Hour #1: For this book we are making up to a nine two-page layouts, a title page and an ending page. Choose your theme, like Our Family’s Trip to ____ or The _____ Family’s Year in Review. This is your titling for your front page. Don’t do your titling, just pick it. Check out two-page layouts sketches. Choose two different two-page layouts. Print them out. Figure out the dimensions of the pieces in the layout. For instance, 5 by 6 mats, 3 by 4 or journal box, how many pictures it holds, etc. Make a list for each layout design.

Clarification: You will be using the two different layouts in this way: you have your title page, then turn to layout number one, then turn to layout number two, then turn to the next page which is layout number one again, and it repeats. Lastly, you have an ending page. By the way, no one is going to notice you are using the same two layouts over again in the album and this is an important step to make this project easier on you. You’ll be using different papers, pictures, elements, etc. It will be different enough.

Hour #2: Separate the pictures by two page layout, setting the extras aside. Place each set(by two-page layout) in a separate zip baggie and mark them as to what number page they are. Organize your cardstock, pattern paper and embellishments per layout. Using a paper clip, clip them together with the picture baggie, number page it is and the number of the layout it is(1 or 2).

Hour #3: Take all of the layout number one pages and cut all of the cardstock/pattern paper pieces according to the list you made of the sketches. It is important here not to take out your pictures – we’ll get to this and trimming later. Do this in an assembly line manner, not losing your focus. Do one, clip it back up and then do the next one.

Hour #4: Take all of the layout number two pages and cut all of the cardstock/pattern paper pieces according to the list you made of the sketches. It is important here not to take out your pictures – we’ll get to this and trimming later. Do this in an assembly line manner, not losing your focus. Do one, clip it back up and then do the next one.

Hours #5 & 6: Attach all of the paper pieces to the layout and add your pictures. You may trim mats and pictures down, but try not to get too caught up in making it perfect. Do this in an assembly line manner, first the one type of layout then the other.

Hour #7: Go through your pages and title them with stickers, cut letters or markers. Do your title page with the letters and pick an ending title, like ‘So long!’ Or ‘Until next time…’

Hour #8: Add the embellishments to your pages. Use some of your left over pictures to embellish the title and ending pages.

Hours #9 & 10: Journal your pages and place them in the album. Enjoy!