I was inspired by a tutorial put together by my local scrapbook store owner for an online event last weekend and I used the Paradise collection from Mintay (from last year) to put together this adorable clip-fold album. I used thin chipboard for the base and patterned paper for the flip-fold inserts. I was a little hesitant when I first started and unsure how to embellish my album, but as soon as I started putting together a few elements to add inside, inspiration kicked into high gears and I stayed at my desk for hours working on putting everything together. I was wondering how well the album would close once I started embellishing, but I was surprised to find out that everything falls into place very nicely. I did avoid using any foam adhesive and layered everything flat, to make it easier.
I have a pastel glitter paper pad that I pulled out to add a few shimmery accents here and there. I used the "Paradise" Thicker from the Heat Wave pack and my net die from Les ateliers de Karine, which works so nicely with the papers. On the bottom left panel, I created a little side pocket using one of the cut-aparts and I slipped two tags die-cut with the Dotted Tags dies from Waffle Flower.
I used my Scalloped Pocket die in the top center panel. The die itself is more like a library card pocket, with a rounded back, but I only used the bottom part to make it smaller, and I added pearls along the scallops to decorate. Another cut-apart card was matted with white tissue paper. I handcut a lot of designs from the pattern papers and from the cover page of the kit. I even use the name of the collection from the branding strip as a little sentiment on my bottom center panel.
When the flaps are completely folded, you see a side pocket in the center, created with a design from pattern paper and lined with vellum to make it easier to slide the insert in. On the left panel, I glued a slip at the top and bottom so inserts can be slid underneath.
When you close one more side of the mini-album, you see a panel decorated with sailboat pattern paper. Over it, I added a tropical panel created with Stampin' Up!'s now retired Tropical dies. I added white foliage over it as well and a mini-pocket created with the Sidekick Essentials 6 dies from Elizabeth Craft Design. Isn't that little pocket adorable? It measures 2½" x 2" so it's small! Love how it looks in the tropical flower print.
On the front of the album, I made sure to showcase one of the prettIy patterned papers from Mintay. I will say that I'm impressed the the designs of the Mintay papers, but I also find it challenging to use them in projects because they often do full-page images, which are hard to layer on without hiding the beautiful design. Here, you see most of the scene (even though the umbrella sadly got mostly cut off). The beach sign is partially hidden when the album is closed, but you can fully see it as soon as you open the side panel. I have to tell you about this "Paradise Street" metal sign that I added to the front. It was made by Making Memories. in 2010. And it was been sitting in my stash for that long. The travel theme of the embellishment pack made it harder to use due to its specificity. I was thrilled when I realized that the paradise sign fit perfectly in the design's open space, had the right colours and words on it and was a great way to finish off the album cover without hiding the paper. I know there's a school of thought where if you have not used something in years, you should get rid of it, but I think you only should if you don't love it anymore.
Finally, I kept thinking I should add a little dangle to the edge of the album, so I wired wrapped three beads together and hung them using a jump ring. As I was pulling my jump rings out, I saw the crimps I recently purchased, so I decided to do a ribbon ornament as well. I can see why those have been extremely popular online recently. They are really addictive! It's so much fun going through my box of ribbon scraps and putting together the right colour combo to match my project. I have cumulated so much ribbon over the years that getting the right colours is not a problem... Adding the two dangling embellishments to the edge of the album made a huge difference, adding dimension and texture. Just be careful if you add something to the edges of the album and remember that when you open the album, the spine then goes flat on the table. My first idea was to do a long line of beads, wrapping twine around the cover of the album, but then I realized that the beads would really be in the way when opening up the album. By doing the dangle, I can rotate them up, out of the way when I'm opening the album, so this works much better. Always test how the flip-up parts are going to go before you glue anything down to avoid surprises.
Supplies
Stamps: Till We Meet Again (P13)
Ink: Petal Pink (Stampin' Up!)
Patterned Papers: Paradise (Mintay)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Vellum (Stampin' Up!); Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad (Memory Box)
Dies: Borders (Photoplay); Sidekick Essentials 6 (Elizabeth Crafts Design);
Tropical, Botanical Builder (Stampin' Up!); Scalloped Pocket (Fun Stampers Journey);
Stitched Square Frames,Simple Wavy Banners (Lawn Fawn); Dotted Tags (Waffle Flower);
Grillage (Les ateliers de Karine)
Accessories: Ribbons (Stampin' Up!, May Arts); Panorama Metal Plaques (Making Memories);
Heat Wave Thickers (American Crafts); Thick Baker's Twine, Brads, Clear Drops,
Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack, Banners Pick a Punch, Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up!);
Crimps (DeSerres); Beads, Jump Rings (Bead Landing); Pearl Rectangles (Nuvo);
Watercolor Florals Say It in Crystals (Prima Marketing); Velcro (Amazon);
White Tissue Paper (Dollar Store); Mini Hearts Cotton Candy Glossies (Pure & Simple);
Corner Chomper (We R Memory Makers)
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