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Anastasiia Tysevych – Czech Republic
Tamara Morton – United Kingdom
Summer adventures deserve more than staying hidden on your phone—they deserve to be beautifully preserved in a handmade mini album. If you’ve been looking for mini album ideas, scrapbook inspiration, or a creative way to showcase your favorite vacation photos, today’s project is full of inspiration. Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Creatively Michelle transforms our Ocean Blue – Keepsake Kit and Rectangle Policy Envelope Album into a stunning interactive keepsake filled with layered embellishments, pockets, photo mats, and nautical charm. Whether you’re documenting a beach vacation, cruise memories, or family adventures by the sea, this Ocean Blue mini album tutorial is packed with ideas to help you create a one-of-a-kind album you’ll treasure for years to come.
“Hello crafty friends!
Today I’m excited to share the full reveal of my completed Ocean Blue mini album featuring the gorgeous Ocean Blue Keepsake Edition collection and the Rectangle Policy Envelope Album by Graphic 45.
From the moment I opened this collection, I was inspired by its beautiful coastal palette of deep ocean blues, soft aquas, sandy neutrals, and vintage nautical imagery. The collection is filled with stunning sea life, coral, shells, seahorses, and ocean-inspired sentiments that made designing this album an absolute joy.
For the foundation, I used Graphic 45’s Rectangle Policy Envelope Album in black. I love working with pre-made album bases because they allow me to focus on what I enjoy most—building layers, creating dimension, and transforming each page into a miniature work of art.
One of the questions I am often asked is, “How do you know when a project is finished?”
My answer is always the same: when I’ve added the cherry on top.
For me, the finishing touches are often what bring a project to life. I love creating depth with layers of fussy-cut ephemera, raising embellishments with foam adhesive, and building clusters that guide the eye around the page. Once those layers are in place, I usually reach for a few favorite finishing details—pearls, gems, and touches of glitter glue—to add just the right amount of sparkle and elegance.
Those little details may seem small, but they create texture, movement, and dimension that make the album feel special.
Throughout this project, I incorporated interactive envelope pages, photo mats, journaling spots, and pockets while still preserving the beautiful artwork from the Ocean Blue collection. My goal was to create an album that could hold treasured beach memories, cruise adventures, family vacations, or simply celebrate a love of the sea.
One of my favorite elements in this album is the cover. The layered coral, shells, starfish, and tropical fish create a dimensional ocean scene that immediately invites you inside. The sentiment, “Wishing You Oceans of Happiness,” felt like the perfect title for a collection that celebrates both memories and adventure.
Thank you so much for stopping by today and joining me for this full reveal. I hope this project inspires you to pull out your favorite papers, add a little extra dimension, and don’t forget the cherry on top!”
Happy crafting,
Once your pages are complete, elevate your mini album with a few thoughtful finishing details:
These small details transform a lovely project into a treasured keepsake that’s a joy to revisit again and again.
Michelle’s Ocean Blue Mini Album is a beautiful reminder that our favorite memories deserve to be printed, shared, and enjoyed for years to come. With the Ocean Blue Keepsake Edition and Rectangle Policy Envelope Album, creating an interactive album is easier than ever, leaving you more time to enjoy layering, embellishing, and telling your story.
Be inspired to print those summer photos, try a new technique, and create an album filled with memories you’ll love flipping through for years. We’d love to see what you create! Share your Ocean Blue projects on social media by tagging @Graphic45 and inspire our crafting community with your handmade keepsakes.
Happy Papercrafting!
