G45 Tropical Travelogue Book

Happy Back to School week everyone! Isn't funny how, that by the end of June, everyone is sick of schedules and just looking forward to the freedom of summer but, by the beginning of September we are all so glad to get back to our organized and structured lives? I often say that September is the true ' New Year'...not January. There's something about the freshness and crispness of September that inspires me to get organized and take on new projects.

I've finally gotten around to doing something with my Cuba pictures from last spring. I was soooooo inspired by the awesome super talented Clare Charvill {UK} of the Graphic 45 design team that I  just had to try my hand at an album similar to hers. Please take the time to check out her YouTube video showing her jaw dropping album at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ1RPjXCQM8&list=PLD6A30D896908FB1F&index=4&feature=plpp_video .

I don't even claim to be anywhere near her level of creation but I think I did do a pretty good job of it. I'm so glad I took the time to study {yup...I really DID study} her video :). I had purchased the 12 x 12 paper pack of Tropical Travelogue to use for my Cuba pics but frankly was quite overwhelmed by all the patterns when I looked at it. I didn't have a clue where to start and I am so glad that Clare shared her wonderful creation and opened my eyes to all the possibilities and eye pleasing combinations that this paper offers! Please pop by her BLOG and give her some luv!

I did do a few things to make it my own. I didn't have access to the binder piece {Tim Holtz I think} that Clare used to create the actual album but I did find a wonderful substitute! In case you haven't seen it yet, Martha Stewart has a gorgeous new line of office organizers at Staples. I found this 7 1/2 x 9 1/2  binder that fit my needs perfectly. {Warning : this post is photo heavy! } Here's my album cover:

 

As stated, I used a Martha Stewart binder. The papers are from G45 Tropical Travelogue and the flowers on the front cover are an older set of Prima flowers that I've been hoarding for some time. As per Clare, I fussy cut a bunch of leaves from the pp and added a little Stickles to give a bit of bling to the cover. Here's a few inside shots. 

 

 

I have nowhere near as many nooks and crannies as Clare had in her book, but I did try to include lots of pretty details and little tags, etc to look at. All my pages are pocket pages with pull tabs on top, and they hold a double-sided insert with a 4 x 6 photo on each side. I actually managed to fit an astounding 56 photos in this book...most which aren't even visible unless you lift flaps or pull tabs, thus keeping it fairly clean and uncluttered looking. I made the passport inside the first page by cutting out pieces from the patterned paper and embossing a piece of black cs. I then sewed it down the spine . It holds two quote pages and two photos of hubby and I and our travel companions, Tracey and Kris, as we wait {impatiently} at the airport to board. Here's a close up of our "passport".

 

 I used an awesome set of stamps from Cloud 9 that was full of travel inspired quotes.

I'm usually pretty heavy on the journaling....tho not so much on this album....but I really liked the journaling cards that were included on one sheet of the pp and used them behind several photos in this book.

 

 

 Check out the cool flip book I included on this page. I took A LOT of car photos in Cuba for my son {the car freak}. We were fascinated by all the 1950's era cars that abound in Cuba {pre Cuban missile crisis} and by the fact that many had been converted to disel running taxis. I fit six  2 1/2 x 3 1/4  photos on this one flip page, plus a little journal spot under the cover. The mini alphas used in this book are October Afternoon mini market stickers.

 

 

The page on the right has an envelope attached to the front . I included a few smaller pages in between the regular size pages but they are still pocket pages.

 

 

 This page has a corner piece attached only on two sides so I could tuck in a photo and mat and also a small journaling tag. I used this technique on several different pages throughout the book. You can't really see from the pics, but each page is decorated under the photos so that it still looks pretty when the inserts are removed. Another reason to check out Clare's video as you can see her pages with both the inserts in place and out. I loved that idea!

 

 

Isn't this palm tree adorable? I have my dear friend KELLY  to thank for that ! Check out her cool tutorial on how to make it HERE. I searched high and low but could not find my sticky back canvas like Kelly used anywhere in my craftroom {and I thought I was so darn organized ...sigh} so I had to make mine from card stock. Still, I was pleased with how it turned out. You would not believe how many people stopped on the beach to have their photo taken with this sand mermaid tail that Kris created! Here's a few more photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's a few more ways to fit more than one photo on a page:

 

 

This little book of critter photos is basically the same as a tri- fold card. The center is adhered to the page and the sides flip open.

 

 

This side holds six photos of floral shots. It's done with an accordion fold and joined on the backs with tape. This accordion page itself was heavy and flopped open so I made two tags from leaves and a brad which can be turned to lock it in place. You can see one of the leaf tags in the bottom of the photo.

 

 

 

 

 

On some of the pages I made my own epoxy-like stickers using Glossy Accents. I am sooo addicted to that stuff! I basically stick with that and sookwang tape for all my gluing needs. The big fish sticker on the top page and the flowers on the second page were done with the Glossy Accents. A little hint: with all my chopped up bits and pieces, I only could cut one set of these flowers from the patterned paper. However, there was a whole set on the back of the paper packet. Being the back, it was glossier than the inside paper. However, by covering both with the glossy accents, they turned out the same and matched well on this page.

 

 Last pic I promise!

 

 

Phew! So there you have it {and I actually left out photos of a few pages!}. I hope you've enjoyed seeing my Tropical Travelogue album. Now I really must get my butt down to the woman cave and get my two page Halloween LO designed to teach at Deidre's upcoming Scrapbooking weekend in Sprindale this month. I am so excited as KELLY is coming all the way from Alberta to visit me and we'll both be teaching at this weekend crop! Only 16 more sleeps! Wooohoo! Thanks for popping by and happy scrapping!