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Beginners and advanced scrappers. Busy scrappers and those who love to linger over each layout. Scrappers making gift albums and those creating family heirlooms to keep. What do they all have in common? They’re part of the driving force behind the mini album trend. Retailers around the world tell us the mini album trend is hot—encouraging beginners and busy scrappers to start the craft, while giving experienced scrappers even more options.
Oh, yes—and the same supplies are great for card makers, too!
Why Scrappers Love Mini Albums
Overwhelmed by the thought of devoting time, money and energy to a giant project, more and more people are scrapping small. Here’s why:
Reason #1: It’s manageable
Take a look at all the 8”x8” Almost Done™ themes right here.
Like the idea of a project with a definite beginning and end? Me too. I love the idea of creating one album that’s focused on a certain theme, like a vacation, my heritage photos or my baby nephew’s first year.
The pages are fast and easy to make, too—something I was grateful to realize when creating three duplicate memorial albums. Because the 8"x8" page is large enough to hold 1-2 photos (or one photo and journaling) plus embellishments, I was able to get pages done quickly. Yet even though I was making 4-5 pages per evening, they still looked great—proof that “fast and easy” doesn’t have to mean “boring”.
Reason #2: For easier photo organization
Keeping photos and memories organized is a huge reason for themed mini books. Scrappers often take most of their photos at events, occasions or trips—a mini album allows you to scrapbook your photos the same way you take them. And it’s easier organization. You can pull out a single album dedicated to a certain theme instead of flipping through a big chronological book.
Reason #3: As a gift album
I probably give away more scrapbooks than I keep! Mini albums are perfect for this—they’re ideal gifts for a co-worker, friend or family member. A wedding album for a friend, a heritage book for a sibling or a grandparents’ brag book are all wonderful handmade keepsakes that will touch the heart without requiring a huge investment in time or money on your part.
Reason #4: I don’t have that many photos!
Our grandparents and parents generally didn’t take as many photos as we do today. Just look at your collection of heritage pictures, or even pictures from your own childhood. You might find yourself with a very limited number of pictures—some of questionable quality. A 12" album page can often overwhelm these smaller, darker photos. Yet somehow, an 8"x8" book presents them perfectly. Putting the photos in a smaller album fits the photos better in proportion and allows each one to shine.
Reason #5: I have too many photos!
A friend of mine was organizing her photos when she came across duplicate school pictures of her children. “I had already put the school photos in our family album so I was at a loss as to what to do with these extras,” she says. “I realized when the kids leave they won’t have their own albums to take with them, so I decided to make a school album for each child.”
Reason #6: I make cards!
Card makers, unite–now you have even more supplies and embellishments for your craft. And for those of us who scrapbook and make cards, a little pad of 8"x8" paper with matching cut-outs does double-duty.
Maximize the mini album trend with the latest supplies, like the Mini Album line from Hot Off The Press. There are decorated 8" albums plus paper packs and cardstock in themes like Kids, Heritage, Christmas and more. See the complete line by clicking here. Even better—we’ve got 8"x8" Overlays, 8”x8" Almost Done™ Page Kits and papers, too!
Hot Off The Press researches the craft industry and other markets for the latest trends—so you don’t have to! Visit the Trend of the Month column in each issue of Independents Only to keep up on the trends that affect your business.
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