Hello & welcome back to the Casually Crafting Blog Hop where this months theme is ‘Designer Series Paper Showcase’ and boy, have I got a great project for you today with my Peony Garden Mini-Album!
There is a Paper Offer on at the moment, with 15% off 15 selected Designer Series Paper packs, so this hop is perfect to get those creative juices flowing and to help you see just what can be made with a bit of paper!
The Casually Crafting Design Team are a group of independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrators that want to share our take on casual crafting with you all. We will be sharing what we love every 3rd Friday of each month. Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team’s creative projects from the photo links at the end of this post.
Peony Garden Mini-Album
I had a really good think (last minute as usual) as to what I could make that would really showcase our fabulous Designer Series Paper and this mini-album seemed just perfect. What I love about Stampin’ Up! paper is that it all co-ordinates just perfectly, and matches our cardstock, ribbons and embellishments, so any project you make instantly looks really proffessional, and super cute too!
The stamp on the front is from the Prized Peony Stamp Set, part of the suite of products which the paper comes from, doesn’t it colour beautifully!
Creating the Mini-Album
The main base of the Peony Garden Mini-Album is made from Greyboard. A solid type of thick cardstock. I used some that I bought a while ago, but it is essentially the same material that some of our paper comes packaged in, just a little thicker which makes it perfect for this purpose.
You can make your album whatever size you want, just make sure that when you lay the covers and spine down on the DSP that you leave the width of the greyboard in between, to allow it to open and close neatly.
My covers are 5″ x 4 3/8″ and my spine is 5″ x 1 5/8″. The DSP piece that I used to encase these is 12″ x 5 7/8″, so you could get two out of one sheet of 12″ x 12″. You will want to use a lot of adhesives when sticking this down, and also when sticking down the inner cover too, so that the paper doesn’t ruck and crease.
You can see in this photo how I cut the corners and folded them in. Leave the ones by the spine just as they are, don’t cut them, so you only do this on the main four corners. Also, don’t cut right up to the greyboard, leave a millimeter or two so it doesn’t poke through.
Next up, take another piece of the fabulous DSP cut to 10 1/2″ x 4 7/8″ and stick this on the centre, so you can’t see your edges and the greyboard is nicely covered up.
I made the pages for my Peony Garden Mini-Album from Basic Grey cardstock by cutting 3 pieces to 8 7/8″ x 4 7/8″and then scoring them on the long side at 4 1/4″ and 4 5/8″. This will give you 6 pages in total, with plenty of room for extra flaps, pockets, photographs and embellishments too. You can see in the photo how I have attached the pages to the spine, using red tape or Tombow Multi-purpose glue.
How I decorated my Mini-Album
Now finally we are at the fun part, the decorating. I am not going to go through all of the measurements here, because we would be all day! And really, the design is all up to you. I will show you some photographs though, and I created a short video because I didn’t feel the photos really did it justice, so why not sit back and have a watch as I take you through it page by page.
Here is the video for you to take a closer look.
Don’t forget to come back after you have finished the hop to purchase any of the supplies you need simply by clicking on the photo links at the bottom of the page, but for now, enjoy hopping and seeing what the rest of the Casually Crafting Design Team have been up with their Designer Series Paper. I can’t wait to see what projects they have for you!!
Until next time, Happy Stamping xx
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Paper Share
Why not take advantage of the Paper Offer and take part in my REDUCED paper share, just £22 for 96 sheets of 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper, including postage. Some fabulous designs are included so you will be able to make lots of stunning projects. Just send me an email using heather@thesongbirdstamper.co.uk or send me a message using the message block.
OMG, WOW.
Stunning, I’ve been wanting to make one of these for such a long time. Thanks for sharing and a perfect project to use Designer Series Paper
I love your album, great instructions. I haven’t done one in such a long time you’ve inspired me! Thank you it’s simply gorgeous!
Wow Wow Wow. What a fabulous project Heather. I have never made an album, but this looks so elegant. TFS xx
I loved this min-album when I first saw it. So pleased to have these excellent instructions.
Thank you so much Jeanette, I am really glad you had a go, and made an album for yourself too!