Have you ever wondered how people make professional-looking photo albums? I'm super excited to share one of my favorite methods: a chipboard album! Since I'm printing so many photos, it's another perfect post for our Canon USA collaboration. These albums are easy to find at any craft store. They are super easy to take apart, add full-page photos to and put back together. The result is a clean, polished looking photo album that lets the photos shine!
Watch my video tutorial to learn how to assemble a chipboard album!Here's a look at the inside pages. I printed all the photos on my Canon PRO-100, since I needed some huge, beautiful photos for this project. And the PRO-100 lets you print up to 13x19in. I chose to keep my design clean and simple, with no embellishments. That's not to say embellishments are bad, because God knows I love a good letter sticker! For an album with a different theme (say, a vacation?) I would add lots of letter stickers and handwritten journaling directly on the photos! For this album, I love how simple it is. I don't know how almost three years slipped by before I took the time to make a coffee table album with some of our favorite wedding photos. Time flies when you're having fun, right?
"Better later than never" was never more true to me than it is right now. If you are in a similar position, with years of amazing photos sitting on hard drives, don't be discouraged! Start planning your first album today. If I can do it, you can do it! 🙂The detail that makes this album for me is the binding. I love that the photos are full page. It's a little more work taking the book apart and punching all the holes (twice for every piece of chipboard!), but it's totally worth the effort. I made this album in two days. I painted the edges of the book with acrylic craft paint to give it a soft ombre effect. It's a small detail, but one that will look great sitting on the coffee table. What photos will you use for your chipboard album? I know you have some good ones waiting on your hard drives! I think my next album will be a vacation book… or five. Ooops! #betterlatethannever xo. Elsie
Credits// Author: Elsie Larson, Photography: Sarah Rhodes, Video: Jeremy Larson, Wedding Footage: Goodwin Films, Music: Sucré "Chemical Reaction". Photos edited with Spring from The Signature Collection.
We are going on 7 years this July and still don’t have an album. What’s worse is that I am a photographer! This is now on my “To Do” list! Thanks for such a great idea!
Desiree
Elise – I found mine today at Michaels. The brand is Recollections. It was 2 pieces – one an album like this one and the other is a smaller one that measures 6.5 x 6. If it helps, the UPC is 886946324987 and it looks like the item number is 10291825 or 86578-2013-09. My clerk initially said they didn’t have them, but then she went to the very front of the store and they were on an end cap on the bottom shelf. Check again because they probably do have them.
I LOVE this idea. So I went to Michael’s today and bought my chipboard album. In the same package was another smaller album so I scored!!! Now my question is did you print the photos on actual photo paper or just regular printer paper? Thanks.
Wow, great idea!
Diary of Joy
This Chipboard Album is amazing!!! I been wanting to buy the hard albums for a while, but thanks to your wonderful idea and tutorial I won’t have too, because now I will be making my very own…thank you for the idea. Also, I wanted to know if you put anything on top of the picture to protect it from water or anything else?
such a brilliant idea! might try making some for easter gifts, love your little details.
Debs
slothlyf.wordpress.com
What photo paper did you use?
You inspired me to make my own version of this as a gift to my husband for our FIRST anniversary! Thanks!
http://www.rainbootsandbeef.com/2014/04/first-anniversary-chipboard-album-diy.html
what did you use to print the pictures on? and to glue the pictures?
This is an awesome idea! I’m looking to do the same for my own wedding photos. What did you use to adhere the photos? Looked like you had tape, but I don’t know if that would hold very well. Would you suggest laminating the pages?
Elsie!
I realized you’ve answered this question a few times, but I tried looking for this book (I LOVE the double spine) on Amazon and I wasn’t able to find it. I also couldn’t find it on Michael’s website. I’ve been searching for “spiral chipboard album” should I be searching for something else? Thanks for being patient! Sorry for being obnoxious!
I never ever knew the reasoning behind Emma’s blue hair! Oh my GOODNESS that is so incredible that she did that for your “Something Blue!” Oh my goodness. Oh, and you said “If I can do it, you can do it!” No ma’am – you are miss Elsie Larson! You are the creative guru and we learn from you! But gosh you’re so sweet and encouraging. Would looooove to come pick your brain someday!
What did you use to adhere the photos to the chipboard? Mod Podge? Special glue?
I think I can me this work for my 10 year anniversary next month 🙂
I real y real y leve it!! Congratulaciones for the Job!
I Love this idea! Looks super cute!
Great video. I’ve never thought of making an album like this. Imagining myself doing it, I wondered if it was difficult to line up the holes in all of the pages after repunching?
Lovely photos. Nice post 🙂
ℓα ℒιcσrηe – ℒa vie est ℓa petite ℓicorne.
Fantastic idea! And the result is looking good and authentic, loving it!
xoxo
Melodie
http://www.sevenlivesandmore.com/
I’ve actually been looking for a fresh way to organize all of my old pictures. What a lovely way to do it! I have to make one 🙂
http://www.thesecretsurprisinista.com
It’s really a nice album!
http://porlasramasblog.blogspot.com