DIY Photo Album

Before Pinterest, I didn't know there were so many talented people in the world.  Pinterest is loaded with good ideas to do just about everything, and although I have yet to make it an everyday obsession like red licorice or plucking white hairs from my scalp, it inspires me to try anything!

My husband is a photoholic, which is cheaper than being an alcoholic, I can tell you that.  In other words, the man lives to take photographs, save them to his computer, crop them, and print them out in stacks to put into albums.

I am not a photoholic, which means that this job is usually solely his.  I washed my hands of this thankless task long ago, when I realized that no one is interested in looking at our family photos, including me.  Also, I hate taking pictures.  Why take pictures at all? I once asked.  You can relive the memory over and over in your head.  He cocked his head at me like a dog when you ask it if it wants to go outside for a walk or go to the vet for neutering, and replied with an exasperated sigh, his go-to reaction to everything I say.

Because of his need to save and file photos away in dusty bins that never see the light of day, we seem to buy a lot of photo albums, which I find annoying, because photo albums are expensive yet never seem to fit our pictures perfectly, and they are bulky.  And ugly.  And we never have enough of them.

Today, I had on hand a stack of photo album sleeves that came from who-knows-where, the deepest pit of hell perhaps.  And then a Pinterest-worthy idea hit me, about the time I was cruising the aisles at Target looking for the perfect object to fill the gaping void in my life:

I am going to make my own photo albums.

This idea gave me a rush of adrenalin; I knew it was Pin-worthy right away.  In my giddiness, I have decided to share my process with you.  It can be tricky, so steel yourself and don’t give up!  Practice makes perfect photo albums.  Here I come, Pinterest!  

Allow adequate time to complete the task from start to finish.  With no planning you could spend up to ten minutes doing this project, but if you put a little care and thought into it, you will be stylishly filing your photos in record time!  You will need:

• A stack of 2- or 3-holed photo album sleeves that will not fit into any three-ring binder you have in your home

2 and 3-holed sleeves?  No way!  No problem!

• A plastic binder that looks like it might fit those holes

I found this little beauty thrown into an end-cap in the small appliances department. 

 Look for one in your local Target or office-supply store.  

Be sure to check the floor; someone might have kicked it under the shelving.

• Hole punch, in case you have some 3-hole and 2-hole sleeves like we do.  This is where the art of the project really comes into play.  Use some artistic license here.  Stay confident, and you will be a success. 

Use a three-hole punch if you possess confidence 
in your ability to punch accurately.  

Or if you don’t possess a one-holer.

• Pictures, in chronological order.  Or not, if you’re a total rebel.  Punk rock!

Memories! Good times! 

Get those suckers into a book and off of the desk!  

OMG they’ve been there for three months

• Piece of paper and something to write with.  I prefer dried-out Sharpies for projects like this.

Gathered all your materials?  Good!  You’re ready to go!

Step 1: Sort all your like-holed sleeves into separate piles.  Threes with threes and twos with twos is a good start.  Over-thinking may cause panic; try to stay calm.

Step 2: Place the sleeves that fit in your binder into the binder.  We had a 3-ring binder with some 3-holed sleeves, so we put them in first so we wouldn’t get confused.

Step 3: If you have a 3-ring binder with some 2-holed sleeves, the middle binder ring won’t accommodate the 2-holed sleeves and you must punch holes in the middle of each 2-hole sleeve.  Measure carefully so the middle ring fits the middle hole in your sleeve.  Or just eyeball it.  Great art is always subjective.

If you have a 2-ring binder and 2-holed and 3-holed sleeves, you may proceed to Step 6. 

Please tell me where you found a 2-ring binder.

Step 4: Punch. The. Holes. 

It’s okay if you make a mistake.  Even pros do sometimes.

Step 5: Fit the newly punched sleeves into the binder with the others, and click it shut.

Click!

Step 6: Put the pictures in the albums.  Take your time.  You’ve come this far.  Don’t get frustrated because the photo sleeve openings are a millimeter smaller than the photos - you'll bend your photos and ruin all your hard work.  Try not to notice that the sleeves are bigger than the binder itself.  Remember: Art!

Step 7: Stop and admire all the most wonderful memories of that vacation you took where your hair looked amazing every single day.  This is probably the last time you look at these photos.

Good times.  Great hair.

Step 8: Write the dates or subjects of the photos on a piece of paper.  Slide it into the clear pocket on the front of your new photo album.  If the binder you used doesn’t have a clear pocket, then I don’t know - use markers or something.  Or don't bother to label them at all, if that works for you, crazy.

You are finished!  Flip through your photos in style, knowing that you have created a unique work of art.  You are a gifted artist now; sit back and enjoy the admiration that this project is sure to bring.

Happy Photo-Albuming, and be sure to Pin this idea to your Art Boards!

See you on Pinterest!