New favorite photo & newsletter update & miniBOOKS.
Doesn't get much better than this. Love these two so very, very much.
Because of being sick this last weekend I am going to hold off on a new newsletter for this week. I want to give myself a chance to delve a bit deeper into style for the next one. Look for it in your inbox next Monday.
In the comments from yesterday there were a couple really good questions about miniBOOKS - specifically related to the spiral books. There are quite a few manufacturers out there who sell sprial books with chipboard covers. Some come with chipboard insides, some with thick cardstock, some with envelopes, some with tabbed pages - there are tons of options. Two I really like are 7gypsies and Rusty Pickle.
Here's the basics:
1. Remove the spirals. To do this, open to the back page and locate where the spirals meet together. Gently pull apart with your fingers - I think I usually end up using both hands.
2. Remove all the pages and the front and back covers. Normally, I take the entire thing apart - this makes it easier to get at each of the pages and gives me more flexibility in my design. Now when you do this make sure to put the spirals in a safe place so that they don't fall on the floor and you (or one of your family memebers) don't step on them.
3. To cover the interior pages I tend to do one side at a time and punch the holes after each page is covered. That way when I turn it over I will know where the holes are supposed to go.
Note: Most of the times the holes on these books are rectangle. In the past I have always just used a circle hole punch or my Making Memories setter to punch the hole. 7gypsies has a new border punch coming out that will create those same rectangle holes as the books. Fiskars has a rectangle hand-held punch (like a regular hole punch) that works well. Also, Beary Patch has a system that helps you create those rectangle holes too. Lots of options. It has never bothered me having circles instead of rectangles - usually the circle holes will become more like rectangles as the books relax from opening and closing.
4. These books are made to be touched and loved. I want people to grab them and flip through them. In general I have been using glue sticks on these miniBOOKS. If I notice an edge starting to come up I grab my glue stick and fix it and it goes back into the miniBOOK basket.
5. Sometimes these books come with more pages than I want to use. I have a basket of extras sitting here right now that may get made into something else someday...or may get donated to the schools. Don't feel like you have to fill up a book just because that is the number of pages that were presented to you.
6. Once you have done all your creative decorating it is time to put the book back together. Here is the trick to putting these spiral albums back together: (1) Stack all the pages in the right order with the cover on the top and the back cover on the back - just as if you were going to flip through it. (2) Take the back cover off the back and place it on the top of the stack (with the interior page facing up). (3) Run the spirals back through the holes - this is going to make it so that the spirals meet on the inside of the book (between the last page and the back cover).
Super easy once you get the hang of it. Any more questions on this process? Feel free to post them in the comments section.
Hi! Glad your feeling better and totally understand your reason to wait until next week for the newsletter. But, I'm disappointed because I look forward to it sooo much!!
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Thanks so much for posting those directions...I have always wondered how to get those pesky spirals back in the right way.
Cute photo too :)
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**Don't feel like you have to fill up a book just because that is the number of pages that were presented to you.**
i really needed to hear this- i don't know why, but this is the main reason i don't create more minibooks- why is it that we need verbal permission to disregard excess?
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great tips...thanks for sharing
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I've never made a minibook before. Now I feel like I can! Thanks, Ali.
And while I was excited that today is newsletter day, the topic of personal style is my very favorite topic in scrapbooking. I'm glad you're putting a lot of time into it. I hope you enjoy the holiday week.
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I agree, Ali.
I made a scrapbook out of a photo album a couple of months ago, and really liked how I could not use all of the pages that came with the album originally. No one had to know, and if they did... so what?! The book contained what I wanted and needed it to!
Now, I would love to find a couple of little spiral minis to pull apart and play with...
Thanks, as always for the inspiration. Great shot of your guys, by the way.
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totally love the 7 gypsies books, I just did a book for my hubby with one of those, and I've got another sitting on the shelve just waiting for me to decide what to do with it. so cool to see what someone else did with one of those books. I had such a hard time getting started, it was the firest mini book that I have ever done, and I was way intimidated.
not sure if I can post a link here, but will try anyway. this is the link to my gallery with pics of the mini book I did with one of those 7 gypsies naked chipboard albums.
http://www.scrapbook.com/scrapbook_layouts/showgallery.php/cat/15909
thanks for sharing your talents with us, and helping keep us inspired, you're awesome Ali!
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Thank you so much for your information today. I have been wondering how to do this very thing! I love making mini books...I have started a basket of them sitting in my living room. Thank you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
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Wow! Thank you! You are always such a wealth of knowledge. Inspiring. Smart. You're amazing. Thank you for always being so willing to share. It's invaluable.
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THANK YOU for posting instructions on how to get the spiral on correctly! :) I always goof that up.
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I have a rather large stack of these waiting to be filled with goodness.
great photo of 2 very cute boys!
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Thanks for the info Ali-BTW great photo. I was sick this weekend and made a mini book of my Waldo Lake pictures. I find that I want more pages than the 7gypies books provide so I combine two books and use office ring holder thingys to put them together. Loved learning the minibook technique from you in Sherwood, have used it many times since.
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This is so cool because I actually ordered a few miniBOOKS this morning online and look at your blog! I have your direction on them and now I REALLY can't wait for them to get here! Thanks Ali! You are so dang cool! And that is a GREAT photo of your guys! :)
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Ali - you're the best. This post and the one prior has opened up so many new ideas for me. I've never done this type of mini-book but my ideas are flowing now - from a "thankful for..." book, to a book about my experience living with my parents and what they have taught me - I think this may be the most perfect way to document my experience and share my quirky and sincere love for them!
I'm thrilled to have your inspiration in my life - thank you for giving so much of yourself...
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Thanks for the instructions. I have several blank minibooks, but have been intimidated by them for fear I'd take them apart and not be able to figure out how to put them back together again. Now I wish I had the time to fill one up. Immediately after Thanksgiving!
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I am addicted to mini books...just did another using coffee cup insulator things...so cool and fun!! It is part of the Deja Views album at http://pubcalls.blogspot.com!!
Love the pic of your guys! TFS
Happy Thanksgiving Ali! Hope you are feeling better.
M
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Great picture of your men, so sweet! Thanks for the mini book information, is awesome! Hope you feel better!
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Thanks girl....Im in the middle of my 'Ali Inspired' Thanksgiving album and I have a teeny-tinny 7Gysies album I'm working with. I was like..."um these holes are not the bomb for me right now!!!" So I will do the circle punch idea! Whew...thanks again for saving my hide! LOL!!!
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I'm a total 7Gs junkie. Their little books rock. I have tons of them waiting to be used! I just found a source for their border punch and I can't wait for it to arrive.
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Two handsome fellas right there.
Great tips on the book.
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You are a freaking genius.
And the rectangle punch......Eff!!! Why am I not surprised you knew the answer to the questions in my brain. You are a giant scrapbook nerd and I LOVE IT.
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what a beautiful photo. those mini albums are really fun! and the gypsies ones also have some cute handles that you can buy.
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What a gorgeous photo Ali! Hope you're feeling better soon :)
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cute boys, cute books...
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Great picture!
I wish I would have looked at this before I altered my Christmas Planner book....took me a bit to figure out how to put it back together!
Thanks for the easy instructions.
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