Autumn Bliss Mini Album, Part 1

BEFORE: Mini Album features Heavyweight Cardstock

Fall is in the air and it's time to enjoy the glow of an autumn day full of warm oranges, browns and a blue sky above.  This mini album was made using CutCardstock.com's heavyweight cardstock called Savoy in Bright White.  It's 100% cotton and rocks in at 236 lbs!  The quality of this cardstock is far superior to using chipboard because you get even more sturdiness without a lot of bulk.  Can something be heavyweight and light all in one?  Well, this is perfect cardstock for creating a mini album to celebrate autumn's bliss.

Mix & Match #1 Dies

I cut the 8.5" x 11" Savoy cardstock into these very cool album pages by using Accucut's Mix & Match #1 jumbo dies.  I cut one of each of the four different shapes this set provides.

Wallpaper using brayer & glue stick

Then I covered the smooth white pages with My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose papers from my stash.  This technique is called "wallpapering" and you'll need a glue stick, brayer, a craft knife and cutting mat.  Simply apply the glue to the cardstock page and then flip the page so that the glued side adheres to the opposite side of the paper you want to end up showing.  Use the brayer to ensure the paper smoothly adheres to the cardstock page.  Now use a craft knife to cut along the edges.  An important tip to really get a nicely finished page is to file the edges of the page after papering.  I like to use Basic Grey's Precision File Set because it has several file sizes to get into any area and sand it smooth!

File edges smooth

I used both patterned paper and solid cardstock to cover my album pages.  Because the dies provide holes in the pages make sure to punch through the newly laid paper on each side as you go; don't paper both sides and then try to re-punch the holes.  One-inch binder rings hold this album together leaving enough room for me to add lots of embellishments, photos, ribbons and more.

Come back tomorrow to check out how this simple mini album gets turned into a pretty ode to autumn.  Let's embellish with relish!