A to Z Challenge - 2019 - M is for Mini-Albums

We are starting the second half of the A to Z 10th Anniversary Challenge!  Has it seemed like the month has gone fast to you?  In my A to Z this year I am showcasing some of the things I make and that are available on my Etsy site.  If you haven't visited it yet, I'd love it if you would!

I make a lot of cards but I also like making what I call mini-albums.  They are kind of like scrapbooks because you can put pictures in them and there are spaces for journaling but they are usually about one specific event or theme.

I started making School Days Mini's like this:

They are made using paper bags and can go from Pre-School or Kindergarten all the way up to graduation from high school.  

I had the idea when I was going through my kids keepsakes and found those packs of school pictures that you have taken every year. 

I always had some left over, even after sending them to the grandparents and other relatives.  

I thought that making a little keepsake album like this would be nice for those and for any little highlights from that year before we forget!

There are pockets to keep special papers and inserts to remind us of field trips and things like that.  Too bad my kids were all grown when I thought of it and of course I can't remember any of those special things!   

I make something similar for babies too, either boy or girl.  They look like this and will go for the first year, month by month.  

I made this one a little differently and used cardboard for the cover and three rings to hold it together. 

It is still using paper bags but it is a little bigger than the other style.  

This one was made for a friend to give as a gift.

Another style is using the bags with handles.  I made this one as an engagement gift for someone. 

It is kind of like the "Believe In Love" one from Saturday's post but this one again is using paper bags on the inside so there are more pockets. 

With this style you can use 4 x 6 pictures on the page easily.  

I have a lot of different colored bags so I can make these for any occasion as well.  

The last example is using just 3 sheets of 12 x 12 cardstock cut in half and put together to form a fold out book style.  I made this one for Father's Day a few years ago. 

It still has room for pictures and pockets to stuff things in.  

There are places to write too.  

It opens up to almost 2 feet long and looks like this standing up. 

What do you think of my mini's?  Have a special occasion coming up that you need a one of a kind gift for?  Keep me in mind.  Stay tuned tomorrow for the letter "N."  It's a fun one!

July-Jinks - 2018 #31SRW Photography Challenge

So today in the 31 day photography challenge Shelley gives us the prompt of Clutter.  While food and clouds gave me a challenge I couldn't overcome, clutter is pure simplicity for me!

It seems like everywhere I look in our house there is clutter.  I know we are not the only ones who feel that way because I hear a lot of talk about people going minimalist and there are a lot of folks my age looking to downsize.

We've slowly been trying to take steps to repurpose some of the things we no longer hold dear.  I've started a collection of things we may use for a garage/yard sale this summer.   

In addition to this batch, there are 2 more plastic containers in my closet and I haven't even gone through MY clothes yet!

How much space we will have when these things are gone remains to be seen.  I have a feeling that no matter what it is still going to look like we have a lot of stuff.  If we are able to sell some things, that would be a bonus.  If not, I'll call the local charity and have them come and pick it all up.  

I don't know if taking all the color out makes it look any less cluttery. 

Some may consider this clutter too, but to me it is artist at work.

I'm making a baby album and when I am deep in the process, things are everywhere. 

In this instance, I think making it black and white makes it look a little bit more organized.  

I did make a bag of crafty items that I know I won't use to give to our friends who are coming over today to watch the safe and sane fireworks we are allowed to shoot off.  She is a teacher and I know that supplies are sometimes hard to come by so win-win for both of us!  How about you?  Got clutter?  Trying to downsize? 

Thanks again to Shelley at Quaint Revival for organizing this little picture program.  Have a happy 4th to all in the USA.