How To: Make a Photo Album

I decided to make my photo album to hold this years pictures. Last year, I made this one. It's very cute, and I just love it. I was looking for something different, but cool too...

My inspiration came from this album. I purchased this at Blacks (Canadian store), in 2002, for 15.99 I believe. It could have been 24.99. Anyway, it's a plain book with a textured paper cover, and full of plain black cardstock. I really like it because it's classy and simple.

Some inside shots of the album! This one is a 12x12.

So now to make my own!! I didn't want the front and back to be so plain. I decided on an 8x8 size, and had a bunch of pictures enlarged to that size. Then I covered the chipboard in black 80 lbs cardstock (from SU), and made my covers with the pics I wanted to use. I then covered the whole page in Mod Podge and let dry. This creates a very "painted" look that doesn't show up well in the pics, but it looks really cool in person.

Waiting for the Mod Podge to dry!

I used a template I made to get the holes right (and straight!), and then a Crop-a-dile to punch them out. It's bound with O-wires from Bind It All (purchased at a local scrapbooking store). I don't have the Bind It All machine, but you can do it the hard (long way), by punching out the holes by hand and then feeding the wires into the holes and clamping shut.

Front Cover!

Open album

Inside cover and first page. The inside cover is covered in mod podge, the first pic is not.

Another page in the album

Another page. Simple. I like it!

Back page and back inside cover

Back outside cover of album

I made this whole album, *including* the printing of all the pictures and enlargements for less than $20. Most of these items I already owned, but here is there approx cost.

Chipboard - 2 pcs of 8x8 = 1.00
All pictures and printing = 14.00 (at Costco)
Mod Podge - I used less than 1/4 of a jar costing 6.95 = 1.73
O-wires = 2.00
Paper = 2.00

Simple, cute, cheap...AWESOME. I love it!