Preserving precious family photos is a necessary but often time consuming task. Although photography has become progressively easier and more convenient with the introduction of digital cameras and printers, people often fail to protect their photos by purchasing albums. Others just don’t want to take the time to organize all of those pictures. However, you can create an easy and decorative photo album to give as a gift or keep for yourself.
You will need the following supplies to construct your photo album: album, fabric, ribbon, and a hot glue gun. Optional materials include small frame, rhinestones, cording, lace, fringe, fabric paint or pen, and other decorative materials.
Before you purchase your photo album, be sure and determine the sizes of the pictures that you want to store. If you have mostly 4x6 pictures, you do not need to buy an album that only has 3x5 pockets. Some albums will hold various size pictures. If you are making this photo album for a gift, you might want to consider purchasing one of these.
The various materials you use will depend on how creative you want to be. To construct a basic photo album, you will need enough material to cover the front and back of the album and the inside of the front and back covers. Open your photo album with the pages down, and measure the front, spine, and back to see how much material you will need. Cut your material to fit the outside of your photo album, but be sure to allow an extra inch all the way around your material.
Apply a thin bead of glue around the edges of the outside cover of your photo album, and then apply small beads of glue over the rest of the surface. As you work quickly, lay your material onto the cover. You will need to smooth the material across the cover. If your glue has started to harden before you have finished applying your material, you will need to add some more glue.
Once you have attached your material to the outside cover of your photo album, you will need to turn your album over. You can now apply a thin bead of glue along the edge of the inside cover. Pull your excess material over the edge of the album and press the material onto the glue.
If you are going to add cording, lace, fringe or some other type of embellishment around the edges of your album, you will need to do this now. Measure the amount of trim that is needed to cover the edges of the album. Cut your trim, but allow an extra inch of material. Apply another thin line of hot glue along the edge of the album and press your trim onto the glue.
Once you have applied your trim, you will need to cover the inside of your album with material. Measure the inside of the front and back covers. Cut your material to fit the inside of the cover, but be sure to allow an extra inch. You will need to fold the excess material in towards the cover so that you won’t have any raw edges showing. You can iron your creases for a neater look.
Apply another thin line of hot glue along the edges of the inside and dot hot glue across the middle. You can now press your material onto the glue, but be sure your raw edges are folded in towards the cover.
You now have the basic photo album. If you purchased a small picture frame, you can cover it with the same material or contrasting material using your hot glue gun. Next, hot glue the frame to the front of the album. You can also trim the picture frame with matching cording, lace, or fringe.
If you want to be even more creative, you can write words such as “family photos”, “friends”, etc using a fabric pen. You can also add rhinestones, buttons, shells, etc. to the cover of your album.
Creating a beautiful photo album is a simple project that anyone can do. It makes a wonderful gift or an attractive addition to your own home.
