Mini album using Stamperia Hortensia paper

Marie, from The Purple Magnolia, started advertising a class to make a mini album using the magnificent Stamperia Hortensia paper a long time before it was scheduled, and of course, I had to put my name down for the course. I think it may have been advertised for more than a month, and I was like a child counting the sleeps before the class.

The paper has hydrangeas and is subtle purple, pinks, and greens. It is such a lovely pack of paper that I almost didn’t want to cut it up, but instead to keep it as what they call in Afrikaans “blaaipapier”. That is to say, loosely translated, paper that you browse through because you can’t bear to use.

Marie made the blank albums for us beforehand so that we could focus on the process of decorating the album (there was a class on how to make the albums earlier in the year, or perhaps last year), and our packs included the paper, several embellishments, watercolour paper, and bits and bobs to include and make out albums look beautiful. As usual, the class came with full-colour, detailed instructions on how to complete the task, in case someone had to leave early.

The process was as follows:

1. Measure and cut all the paper
2. Forget which piece goes with which one
3. Number the pages and the paper that goes on each page
4. Keep each bunch together on the proper page with a paper clip
5. Read, and re-read the instructions to make sure you have everything ready to go
6. Fussy-cut all the small pictures you want to use (including the tags and labels)
7. Start to make the flaps for the pages, and begin to glue them all in
8. Create the journalling pages by adding some watercolour paint and doodles so they are all part of the same theme cohesively
9. Glue in the journalling paper and embellishments
10. Glue on or add lots of extra bling
11. Add tags in the pockets
12. Use the magnificent flowers Marie made for us for the cover, and create a vase bursting with hydrangeas
13. Sit back and enjoy the beauty

This was SUCH a wonderful class, and the album is just beautiful.

I am so glad you have visited my blog to see my album, and I hope it brought some joy to you. It certainly brought me several hours of fun making it.

Stay warm, and be kind to each other. XxX