Blog Makeover and My First Mini Album!

I got bored of my old look and when a friend asked about how I added elements to  my blog, I was motivated to making it better. I have been wanting a wider writing area for a long time. So here it is! My new blog look. I almost wanted to pay and get it done initially. I googled and found templates, videos and tutorials on how to do it. People in the crafting community are so generous! I found wonderful backgrounds, blog extras and tutorials. I couldn't get my background to go all the way up. Fixing that took some time. I added labels and tabs. I added a pic for the header with the blog title. I am happy with the way it looks now! At-least for sometime. I need to add details under the tabs. I love Chevron and the colors are inspired by the Skirt I am wearing. This is my favorite pic right now! I love Anurag's smile in this.

Well, A friend of mine just delivered a baby boy! He is so cute! I do remember Anurag being that small.  It brought back so many memories! I wanted to give her something personal and I know she has always liked my work. So, I decided to make a mini album for her. My first ever! It's been a couple of month since I got the Cinch. This was a good reason to start using it. Hopefully, now I will use it more!

This is the front of the album. I put a ribbon around it, so that it can tied together. Once the photos and  journaling will be added, the album is not going to close. The cover is extremely sturdy. I used bind it all chipboard covers. The album is 8 by 8. I liked that better than 6 by 6. Easier to add photos for someone who is really not into editing photos and re-sizing them into smaller photos to fit in the album.

This is how it look when the ribbon is untied. I added those buttons over the elephant's trunk for welcoming the baby. When the elephant is happy and playful , they make the aaawwaa sound with the trunk up or spray water. I used felt thickers to add the baby's name to the cover. This album essentially covers hospital to home. Homecoming Album is what I would call it. 

This is the first page of the album. I added the baby stats journaling card, some tags for photos and journaling. I added ribbon tabs on each page, so you don't have to touch the album to turn the pages. It is secured with a staple. Some stickles and flowers. Baby's first pic would go perfectly on this page.

I love this page. You can lift up the vellum tag to add the photo. I just love the paper I used for this one. I think this would be a perfect page to add the photos of the new parents with the baby.

I like the counting our blessings card! 

I love the cute little monkeys. I added a ticket and colored it blue. I think a pic of the baby with the grandparents and the visitors at the hospital would go nicely on this page. I added vellum bits everywhere to give it a nice soft look. 

This is my favorite page! I love love the tiny hands and feet vellum sheet! It is so wonderful! I added some vellum quotes on the right side. Each page has envelopes with tags to add extra photos and do journaling. Tags and the album by itself are extremely sturdy. Each page has two layers heavy cardstock plus pattern paper. It is heavy and nice. I love the embellishments on this page. I am happy how it turned out!

This is the last page of the album, meant for homecoming pics. I added a cute little truck with the vellum banner saying ' a new beginning'. I love the banner ! Again, added some extra journaling cards and photo tags.

I love the cute little bear on the back cover and the stamp! I added my signature and all done! I added ribbon to the spine to cover it a bit. It looks okay without it too, I just liked it better with it. Some may find it messy, depends on your personal preference!

She LOVED the album and so did everyone else who saw it! I am glad everyone liked it. I think there is an etsy shop in the near future with more Mini Albums! I enjoyed making these! Thanks for visiting me today! Please leave a link to your posts if you would like me to visit you! I would love to see your work as well! It keeps me motivated and I love the inspiration.

Supplies

Pattern Paper: Bella Blvd Baby Boy Collection ,Doodlebug Designs Snips and Snails and Scraps

Tools: Cinch,Bind It All Chipboard Covers and Bind It All 1 inch Spine, ATG Glue Gun and TH Mini Stapler

 Embellishments: Ribbons from my Stash, CTMH baby boy collection, Thickers, Vellum Bits by DCWV

Stamps and Ink:  CTMH Stamps, Distress Ink