Creating Tag Albums

Creating mini albums is a wonderful way to preserve your memories, and of all the different kinds of mini albums that you can make, tag albums are some of the easiest. One of the nice things about them is that they can range from very simple to elaborate and unique, making them easily adaptable for almost any situation.

Once you start making tag albums, it's easy to get hooked on them. Here are some ideas to get you started that will hopefully inspire you to get creative and make your own twists on the basic album.

Loose-Leaf- Ring Tag Album

The easiest option for creating a tag album is to create each tag individually, and then to bind them together using a simple loose-leaf ring, the type that you can get at office supply stores.

You can start with pre-made tags, or make your own out of cardstock, adding embellishments such as reinforcements for the hole. The easiest way to do this is to cut one tag to the size and shape that you would like, then trace it to make as many tags as you want.

There is a lot you can do to embellish each individual tag. Begin by painting the tag or cutting out patterned paper to ‘wallpaper' the tag with. You could fit a photograph and some journaling on each tag to begin with and branch out from there. Consider using one tag for the title page and another to introduce the mini album, with the rest being the "meat" of the album.

Use any embellishments that you would use on a regular layout for this album-the wonderful thing about tag albums is how much you can do with them.

Other Binding Options

Individual tags can be bound in many different ways; the possibilities are almost endless. Here are a few ideas to get you started, but experiment with whatever you can think of. If you dislike the result, it's easy to undo and try again.

• Use ribbon to tie the tags together. Thread ribbon through the holes in the tags and tie in a bow.

• Another option is to use ribbon to attach the tags horizontally, gluing the tags to ribbon similar to a Jacob's Ladder .
  
  
• Use rope or twine in place of the ribbon. Thread the tags onto a length of twine or rope and tie in a knot- a great way to give the album a masculine feel.
  
  
• Use bookbinding tape to tape the tags together with a hinge. Doing this will create an accordion-type album.
  

• Use a single post (like in a post-bound album) to bind the tags together.

More Variations

Starting with a basic tag album, you can do almost anything-there are many variations that are just waiting to be tried. Here are just a few of the many options:

• Change the size of the tags. Make a smaller-sized brag book to fit in your purse, or make an oversized tag album that can hold larger pictures and more intricate layouts. Make the tags long and thin or short and fat. This is easy to do when you cut your own tags out of cardstock.
  
  
• Instead of attaching tags at the top, attach them so that they form an accordion. Ideas for doing this are above under ‘other binding options.'
  
  
• Try different shapes-how about a round tag album?

Already-Bound Tag Albums

Several scrapbooking companies sell ready-made tag albums, 7gypsies and BasicGrey being two examples. The advantage to this is that you save the step of deciding how to bind the tag, although it also limits some of your options. Another advantage is that it helps you coordinate the look of your album, since you can stick to the look of the company whose album you're using.

Already-bound albums are a great choice when you're creating a tag album under a deadline, such as a gift album for a friend.

Uses for Tag Albums

Tag albums are so simple to make and rewarding to have completed, it's easy to get addicted. Need more reasons to make a tag album? There are lots of situations when a tag album would be appropriate. Here are just a few:

• Use a tag album as the basis for an easy group album. Give each participant one or more of the tags and have them alter the tags according to a theme. Bind them together when everyone's done.
  
  
• Give a small tag album as a gift to a friend, or as a tribute to a teacher or a coach.
  
  
• For an event for which you have lots of pictures, create a tag album that can be incorporated into a normal layout.

Tag albums might just be the most versatile album in the scrapbooking world. Ranging from simple to elaborate, they can be created for almost any occasion. Start off small and progress to more elaborate and creative, and you'll be amazed at what you come up with.