Mini book (finally!)...

Today I wanted to share with you a mini book I did for my mother-in-law (the one I've mentioned here quite a few times before). Even though I started way before her birthday, (that was the only thing she wanted for her birthday, but she doesn't know I'm making it) I still couldn't send it on time. Her birthday is today and just today I'm taking it to the post office. Well, I was working on multiple things at once throughout this time plus I did have one BIG OUCH with this book.

My biggest fear when I scrapbook is to spill liquids on my work surface, so for that reason I try not to have any of those on my table. Last week when I sat down with intentions to finish this book, I had a bowl with warm water under the table for my feet (something I saw on Pinterest). My album wasn't glued together yet, and still had an accordion shape. So, as I sewed on one side... the other one slipped off the table... and went right into the water... I had to redo one fourth of the book. Lesson learned. No water in the scrap room! On the table or under it!

The idea of inner pages for this mini book came from Marie-Laure, French scrapper - enlarged photo, flips with smaller pictures and a pocket to hold things. But I had to figure out the way I will put it all together, but I had a formula to work with.

This pocket will hold a note:

 I divided this album by months (to give it some flow), adding one 5x7 photo for each spread, four horizontal pictures for inner flips and two vertical 3x4 photos for the pockets:

In the beginning I wanted to have a journaling spot on one of the flips, but then realizing I wouldn't be able to complete it on time, I just replaced it with more pictures.

 

I cut out words using Silhouette for the pockets to add a little something to them.

 

 When the book was done (and I knew it's finished dimensions, I made a cover with heavy cardboard inside. To bind the book together, I decided to try something new instead of rings. I made all pages separately, but then glued them together with a folded strip of paper. To make sure they stay together, I sewed every page with sewing machine. It's a fun way to make a mini book, but it does take a little longer.

For the cover I used paper by Heide Swapp, ribbon, flowers and rhinestones. I tried to keep it pretty simple, knowing it will be handled a lot.

I hope all the work was worth it and I'm glad it's finally done.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a very wonderful day!