Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue Mini Album for Frilly and Funkie “By Airmail” Challenge

Hello, Friends! How do you feel about joining me for a little escape to Paradise today? I’ve created this Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue Mini Album for the “By Airmail” Challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Blog. We’ll dig into the album in a moment, but first, let’s see what the marvelous Jenny Marples, our lovely challenge hostess, has to say about the theme.

Challenge Theme: By Airmail
I just love sending and receiving letters in the mail. And especially love the stamps, airmail stickers and postmarks that these letters pick up along the way. For this challenge, create a vintage or shabby chic postal themed project. Think old fashioned aircraft, airmail stamps, post marks, postage stamps.

Now, grab your flip flops and suntan lotion and meet me in Paradise!

Tropical Travelogue Mini Album

These are the colors of summer, my friends! And I love them. I found this 9″ x 6″ wood cover mini album while cleaning out the Closet of Shame. The base is thin wood with pre-drilled “O-rings that serve as the binding mechanism. The cover is treated with some fun mixed media techniques that I discuss in the video tour below. (I think I’m starting to get the hang of this mixed media thing…and I think I love it!)

To keep with the challenge theme, I used this large postage stamp from the Tropical Travelogue Collection as the focal image. The postcard, also from the collection, is stitched onto burlap. Wood charms (Prima French Riviera/retired) and antique bronze charm are tapped with Vintaj Patina inks to age and distress them.

These charms are from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. I love the palm tree!

And here’s a look at the front and back covers.

Tropical Travelogue Mini Album: How to Make a Belly Band

The belly band inside the front cover holds three 7″ x 5″ photo mounts covered with the zebra print from the collection. Here’s how I made it:

First, fussy cut the border strip from the signature page. I used my paper trimmer, most of the way, then switched to scissors when I got to the flowers.
Next, trim the width so that it is 2″ wider than your inside cover.
Now score a 1″ flap on either end of the border strip.
Then adhere the flaps to each side of the page.
Finally, cut out a postage stamp and adhere it in the upper right hand corner.
Photo mounts measure 7.25″ x 5.25″. The zebra lining is 7″ x 5″.

On the facing page, I created a little gatefold flap. You’ll see how this works in the video.

Tropical Travelogue Mini Album: Flap Page and Waterfall Feature

This flap feature lifts to reveal a 6″ x 4″ postcard for journaling. And every tropical paradise needs a waterfall. So I created a waterfall feature on the facing page. You can fit 18 photos in this, and the final page has a fun pocket with inserts. You’ll see that in the video.

Tropical Travelogue Mini Album: Pull Out Page and Back Cover

Even though this album only has a few pages, it has loads of room for photos.

This accordion style pull out page will hold a dozen 4″ x 5″ photos. I attached the flap behind the main panel. The green giraffe print will hold a 7″ x 5″ photo, or lots of smaller photos. The gorgeous image of the sea goddess is actually a flap page with room on the back for journaling or photos.

Inside the back cover, I created a pocket page. This is made with the other large border strip from the Tropical Travelogue signature page. Once again, I combined fussy cutting with straight line cutting to create an interesting edge. These images and journal cards from the collection tuck inside the pocket. And there’s plenty of room for more photos, if desired.

Tropical Travelogue Mini Album Tour on YouTube

In this 10 minute video I’ll show you how all the interactive parts work. I’ll also talk about the process I used to create the mixed media background on the album cover. There are lots of good tips and tricks shared in the course of the presentation. I hope you enjoy!

“By Airmail” …Now it’s YOUR Turn!

I hope you’ll play along in this fun challenge by linking up your vintage or shabby chic postal inspired project at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog .

The winner will earn the chance to be a Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. We are also awarding Top 3 Badges for three further outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team, because we can’t pick just one favorite!

You have until 11:59PM EDT on Tuesday, July 3rd to link your project.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

I hope I’ve shared some tips, techniques and ideas that you can use in your own craft adventures. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!