I think this is going to be a paper kind of week. Sometimes I just get on a kick and see what I can come up with. Usually though I bounce from one craft to another. It’s the ADD. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)
I made this album a few weeks ago, submitted it, and it got published. Cool beans! huh?
My favorite product for gluing paper to chipboard is paper cement. Period. It’s the best! You could use double sided tape if you like but the only problem with the tape is making sure you get it close enough to the edges.
Take the rings out of the holes on the album and separate the “pages”.
I never cut the paper into the finished shape before gluing it on the chipboard. It’s too hard to match up all of the edges when it’s cut out. Instead, cut out a piece of paper big enough to cover the chipboard, spread paper cement on both the chipboard and the back of the paper, let it dry. Once dry, put the two glued sides together. Then, using an x-acto knife (on a self healing mat) cut the paper away from the chipboard to get the finished shape.
A second good reason for doing it this way is that you get paper cement all the way to the edges of the chipboard and the whole paper is covered with paper cement before they are stuck together. This makes the very edges of the paper and chipboard stick together so there is no curling or peeling away of the paper when the album is handled.
Do all of the pages the same way on both sides. I used sticky back rhinestones, ribbon, trim and chipboard letters to decorate this album. You could use just about any light weight craft material on this and it wouldn’t even have to be flat in the places where the pages don’t over lap.
Put the pages in order, put the rings back in and add ribbons or fabric strips to the rings to decorate further.
This would be a fun thing to give to a new bride entering the family. You could put copies of old family pictures, a favorite recipe or a note of welcome. You could make a “BABY” one for grandparents as a brag book or a “LOVE” book for your significant other.
This literally took minutes to do. Easy.
Ahhh a respectful disagreement. I love it! 🙂
Ok, you got me on the toxic bit Jenny. I notice that it has a bit of a odor but both of my work spaces are rather large so it never really gets to me. I also keep the lid on when I’m not actively using it because it does smell (I like the smell so that goes to show how weird I am!) and to keep it from drying out. It’s just a habit for me to keep the cap on but you are right, ventilation is important.
As for the short life. Hummmmm. Thinking.
I would probably not use original photos on a project like this because 1)it’ll get handled too much and 2)it’s so oddly shaped you’d have to do a lot of cutting to make a photo fit. I would only use copies of a photo. I would put the originals in a more permanent album and make the chipboard album more of a novelty.
I like Mod Podge, don’t get me wrong, but what I don’t like about it is that it’s hard to keep the paper smooth. I always have trouble getting paper to adhere without bubbles or ripples in it. I don’t get the ripples or bubbles with the paper cement. Especially if you mod podge a background paper and then mod podge a photo. It would be very wet. And mod podge takes much longer to dry than paper cement.
I kind of think of these chipboard mini albums as a novelty thing. They would be great as a sort of “greeting card” …something meant to be enjoyed for a while but not a “forever” kind of thing.
We need to come up with a Mod Cement. Something that has the positive aspects of both glues.
I’m glad you commented. I know there has to be a better way, and/or a product that works better. I’m not sold on the mod podge but you have valid points about the paper cement. What other products or ideas? Should we do some experiments?
Hey, I just realized that I made that album over a year ago and I still have it and it’s looking fine. I haven’t handled it though. I’ll have to look at it up close and see how it’s holding up. But it’s in my other work space. I’ll have to get back to you.
By the way, you are DARN loveable! 🙂
Vicki, normally I’m with you 100%, but I gotta comment on the paper cement thing. First of all, it’s kinda toxic and should only be used in well-ventilated areas. Secondly, it has a short life- in a year or so, that cement will dry out, loose it’s adhesion and turn the paper brittle. Not so good for memory albums! I’d probably recommend decoupaging with Mod Podge instead… just my humble two cents! Your fan and loveable Craft Test Dummy, Jenny