Great Minibook Gift Ideas

I love a cheap gift, but I love a personalized gift even more. Using my leftover papers to create meaningful mini albums has become a ritual for me lately. I've created these three albums in the last three months. Although I had the recipients in mind while creating these gifts, you could easily create a generic album and add the titles and theme later.

Amanda's Birthday Party

I mention this book first because it was the easiest to create. I used the same sketch over and over again, throughout the entire album. Notice how I kept the sketch the same for vertical photographs too. The large blank space to the left is for my friend to journal. My friend is a mother of four boys and rarely uses pink or girlie embellishments, so I really wanted to create an album with feminine appeal. I knew she didn't have the stuff to do it herself.

A Baby Shower

I knew my sister's first baby shower would be filled with gifts from a store, but I wanted my niece to have something special. I created blank pages with generic titles such as "Guests and Gifts" and "Games." My sister can add her favorite photos later and journal whatever she wants. With over 200 photos taken, this book will help her reflect upon her special day without having to sift through photo sleeves. My sister does not scrapbook. I kept this album simple by using minimal embellishments and only using one or two patterned papers per layout.

Our Family Pets

My stepmother is so amazing. She works 40+ hours a week and still manages to be the best grandmother ever! I wanted to lighten her scrapbook load by creating a book for her so that she could sift through years of pictures and add them to a completed album. What a great sense of accomplishment she felt as she was able to decorate a book that honored all her beloved pets from past and present. This album was a bit more work because I wanted each page to look different and to look like a real scrapbook rather than a generic album. I saved some time by using a boxed kit by KI Memories that included matching papers, stickers, letters and embellishments.

I have been creating mini books as gifts for years, and I wish I could say that it's paid off 100%, but it hasn't. I have created mini books for people who didn't appreciate the time and energy I put into the album. I've also been to friend's houses to see my gift album on their book shelf--empty!! The worst was when I spent my entire scrapbook budget on fibers for a mini book and my friend replied, "What are those fuzzy things? Did you get those from the dryer vent?" I hope not to discourage you, but to caution you to consider that before spending a weekend, money and energy on a book. I really enjoyed making Amanda's birthday album because I added the pictures myself. All she has to do is journal. If she never does, that's ok. She can still look back and remember her birthday party and hopefully know that I care enough for her to create something for her.

Something else to consider: A friend of mine once told me that most people will not throw away a picture of themselves, especially if the photo is flattering.