Paper Bag Album...from long ago

I was wanting to post something crafty even though I haven't been too crafty the last few days. I got to looking through my pictures and I found a paper bag album I never posted on my blog so I figured this was an excellent time to do so!

I made this paper bag album for a birthday swap I participated in a few years ago. I had a lot of fun making it for my partner in the swap Dina. I believe I used mostly patterned cardstock from a DCWV Spring Stack that my friend Softbrn had sent me.

Paperbag albums are simple to make and there are quite a few tutorials out there on the big world wide web if you would like to make one of your own! I used a hole punch on this one and then just tied ribbon. This was before I had a wonderful Crop-i-dile that would punch holes or a bind it all that does the fabulous spirals! Oh man I still remember how sore my hand was from using that regular hole punch!

The great thing about the albums is that you can be as simple or elaborate as you want. I made a pocket and put a tag in the front and then a slide out on the inside. I think I probably had a total of 6 cartridges when I made this album. Luckily Beyond Birthdays was one of them! LOL







I had fun decorating the cupcake on this page. I used some mulberry paper for the cupcake wrapper. I glued the edge down and then pleated the rest to match the cut from the Cricut. I just kept adding adhesive along the way to keep it down. The icing was made with some type of plaster stuff in a little tub. I actually can't remember exactly but I remember thinking I was quite clever in using a star tip to make it look more realistic *okie often thinks she is such a genius and knows one day others will recognize this as well....one day...one day*

Pockets make a paper bag album more interesting for sure as you can either add more photo mats or have more to decorate for your theme. Anytime I make a little album to give I always add white cardstock as a template for a photo. I think it just makes it easier for someone to be able to cut their photo to size. Notice on the left side how I decorated, I was trying to make it look like a gift. I used a small metal heart charm for an embellishment.



So the stamped image in the little metal tag isn't that interesting but remember this is from long ago and way before I had access to the stamp collection that I now have *okie thinks it is interesting to see some of her own earlier paper crafting work, even if she does cringe sometimes*. I know a lot of people think of the Making Memories tag maker as a useless tool but I still like mine and am always watching for the rims to be on clearance somewhere! I am getting low on mine so I am rationing them out very carefully at this point!

The little confetti's on the left hand side are actually hard plastic and I thought they looked great with the hat cut from Beyond Birthdays. As you can see on the hat I had a love of Stickles even back then! *okie swears she is still going to wear Stickles as eye shadow one of these days*. I am not sure where those brads on the right hand side came from but I really like those! *okie cracks up laughin*




The back page is kinda corny, yes I can admit this. But remember it is earlier work, almost 2 1/2 years ago! I mean seriously........'THE END"? Who the hell writes that on the back of a paper bag album?? *okie dramatically rolls her eyes at her own corniness*

I was so proud of this little album when I made it and I remember worrying that it wouldn't be good enough for Dina. She said she loved it but she is a sweetie and I don't think she would have said it was ugly even if she truly hated it! She actually made me two, one for me and one for my daughter. However my daughter took both of them! *okie thinks her daughter might be a little greedy*

Speaking of my daughter...she is doing great! She says she is going to class tomorrow and she was able to work on some of her assignments this evening. I told her not to over do it tomorrow and I am sure I will be calling her through out the day to make sure she isn't over extending herself! I want to again tell all of you thank you for your prayers and well wishes. It is so nice to know there are so many people all over the world who express such genuine concern.