Last Valentine's Day I wanted to create a little album for my daughter and her husband. While I could find a few cute little ones, I wanted one to better capture the love and romance the two of them share. I was able to come up my own by using an embossed chipboard album and adding some Glimmer Mist and some Brilliance ink. The album was a hit.

Love Altered Album Cover, Julie Eickmeier

Love Altered Album Cover

Beginner Project

By: Julie Eickmeier

 



First, I sprayed the Glimmer Mist on and dabbed it with a textured paper towel. I sanded the embossed parts gently once the Glimmer Mist dried and lightly brushed a Brilliance ink pad in Cosmic Copper over sanded edges, allowing the album to dry again overnight. Prima also makes a 12x12 embossed page that I have turned into an album cover as well. Instead of using Brilliance ink on the embossed edges, I sanded them once the Glimmer Mist had dried and used Luimiere paints on the sanded sections.



With the advent of the Cutter Pede and the binding machine by Zutter, I can now custom punch spare sheets of chipboard into any album size I need or want and either bind it with coils, use O rings or even fancy ribbons to tie covers together. The possibilities are endless.



Acrylics have also made creating my own album covers easier. Several companies make acrylic album covers and some are even embossed with images such as polka dots. This 6” x 6” acrylic two piece is from Sunday International and provided a lovely 'canvas' for my photos of “A Few of My Favorite Things". The acrylic can be stamped, painted or papered and rub-on's adhere nicely.



For our 13th anniversary, I wanted to create a gift for my husband all about us. I selected a representative photo for each of our years together, starting with our wedding photo. I used a 12” x 12” acrylic page by Page Frames and selected a layout to go beneath it to create a double cover. The Kaiser Craft swirl, gems and chipboard letters helped to complete the album.



The only limit to creating your own album covers is your imagination. With a couple of tools and some simple supplies, you will never again have to search for the perfect album.



I have been scrapping for about 12 years and have taught paper crafts both here in Florida and nationally for the past 6 years. I design for Kit n Kaboodle Kit Company and teach for the company as well. I live in a small fishing village on the Gulf Coast of Florida with my husband and our two fur babies, Just Jack and his litter brother, Goofy. I am a retired English teacher enjoying life in paradise.

To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Browse our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.