Paper Kisses - the new Jan Mini Album Kit!

[Briana Johnson]

Hey girls! I wanted to start a thread so we can talk about different ways we might use the mini album kit. I've posted a sneak peek on my blog and a few words about the colors. I made my mini all about this past Valentine's Day. It's about how I never cared for Valentine's Day until this year because my hubs has some fabulous surprises up his sleeve. But the mini is thick enough that you'll be able to get quite a bit in there so I'm going to add this coming Valentine's Day as well.

Doris and I were talking about what we're doing with ours and I was also thinking about how cool it would be to do wedding photos from past generations of each side of your family or wedding and dating photos from the past. I have the coolest pic of my grandma and grandpa kissing in the 50s and I considered doing that or maybe even adding a few chapters to  my book with photos like that. But of course dating photos in general or favorite photos of you and your spouse spanning the years.

I know you haven't seen the full kit yet, but if this is something you might be interested in I would love to hear your ideas!

[Doris Sander]

I'm really excited about the new mini-albums each month.  I think this will really motivate me to get gifts done throughout the year for birthdays and christmas.  I always want to do it, but never get around to it.  This is just what I need!  Of course, I'm sure I'll have to keep a few for myself too.  :)

 

I thought I was 100% settled on making a thank you mini-album for my sister with pictures of all the ways she's helped take care of me (and g) through the years.  She's 9 years older than me, so at times she was almost like a second mom.  I've decided to catalog that idea for a future month though because I thought of another mini I've been wanting to do that really capitalizes on the chipboard pages in this mini.  My mom makes these great shaped cakes (we call them cut-up cakes) for birthdays.  I think she's been making them for over 40 years now!  I'm going to make "chapters" for each of the 5 kids (me included) and then have everyone donate cake pictures from themselves and their kids and grandkids over the years.  My mom's going to love it!  Her birthday's in July, so starting it now is a good thing for me!

[Ranjini Malhotra]

Great ideas Briana and Doris!  I can attest the pages I've seen from Briana's album are drop dead gorgeous!I love the idea of a book for your Mom Doris. She is going to love it!

 

I am planning to use mine as a bridal shower gift for my brother in law and future sister in law who are tying the knot in May. I did a photo session with them last month and posted their photos on my blog. They're a beautiful couple and I think she'll enjoy seeing their great photos all in one place.

 

The kit is really, really gorgeous, so much that I am having second thoughts about making it a gift, and entertaining thoughts of keeping the finished album for myself, lol!

[Betsy Sammarco]

There's so much in this kit - and the papers are just soooo gorgeous!  One thing I'd love to do is scrapbook my honeymoon!  and maybe do it in the words of my dh - there were a few incidences - that only he can tell best !

Honestly though - these papers are going to be hard to cut in to.  They.Are.Gorgeous!

[Briana Johnson]

I thought about adding Adam's words to the ring story - including their thoughts is a great idea, I agree, Betsy. I'm sad my kit has been used, lol! I still have enough to make a layout though! Rangini, ha, I know I would have a hard time letting go too!

[Julie Weis]

everyones ideas are awesome and the kit is gorgeous!!

i think i'm going to go with doris' idea and make this one for my older sister and use pics from our childhood. then with next months i can do one for my younger sis.

i love the idea of minis every month! can't wait to see what you girls come up with!

[Jill Sprott]

I actually JUST finished putting the album together tonight!  I knew that I wanted it to be about my husband and our great big goofy wonderful kind of love, but I wasn't too sure how to go about it.  Then, yesterday, I read The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan.  Not only is it a fantastic book, but it also inspired my take on the mini.  Most couples have their own language, I think -- it's true for my husband and I, at least -- and I plan to make the album a constant work-in-progress, adding definition cards to pockets as I think of them.  When I have a few minutes here or there, I can jot down a word that comes to mind, or connect a story that comes to mind to a word, and then, card by card, I will tell our story, in our own words. 

[Briana Johnson]

Jill, that sounds like an amazing idea and plan. I love the idea of definitions in pockets, I know yours is going to be incredible - I can't wait to feast my eyes upon it, seriously!

[Doris Sander]

oh jill!  that sounds like such a delightful book!  can't wait to see it.  i love the idea of special words.

 

betsy!  i would LOVE to see your honeymoon pics!  i hope you do that!

 

i'm thinking that once i get done with my mini i'm going to use some of the leftovers to make valentine's day cards for g's teachers.  i think that would be a sweet idea and super easy to do with this kit.

[Ranjini Malhotra]

Doris you read my mind! That's exactly what I planned to do with the leftovers --- I went very minimalist on my mini - so I have lots of leftovers to make valentines with!!

[Doris Sander]

your mini is GORGEOUS ranjini!  i can see why you're having a hard time giving it up.

 

ha!  i think i'm going to wait till the very end and use all my little paper scraps on the vday cards too so they'll be more colorful.  actually, now that i think about it . . . those mega hershey's bars are on sale for $1 at kroger this week.  i should go grab several.  i could make little "quilted" valentine sleeves for them.  how cute would that be?

[Ranjini Malhotra]

Chocolate is a food group around here. I told Alekha the other day she needed to eat all her red beans so she could get her "daily dose of protein", and she said "Mommy, what kids need is their daily dose of chocolate." LOL!  Thanks for the tip - I'll have to run to Krogers. We do lots of microwave s'mores here so they'll come in use for sure. I am partial to the ones with almonds in them. I can't wait to see your quilted valentines!!

[Doris Sander]

lol!  funny girl!  we're not huge chocolate eaters, actually, but we've consumed 2 of those big bars this wk!  i'm almost afraid to buy a stash for teacher gifts for fear we'll "accidentally" eat them.

 

they had the almond ones too, btw!