Mini Albums with Monika...Ephemera+Scraps=One Perfect Mini

Monika here for this month's mini album feature and I thought I would show you how to take a handful of ephemera, scraps of paper, patterned cardstock and less than perfect photos and make them into a fun, interactive documentation of a moment in time. 

When my husband asked me to join him for a long weekend in Nashville, he was already there on business, I said "Yes!" Then we went to work coordinating school pick-ups and overnights with Nana and Papa. But, it was all worth it. Totally worth it. Totally.

Supplies:  Collectable Notable "Memo" Documented, "Silly" Cheery Paper, Unforgettable "You Are" Die Cut Chipboard Stickers, "Today" Decorative Stamps and "Firsts" Enamel Dots, Six by Six Designer Paper Pad, "Smile" Layered Stickers, "Remarkable" Authentic Tiny Word Stickers, Unforgettable "Today" Decorative Pins, Memorable "I'm With..." Die Cut, Memorable "Journey Decorative Brads  |  Yellow & Grey Decorative Tape Set  |  Six by Six Paper Pads Life of the Party, Gnome Sweet Gnome, The Sweetest Thing Tangerine, Lime Twist Fly A Kite, On the Sunny Side  |  Miscellaneous: Adhesives, Stampin' Up Inks and Dies, Sizzix Big Shot and Dies, Sharpie Pens, Studio Calico Wood Accents, Chipboard, Tags and Labels from Craft Supply

When making a junk journal like this, as they are often called, I begin by choosing a handful of coordinating patterned papers that share common colors. Next, I choose a variety of patterns that include florals, stripes, bold patterns, subtle patterns that might also include contrasting colors.

Don't let anything go to waste...use your scraps to punch shapes. I just love using journaling cards as pages in my mini albums and almost always use the back sides to journal.

This mini book is full of imperfect photos and on this page, I used my "a good day"stamped sentiment to cover the spot where the lamp light was just a big white blob...now you barely notice it!

Again, an imperfect photo, but my husband finally agreed to let me ask another couple to take our photo because I couldn't find a good spot to prop my camera to do it ourselves. And one word says it all. HAPPY.


I love this page. Love the peekaboo element. Llove the shape of the heart. Love the striped paper and the way the arrow points down to the wood cutouts. Crush!



more TIPS

+  Use chipboard sandwiched between your two pieces of patterned paper for stability, paying special attention to the direction of your patterns when preparing to die cut your shapes.

+  Utilize the negative shapes from the chipboard pieces as page elements. I happen to love a chunky, layered mini album with a variety of shapes and sizes to the pages. Somehow, it makes it all the more interesting for me.

+  Decorative tape, mini staples, twine and pins are all fantastic alternatives to traditional adhesives when attaching ephemera to your pages.

+  Make your journaling cards, word stickers and layered stickers work for you in creating pages that are uniquely yours. Not every page has to include journaling or a photo, a mix of techniques and a little white space are good design elements.

+  It's okay to include everyday items like receipts, tickets, menu's, coffee cup sleeves and room keys in your mini album. That's what makes them so fun!


I hope you are all learning to love mini albums as much as I do as I just adore sharing here with you each month. Now go be crafty!