Here's an idea for those hard to buy for people like Grandparents. My parents and in-laws live in another city and so we only see them a few times a year. I know they love to keep up with what we're up to, especially the kids as they are growing up so fast at the moment!
I didn't want to create an over-embellished album, nor did I want it to take long - as I have to make 2 of them.
My idea was "keep it simple' - photos & journaling the focus and the same format throughout.
1. Album - I used an old Basic grey shaped 6x6 inch chipboard album. I divided it in two and cut a few extra pages from thin chipboard.
2. Photos - I chose a portrait of each of the kids & one of us as a couple - 6x4 inch. I also made up a 6x4 inch collage for each of us in a photo program of highlights of the year.
3. Papers - I gathered together any papers I had in colours coordinating with the photos.
4. Fiskars Punches - They made easy work of borders and a backing for flower embellishments.
5. Fiskars Shape Template - For journaling I used the new "Brackets and Journal" template to make a journaling spot for each page.
6. Fiskars Fingertip knife - Invaluable for cutting around the edges as I 'wallpapered' each page.
7. Embellishments - Cloud 9 flowers from an old range with jewels added.
8. Ink - Fantastic for blending all edges - hides any imperfect cuts!
Now I just need to finish the journaling and complete the second album!