Personalizing the outside of your album gives you a chance to feature a memorable photo and add even more meaning to a special album.  It can be personalized to match the album theme, like a wedding or a trip to Disney World, or it can display a person's name.  No matter how it is personalized, it adds that extra-special touch that really pops!

For this client's album, I found a plain kraft album with a picture window.  I used several sheets of patterned cardstock to create the "base" of the page, sewing them together for added stability and durability.  

Next, I added a banner with a name, including some of that great metal chain from Prima's memory hardware line.  I added a few charms to the chain for a bit of sparkle.  

I also added a pull and attached a tassel.  Then I spritzed some white flowers with an iridescent mist to make them sparkle.  I tucked in a few metal medallions as well as a metal heart.  Finally, I added some pearls that matched the color of the water in the photo.

On the inside I attached a ribbon to help keep this album closed as it was a very full album.  This was my first album cover alteration with a closure.  I've done a few since then, having learned from this experience that I think will have more durability in the long run.

If I do a closure, I attach the ribbon or string to the outside.  With the photo window on this album, it would have been hard to attach the ribbon under the base layer of papers on the cover, keeping it long enough under those papers to make it durable.

Attaching the closure ribbon or string to the outside also requires altering the back side of the album to hide the edge of the ribbon under a layer of base papers.  Even though this was my very first album cover alteration, I'm still really pleased with how well it turned out.  

And no matter how long-lasting or durable an altered album may be, it is always important to store you altered album properly.  Make sure to protect the cover so that the embellishments don't get caught on something and end up ripping off.  Consider finding a box to keep it in so you don't have to worry about dust accumulating on the cover as well.  And, when you open and look through your album, remember to keep the front of your album protected by lying it on a soft surface that won't catch or pull on your embellishments.  

Want to add an album customization to your next order?  Visit my online store for more information!

Products Used

Kaiser Craft: Rustic Harmony - peace, inspired, tranquil; Pearls - teal  |  Prima: Vintage Trinkets - mix #2, charms; Memory Hardware - antique copper chain, vincennes metal pull; Mechanicals - tin hearts, vintage trinkets washers; Flowers - purity II; Art Basics - modeling paste (as adhesive)  |  American Crafts: Twine - rocky road  |  Tattered Angels: Glimmer Mist - pearl  |  Silhouette America: Sketch Pens - aubergine  |  Webster's Pages:  Color Crush - gold tassel  |  WeR: Eyelets - standard pink  |  Golden: Heavy Gel - gloss (as adhesive)  |  Other: light yellow thread, pop dots

Happy Scrapping!

Adrienne