I started this album with the idea of recording the different places I had visited in the U.S., including photos of the various homes I have lived in, as well as some of my more memorable vacations. I have been to almost all of the states (4 left - Iowa, North Dakota, Montana and Hawaii) and they are not all shown because the album expanded quite quickly.
To do this album, I started collecting photos of the homes I had lived in over the years, including real estate brochures from when we bought and sold homes.
Tip#1: What to do if you don't have photos of a place...
I also looked for photos representing the area on the internet. For instance, I grew up in Miami and there are some spectacular, free photos available of Miami. Just be sure that it is ok to use photos you find on the internet. I found some on the stock x.chng site that were labelled free and they were fantastic!
I also used one brand of paper for this album, Club Scrap. I used papers from many different Club Scrap kits.
Tip #2: Limiting yourself to one brand of paper/paper line or one club kit is an easy way to minimize choice overload or "the search for the exact right paper" that likes to stop our progress dead in its tracks. I highly recommend this method for easy mini-album scrapping.
What I love about this album is that all my homes are in one place. All my favorite vacations in the U.S. are in one place. Since I used an 8" x 8" size, my kids can easily look through it. The 12" x 12" can be awkward and overwhelming.
Check out some pages below:
Ok, so it's a thick album...
Our first house:
Here is a pocket page where I made very large tags and covered them with photos. It's another way to get more photos into the book.
My favorite view of the backyard and bird feeder at our house in Colorado:
Love this Texas page!
Visit to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 - we saw the women's final tennis match...
St. Louis Zoo:
Pittsburgh:
What do you think? Inspired to make one of these? Let me know!
Be sure to check back tomorrow when I showcase my "best received" and "most loved" mini-album!
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Your album is awesome Joy!! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea. I can use various vacation pictures without making an album...love this!
ReplyDeleteAnother great idea. The 8x8 format makes it less formidable! And... getting pictures off the internet is VERY helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
Susan
Love it!
ReplyDeleteAnother fantastic mini-album. I've lived many many places too and this is such a great idea!!
ReplyDeleteI love it ! I just so happened to have just returned from Washington D. C., With my 2 oldest granddaughters and My husband. We met our Son there who just recived the solider of the year award. I just purchased the albums to make both girls a book of the vacation to D.C. But you've inspired me to make a grand Book for myself. LOVE IT ! cant wait for the next one. Thanks
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! And what a treat for your kids too, to be able to look back on some great family vacations! Thanks for sharing. jessio22@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! LOVE your journaling--I'm not so good at it!
ReplyDeleteShellee
Great pages. I appreciate the tips about finding pics and I like the 8x8 size. Looking forward to tomorrow
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and tips you've given...TFS! Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
ReplyDeleteCarol
aka cyimbugbitten
bugbitten at hotmail dot com
What a great idea to combine all the traveling in one album...mine are still in boxes:( You get me inspired!
ReplyDeleteThey don't seem to scary. When you see how someone else scrapbooks. It was been an education so far and am looking forward to the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteOur family has been on lots of vacations over the years and I needed a little inspiration on how to get the pics in a album and maybe tell a story. Thank you for the tips.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of having pictures of the homes lived in, places you've been. Don't forget to include the landmarks and sights where you live! One never knows when Mother Nature may take it away!
ReplyDeleteAwesome memories. I love how you have captured so much - homes,places of significance etc..
ReplyDeleteReally great pages.
Marcie
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Especially the idea if you don't have actual photos of your home.
Hugs and Blessings!
★ Jasmine Wilmany ★
Joy, this is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have one I made of a trip to New York. Took my mom to visit her Auntie, my God-Mother who was 98 at the time. The 6x6 album is 4 1/2" tall with photos, memorabilia and journaling. I really love the way it turned out and need to do other albums the same way. It did take the "overwhelming" factor out of compiling an album because it is of one event. It probably should have been done in an 8x8" because of the thickness. Next time!
This is a great idea! And, it has reminded me I have some work to do!
Blessings, Donna
grandma4five
Love it! Now I want to make one of these!
ReplyDeleteTheresa Erwin
This is awesome! Love both albums and love the simplicity of pulling the papers together. I often get paralyzed doing something like because it takes forever to pick out the perfect "paper". These are so fun. Great job.
ReplyDeleteTammy
Awesome job!!! such great memories to have....
ReplyDeleteFbaulous job and great Idea! Love this themed album. TFS
ReplyDeleteCarol
It's a great idea. Sounds like lots work though.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas & album! I think sticking to one brand of paper for the album. I tend to get paper overload...even when making cards.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Roxx.T
This is a great idea! One I'd like to try. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome memory keeper, but ya call that a mini? lol : ) Love it and I should really be doing one of these. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat's definately not mini, but I love it :)
ReplyDeletekperlic@hotmail.com
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea for an album! Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!~thanks for sharing your homes w/us :)
ReplyDeleteI did the same paper technique w/our cross country trip to move dd from OH to CA with Budget truck and Focus on behind. It made it go so easily not having to get bogged down with which papers to use! The trip was enough so what a relief!(4 days, 11 states!)
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea. Love this mini album
ReplyDeleteI love this idea too! I can't wait to see what's in store for us tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteFantastic and left me wanting more pages. Thank you
ReplyDeleteJoy, another one of your great ideas. Can't wait to see tomorrows project. Enjoy your trip.
ReplyDeleteA really great albumn.
ReplyDeleteWHat a wonderful album showcasing your life!
ReplyDeleteof course I am inspired to make one.. I need to start traveling with you. LOL
ReplyDeleteparkernana5@cox.net
Absolutely beautiful. I'm so impressed. I live in Iowa and can assure you that Iowa will greet your warmly. I love it.
ReplyDeleteAgain, you've captured one of my great ideas (except mine is only in my head!). I've been collecting paper with the intent of making an album like this of all the state's I've visited with a photo from each. I think I'll try to get this done this summer!
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to do something similar, but never know where to start. Hope to learn from your inspiration.--Ryansmaama
ReplyDeletegkburrow@cmaaccess.com
Like you, my album of places I have lived would not be mini. Lets see from birth till today I have lived in 16 different homes covering four states, and seven cities.
ReplyDeleteMany of these included moving/vacations during the summer.
Must collect pictures and start another book. Thanks
smgunderscoregdpathotmaildotcom
Great idea for an album, makes it easy to get back some of those favorite memories.
ReplyDeletelindamcintosh at verizon dot net
This is such a great family heirloom to be. I think it's amazing that you have only 4 states left to visit.
ReplyDeletethanks for giving us ideas
ReplyDeleteupnurse at aol dot com
Another great idea. It really is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is another great ablum, it holds lot's of memories but all togehter in one place.
ReplyDeleteKim xXx
Love this idea! TFS
ReplyDeleteHey Joy - this is ScrappinAnn from Iowa - come on out to see all us scrappy cricuty people in the heartland and head to North Dakota.
ReplyDeleteLove your albums - all of them so far. I am with you though, my best minis seem to be gifts to others.
Thanks for sharing!
ScrappinAnn@gmail.com
annlenth.blogspot.com - help me reach 150 followers!
One of my stumbling blocks is coming up with a theme for my scrapbooks. You have given me some great ideas. I also want to do a cookbook of family recipes and their history within the family. I did a wonderful family history in ABC form for our little grand daughter to learn her extended family along with her ABCs! I think an O Canada album would be great too. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!!
ReplyDeleteI did something similar - I made (and will still add to) an 8x8 mini album of our vacations. Each vacation got a double page spread. It's tough to choose just 3 or 4 pictures from week long vacations! I also used paper from one collection so I wouldn't have to think too hard. I like the idea of using tags with extra pictures -- I'll have to incorporate that into my newest pages. Great ideas, as usual!
ReplyDeleteNow that is an ALBUM! That had to have taken you a long time to make! What a wonderful job you did!
ReplyDeleteAnother great album - so much fun to see.
ReplyDeletemmlmn @polarcomm.com
I love the idea! I always collect memorabilia from the places I've visited...too much if you ask my husband! You've given me a way to display it without actually having to make a huge album! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love the use of the brads on that pittsburgh page. It really ties it into the pic. Noticed how basic you kept all of your embellishments so the photos weren't overwhelmed. Love that
ReplyDelete