Spring is here and I am cleaning out the closets. Life is a constant conundrum for me. I am a packrat who can not stand clutter. See my problem? Last spring I committed to only making projects with yarn I already had on hand. I made a pretty good dent. This spring I am focusing on paper. Newspaper, magazines, tissue paper, napkins...you name it, I keep it. Once the seed catalogs started showing up in my mailbox I knew I had to commit to something. I sat down and started cutting. Sitting with paper and scissors in hand gave me plenty of time to brainstorm new ideas. It was exactly what was needed. Now I say, bring on the paper!

Paper Mania Idea #1 = Decoupage Photo Album Repurposed as a Seed Organizer

If you have never tried decoupage before, this is a great project to start with. The collage style gives you some leniency if you make a mistake. This tutorial will show you how to repurpose a photo album to organize seed packets.

What You Will Need:

• Elmer's glue (2 parts glue to 1 part water) or Mod Podge
• Small paint brush, sponge brush, or you could just use your finger
• Sharp scissors
• Photo album (try the dollar store)
• Magazines (this type of paper is easier to work with at first and is usually more colorful)
• Ribbon
• Fabri-Tac glue

Step 1. Cut and collect images. Since this is a collage, there is some leniency in the cutting department. Be sure to take the time to cut your top layer images carefully. A good decoupage cut out will show the details of the subject only, not the background.

Tip: Super tiny decoupage scissors (or manicuring scissors) make detailed cutting easier.

Step 2. Give your image a place to stick. Brush some glue on the surface of the photo album. Don't skimp on the glue. A little extra glue makes it easier to move the image around and smooth out the bubbles.

Step 3. Place your image and brush glue over the top. Work from the center out, rubbing out wrinkles and bubbles. I use my finger for this. You can use the brush, just be careful not to tear the paper.

Step 4. If you are layering images, let the first layer dry for about 15 minutes before putting on the 2nd layer. This will help to eliminate wrinkling and bubbling from underneath.

Step 5. Let the album dry for 20-30 minutes. Give it 2-3 more coats, but be sure to wait at least 20 minutes between coats.

Step 6. Cut ribbon so that it is long enough to cover the top, side, and bottom edges of the front cover. The ribbon will overlap the edge of the album cover with half inside the cover and half outside. Start at the top with a bead of Fabri-Tac inside the front cover. Glue the ribbon to the inside cover. Now put a bead of Fabri-Tac to the underside of the ribbon and fold over the top.

Step 7. Continue gluing ribbon from the inside out around the edges of the album cover. Don't worry about the corners yet. The corners will look like this once the ribbon has been glued.

Step 8. Use a dot of Fabri-Tac on the top piece of ribbon close to the corner. Fold ribbon from the right side over the top and hold until it sets.

Voila. You're done! Any Fabri-Tac that shows up on the surface of the ribbon can be easily cleaned up with water. Do this before it dries too long. Let the entire album dry for 24 hours.

Find an assortment of seed packets and place inside the photo pockets. You can add divider tabs if you like (Flowers, Vegetables, Etc).

Kelly Guerrettaz is a freelance writer and crafter. When she isn't learning and creating, she spends her time writing educational articles about crafts. To find more information about decoupage or other crafts online, visit her at http://ohcrafty1.com/

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