Reminisce: Welcome to Deck the Halls Week!

27 Days until Christmas! Have you started your shopping yet? Have you decorated your home or trimmed your tree? Maybe you are looking for some inspiration for ideas for Holiday Home Décor, Ornaments, Gift Tags, and Ornaments? Over the course of the next week you will find them all here!

Today we are going to start with one of my favorites; a Mini Book Christmas Ornament. In previous years, I have made up to 10 each of 4 different versions of these books, one version for us, one for my side of the family, one for Matt’s side of the family, one for our group of friends. I create the books myself then fill them up with 12-20 pictures highlighting fun events from throughout the year.

The books are very easy to make, and easy to adapt to whatever size of photo you want to feature. When I’m doing many versions of the same book, I make them smaller and then I print out 12-20 sheets 2” x 3” photos.

To create a book to hold sixteen 2” x 3”;

Start with a piece of chipboard 4” x 6 3/8”. Score the 6 3/8” side of in 3” from both sides (creating a 3/8” area in the center that will become the binding area of the book - see the white lines on the image below.) Then cut a piece of Christmas Cheer paper 5” x 7 3/8”. Adhere chipboard to the backside of the printed paper as shown.

1. Cut the corners of the paper at a 45 degree angle to the corners of the chipboard as shown;

A Layer adhesive where the white edges of the paper are showing on the backside, and fold the edges over to finish the cover.

Cu Cut an 8” piece of ribbon, then fold over and attach to the inside binding (in the center) of the book

4. Cut eight pieces of cardstock 5 ¾” x 3 ¾”, then score each one on the long (5 ¾”) side at 2 7/8” (creating two halves 2 7/8”x 3 ¾”). Adhere one side of the first piece to the inside cover. The crease on the cardstock should be lined up with the score line at 3” on the chipboard.

6. Then adhere one side of the second piece of cardstock to the backside. Repeat with all eight pieces. Then adhere outer edge of the eighth piece to the inside back cover.

Fill with photos;

C Cut a 9" x 1/2" strip of the remaining green cheer paper. Close the book and wrap the strip around the book - make sure there is enough space to get the strip on and off the book once it is adhered - then adhere the strip.

Embellish the cover, and then you have a spectacular Mini Photo Album Ornament that you can enjoy for years!