ABC Album Challenge

[raynebair]

It's time for another ABC Album Challenge!
This is the perfect chance to work on some great Christmas gifts! Or maybe scrap those precious photos of your little one for you to look back on years from now. You could even scrap all those cute and cuddly photos of your cat or dog. Do an album of yourself for your parents. Or maybe one of you and your significant other. The possibilities are endless!

You have till December 16 to finish your ABC Album and post it to the ABC Album Challenge Gallery (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=721). Make sure to post a link here in the thread so I know you're finished. I'll add your name to the list, and at the end of the challenge 2 winners will be randomly chosen for a way cool prize!

To be eligible for the prize your completed album must have been created using one of the fabulous ABC kits in the store. You have a bunch of options too! I've linked them below so you don't even have to search.

PAPER-STYLE ALBUM CHOICES:
Classic ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=589)
Heather ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=606)
Ice Cream and Confetti ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=584)
My Child ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=582)
Scraps of Style (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=883)
(3 ABC Mega kits – Ice Cream and Confetti, Heather and My Child)

GRAPHIC-STYLE ALBUM CHOICES:

Inkster ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=585)
Scripture ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=590)
Silver ABC Album (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=588)
Scraps of Style (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=580) (4 ABC Mega kits)

[NOTE: You can still participate in the challenge if you choose to use another kit, but you just won't be eligible for the drawing.]

You have lots of choices, so I hope to see a few different kits being used for this challenge. OK, let's get started and have some fun!

[Margie]

oh man i need this challenge! :) i have many ideas started, but that's a far as i've gotten. :D

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I had no idea there were so many choices in the store! I planned on doing an ABC album for my daughter for Christmas of her and her cousins, and think I'll do one for each of my nieces and nephew. I'm thinking of doing 4x6 pages for them. Can't wait to get started, Rayne!

[raynebair]

I had started an ABC album of my sister using a regular freebie page kit. But since I want to do this challenge, I scrapped it and am starting over using the My Child kit from the store.

I've decided I'm doing this album in 8x8. Don't know why, just felt like scrapping it that size. Maybe once I'm done, I'll do one of myself, and put them together in the same album as the Sisters Mini Album. That would work since they will all be 8x8.

There are definitely a lot of choices in the store...I didn't even realize it till today.

[Judyy]

Rayne, thanks so much for calling our attention to these cool kits. Like Stacey, I had no idea there were so many, and such neat choices.

I've always thought of ABC albums as something just for kids, but I see from the kits and examples that they're just a really easy way of doing just about any kind of album you can think of. And I'm thinking just what you said--doing them in 8x8 size would make them go together extra quick!

Too cool!

[BerryGirl]

Question? Do you have to use one of the abc albums or could I used a different mini album as an ABC book? For example love this one, http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_33&products_id=1497 Would that work?

[raynebair]

Johanna - you can use any kit or mini-kit you'd like to make your ABC album. But only the ones made with the kits I've linked will qualify for the ABC album drawing.

Check out the mini-album challenge though. The kit you mentioned would qualify you for that drawing, and you could still use it to make it an ABC album. Stacey and I did it this way so that you can't use the same kit to make one album for both drawings.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Question? Do you have to use one of the abc albums or could I used a different mini album as an ABC book? For example love this one, http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_33&products_id=1497 Would that work?
Johanna, join the Mini Album Challenge with Kim's Charmed mini album kit! :)

Just click on the blinkie below. :)

Stace

[sandra]

And ddid you see the deal??? If you buy the Scraps of Style Graphic CD, you can get the Paper Style CD for only $10 more! I love a bargain!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I decided to do my ABC albums in 5x7 format. Snapfish has them pretty cheap, especially when you prepay. I figure four albums by Christmas will really push me, but I'm going to work on my nieces and nephew's first. I posted my first two pages in the ABC album gallery.

[raynebair]

Stacey - awesome album you've started. It looks great! I can't wait to see the whole thing. 5x7 is a good size, I wouldn't have thought to do that size. And it works perfectly for your album.

[Judyy]

Stacey, I've been eyeing that Inkster album in the store since yesterday, and now I guess I'm ready to buy. That is one terrific ABC album you're doing!

[Judyy]

OK, lock me up for scraplifting past the legal limit. LOL

I have just done a total scraplift of Stacey's ABC album for her nephew. I did one for my niece using the same kit, same technique (layering photos and text under the bg, then changing bg to Difference blending mode). I did add some grungy edges and some additional text in the Inkster font, so I guess maybe I won't be hearing from the excessive-scraplifting police yet.

Here's the thing. Since Kathryn knows about this site, I put her pages in a private album in my gallery. So if you want to see the pages, go to my gallery:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5998
and then use password pippodeb to get in and see the pages.

I love them. Gonna do a couple more of these for her sisters.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

JUDY - scraplifting is an HONOR!! And I wanted everyone to know how I made the pages so they could duplicate it if they wanted to. I think graphic-style pages are so clean, and Suzanne rocks at them. I saw that you found the font she used - I'll have to do a search for it! Thanks for letting me know.

It's so darn fast, isn't it!!!

[Judyy]

Well apparently my little subterfuge isn't going to work. I've had to make the album public for at least a few days for you guys to see it. So here's a link to try one more time:
Kathryn's ABC Album (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1384&ppuser=5998)

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I didn't want to start another ABC album until I got the first one done, but I wanted to practice my stitching. Since my nephew's album is graphic-style, I decided to do paper-style for my niece. The paper-style takes longer, but I'm still not adding any text - which is the thing that takes the most time for me.

I used the Scripture verses from the Scripture ABC mega kit for my text.

So, check out my gallery for the first three pages of my niece's album.
Thanks,
Stacey

[raynebair]

Doing a great job Stacey. My ABC album is coming along, but I'm waiting for a few more pics from my sister. I should get those this week sometime, so I can finish the ABC and the Sisters Mini.

I've gotten through G on the ABC, so when I'm about half way done, I'll post what I've got.

[Judyy]

Such pretty pages, Stacey! And you've got some great photos of your niece there.

I emailed some jpgs of the layouts for my niece's ABC album to her mother, and she just gushed all over them--thinks Kathryn will love it. Since Kathryn has two younger sisters, I think I'll do pages for their names, too, then print out three copies of each set, so each girl will get an album including her and her sisters, with a little customization on the first and last pages. Especially nice because Kathryn goes off to college next fall, and I know her mom is making her a large paper album to take, but this ABC album will be a little something to take with her from Aunt Judy.

[raynebair]

Judy - can't wait to see what your working on! I bet it's going to look fabulous.

[Judyy]

Oops, thought I had posted that link already. For each of the three girls, I'm doing a page for each of the letters of their first names. I've got Kathryn done, now just have to add Mary and Sarah. Here's Kathryn:
Kathryn ABC Christmas album (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1384&ppuser=5998)

[raynebair]

Looks great...I'm really starting to like that Inkster kit. May have to get that one and do something with it. :)

[Judyy]

OK, I've now uploaded 13 pages for my three nieces' ABC album. But since I'm supposed to be posting my stuff in the DET gallery, they're there rather than in the ABC Challenge Gallery. I hope I still qualify for the challenge.

Anyway, here's the link to the first page, and the others follow it in succession--a page for each letter of their first names. So far I've done Kathryn and Mary and a final page with my own photo. Still have to do Sarah.
Kathryn K (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57199&cat=994&page=1)

[raynebair]

Judy, no problem! Just as long as you post a link. Love it...great work!

[raynebair]

I've got all the letters from A - M, with the exception of H completed on my sister's ABC album. I'll be posting them hopefully this weekend. I might be able to finish it this week if I have time.

[Judyy]

Can't wait to see your work, Rayne, you woman of mystery!

[raynebair]

Heehee! I'm almost done, just a few more letters and it's going a whole lot quicker than I expected. I'll definitely be posting it this weekend!

[raynebair]

Woohoo! I'm done...it's uploaded. Check it out! Just use the gallery link from the main post. You can't miss my pages. :) But of course, I uploaded the title page last, go figure. LOL!

Now off to work on the Sisters Mini Album. Well, ok...maybe tomorrow. Right now I'm off to bed. ;)

[Judyy]

Rayne, that is one rockin' album you've made for your lucky sister! I'm just on my way out the door, but checked my email and wanted to see your album, so I haven't commented on every single layout in it, but the whole thing is wonderful! Your sis oughta love it!

[raynebair]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. This album took me probably about 2 weeks and that was because I ran out of photos and had to wait for my sister to mail me more. LOL! That's also why my Sisters Mini is taking so long.

I plan to print this out and put it in an album for my sister. I also had the idea to put it in the same album as the Sisters Mini for my parents. That's why I did it in 8x8 to begin with. But then I'd want to do one of me also for the album, but I'm not sure I have enough pictures of me and it would look kind of incomplete if I put her ABC in there and not one of me. So I'm not sure. I'll have to sit down when I have some time and sort through my photos to see if I can get 26 different ones to use.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Rayne, I believe I left a comment on every one of your layouts in your album. Now that I'm done, I wanted to post here how fun it was to see your completed album. You did an amazing job of matching the photo to the adjective and your album really is special.

Judy, I'm still working on my ABC album for my nephew using the Inkster kit. I will be working on a new mini album kit tomorrow, but I must do several pages for his album, especially since I took more photos last week. I'm loving your idea of using the letters in a name to make an album. Hmmmm...

[sandra]

Can I ask a silly question? Stacey, your albu,s are in 5x7, and you plan to get them printed at snapfish. Will you order some form of bound material, or will you assemble your own albums from the photos? I'm wondering exactly how this works because it's such a great Xmas idea! I want to jump in!!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Can I ask a silly question? Stacey, your albu,s are in 5x7, and you plan to get them printed at snapfish. Will you order some form of bound material, or will you assemble your own albums from the photos? I'm wondering exactly how this works because it's such a great Xmas idea! I want to jump in!!
Sandra, I planned on buying the 5x7s prepaid. Most likely 100+ since I'm making four ABC albums. I will buy the albums and assemble them myself.

That said, I didn't check out the hard bound books. I assumed they would be too expensive compared to getting prints and buying the albums.

I think it's a great Christmas idea too. I took more photos of my niece and nephew tonight and they love posing for me. I can't wait to show them their albums.

[sandra]

Where do you get your albums? Are they scrapbook albums or photo albums? Special sleeves or anything? Do you make a special cover? If so, how? I'm full of questions tonight!

I LOVE your albums, especially the graphic one... the "O" page where the letters overlay the photo... so lovely!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I love the slip-in albums. I've bought them at Big Lots and spent a little and at Archiver's and spent a lot. I buy filler pages because I never ever just use the ten sleeves that come with the album.

I haven't found my albums yet, but I want them to have a special cover for each kid. I may even get them engraved with their name and year - since each album is a review of 2005.

[Elisabeth]

I bought 5 x 7s at JoAnn's this week for half off. I think the regular price is $7.99 for the plain navy ones I got.

I just checked online - here (http://joanns.com/catalog.jhtml;$sessionid$EBHI3SYAADLSGP4SY5NBJAR50 LD3OEPO?CATID=94981) - they have lots of sizes of mini albums, and when I first opened the url a coupon popped up for half off any one item in the store. I think that's a regular thing, or semi regular anyway.

I don't know if Joann's is only in the US, though.

[Every time I type "JoAnn's" I want to stick the "h" in there! I'm used to typing "Johanna" now!]

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I just finished my nephew's ABC album. I took a couple of photos tonight so I could finish. It feels good!!! Now to finish my niece's album!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I just uploaded 8 more pages in Alexa's ABC album. ;)

[raynebair]

It's been awfully quiet in here. Just wanting to check on how these albums were going. Also, tally up so far who's working on it.

Stacey, Judy, Rayne - Have I forgotten anyone?? If not, then so far Judy is the only one in the running for a prize! Come on guys, get those ABC albums going!

Even if you haven't posted anything but are working on something in the background, post here and let us know, so I know you've at least started.

[Judyy]

so far Judy is the only one in the running for a prize

Hmm, so what's the problem, exactly? ;)

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I finished my niece's ABC album but since my PC isn't online yet, I have posted the pages.

I then started my other niece's album. I wanted to try something different this time so please tell me if my new math is right or wrong. I am doing 5x7 pages, but I don't want to resize each element to fit - I want to open a 12 inch canvas and think the the other measurement should be 8.5. When I'm done with the layout, I can resize to 5x7. I've done this and everything seems to be in place, but I wanted a second opinion.

[raynebair]

Stacey, that seems to be about right. When I resize a 5x7 canvas to 12 inches on the long size in PSCS, the short size comes out to about 8.571, so if you start with 8x12, you should be able to resize down without any problems.

Can't wait to see what you've done.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Okay! Alexa's album is done and all of the pages are in the ABC album gallery! WOO HOO, it feels good!

[raynebair]

Great job! Love the photos. I know those ABC albums begin to get a little daunting having to find so many photos. I think that is what is causing my procrastination in getting mine done.

It also feels a little weird doing an ABC of myself, even though it makes sense to do one for the "Sisters" album.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Have you seen Samara's ABC album in the DET Gallery? http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61288&cat=1380&limit=recent I commented that she should post a link here, but perhaps I should have given her the link to this thread.

[raynebair]

Awesome. She definitely needs to post a link here! That makes 2 people in the running. And one more month to go!

[raynebair]

Well, my attempt at doing an ABC of myself to add to the Sisters Album just isn't going well. It's hard to come up with words to describe myself, plus I'm not sure I have enough unique photos of myself to use.

I did spend a whole day last week printing the pages for the Sisters Album and my ABC album. I practically used up the entire ink cartridges (color and photo)! But it's done and it looks so good once I put it in the album.

I found an 8x8 post bound with top loading pages at AC Moore for about $8. Refill pages (pack of 12 pages) was about $3 each. I think I spent more in ink and paper than in the album itself, but I know it will be worth it when I give it to my parents.

Now if I could just get over the hump and get that ABC of myself done, I'd be doing great.

[raynebair]

OK, since we haven't had much interest so far, we are changing things up just a little. Hopefully this will get more folks to join in and do their own ABC album.

First off, Stacey and I will be hosting a chat so if you are a little confused on the whole ABC Album concept, you can get your questions answered in real time. Want to start an album, but don't know where to start. We'll help you get going! Check back for more details on when the chat will be. We're still trying to work out what date would be best.

Another change: Instead of two random prizes for doing an album using one of the mega kits, we'll be giving ONE prize for using a mega kit, and ONE prize for using any kit and matching alpha in the store. ANY kit! You're not spending as much money and you have many more options to choose from!

The last little change for now is to extend the challenge another month. Since we'll be hosting the chat closer to the end of the month (I want to do it after the Thanksgiving holidays since many people will be traveling), anyone that wants to jump in the challenge after the chat can join in and you'll have till JANUARY 14th to get those albums done. Which means you can scrap all those goofy holiday pics you will be snapping in December!

As soon as we figure out a date for the chat, I'll post it here and Stacey will make sure to get it on the calendar.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I just posted the chat on the calendar: Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 10 pm, right after Mission Possible and right before the Member Hosted Chat.

Can't wait to see you there!

[lauraloub]

I would like to join for encouragement, not especaly for a prize. Here is what I have going on.

My granddaughter's ABCs for Life 8"X8" Album: A through H so far: Using the DSP CD, All Girl (Lauren Bavin's CD, I think)
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1168

A Heritage Mini album for my brother using 557dsp, Wedding Mini-Album:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1411&ppuser=891

And I am working on a Travel Mini-ALbum of just places my DH nd I have traveled in the last 26 years together. It, too, will be 8"X8".

By the way, I started printing on the white inserts they put in the page protectors in those albums. Now I have to round all of them up. So far I have found they are high-quality, good surface for printing and, of course, perfectly fit the album. My new cheapy hp All-In-One printer will print Full Bleed (no border) if I set it that way.

[thyme_4_me]

Thanks Rayne for having this competition. It was a fantastic idea. That darn Stacey Jewell Stahl caught my attention one night after she posted a few photos of her ABC album of her nephew. I was hooked! What an inspiration. Thanks to Suzanne C. Walker and her Inkster kit.

I purchased the ABC Scraps of Style CD http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=580

I plan on doing the Scripture kit for my mom for Christmas next year. She will love, love, love it.

Here is my submission:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=721
Thanks for looking. :)

[raynebair]

Kris - what a gorgeous album!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Thanks Rayne for having this competition. It was a fantastic idea. That darn Stacey Jewell Stahl caught my attention one night after she posted a few photos of her ABC album of her nephew. I was hooked! What an inspiration. Thanks to Suzanne C. Walker and her Inkster kit.
I love being "that darn Stacey Jewell Stahl"! :) he he he

Suzi's kit rocks and I've loved seeing you and Judy and Samara use it - for every photo tells a story and is so inspirational.

Rayne is a peach, isn't she? :)

[sandra]

Help! I just started an album using Inkster. I love the look of the other albums in the gallery with BW photos and the effects of the letters over the pictures (Stacey and thyme_4_me come to mind.) What are some tips to getting that look where the letters are over the picture, yet they are like a shadow of the picture... some light, some dark, some two-toned where they overlap two areas. Are you somehow using the background as an overlay too? I can't figure a way to do that with the black background.

[sandra]

AHA! I just figure it out!!! How cool! Now I need to start over again so I can apply it to all my pages!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Sandra, I used "Difference" in as the layer style on the bg paper. It gets those cool effects you are looking for. :)

[sandra]

Couldn't be any easier, huh??? Thanks!!

[raynebair]

Sandra, I can't wait to see what you come up with! That inkster kit is awesome...the more albums I see, the more I want to do one, so I may have to break down and get that kit very soon. :)

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Let's meet in the Travel Chat room tonight, as Meryl has a chat at 10 too. :)

[sandra]

I'm not sure what the correct lingo is here, but this is so sharp! I am working with the Inkster ABC kit, and I came across an album by thyme_4_me in the gallery. How do you get these effects????
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5260
I hope it is something very simple because I am still mask/path-illiterate. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Are these edges, borders, otherwise? Are they available for download or as plug-ins? Not much luck finding anything out there because I'm not sure what I am looking for. Help!!! Christmas is inching closer and closer!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Sandra, those are masks and easy as pie! What program do you use?

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

btw - I started my other niece's ABC album using a mini album kit I made at Kris's request. Hope you like it! Pages A-K are in the gallery and the mini album will be in the store soon - I'm hoping tonight! :)

[sandra]

Stacey, I love your new album kit! Very sharp look, and so versatile!

I laughed when I ready your "easy as pie" comment. I have been sitting here working on the album, checking for replies, chanting to myself, "please let it not be masks LOL!" I recently upgraded to PSCS.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Well, they are easy after you get some cool ones installed. Yes, getting started is always the hardest, huh? Let me get you a link to some of the masks Kris used. brb :)

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Ta da! A link: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5487

[sandra]

Well, what took you so long???? Just kidding! OK, I am completely overwhelmed by the collection at that site! I will pick through and choose several. Probably sometime tomorrow I will actually get up the guts to try one LOL. It's late now... thanks Stacey! You are the best!

PS: I'm grabbing your new kit at the Black Friday sale!! Can't wait!

[thyme_4_me]

I used masks on alot of them. A few of them I did AutoFX Graphic Edges. You could possibly just add a simple border to several of them and it would still look sharp. I don't know what program you are using ( I am PSP X) but there are several tutorials here at DSP:
Decorative Edges by Valeri Brumfield
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/psp_decorativeedges_vb.shtml

Introduction to Layer Masks in PS PSE PSP
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/psp_layermasks.shtml

Lauren Bavin has a freebie edges pack:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41442&cat=835&page=1

Or just try your effects in the program
Effects: circle/perspective Image effects: page curl

Hope this helps!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Woo hoo! My White Geographix mini album is in the store before the 50% off sale! :) http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_33&products_id=1894

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I decided to take the layouts I'd made for Chelsea's album and do them in 5x7 like I did for Jacob and Alexa. It was pretty easy and here's a link to the "Adorable" page: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=63207&cat=500&ppuser=7454

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

4kids4ma started this ABC album: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1505&ppuser=3991

[my4kidsma]

Thanks Stacey for posting this. I just got on here to do it & you beat me to it.

I am hooked!

[sandra]

I finished my Inkster ABC album!!! Whew! I realized after I uploaded that I didn't put it in the ABC gallery... it's in my albums. Should I move the pics? Here's a link for now:

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1504

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Sandra, I LOVE your album!! We should have an Inkster ABC album convention! So many of us made such great albums with Suzi's cool kit!

[raynebair]

Sandra, it looks great! It's nice to see a few more people jumping in on this challenge. It would appear that the Inkster kit is very popular.

I got Tina's ABC mini and I hope to use it for maybe my ABC. I gave the Sisters mini album to my parents while down for Thanksgiving. Behind it in the same album I added the ABC of my sister. They loved it and both it and my regular album was passed around for everyone to look at.

[thyme_4_me]

It looks great Sandra! I like your title page as well. Never thought of doing that too. Good idea. I see someone figured out how to do masks. Apparently you got the hang of it.
Rayne, I liked Tina's new ABC mini too. Another one to put on the list to try.

[lauraloub]

Sandra, nothing short of fantastic!!!! And done, too! It is absolutely breathtaking.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I may post some of my pages later of my 3rd and final ABC album for 2005 - I finished it today. I uploaded all three of them to Snapfish today. I'm glad they are done.

This is a great challenge, Rayne. :) Thanks for hosting it and encouraging others to join our fun.

[raynebair]

Well Thanks Stacey. I can't wait to see your new album. I had fun doing my ABC and I'm excited to see so many others. And it's not over yet. Since we extended the challenge, we've got till January to see what else everyone comes up with.

I know it's been slow with the holidays. I myself haven't had much time to do any scrapbooking, but hopefully we'll see it all pick up a little in January once the holidays are over. And I look forward to seeing some of your holiday photos!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I just posted the 27 pages in my niece's album. I moved some pictures around when I realized that I could use people's names as words, like Mumma, Dad, Papa, etc. So some of the pages look familiar, but they are a little different.

Link: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1603

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

WELL!!!!! What did everyone think of your albums??? I talked to my sister today and her kids opened their ABC albums this afternoon while waiting for my other sister to wake up from a nap (she works third shift). Because they knew that it was their only present for the moment, the kids really looked at their albums and savored them. My brother-in-law kept oohing and ahhing over the photos and my sister said that I have to do this every year. :eek: :eek: :eek: I told her, no problem, but I took all the photos this year and she hasn't given me a photograph of them in the past few . . . .um . . . . well, NEVER. Every photo she has of them in the past three years came from me and I've lived 600 miles from her for the past two years and now 700 miles away. I would LOVE to do an ABC album for them every year! :) Just gotta get my sister as excited about photography!

[Elisabeth]

Oh my word, Stacey! That seems to have been an extra special accomplishment all around! I hope you get to visit them lots, or if your sister can't seem to get interested in a camera, re-aim your pointing finger for your brother-in-law, or even the kids! If nothing else, send the kids some disposable cameras that they can mail back to you (perhaps you can even include a return addressed envelope with the right amount of postage on it) and it will be a total surprise if the kids can keep a secret. You might have to extract a promise that they take photos of each other, lest you get their favorite new toy, the pets, a pile of dirty laundry, science projects, etc.

I know you can do something with pictures that aren't top quality, too! I can't recall how old they are; I'll have to check your gallery again. But I seem to remember at least one of them being a "big" girl or boy, like my three year old thinks she is.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Oh my word, Stacey! That seems to have been an extra special accomplishment all around! I hope you get to visit them lots, or if your sister can't seem to get interested in a camera, re-aim your pointing finger for your brother-in-law, or even the kids! If nothing else, send the kids some disposable cameras that they can mail back to you (perhaps you can even include a return addressed envelope with the right amount of postage on it) and it will be a total surprise if the kids can keep a secret. You might have to extract a promise that they take photos of each other, lest you get their favorite new toy, the pets, a pile of dirty laundry, science projects, etc.

I know you can do something with pictures that aren't top quality, too! I can't recall how old they are; I'll have to check your gallery again. But I seem to remember at least one of them being a "big" girl or boy, like my three year old thinks she is.OH MY GOODNESS!! WHAT AN OUTSTANDING IDEA!!! My parents will be here this week to visit us and I'll send back some disposable cameras for each of them. I got the two older ones really pumped about photography during all the times I had photo shoots. Jacob is 9 and Alexa will be 7 next month - their efforts will be worth the cool album I can make. And I will get my BIL involved since he was so in awe of the albums. Hmmm . . . wonderful ideas all around, Z!!! :) Thanks so much!

[Judyy]

I just received three of the sweetest thank-you notes ever from the three teenage girls for whom I made ABC albums. The eldest plans to take hers with her when she goes off to college next year, and the other two absolutely raved over how cool the photos look and how their friends love them, too.

I had a little extra fun with the gift-giving itself--I put each album into a gift bag and for the tags, I made a small print (2x2) of the first page of each album, punched a hole, then tied it on with novelty yarn. I tied each album shut with a couple of strands of the same yarn. After opening their gifts, the girls kept the yarn and tied the tags to the albums themselves.

I also included a CD of the layouts with each album. One of the girls has asked me to show her how I created the LOs, next time I visit. So, in addition to giving three rockin' gifts, I scored one more digital scrapper in the making. :D

[raynebair]

Wow! Everyone is having such success with their albums. My parents loved the album I gave them. Maybe one of these days I'll get my ABC done so they can add it to the album.

Let me see if I got this right. So far, those who have completed albums for the challenge are:

Samara
Judy
Sandra
Kris

If I've missed anyone just let me know. You still have till January 14th, so there's still plenty of time to work on it. I just want to make sure I'm getting everyone.

[thyme_4_me]

Awww Judy, isn't that fantastic. Makes it all worth while. Thank you notes are hard to come by these days it seems. What a wonderful compliment to your hard work.
My ABC album was a hit. I had them all crying! So it was successful. I've already starting plotting the next album. But I need to take a breather first. This down to the wire stuff is a killer. My New Years resolution is to start early and not get to crunch time.
Thanks again Stacey for the inspiration of your albums. And thank you Rayne for a great challenge. I never had thought of this concept until I saw this thread. It really helped me with a theme and pull it all together.

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

[QUOTE=Elisabeth If nothing else, send the kids some disposable cameras that they can mail back to you (perhaps you can even include a return addressed envelope with the right amount of postage on it) and it will be a total surprise if the kids can keep a secret. [/QUOTE]My mom and I chipped in together to buy my soon-to-be 7 year old niece a little digital camera with beginner scrapbooking software. My brother-in-law is fascinated with the albums, so I'm going to enlist his help, as my dear sister really has no desire to take pictures. She loves cooking and baking, and I don't, and I don't think she could get me to love it, so I'm not going to push her to photography. Between the two of us, we eat great at parties and then get to remember them in my scrapbooks. Not a bad combo, huh?

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

Awww Judy, isn't that fantastic. Makes it all worth while. Thank you notes are hard to come by these days it seems. What a wonderful compliment to your hard work.
My ABC album was a hit. I had them all crying! So it was successful. I've already starting plotting the next album. But I need to take a breather first. This down to the wire stuff is a killer. My New Years resolution is to start early and not get to crunch time.
Thanks again Stacey for the inspiration of your albums. And thank you Rayne for a great challenge. I never had thought of this concept until I saw this thread. It really helped me with a theme and pull it all together.Kris, I knew people would cry at the beauty of your album! I'm so proud! I'm so glad you were inspired to do this project and I know that next \year you'll have even more art to give to people and have it done by Thanksgiving! :)

[Judyy]

Thanks again Stacey for the inspiration of your albums. And thank you Rayne for a great challenge. I never had thought of this concept until I saw this thread. It really helped me with a theme and pull it all together.

Roger that!!! I NEVER thought about doing ABC albums for anyone other than kiddies just learning to read. What a great idea this was for a challenge, Rayne. And then Stacey, your example, with the Inkster kit, really got me going, and of course Suzanne's wonderful kit itself. You all helped me be a star at gift-giving time. And not to sound sappy, but my greatest excitement at Christmas is seeing people open the gifts I've chosen for them--the gifts I get are almost an afterthought (but not quite ;) ). As Kris mentioned, when teenagers write thank-you notes, well, holy mackerel!!!

[raynebair]

It's getting close! 9 more days till this challenge is over! Then Stacey and I will choose the winners. So if you have haven't finished an album, now's your chance to get it done and link it in the forum.

This has been a fun challenge. It's been so great to see what everyone has come up with. You all have done some great stuff!

[Debb Cozzi]

Stacey alerted me to this forum last night. I feel like such a 'ditz!' Here you guys were chatting and encouraging one another with your ABC albums while I said in front of my computer, all by my lonesome, and worked on mine. ;) Anyway, it was fun to read through the forum and see what you all came up with and how you encouraged one another.

Here is a link to my gallery which has the ABC album I did for my mom as a Christmas present this year. Between my brothers & sister and I my mom has 13 grandkids, so I did this album to celebrate the lives of each of these precious kids.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1654

[raynebair]

Excellent work Debb! Fabulous. I'm so glad you posted a link. Otherwise I'd never have caught this.

This challenge has turned out better than I'd hoped. I'm so glad this will be a random drawing and I don't have to choose an album.

[Amber Gray]

Okay glad I found this site. I started making an album actually with the inspiration of some of these ladies here! What do you do to be in the challenge? Have a completed album by January 14? And if I get it done by then (fingers crossed!) I just post a link here to my album?? Thanks

[raynebair]

Yep...that's all there is to it. Just upload it to the gallery then post a link so we can all see it and admire your work. :)

[Amber Gray]

Well here's what I have so far - unfortunately I didn't get it finished by today! Wish I would have found this earlier! Hopefully I can finish soon my mom's birthday is the 28th and I want to do it as a present for her!
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1661

[raynebair]

I want to thank you all for a great challenge...it was so much fun to see what everyone came up with. Beautiful albums from everyone. After going through all the messages, it seems everyone that that is eligible used the Inkster kit, so I put all the names in a hat and drew 2.

The winners are: KRIS & Sandra

Congrats! Please send your info to Stacey and she will forward it to the Prize Patrol. Again, I want to thank everyone who participated. I had a blast!

[Judyy]

I had a blast, too, Rayne--seeing everyone's LOs and of course putting together my own, and the great big impression they made on the girls I gave them to. LuckyMom, your mom is sure to absolutely love the album you're making for her--the pages are wonderful.

Anyway, thanks for a great challenge, Rayne!

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I want to thank you all for a great challenge...it was so much fun to see what everyone came up with. Beautiful albums from everyone. After going through all the messages, it seems everyone that that is eligible used the Inkster kit, so I put all the names in a hat and drew 2.

The winners are: KRIS & Sandra

Congrats! Please send your info to Stacey and she will forward it to the Prize Patrol. Again, I want to thank everyone who participated. I had a blast!
CONGRATS, KRIS AND SANDRA!!! You made beautiful albums and you won a prize! It doesn't get any better than that!

[sandra]

Thank you!!!!

[thyme_4_me]

:eek: Wow! I'm so excited :D . Thanks again Suzanne for a wonderful kit. It certainly inspired alot of us. I know I've said it before but....Thanks Stacey for your inspiring album that got the ball rolling for me and all your support thru it. And thanks Rayne for the challenge it was fun. But most of all, the best reward was my mom's love of the album.