Tackle Box Album

First you must decide what form you’d like the album to take. I’ve found that men are often appreciative of a project that has a useful function. I’ve altered CD cases to make mini photo calendars, I’ve made accordion albums that can fit inside a wallet, and today I’m making an album from a plastic organizer. I’m using removable glue dots, so that my practical father can re-use the container to hold hardware or fishing lures. This container cost only .75.

A stamp is an easy way to personalize a mini album. I prefer acrylic stamps for several reasons. First, they’re inexpensive, so it’s easy build a collection. This stamp set is by We R Memory Keepers and retails for 99 cents. Second, it’s easy to see exactly where you’re stamping, so it’s pretty foolproof.

Select a dark-colored ink for a masculine album. If you use Staz-On brand ink, you have the option of stamping directly onto the plastic and it will stay put. But I like the texture of a patterned paper, so I’m stamping on that instead.

When selecting papers for a masculine album, stick with dark or neutral colors. Skip over floral prints or pastels. Try to buy double-sided paper, as it will make your money stretch farther. Measure your container so you can cut paper to fit.

Now it’s time for embellishments. Metal accents or hardware add a masculine touch to an album. Stay away from flowers and buttons. Use items like stars, keys, and rivets instead. Rather than using ribbons or lace, choose twine, raffia, or wire.

When it comes to photos, I often like to tint mine sepia, or de-saturate them to black and white. Skip over the fancy punches; cropping your photos into squares will give your album clean lines and lend your album a sophisticated maturity.

I’m keeping this little accordion insert as flat as possible, because I’d like him to be able to slip it into his wallet if he’d like.

Find more mini scrapbook album tutorials here!