Carousel Notes Envelope Album

As some of you know, I have been working on this project since my preorder of Carousel Notes arrived months ago! I created a similar album about a year ago while playing around with some square envelopes. It is super easy to create and I loved making all the pull out pieces and pockets. I still have room for a couple more pull out pages, which will probably contain more journalling later - one can fit into the spine of the book and one can pull out of the very last page.

To embellish my book, I used Stampin' UP!'s designer series Afternoon Tea paper, as well as the matching Love Birds rubons, new Hodgepodge Hardware and flowers from the Pretties Kit.

I cut the envelope to form a pocket for the carousel note on page one. The photo on page two also slips out of the pocket.

Page four was also cut down slightly to create the pocket for the carousel note.

One of the envelope flaps will be left when you create the album. I sandwiched this flap with two matching pieces of Wild Wasabi. To create another hidden pocket, I used sticky strip on only three sides and slipped a tag inside. One side of the tag contains journalling and the other contains a photo that I loved because it shows my girls' personalities, but that wouldn't normally make the cut after a photo shoot.

Here's how to create your own Envelope Album:

You will need to start with three carousel note envelopes. Begin by folding the flap of one of them backwards. This will be your middle page.

Next, moisten the adhesive on a second envelope. Insert this flap into the envelope that has the flap folded back (your middle page). You will want to add more adhesive later to make your album more stable. This album will be your cover/first page.

Close your book. Turn it so that the middle page flap is facing you. Moisten the adhesive on the last envelope and insert it into the pocket between the pages at the spine of the book. This will be your last page.

As I mentioned earlier, I cut down the envelope pockets slightly to make my carousel note pages easier to take in and out. I reinforced these spots on both sides to keep the book stable. I also added adhesive to the flaps where needed to make everything sturdy.

Edited to add: The completed album pictured above includes a fourth envelope for even more pages. To add another two scrapbook pages to your book (like the one I did originally) add the following steps:

Fold back the flap on a fourth envelope, but do NOT moisten the adhesive. Instead, insert the fourth envelope into the flap that is exposed in your album and reinforce with adhesive. Your flap will still be between the last two pages of your album, but you will have additional room for scrapbook pages.

Loonies for Littles Promotion

There are a lot of Stampin' UP! promotions going on right now. My favourite is the "Loonies for Littles" Campaign. Stampin' UP! has created a special package with a limited edition stamp set and will donate $2 from every kit purchased to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Canada. I decided to use this special to help out even more kids. As most of my customers know, my favourite charity is Place of Rescue in Cambodia. I just finished reading First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung about the genocide in Cambodia during the 1970's and it further inspired me to give more to help the kids who were not yet born when their country was torn apart, but who nevertheless have suffered as a result. For every Loonies for Littles kit purchased, I will donate $5.00 to Place of Rescue. The kit is available until May 31, 2008 and is available only in Canada. This is my personal offer and not Stampin' UP!'s, and so it is only available through me.

Other Stampin UP! promotions include:
Free Wheelin' Promotion - until April 30th
Cutting Combo Pack Special Offer - May 1-31 - Buy a cutting mat and receive a hobby blade for free!
Get on Board with Chipboard - May 1-31 - Get 25% off chipboard when you spend $40 (before shipping & taxes)