Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part III

I'm not done yet - but let me show you what I got done between the breakfast and lunch rush.  (Note to self - price that work station again and budget) 

Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part I
Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part II

I finished stacking and arranging my album the way I want it. Again - it does not matter if the cards don't match up exactly.   There were a few cases that I couldn't get things to match up quite right.  In this case - the photo on the right is what I'm going to work with

 

I adhered two cards to the back of it.  The photo card fit perfectly width wise, but didn't feel the depth. I cut a standard greeting to fill the remaining space.

In a few cases, the cards were just a smidge off from each other. This actually wouldn't be a huge deal in the end result, but I'm a tad fussy sometimes.

So I went through the album page by page and took the trimmer to those few pages that didn't match up exactly.  My trimmer is dusty. I'm not fussy about everything.

This was the biggest space gap I had.  A few things I could have done here - some pattern paper, reconsider trimming the backing card, or fill the gap with an element from a card.

I trimmed it just to size and adhered it. What I really ended up liking about this is that it peeks through several pages the way my album is set up.  I'll share that more later.

Now, my cards all stacked exactly how I want them in the album - I'm ready to think about the front and back covers.

 

While I was working with my cards, I decided that I love this greeting that I got from Wendy at Scrapsupply SO much - that I'm going to use it for the album's cover.  I sized it up, and I think it will work perfectly.  I then measured my pile both horizontally....

....and vertically.  I decided that 8 3/4 x 7 would be ideal.

The card is exactly 7 inches high, which helped me decide that size.  I have some remaining room to fill.

 

As you can see, I strayed completely from my paper choices in my first post and in using the card, then tried to find a paper that matched.  This paper from Creative Memories Classic Winter Addition filled the bill perfectly.  I also love that the paper has cardinals, as I'm partial to them. It suits the book. 

I favor many types of adhesives, and have used three different types so far in this project.  To adhere the cover, I actually reached for my Mod Podge, only to find that I forgot to replenish it.  Gah!  So I'm using my Perfect Paper Adhesive instead.  The Starbucks gift card with the 7 cent balance on it is for the adhesive, and is fitting since it was the gift that came in that snowman card. 

 

I squirted a bit of adhesive about where I planned to put the red patterned paper

 

Then I used the gift card to spread it about evenly.  I have a whole stash of expired credit cards, membership cards, cards that come in the mail that are fake, and old gift cards that I save for these types of projects.

 

All adhered and smoothed out (I used a bone - but it's hard to photograph myself doing that) I then added a scallop. Because I'm addicted to scallops and need them on everything. 

 

I then layered a few little embellishments

And decided that I want them under the scallop - not on top of....

 

And then I adhered the card. On the center of the back I used my paper adhesive and in the corners, for extra hold, I used Glue Dots. I like the security of using several adhesives.

On the backside of the cover, I had this piece of the red paper that was cut to the exact 7 inches, but was a bit short width wise. A little bit of trim took care of this nicely.

 

A Glue Dot on each end (the binding will hold the center) and I put that into place

Both sides covered and embellished, I then went around the edges with my sponge sander.  This just gives it a more uniform edge and I like to think it fastens it just a bit more to the chipboard. This could be in my head - but I do it just the same.

 

My front cover is now complete.

I'll do my back cover in the same fashion - but with just patterned paper.  I was kicked off the table once again as my family desired lunch (grilled cheese and soup).  Now I'm going to run out and enjoy the sunshine for just a bit before finishing this up.  Next step - Binding!

And to answer a few questions:

• It was asked what to do if you have mostly standard cards and few photo cards - the reverse of what I have.  I would go about it very similarly - but I would probably put the fold of the card at the binding
• What about newsletters?  Include a pocket page or envelope inside your album to tuck these into
• We received a couple CD's this particular year, so I'll include those in an envelope

I'll be back later with the rest!

Enjoy!

And if you're creating along with me, please share your links in the comments. 

Comments

[Steph @ Steph's Stuff]

Awesome project!!!!! And I love that I saw my card in both this year's wall and last year's pile for this project. Friends rock. :)

[sue Treiber]

I love that snowman card. A great cover!!
And what a mean mom you are...first making Wendy come down for dinner AND THEN not letting her play in her cast? You should be ashamed :)

[chris]

I am truly inspired to do something similar, especially since I received a BinditAll for Christmas 2 years ago and its still in the box. Looking forward to that post. Love the front cover!

[Stephanie Baxter]

What a cool idea!

[Kathy Z.]

found you through Karen Howe--- LOVE this idea! I like how you chipboarded the covers. I told Karen that I might have to make cardstock pages because I am a little type A-- hehe!!! did you use the bind it all?