Today I’m sharing my first Traveler’s Notebook mini album. I make mini albums all the time, but never in a Traveler’s notebook. This album is done in the B6 size (5 inches by 7 inches) and is a nice size when finished – not too big, not too small. The result is the perfect mini to document my friend’s trip to Italy.
My process when making mini albums includes working on the pages flat and then stitching them together. This project was no different and I took the notebook insert apart to work on it. I find it easier to make the pages first without a binding in the way. This does require that you keep checking the placement of items on the pages so they are in the order that you want. It’s easy to forget how the pages stack and the spreads layout when working with booklets, so double check yourself!
Throughout this album I have quotes and accent graphics to supplement the photos. I thought this quote about hitting the Gelato stand was cute and it makes a good intro to the album. Pages also feature embellishments I make, like the painted vellum heart on the bottom left of this layout. Check out my Easy Embellishments class at Big Picture Classes to see how I make these.
The paper in this project is called Modern Art, from Ella and Viv Paper Company. This particular collection has the exact warm, colorful palette seen in the landscape and buildings of Italy. It’s a perfect choice for Italy travel scrapbooks.
Pockets are something I often create in my mini albums. For this one, I cut a slice of paper and glued it down to the page on 2 sides. The pocket holds 3 different styles and sizes of tags that each have photos on both sides. This is a fun way to get more pictures on a smaller page. It also makes the page a little interactive.
Pinterest is the best place to find quotes, like this one to accent their “couple” selfies. This spread also has a foldout, using washi tape to hinge the paper to the right panel. It opens to reveal more photos. The patterned washi circle is actually cut from a page of washi “pieces” that I save to make colorful embellishments like this. Some of the photos in the foldout have stitching as an embellishment.
“Today’s Details” is a stamp from a messy circles set from Ali Edwards. This time the stamp has embossing powder to give it some dimension.
Finding a decorative map wasn’t easy, but I love this pretty watercolor one discovered in the Envato marketplace. The watercolor styling is less busy than a regular map, and the stitching that marks the travel route through Italy stands out better. The adjacent page has watercolor splatter to jazz up the background with repetitive circle photos between the names of the destinations. Someday I’ll have fancier lettering skills 🙂
Full spread photos have such an impact in a Traveler’s Notebook. I see other scrapbooker’s embellish their large photos with stickers or stamping, but I love the plain photo on its own. I have 3 spread photos in the album and I left them all without embellishment.
Here’s a spread with adjacent 5×7 inch images, but I put vellum over one to feature a quote. The little index tab at the bottom signals to lift up the vellum to see below – it’s a simple, but pretty treatment.
The wanderlust layout is inspired by Nathalie DeSousa in her class, Traveler’s Notebooks for Scrapbookers at BigPictureClasses.com. She has a variety of good tips for directing the eye in layouts. This particular idea using angled paper really appeals to me.
I enjoy trying new things and this format creates a compact and unique mini album. I’m sure I’ll make another. Be sure to check out my other mini album ideas, too!
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