverary.

I find that these albums are a great size, quick to assemble and make super gifts for uncles, grandparents, and husbands, too! For the cover, I used letter stickers for the l, v and e and an AC foam embellishment for the letter o.

The opening page has a hand cut felt heart and the title of my mini. Don't forget to add a date. You think you'll remember. But you won't. At least I don't.

A page for each of us  {all 5 of us!}  and characteristics that describe us. I tend to do this quite a bit, list characteristics that say who we are and what we're about at a specific point in time, but it's a nice time capsule kind of feature to look back on. Even after only a year. Or two, in this case.

I used the same basic layout for each page, similar embellishments and just one color ink. When I do a gift for my husband, I don't mind using sweet, feminine colors,  but when I do - I try to keep the cuteness factor to a minimum.

That photo of me and my boy above is in the swanky dining room/club high atop Turner Field in Atlanta, GA. We were able to catch a game on our drive back from a trip to Destin, FL courtesy of a business associate of Gordon. We were not too far from home plate just a few rows up. Very, very nice.

On the page above, I used my 2" circle punch and some pop dots to highlight the photo of Victoria at her work table.

A page dedicated to Gordon and I:

 And the closing page, which is a repeat of the opening page layout:

DESIGN TIP:  When putting the album together, I found that I liked it better when I cut my page inserts a little larger than 6x6 so that they didn't slide around and slip out when being handled by the kids. I also used a very heavyweight cardstock {probably 130 lb.} so that I could use one sheet for both the front and back without the hand-drawn border or words showing through to the other side.

JUST CUTE: Victoria asked me to read her this mini-album {on 2.4.11} and after I finished, she said, "I LOVE THIS!" in the most excited voice. And I love her.