GRAPHIC 45's ABC PRIMER ALBUM

It's time for another "ANYTHING GOES" week over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  Hop on over and check out the really cool and unique projects that my Design Teammates have created for you.

Since this is an "Anything Goes" week, I decided to make an album to display my grand children's school pictures.  Even though they are not even in Kindergarten yet, they still have pictures made at their preschools.

Front cover of my album 

You probably know by now that I love all things vintage.  So, I ask this question....is there any paper more perfect for creating a childhood school album that Graphic 45's ABC Primer papers?  I bought both the 12x12 and the 8x8 pads to do this project.  I also used a couple of papers from Graphic 45's Playtimes Past and Communique collection.  Graphic 45 papers seem to always coordinate with most of their collections from year to year.

This is a thick album with TONS of pull ups, pop outs, pockets and pages.  The pattern is The "Glam Girl" Album from Kathy Orta of Paper Phenomenon.  Here is a picture of the outside covers of the album.  The chipboard spine in the center measures 3 1/4" across.  The chipboard covers are 8" tall x 6" wide.  So, you can see that this is a substantial album.  I love it!

  
In this picture, you can see the inside covers and the inside pages that are attached using a hidden hinge system.  There are 6 interactive pages.  Each page has a different pattern for pops, pull outs and pockets.  I created the entire basic book out of Kraft Cardstock.  Then I distressed all of the corners, creases, pages and pull outs using Gathered Twig Distress Ink followed with a touch of Black Soot Distress Ink.  Once that was complete, I began covering each piece with the images from the Graphic 45 papers.  This took a lot of time but the end results are worth it! 

Most of the gluing was done with 1/4" Double Sided Scor Tape.  I LOVE this stuff!!!  The backing comes off so easily!  It's easy to work with; not as messy as liquid glue or glue sticks.  It's quick, easy and always dry!  I inked all of my edges of my matted pieces of paper with a Black or Chestnut Roan Cats Eye Ink Pad to give them more of a vintage feeling.

   
Here are all of the inserts that fit in the top slots of the 6 pages.  They are matted on both sides.  I punched the top edge of the inserts with an EK Success Binding Edge Punch for added detail.  

Here is a closer up picture of the first page.  You can see the flip up that is in the red polka dot.  Underneath it is a pocket.  You can mat photographs on these pages and then stick little memoirs inside of the pocket. The top flap (in red polka dot) also houses a slit in the side that is holding a tabbed insert made out of kraft paper.  This will be great for either adding more pictures or for journaling. 

Flip over to the next page and you will see this.  On this photograph, the flap on the right hand side is down. 

This is the same page as above but the flap is pulled up and opened out to extend the page even further. There is a big pocket in the center.  The other pages are perfect for matting photographs.  See what I mean about this album being so interactive and loaded with all sorts of pockets and pull outs?

On this set of inside pages, the flash cards on the left are also a pocket.  And the graphic of the girl on the right is also a large pocket.  Behind the pocket on the right is a hidden pocket with a tabbed insert peeking out.

More inside pages.  On the left...just a page to mount a photograph on.  The page on the far right is actually a folded out and flipped up extension of the right side page.  There is a pocket at the bottom of the far right.  In the center, the ruler is right at the top of a pocket that is decorated by images from the Graphic 45 Playtimes Past collection.  I love how those papers work so well with the ABC Primer papers.

Still another set of pages.  This time, the left side of the page is folded out to reveal the "ABCD" panel.  There are two pockets on the other side of this fold out.  The little boy on the right side is actually the top of a flap that is attached to a pocket underneath it.


As you can see, this is a really wonderful book; full of all sorts of interactive features.  I think that it one of the reasons I love it so much!  As my family is looking at all of the pictures that will someday cover this book, they will be surprised to find all sort of little pockets and pull ups hiding little "treasures" and journaled memories.

Now it's YOUR turn to create anything your heart desires and post it to our challenge.  You could be the winner of Simon Says Stamp's

This is drawn randomly each week.  We also pick the TOP THREE entries for the week for special recognition.  This is quite special as we have some wonderfully talented artists that play our challenge each week!  

So, get your creative juices flowing and let's see what you come up with!