Transform a drab photo holder into a fun, fresh, and funky customized tribute to your favorite teen! Scrapbooking a teenager is fun and also fosters a sense of confidence. Use this moment to tell her how important, special, and unique she is. Let her know that you are her biggest fan of all. You might want to include other pictures from her childhood, or concentrate on the most recent pictures. Whichever approach you take, just letting her know that you notice who she really is will go a long way in boosting her self-esteem
Instructions
STEP 1:
Purchase an inexpensive 4 x 6 plastic “brag book.” I find mine in the Photo Album section of my local big-name discount store. Make sure that you have access to the covers (there will be a slit in the plastic, usually along the interior spine, where you can slip the current cover out). You will not be able to change covers that are sealed in.
STEP 2:
Cut out several page protector sleeves. I usually excise at least every other one. These books are made for flat photos, so they bulk up easily when adding cardstock and scrap supplies.
STEP 3:
Remove the covers and measure. Create your own covers, cutting them about 1/8 inch shorter on the width and length to accommodate bulkier embellishments.
STEP 4:
Create interior covers for the flip sides of the outer covers. These are great spots for dedication and summary pages. For each the beginning and the end covers, adhere the outer and inner cover pages back to back and slide them back into place.
STEP 5:
Create 4 x 6 mini layouts for the interior pages. Crop your photos to fit inside the 4 x 6 format with enough room for embellishing, or reprint your favorite photos in a 2 x 3 size.
STEP 6:
To soften the look of brightly colored and patterned papers, try distressing the edges with white acrylic paint and an almost-dry brush. Also in keeping with the soft feel, I chose to stamp some of the images in white acrylic paint as well, while other stamps were treated with a watermark ink-and-chalks technique. Simply stamp your image onto paper with watermark ink, then lightly smooth chalks over the surface. Erase any stray marks with a white gum eraser, and quickly dry with a heat tool. Hand journaling and doodling also lends a “I created this myself, just for you.” specialness to the project.