Monday Mini Book: 3+1=4

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It's been awhile since I last put a minibook together. I figured with the addition of Anna to our family it was about time to make a little 3+1=4 book to celebrate our family of 4.

Most supplies for this minibook came from Cocoa Daisy's kits (the main kit + the add-ons) this month that included many of my favorite number and alphabet products. Additional supplies include Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paint in Sable Brown and Hambly's Little Circles Metallic Silver Overlay

Here's a look into my process:

After letting the brown paint dry on the inside and outside of the Maya Road mini album I attached the K&Company fabric number brads to the cover and rubbed-on the ruler lines from Maya Road.

This Maya Road mini album used here comes with four tabbed chipboard pages and four envelope pages. 

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I covered the four chipboard pages with a patterned paper on one side and photos on the other.

Photos

I looked for photos that had at least three or all four of us together. It ended up working out just right to have two with all of us and one each of me and Chris with the kids. For covering these pages with pattern paper and photos I use a glue stick and a xacto knife to cut off the excess around the chipboard.

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For a little something different I cut each of the envelopes and stuck
a piece of Hambly transparency inside to create a new page.

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In addition to the transparency I slipped one of the journaling cards that came with the kit into the pocket.

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On the back I cut a domino from the Graphic 45 pattern paper (each one had 4 dots) and adhered it to the seam.

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As a finishing touch, before adding a quote by hand on the back, I did a zig zag stitch with my machine in red across the seam. For more simple stitching ideas check out my article with ten layout examples in the October issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.

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I did the same thing for the vertical envelopes using the journaling cards and dominoes. After getting all those base pages set up I was ready to add some more 4's to the album as accents.

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To each of the patterned paper chipboard pages I added a circle and a number 4.

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Here's a look at the completed book with hand-written quotes about life and family:

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Each of the tabbed pages ended up with a word on the tab: Mother, Father, child, and baby.

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I also added a bit of paint around each of the chipboard pages to finish them off. 

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88 thoughts

  1. anna says…
    09/07/2009

    LOVE it!!!! I realized looking at this mini book that YES, i could do this, opposed to in the past i would have thought, "how did she do that?" or "How could i do that?"
    thanks for teaching and always inspiring me!!!
    a

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. kaly says…
    09/07/2009

    Great mini!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Pascale says…
    09/07/2009

    This mini book is just gorgeous, Ali. I absolutely love it. Pity I really suck at sewing, because I'd really like to try...

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Ali Edwards says…
    09/07/2009

    Hi Cheri - the photos were printed 5x5.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. MaryJo Materazo says…
    09/07/2009

    love the minibook- as always. thnx for sharing. mj

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Molly Irwin says…
    09/07/2009

    fantastic alpha/numeric goodies! I love the layering of it all. Love every detail. perfection!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Jeni Barbas says…
    09/07/2009

    What a wonderful mini-book Ali! I have two mini's on my desk that I was inspired to start because of you. Love your posts, and Love your TWO features in CK magazine this month!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Scrappincheryl says…
    09/07/2009

    What a great idea for a second child's arrival! LOVE IT! The book is so cute - I love the way you put it all together!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Lyndal says…
    09/07/2009

    How wonderful that you have created something so special that will be enjoyed over and over. I truly hope it brings you many wonderful memories when you look back over it again in 10, 20 and 30 years time.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Heather says…
    09/07/2009

    Wow, what an awesome mini!!! You've inspired me! I've just printed out some pictures and I am off to the scrap room to make a mini! Thanks!!
    P.S. Loving the Cocoa Daisy kit as usual!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Donna says…
    09/07/2009

    Really cute mini book and thanks for sharing about Renee Pearson's site. I had seen her on TV before but had not ever gone to her site and she has a great site.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. BeccaGroves says…
    09/07/2009

    The thing about your beautiful mini albums is that even the photographs of the album end up being just as artistic and inspiring as thumbing through it in person. I love these layout play-by-play posts. You inspire me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Kelly says…
    09/07/2009

    super creative - love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. tiff says…
    09/07/2009

    Man ohh MAN I would love to play in your work space!! Now THAT would a great contest!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. kim says…
    09/07/2009

    this mini is just fantabulous!!! Love it! Now I am inspired to do a 3+3=4album for my family!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. kim says…
    09/07/2009

    Sorry typed too quickly....3+1 I mean!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. salogris says…
    09/07/2009

    thanks for the wonderful tutorial. I'm a HUGE fan of mini albums, it's like a little treasure all completely done, lol! LOVED Renee's new site too. She's the ShiZnAm :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Judith says…
    09/07/2009

    Dear Ali,
    It amazes me that you have time to do such great work with two kids and all that you fit into your days. I really must make more of an effort. Thank for sharing your ideas. Can I ask about photos printed to size - I am trying to create a mini album from the Heidi Swapp album (like the one you did for Anna), but I want to write a lot (its going to be a travel album). My question (in a long winded way!)is can you make your pages any size or is it best to stick to standard photo sizes (ie 5X7). I want to include full page size photos when I get back. Any suggestions?
    thanks
    Judith

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. fifine51 says…
    09/07/2009

    a new tims, your mini book is so great ! I love alle your ideas !!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Jo says…
    09/07/2009

    Always adorable, always inspiring! Jo x

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Melissa Oliveira says…
    09/08/2009

    the mini is AMAZINGLY INSPIRING to me right now as we are adding a "four" to our "three" in just a few weeks!! thank you so much for sharing!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Denise says…
    09/08/2009

    loving the ali inspiration this morning. and just in time too. i need to design a mini-album for a class this afternoon. thanks for the mojo boost.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Angie F says…
    09/08/2009

    LOVE your mini book! Thanks for all the explanations in the comments! I just picked up the October CK mag last night and read your article about stitching before I went to bed last night! LOVE your ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. marg says…
    09/08/2009

    Hi Ali --
    This new mini is so cute. your work is so pretty and inspiring! I have a question about the painting of the albums. Are there certain kinds of paint you should (or shouldn't) use? I see that you often use scrapbooking specific paint, but i can never find that at michaels (my local craft store) and it is nice to see the paint in color to pick it out, you know? thanks.
    -marg

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. cedwards says…
    09/08/2009

    Thanks so much for sharing your mini book! So inspiring!

    Reply 0 Replies

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