I love mini books/albums. If you were to come to my house you would find containers all around the house filled with these little books. In fact I often prefer to make some kind of mini instead of traditional scrap page. Is that bad? I don’t think so, even though I feel a bit of guilt I’m not doing pages for my kids’ albums. Of course, that passes quickly once I get an idea of my mini.
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What I like about mini’s vs. the page is that my minis get handled, thumbed through, packed around by the kids, and it’s a way for me to live with the things I create. Minis are quick. I can make a mini in an hour or less, and enjoy the feeling of being done with something. Photos, lots of photos. I take lots of photos, of everything in my life. The great thing about minis (of any size) is that I can make themed minis using all of these different pictures I take. A mini is also a great way to use up those bits and pieces from other projects that I can’t bear to toss away.
I have a few basic books I like to make.
1) accordion style
2) tag style
3) square with pages bound by ribbons, rings, ties, metal slide things, or coils
These are pretty much my basic shapes. One thing I end up doing when I make a mini book is that I end up making 2 or 3 of the same thing to share with my family. For my mom and grandma I can make a book that’s a little bigger and more involved, since they can carry in in their purse or have sitting out. But if I make a book for my mom and forget my dad, I usually get a call. My dad loves to have recent pics of the kids to share. The problem is he’s a farmer/rancher who also has an excavator business. He needs a small, neat little book that he can tuck into his shirt pocket. When I go to visit I see his pile of old books that have been well loved and used. And I love seeing that! I love seeing that someone has packed, used, loved, and handled their mini so much they’ve worn some of the pictures out.
Sizes:
For my pocket size accordion books are 2″x3″ using wallet prints, trimmed or punched for size. I also like square books. Depending on my mood and pictures I make my square books in sizes from 2X2-6X6.
Binding:
1) Quickest, easiest way to bind any sort of mini is with binder rings. And these are super cheap at nearly any office supply store. These rings add a quick bit of flash (bling) and can be dressed up with bits of ribbon tied in knots.
2) Ribbon. Another quick and easy method. Punch holes in the sides, tie ribbon in a knot. Here’s a couple of different ideas. Ranging from simple to more complicated.
