Valentines Mini Album | Natalie Ballard | CraftStore Direct Blog

Getting Started

Valentine’s can be a time of extra-special memories, so don’t let them fade away. Whether you make this for yourself or your significant other, it will warm your hearts for years to come.

Firstly, add the Traveller’s Notebook designs to your mat.

I didn’t resize the pages, but I did ungroup them and assign them each a layer so I could cut them one at a time.

I cut these from 580gsm (scallop edge square) and 300gsm (all others) white cardstock.
Trim all of these pages in half vertically and use a Crop-a-dile or heavy duty hole punch to punch three binding holes.

Bind the pages together using rings and shuffle them to add interest to the open edge.

There are a few ways we can use the adhesive textured card and patterned papers to create backgrounds.
Simple – cut another page shape from your decorative material for edge-to-edge coverage.
Offset – select the page shape you want to create a background for. Use an internal offset to reveal a border around the edge.
Nodes – each shape is made up of points called nodes that tell the blade when and where to turn. We can select the nodes on the binding edge and move them inwards to get a border on the outer most edge.

As you are using adhesive cardstock, you want to half cut the card same as if you are cutting vinyl.

Using the two card designs to create flaps for your album pages.

I cut mine using more of the textured adhesive cardstock and then mounting them onto patterned paper.

This means the pattern is revealed through the heart shape apertures in the card designs.

Into these card pieces, cut a slit into which you can insert a hinge piece.

Use the remaining designs to create a print and cut sheet of stickers. I scaled down all the designs to a size suitable for the album and added registration marks.

I then printed the sheet onto the printable sticker paper. I used a laser printer but you can use an inkjet one if that’s what you have.

I then added the outer cut lines into a new layer (or use a different line colour) using basic shapes.

I applied all the background pieces to the pages and bound them together using rings (but you could use ribbons, cords or even a disc system instead).

Next, work through each layout adding photo mats, envelopes and tags.

Decorate with decorative borders, photo frames, titles and more.

Here, I used the Lovely Days paper collection and project book by Paper Boutique.

This project makes a perfect gift, and I will be adding a travel journal/scrapbook to go with it. Join me next time to see a Valentine’s theme version of the journal project.

– Natalie Ballard – 

Designs Used: 

Traveler’s Notebook: 208691

You’re my everything: 395446

You & Me: 379161

Heart Card: 54981

Heart Card 7405

Love hearts: 395443

Hello Valentine: 392080

Love circle: 395447

Love you embellishment: 395444

You stole my heart: 366128

You are so loved: 395445

I Love You: 381931

Happy Valentines Day: 392081