Mix and Match Travel Mini Album * Robin's Nest Design Team Post *

This album shows how you can mix and match patterned papers that don't necessarily "go together" and create a unique, cohesive album (or layout) that totally works.

I started with a mini album which I created out of Robin's Nest black cardstock from the new Hot Flame line.   There is no chipboard involved, but you need to use a good quality, thick cardstock like Robin's Nest cardstocks in order for your mini to be sturdy enough. I can't take credit for the idea on this mini.  Angel400 on YouTube has a tutorial with measurements and complete instructions. Below is what it looked like made from just black cardstock and adhesive.

I used magnets for my closure and added my patterned paper on top to hide the magnets.

I went through  my Robin's Nest patterned papers to decide what would go with my travel theme.  I grabbed the obvious (Palm Tree Glitter Cardstock, and Tropical Voyage Paper), and then some not-so-obvious choices like the Olive Fleur on Linen, the Brown Leopard Print on Cream, and Glitter Vanilla Wedding.  I pulled out a few others, but ultimately, these are the ones I chose.

I also pulled out the Robin's Nest Palm Tree Rub-Ons and the Palm Tree Paper Clips - These were perfect for this project!

After cutting my papers to match my page sizes for my mini album, I chose two of my favorite inks a deep brown and a black, to distress the edges of all of the papers, which not only gave the papers the distressed look I was going for, but it also pulls all of the different colors and patterns together.  Now, even though the patterns are all very different, they all have the exact same distressed edge in the same color tones.  I started with the brown and did a pretty good sized border, then I followed up with the black just edging it a bit.

Once I had everything inked, I adhered all of the papers to my mini.  I used any left-over scraps to create tags and photo mats to go in the pockets I created.

As you can see, even though I have used all patterned papers (no solids) and they are all from different Robin's Nest lines and sets, they do work together.  Don't be afraid to mix and match your patterned papers and come up with something totally unique to you and your style!

Even though I want the photos to be the focus of this mini, I decided the front needed just a bit more.  So, I used the largest of the rub-ons (link above) and rubbed it onto a piece of Robin's Nest Glitter Vanilla Wedding paper (link above).  I then fussy cut the image and adhered it to my cover using foam dots.  I used the Glitter Vanilla Wedding paper because it has a nice linen finish and is a good, thick quality paper, but was still easy to cut.  I used the same brown ink as before on the edges of the image to make it stand out even more and give it some depth.

I finished the album off with the "Tropical Breeze" quote found in the Rub-ons package (link above) and a bow to give it the appearance that it's holding the mini closed (even though it's just decorative).

Thanks for looking.  Let me know if you try this, I would love to see some finished products where you "mixed and matched."  Happy Scrapping!

~Make Today Count

Wendy