A big hello to all you Crafting Chicks out there today! I’m Monika Wright and today I’m going to share a cute and quick mini album project that involves the whole family. Well, you’ll be doing the crafting, but the whole family gets a chance to record their thankful thoughts in their own handwriting. Here’s what my mini album looks like…
…and  here’s how you can create this little cutie yourself. Gather your favorite patterned papers, embellishments and washi tape, I used several collections from Indie Chic by My Mind’s Eye, download your mini album pages and trim, and also round up your favorite embellishments, adhesive and a length of twine. Your download is sized to print on a 12×12 sheet of patterned paper. If you don’t have a large format printer, you can also use this letter-sized “thankful for” download I designed.
After trimming your mini album pages, line up the bottom edge of one page {the one on top} and the top edge of another page {the page on the bottom} Â and apply your washi tape so that half the tape is on the upper page and half the tape is on the lower page. Smooth the tape to adhere together and flip your page up to align another page beneath and repeat the taping technique again and again. After all pages have been joined, trim the excess washi tape from the sides of your mini album.
These close-up shots of the front cover and inside front cover show more detail. You’ll see that I embellished the twine that wrapped the inside cover with a paper doily and a chipboard sentiment for a finished look.
See how the tape joins the mini album pages together? So, so easy and these days, who doesn’t have at least a roll or two of washi tape in their crafty stash? To finish off the front and back covers, I used more washi tape going from the front over the pages and then to the back cover to form a binding. I finished it off with a floral cardstock sticker.
I hope you and your family enjoy these downloads and have a moment or two to record your thankful thoughts. When I created a similar project a few years ago, my then teenaged son even participated, which made his Mama thankful. A big thank you to the Crafting Chicks for allowing me to share my project during their Thanks A Day Gratitude Challenge.
Giveaway:
It’s no secret to those who read my blog or have visited my Etsy shop, I Love It All, that I am a fan of being thankful. It’s amazing how being aware of that one small thing that made a difference in my day can have such an impact on me.
I am pleased to be giving away the 2013 Gratitude Journal to one lucky reader:
 and an 13×19 House and Family Rules {in your choice of 14 colors}
to another lucky reader. That’s right, there will be two winners. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!
{Giveaway goes from 11/6/12 until midnight EST 11/13/12. Winner will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours or we’ll pick another winner. }
Shell We says
I love the house & family rules subway art as well as the family rules one.
Alli Miller @ Cupcake Diaries says
I love all the Christmas subway art! So fun!
Christina @ Homemade Ocean says
Subway art is my favorite!!!
Lyndsay says
I love the subway art as well and the theme of thankfulness throughout your items.
Christi says
I love the gratitude journal! What a great way to start the new year.
Samantha pitzen says
I love your book and would love to win it
Stephanie Withrow says
I love the journal. No doubt about it. I wish I could get one for each of my family members.
Pam F says
I love the teacher name subway art – would be a nice gift.
Winona says
I like the Mini Perpetual Calendar Diary the best. 🙂
Gilda says
The subway art is great. Also, love the family trees.
Dawn Cherico says
I love the journal. I would be a wonderful gift to win it.
Beccah Larsen says
Love the subway art!
Mikki says
I’m loving the gratitude journal!
Mandee says
Beautiful! I want to make one right now!!
Mandee says
I really like the family rules subway art
Leann says
Love journaling!! Such a great/cute idea!!
Karen says
I LOVE the Gratitude Journal! Being permanently disabled, unable to work or exercise is a challenge but I can ALWAYS find something to be grateful for each day God gives me!
Teresa says
I love the subway art & journals!!
Heather says
I love the 10 things I love about you…. best idea ever! 🙂
robbie says
I love the variety of smash books. So creative!
Valerie says
I Love all of the printables for the babies and kiddos – the alphabet prints are super cute!!
ColleenB. says
Wonderful giveaway. Thank You for this opportunity.
great album project and totally love your gratitude journal as well along with the house rules; of which I learned while growing up and also taught my daughters and grnadkids.
ColleenB.
Linda G says
I love the grateful journals!
Sandy H. says
The Gratitude Journal is such a lovely idea!
Brenda Melahn says
My VERY favorite is 365 book … second choice would be the Mixed Media Baby Brag book since I have a new granddaughter. Love your things.
Gina says
I love the Dream Big nursery art.
Heidi V says
I love the house and family rules!!
Sara Westhead says
Thanks for the opportunity!!!
Heather says
The gratitude journal.
Jenn F says
I love the nursery birth announcement poster. I wish I had done one of these for my baby.
Bree says
I absolutely adore the 365 Things I Am Grateful For 2013 Gratitude Journal!
Crissy Kappedal says
I love the journals and subway art!
Stephanie says
I love the dream big subway art. I also love your mini journals! Thanks!!
DeAnna says
A Grateful Journal is such a thoughtful gift. Wish I had that kind of talent to creat one. I’ll just cross my fingers that I win it 🙂
Robyn Alexander says
I absolutely LOVE the gratitude journal~Such a great idea!!! 🙂
Stacey E says
Love the subway art! So thoughtful.
Becky Sandusky says
I like the subway art. I like all of it.
Miriam Prantner says
My favorite this is the 30 days of lists mini. Also I managed to put the wrong name in for my etsy account – it’s mprantner.
barbara n says
Hard to choose just one…but I really like the Grateful Family Subway Art Poster
Karen Caves says
I love the 10 Things I love about you. It’s all cute!
Heidi says
Two great giveaways, tough choice. I love the subway art because i always tell me kids those words 🙂
Stacey says
I am in love with the gratitude journal! Being a stay-at-home mom is a tasking job, and I often find myself dwelling on all the things that have went awry in our day rather than all the wonderful blessings we’ve experienced. This would be such a great way to remind myself to stop & think!!
Lindzie says
The subway art is awesome on this site. Thanks for sharing!
C.C. says
I like the Dream Big House Rules.
Abbey says
Love the gratitude journals and the mini brag books
JenniferP says
I like the gratitude journal!!
Theresa says
While “I Love it All”! I have to say that the gratitude journal is my favorite! What a great idea, and it’s so cute!
Terressa T. says
I was just looking at her 2013 gratitude journal yesterday! LOVE it!!! I try to do this in my personal journal, but hers is waaay cuter 😉 Thank you!
Andrea B. says
I love the subway art!
Marielle says
I love the family rules! I actually would go for just about any of the subway art. 🙂
Erin says
Love, love, love!
Aly L says
The alphabet of our love
Jennifer Cleaver says
I love the 10 things I love about you…and the gratitude journal!
Indira says
I really like the 365 Things I Am Grateful For 2013 Gratitude Journal .
Marisa says
I love the gratitude journal!
grace says
Love your art work .. especially those subway arts. You are very talented, thanks for this fun giveaway.
KathrynD says
I love the Newborn Birth Announcement!! I’m expecting my first child in the spring and would love to hang this in the nursery!
marci ross says
I love the gratitude journal!
Chharlie says
Love the sweet little gratitude journal! You are mighty talented! There’s just something so cool about subway art!
Jacqueline says
I really love the family rules.
Melissa says
30 days of lists
Melani says
I love the gratitude journal!!
sara says
I absolutely love your shop! All the family motto prints are very cool, but if I had to pick an absolute fave it would be the thankfulness journal!
Carrie says
I like the monthly planner. So cute!
Stephanie W says
My favorite thing is actually the gratitude journal. I need to remember to be grateful everyday for the little things.
Celine says
What a beautiful gratitude journal
andrea says
love the grattitude journal !
Maren says
Hi, I love most the 30 days of lists album.
Carla Hundley says
Really enjoyed the tutorial on this.
Would love to win it.
Carla from Utah
Vicki S says
Monika has done it a gain with a beautiful Gratitude Book and Subway sign.Thanks for the chance to win.
Melinda T says
I love the Notebook Kit-Smash style
Jennifer M says
I LOVE the 365 days book. WHat a great way to stay thankful all year, not just the 30 days of November!!
Freja says
I really like the Thankful family rules and Practice Kindness family rules.
Tiffiny says
On the other hand, a lot of priceless art work has been discovered
from the trash plus in garden sales, that’s not saying your corporate stamped pocket watches could be the next Patek Philippe that marketed for $11 million bucks at Sotheby’s in
Dec 1999. The passengers not necessarily come from the nearby localitiesonly but also from distant areas as well.
While these items maybe fewer and far between,
they do exist.
Alice says
Love the grateful journal and beautiful posters!
Lyndee says
Her “365 Things I am Grateful for” journal is such a great idea! Love it.
Kathy Mc says
The journal and subway art are both wonderful projects. Hard to pick a favorite from Monika’s etsy shop because “I love it all.”
Hazel says
i Love it all!!
Amanda c says
Gratitude Journal! What an awesome way to keep a great perspective on life.
Jill says
I love the subway art prints, especially the playroom rules words!
Anna says
Dear Monica:
My favorite product is the 365 Gratitude Journal. I find it very cute and important to fix our memories.
Carla Hundley says
Just enjoying all the great ideas to come my way.
Carla from Utah
Lori W says
Love that gratitude journal! …and the art journal in the shop! 🙂 thanks for a chance to win!
KimD says
I like the Teacher’s Rules subway art.
Lisa Keeney says
I love the 10 Things I Love About You book!
Becky Luxon says
I love the idea Of a gratitude journal. I would love to fill it out in 2013 and then look at it in 2014. So cool. Can’t believe I’ve never come across anything like this before.
Christi Williams says
I really love subway art!! and I like the Grateful Family Subway Art.
Heather S. says
I really love the gratitude journal! It’s so important to remember all the things that we have to be thankful for. (Bonus – it looks really pretty 🙂 ).
Thanks for the chance to win!
Jenny Peterson says
Love the journal!! What a clever idea!!!
Laura S says
I love the subway art!
BlueOrchys says
I love the glassine bags !! Thanks a lot for this giveaway !
Kym says
I love the Mixed Media Greeting Card, but honestly with so many beautiful items, it was hard to choose just one! Thank you for the tutorial on the mini thankful album.
Beverly Jordan says
I love your mini album and how you used the washi tape! Very clever! Thank you for the chance to win these 2 awesome gifts: the subway art (: and the super gratitude journal!!!
Sarah says
I actually love the Gratitude Journal! It is so sweet!!
Janet says
The 365 gratitude journal. Thank you for the giveaway!
kesha says
I love the Christmas subway art
Heather says
I love the Gratutude Journal! What an amazing way to be thankful for all that you have even when life isn’t going the way you planned. For someone like me who who has planned out my whole life, which hasn’t gone as planned at all, it’s nice to remind myself of the many other aspects of my life that I’m thankful for. Great idea!!
Heather says
I love the Gratutude Journal! What an amazing way to be thankful for all that you have even when life isn’t going the way you planned. For someone like me who who has planned out my whole life, which hasn’t gone as planned at all, it’s nice to remind myself of the many other aspects of my life that I’m thankful for. Great idea!!
sandy sh says
The little mini-travel album is cute! What a great way to record your daily activities while away from home.
Chriss says
I love all the subway art
Jackie says
I love the thankful book, I am going to start listing things now!!!
Tianna says
I am absolutely in love with this gratitude journal. Keeping a journal like this and reading back on it would be SO therapeutic. Fabulous idea!!!
Izzy Anderson says
Love the gratitude journal idea! I’ve pinned that subway art. Great rules!
Lisa cameron says
love all of Monika’s thing. SO crafty …