Earlier this week, I shared with you the photo collage I created for my friend Tammy’s 40th birthday. For the collage I used many of the older photos that I had and that I received from Tammy’s family and friends. For the newer photos, I created a guestbook for Tammy’s friends and family to sign for her birthday. The easiest way I could think to do this was to use Project Life. I chose the Project Life Mini Album in Kiwi and the Project Life Jade Edition for this project. You can see other Project Life Mini album Colors here and other Project Life Core Editions here. Beyond what is available at Amazon.com, there are exclusive editions available at different retailers such as Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

Supplies:

• Project Life Mini Album
• Project Life Core Kit
• Project Life Corner Rounder
• Photos

Directions:

1. Look through the Project Life Core Editions and see which one you want to use. This step was really time consuming for me but since then, Project Life reference sheets are now available here. They show you everything available in each edition! As of right now, not all Project Life products have a reference sheet but they are being added. I chose the Jade edition because the cards reflected the sentiments that I wanted to have in Tammy’s album like sweet memories, love, remember, etc.

2. Choose a coordinating Project Life Mini Album. My color choices were limited based on the colors in the Jade edition. I picked kiwi because there was green in the Jade edition.

3. The Project Life Mini Album has 80 4×6 landscape pockets and 80 3×4 portrait pockets. Print enough photos to fill the album while remembering to leave room for the Project Life cards. (I filled up the album with half photos and half cards.)

4. Use the Project Life Corner Rounder to round the corners on all the photos. I do have a different corner rounder but the corner radius of that corner rounder is not the same as the Project Life cards. That is why I opted to buy and use the Project Life Corner Rounder for this project.

5. Choose photos, cards and a dedication spot for the front page. I chose a large journaling card to write a dedication to my friend Tammy. I love the “the best is yet to come” card in the bottom left pocket.

6. Fill the rest of the album with photos. I divided the photos into groups based on who was in the photos. For example, I had photos of Tammy’s immediate family, Florida friends, Tennesee Friends, her side of the family and her husband’s side of the family. I added the photos to the album in that order.

7. Fill the remaining pockets with Project Life cards. I spread all the cards out on my desk so I could see them all at the same time. That made deciding which card to use easier/faster.

8. Choose a 3×4 Project Life card to insert into the front pocket of the album. I wanted to use different fonts to write on the card instead of using my own handwriting so I scanned the card that I wanted to use. Then I bumped up the saturation on the image and added text using Photoshop.

9. This step was probably the most difficult to coordinate. I had to get people to sign the cards! I assigned cards to different people based on where pictures of them were in the book. I wrote each person’s name on the back of their assigned card. I was able to get a few people to sign the cards directly but I had to depend on Tammy’s husband to get more than two thirds of the cards signed. He did a spectacular job too! I showed up early to Tammy’s party and also had people sign cards before she arrived. I think a few people signed cards after I gave her the album too.

Here’s a few examples of how the inside of the book looks.

How did the birthday girl like the album? She loved it of course!

Happy birthday Tammy!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links but I only recommend products that I love!