If you are as obsessed with taking pictures as most of us are these days, chances are you have made some sort of New Year’s resolution to print more photos or make your first physical photo album. Always a good goal, but it can feel a little overwhelming at times to actually sit down and make it happen from start to finish. This year I thought it would be a fun idea to make a year-long photo book, but to make it easier, I’m only printing out 5 photos a month in hopes of making it a more attainable goal. 5 photos a month? I can totally do that!
We got to work with Canon USA on this, and I used my PIXMA MG7720 to print the photos and months for this project. It’s actually an extra perfect match for this project because you can print directly from your Instagram account with the Canon PRINT app. As always, super easy to use and the best quality prints!
I created colorful 4×4″ month squares that you can download, print and cut out, and place in your album to divide the sections. Jan-Feb, March-April, May-June, July-Aug, Sept-Oct, Nov-Dec (right click to download).
You can take photos especially for this mini album idea, but if you pull pics from your favorite Instagrams of that month, you’ll make your job even easier and it won’t require any extra photography. Gotta get my kitty pics in!
To make the gold 4×4″ album
I picked a little more special, I used a record player stamp to stamp a pattern on the inside of the album for a little personality.
Once your month dividers are printed and put into the album, you’ll print out 5 photos at the end of the month, and by December, you’ll have a full chronological account of your whole year! Not too shabby for a small amount of effort. I’m really excited about this idea because it sounds really doable even in busy seasons of life. So, what do you think? Are you up for the challenge with me?? xo. Laura
Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
Will you ladies be doing an update on this for 2018?!
What will you do with the phones when the new year comes? Start another book or throw the 2016 pics away, and use the same book?
I’m not one to do scrapbooking but I LOVE Instagram and this is such a great idea. Definitely taking this little project on.
www.throughmyowneyes.com
love the look of this. I want to print out more photographs this year.
Kemples xx
I’m in! This is such a wonderful idea! I’m currently purchasing the gold album for myself (because I’m firmly seat-belted into the gold bandwagon right now) and one in mint for my oldest daughter. I also downloaded the Canon app which I didn’t know existed so thanks for everything in this post! 🙂
This looks like a neat and EASY (keyword) project!
What kind/size of photo sleeve did you use?
Thanks!
This is a really cute idea but can you tell us how much it cost you if you had to do the whole year? After a little research online the album with plastic inserts would be $50. That seems expensive for a little scrapbook.
Hi Sarah! Yes! The next one will be coming out on January 10th. :)) -Jacki
Love this idea! I’m trying to get back into physical scrapbooking too, you know, with like actual pictures. 🙂 Side note, do you know if there will be a monthly messy box this year too?
Where did you purchase the book itself to put the pictures in? Thank you!~ (I’ve never seen 4×4 photo albums) 🙂 Thank you for sharing!~ Great blog and ideas!!!
Love this idea! I’m doing a 52 week photography challenge to improve my photography skills (by the way – i’m taking the DSLR basic class from ABM and it’s so helpful!!) and this will be a cool idea to print my weekly photos and make an album out of it!
This looks like a neat and EASY (keyword) project!
What kind/size of photo sleeve did you use?
Thanks!
This would be a great idea for a new mom or dad to be able to photograph a baby’s growth throughout the first year! I do a yearly scrapbook album, so I’m trying to think of ways I could incorporate your idea to make something different than just a yearly scrapbook. This mini album is so versatile, though! And I adore how you used a stamp to personalize it even more.
http://www.enchantinglyemily.com
Ah love this idea! Perfect!
Such a lovely challenge! Love this mini version!
Great idea, i don`t even know about this little folders for instagram pictures, I searched the web and here in germany it costs 16 Dollar without the sheets and chatbooks is not shipping to germany, so we are a little backward with this, sadly. Greetings from colone Kathrin
This is such a lovely idea, i like thats its only small i feel you would be much more select about your photo choices.
Zoe
www.bohomixology.com
That is such a cute and cool idea, especially making a year-long photo album is great! Thank you for that!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
Love this idea. Seems so simple and doable. Should probably finish my December album before I start something new though… How are you doing with your December album? Will you be sharing that soon?
Love it!
Last year I took 365 pictures and did a photo book. A whole year in pictures! You can read more about this here:
https://carolinespassion.wordpress.com/projects/paper-projects/365-a-picture-a-day/
xx Caroline