Hello, my dear crafters! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day and are ready to dive into another exciting crafting adventure with me. Today, we’re going to explore the heartwarming world of vintage photo albums, and I’m about to share how I created one using some truly charming vintage materials.
I originally showed you hot to make a vintage photo album as part of the Gratefully Inspired page hop put on by Michelle of The Vintage Daisy. So many of you loved it that I wanted to put together a whole tutorial post for you.
The thing that I love most about this project is that each vintage photo album will be as unique and beautiful as the crafter who makes it. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!
How to Make a Vintage Photo Album
There’s something incredibly magical about vintage items, isn’t there? They carry stories from the past, a sense of nostalgia, and a charm that’s hard to replicate. When it comes to photo albums, going vintage adds an extra layer of sentimentality. It transforms our precious memories into timeless treasures.
A vintage photo album is like a time capsule, transporting us back to those golden days with just a glance. It can make a lovely gift for loved ones or a unique keepsake for ourselves.
How I Created My Vintage Photo Album
Now, let’s get into the fun part – the crafting process! I found a treasure trove of vintage fabric and lace, along with some adorable vintage buttons and ribbons. These became the core materials for my album.
The Cover: A Story in Itself
For the cover, I used a piece of vintage fabric as the base. Its faded colors and worn-out charm were perfect for setting the vintage tone right from the start. Then, I embellished it with layers of old lace which added depth and texture. Isn’t it amazing how these elements, each with a history of its own, came together to create something new yet nostalgic?
The vintage buttons and ribbons were like the cherry on top, adding that extra flair and finishing touch. But the real showstopper was a photo of a woman who I imagined was contemplating all she was grateful for. Framed by an old handkerchief, I placed right at the center. This became the focal point of my cover, instantly drawing attention and tugging at the heartstrings.
Inside Pages: A Walk Down Memory Lane
Inside, I filled the pages with photos, each one a cherished memory. To maintain the vintage theme, you could use more lace and ribbons to decorate the borders of the photos. Every page turned into a walk down memory lane, infused with the charm of yesteryears.
How to Make a Vintage Photo Album Supply List
- Any hardback book
- Spray adhesive (I use Super 77)
- Warm and Natural batting
- Large piece of lace (vintage if you have it but new works too!)
- Mod Podge
- Paint brush
- Vintage book and/or music pages
- Scissors
- Exacto knife or box cutter is handy to have too
- Hole punch
- Muslin shreds (or seam binding, ribbon, or sari silk)
- Old book and music pages (optional)
- Scrapbook tags (optional)
- Family photos (optional)
- Decorative lace or ribbon
- Small vintage treasures (metal tags, buttons, skeleton keys, etc)
How to Make a Vintage Photo Album Instructions
- Start by cutting a piece of batting that is large enough to cover your whole book, with a little extra for it to fold over the front and back edge of the cover.
- Lay the batting flat on your work surface and spray it with the adhesive. Then find the center and place the spine of your book there. Next fold the batting up and tuck it inside the back cover of the book, smoothing the batting down. Repeat the same process with the front of the book.
- Now take a piece of lace that is large enough to cover your book. Use the spray adhesive and add your lace just like you did the batting. Then use scissors to trim the edges of the lace if you need to.
- Once your book is covered, it is time to work on your journal pages. Grab about 10 pages in the front of your book and punch 2 holes through them, in different places.
- Then use a pencil to feed a muslin shred through the hole and tie it in a knot. Trim the ends if you need to. It is easier to start with a longer shred and trim it then it is to tie a short shred.
- Gather the next 10ish pages and punch a couple of holes this time. Tie them both with shreds. Continue on through the book, punching 1-3 holes through 10 page sections and tying them with the muslin shreds.
- When your pages are all tied, it is time to add your page details. Use Mod Podge to add pieces of book pages and scrapbook-like tags. I used my computer to make my own labels for my photo album. But you can use premade ones or skip them all together. I went with grandparents, parents, siblings, family, pets, children, and grandchildren and used Mod Podge to adhere them.
- You don’t have to do this step, but I was able to find illustrations in my books that fit the theme of each page so I added them in too.
Decorating Your Photo Album Cover
- Now that our photo album pages are done, let’s decorate the cover! I started by choosing an old photo for the center of my cover. Since it is a black and white image, I used a 2 inch black ribbon and added it to the front and back of my album. I used spray adhesive and a little bit of hot glue to keep it in place.
- Now for this next step, I got really lucky. I had a gorgeous piece of laced fabric that perfectly fit the binding of my book. Complete with ruffles on both sides. So that’s what I used for the spine. But each of these journals will be unique. We work with what we have and decide how to use it best. Just choose some laces or fabrics that you love and use spray adhesive to attach them.
- Before I added my photo to the cover of the journal, I attached it to an old handkerchief. I used hot glue at the top two corners of the photo to keep it in place. Then I drew a line of hot glue between the dots. Next I gathered the material as I pressed it down to give it a rouched edge. I continued this process around the edges of the photo until it was complete.
- Next I used hot glue to attached the framed photo to my book cover.
- Then I just added more details until I felt my photo album was complete. Like I said, this will look different for all of us. But you can see the pretties I chose in the video tutorial above!
- Finally, choose the pictures you want to display and use Mod Podge to adhere them.
The Wrap Up
Crafting this vintage photo album was a journey of love, nostalgia, and creativity. And you can embark on this journey, too! So, why not dust off those old fabric pieces and laces, find some vintage buttons and ribbons, and start crafting your own vintage photo album?
I would love to see how you use these vintage photo albums in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! Remember, there’s no right or wrong in crafting – it’s all about having fun and letting your creativity shine.
Happy crafting, my fellow vintage lovers! Keep exploring, keep creating, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. And as always, I hope you love this project as much as I do!
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If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami’s Making. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!
