My House Repair Album

Since my entire October was taken up with the great saga of my home repair, I decided that I must get it into a book for sharing. The home fixing up thing took over my life. It really did.

Thankfully, I did manage to find some humor in the whole event. I took pictures by the tons. My nice Master Carpenter Man grew accustomed to my snapping his picture. He just gave up and ignored me.

I purchased an 8 x 8 traditional album from Creative Memories in chocolate. I thought that nice rich brown would go well with all the pictures of Master Carpenter Man tearing up my house with saws and such. I used white pages and, of course, page protectors.

I started the album with a few pictures of Master Carpenter Man when he was working for my mother. I wanted it clear that I knew what I was getting into when I commissioned him to come make a mess in my house. I was fully aware that there would be issues of what I called 'Tim Droppings'.

I used some paper that I had purchased previously from CM and decorated the page. I even cut a few circles with the circle shape maker and think it adds a bit of interest in the border... almost like pegs in wood.


I printed my own photos for this book, so sized them smaller and also used an editing program to add some comments directly on the picture. When I thought about doing this, I have to admit that I was rather pleased with myself.

Again, I went for the simple look in decorating the pages. A bit of colored cardstock cut in triangles to give a little accent.




I even followed Master Carpenter Man into the attic and managed to bug him there. Like I said, he managed to ignore me most of the time.

I accented this page with some CM paper that I'd saved. Again, I used a triangle on one page and a random cut of paper on the other. I used some orange cardstock and cut holes with CM's Bubble shape maker. Lining the holes up so I could see them, I then used the large Square shape maker. I even saved the little dots left when I punched with the Bubble maker. Using CM's Precision Point Adhesive, I glued the little dots around the square. I rather like the look.

I've had a few friends visit since the dining and living room ceilings have been redone. I've kept this book on my coffee table in the living room. When friends look at it, they have been amazed at exactly how much work went into this whole fixing up process. They have chuckled and seem to have enjoyed looking at the pictures. I've given you just a sampling. There is more... much more.

I've enjoyed them too. I have plans to have Master Carpenter Man return to work on the kitchen. Each time I look at this album, I wonder about that. Oh, there will be more pictures and more pages added to my book.

Added Information

It was nice to hear from my consultant yesterday. She did want me to know that that Power Sort Box sitting on her table would hold 2,400 photos! I was shocked! That's a lot of photos!

She also mentioned something very practical that I'd not thought to say. 'Even if you never expect to create an album of your photos...labeling and sorting them would be the kind thing to do for future generations.' Well said, CM Consultant!

Actually, she left some helpful suggestions in her comment on my Sorting Pictures post. I know you can't see the comments unless you click on the little envelope on the lower right hand side of the post. It says 'comments', and if you just click there, it will open up and you can see everything she said. She is SO smart and you might want to see what she has to say. The woman lives and breathes this whole preserving memories thing, and she has been doing it long enough that she really knows what she is talking about. I hope you take the time to see what she has to say. If not, I'm sorry.

Sorting Pictures

You are probably wondering if you are going to get to view yet another table full of my mess as I work on my trip to Michigan. Really, I'm not that cruel. My mess is mounting, but my book is also growing. I'm going to start page 35 today, and I'm really liking the way it is turning out.

This is a picture I couldn't resist adding as it was sent to me by my Creative Memories consultant. She happened to mention that it was her mess. No way! That does not at all qualify as a mess. This is organization at work.


The feature item here should be that nifty sort box. It is a place to start with photo organizing. The box itself is approved as photo safe, which really should be a concern. It certainly is a large step above throwing photos into a drawer, which was my method for far too many years.

Thinking ahead as to photo order when preparing to start an album seems a basic must to me. I made an album of my two children when they were little, and I had one section for I-Needa with pictures entered from youngest to oldest. Then I started another section for Right Back, again with pictures progressing in age.

My Michigan trip photos are arranged by travel days. I've also labeled each new day and made a little note about what we expected to do on that day. I have to remember to include enough information that it will make sense to me twenty years down the road.

If you are reading this and thinking about a drawer full of jumbled photos in your own home, I might casually mention that you paste a sticky note somewhere concerning future organizing. Start by getting a container that is photo friendly. Make sure it is truly photo safe! A sort box might be a great place to start.

It is time to get back to my own album making. Therefore, I leave you with the challenge to do something to preserve your photos. If they were important enough to keep, they are important enough to preserve safely.

Working on Album

I understand that this photo will not win any awards. However... that is NOT the point here. I just want you to know that I'm really hard at work on my Michigan trip album. The last two days, I've completed 34 pages, which isn't bad. I'll be working on it again today.

I will just say, for those who might be mildly interested, that putting together a photo album, or scrapbook, whatever you chose to call it, doesn't have to be elaborate to be nice. For me, it is about having enough information to recall the trip years from now. I also want it to look pleasing on the page.

I am using a Creative Memories 12 x 12 true coverset with white pages and protectors. The true sets are new. CM has added just enough page area that the usable space on the page is a true 12 inches. That is nice as 12 inch decorations will fit in either direction. It also gives a little more room for photos.

I had most of my photos printed this year. Some I have printed on my own computer. The nice thing about printing them myself is the fact that I can print them in smaller sizes if I choose and fit more on the page. The nice thing about having them printed is that I don't have to print them myself. It is costly to print pictures on a printer... ink...paper. Therefore, I've probably saved a little money by having most of them printed.

I'm a firm believer that simple is good. I have organized my album by days. Each day of the vacation is highlighted by different colors of accent paper. I have lots of photos and have used just a touch of color on each page. A little corner piece or a thin strip of paper along the side gives it a little interest, but it isn't overdone. Again, I'm using CM paper as know it is acid and lignin free. That is important in the long haul as I want my albums to stay nice for many years.

I took pictures of signs, when appropriate. I just cut around those signs and put them by the pictures. It certainly is faster and easier than trying to write all that information. Actually, I wouldn't write all of it, so I'm giving added information and interest.

I do think it is important to journal. I've written a little information or just a thought or comment under most of the pictures.

If you are looking at this, and you have never put together an album, I want you to know that it doesn't have to be hard. Also, you don't need a ton of stuff to do it with. Investing in a quality album is the first thing. It will be kinder to your photos in the long run and not fall apart. A corner rounder to snip off those photo corners, a tool to crop (cut away) parts of the picture that aren't necessary, adhesive, and a good acid free journaling pen will put you on the right track.

My Mess

This is my mess, and it's going to get worse. I dug out my Creative Memories 12 x 12 true album, and I'm putting all those pictures from my trip to Michigan into it. I journal as I go and have finished day three of eleven days. I'm going to have to kick back for a few minutes and let my mind and body recover. Don't get me wrong, I really like doing this. I'll love the results and will have a wonderful book to let me relive my most excellent vacation.

As you can see, there is NO hope of any card making going on for a bit. It is going to take a few days to finish my project here. They will be days well spent.

I'm glad Daughter I-Needa impressed upon me the importance of preserving photos in quality acid free, lignin free, and buffered albums. It is a lot of work to put pictures together, and I would rather spend a little more now and get quality merchandise. I'm sad at some of my mother's photos that were ruined by being placed in organizing photo albums that virtually destroyed the pictures.

I had a drawer full of family photos when I-Needa first took me under her Creative Memories Consultant wings. She showed me the error of my ways and set me on the straight path.

Unfortunately, the consultant path became too much for her as her teaching career was just too time consuming to tackle an additional activity. I do have a wonderful consultant, and she is always encouraging me.

I seem to be rattling on a bit, but it is due to something tired in my brain. I'll leave you with the picture of my mess. Just know that I'm busy being creative!

Album Making

If you've been on my Humor and Doings site, you know that I've been up to my eyebrows, almost literally, trying to get photographs from my recent trip to Michigan in order.

I decided not to print my own as I go. I ordered them... uploaded and waited for them to come in the mail. Lovely.

My crafting lately has been on the computer trying to load photos to Flickr and put them on my site. That has consumed a vast amount of time.

I do have all these pictures sorted and will soon be ready to start the album. I purchased a new True 12 x 12 album from my Creative Memories consultant, and I am ready to go.

I really believe in putting photos into something nice and telling the story. Let's face it, in time you can't remember the details. I like having a visual record to help me relive the trips I take. It is good to have fond memories.