Madrid Mini Album | Jana Bennett

Hi everyone,

So, who is so excited about the upcoming December and the lovely Noel kit? Me, me, me! At first I was thinking to show you my Christmas album plan but I had to make this minialbum - just because the Harper kit is too pretty not to be used again. Because I like to make minialbums using the same material as in our family album (and vice versa) (see my Madrid layout where I used the Harper collection) and because I wanted to make a present full of great memories as a gift for my parents. Well, good intentions and all of that but in the end, I decided to keep this little buddy for myself and I am going to make a different thing for my parents instead. I'm sure you FJ fans will totally understand that it is almost impossible to give up an album made from FJ materials. Right?!

The mini album's size is 4x6 inch and I got totally inspired by the talented Steffi Ried and my dear scrappy friend Adela. I made two little notebooks by cutting strips of paper 12x6 inch and scoring them at 4 and 8 to make a little flap and extra space for pictures. Or to make some pockets by cutting the flap diagonally and glueing it all together. I also added some vellum pages and some leftovers (smaller size paper) which I think creates nice variety.

The cover is made from acetate foil and I used a white marker to trace those pretty leaves from one pattern paper. It is advisable to attach the cover after you finish filling the notebooks with photos and embellishments because otherwise the foil just keeps closing and it is hard to keep it still.

As for attaching the notebooks to the cover I used the same binding system as in traveler's notebooks - rubber bands.

To close the album I love using ribbons. I attached it by stapler and covered it by attaching a flower die cut at the back and a photo in a frame in the front.

And now let's have a look at some details of the album. The flower paper is just so pretty and doesn't need anything adding. I used a circle metal die for a photo and glued it to a bit of vellum. As you can see I love lots of journaling and I always have something to tell so one page of a story is usually easily filled. I also used those beautiful Harper stamps to decorate it in a simple yet very effective manner.

I love big photos and making collages of photos. They are such a great addition to the album! That beautiful golden title "love" is from Rebekah kit. I find FJ materials are just so great when it comes to a bit of mix and match!

I usually cut my collages of little photos and use them in a more creative way, like here, my favourite circle metail die cuts and beautiful epoxy crosses.

Vellum is always good and here it is again decorated with white marker, plus two vellum hearts from the Rebekah kit.

I also used metal die cuts from the Sarah kit and in many places of the mini album you can find clusters of these cute branches. It is great way to use those solid colour papers.

A few more details: die cut shape clusters and a pocket holding ZOO tickets.

The best floral paper and two lovely sisters. "Sister" is from the Denise kit.

And the prettiest goldest alphabet ever! I wish I could use it for the cover page of the album but I ran out of Ds!

So there you are. One mini album for myself. Do you make minialbums and give them or do you keep them because it is so damn hard to give up the beautiful FJ material?

SUPPLIES:  Harper Kit | Harper Felt Leaves | Harper Die Cut Shapes | Harper Paper Pack | Harper Journaling Cards | Harper Cardstock Frames | Harper Gold Foil Puffy Alphabet Stickers | Harper Epoxy Stickers | Harper Stamp Set | Denise Die Cut Shapes | Rebekah Vellum Hearts | Rebekah Gold Foil Puffy Title Stickers | Megan Puffy Alphabet Stickers | Jaimee Puffy Alphabet Stickers | FJ Roller Date Stamp | Sarah Die Set