I need some help with Paper Bag Albums

[DisneyIsTerrific]

I've never made a paper bag album, but I've found directions on how to do it and it doesn't look like it'll be that hard to do. But, I've found instructions that show 2 different ways to do it.

One way is to just fold the bags in half. The other way is to cut off the bottom of the bags. Is one way better than the other?

I have agreed to try to make a beach themed one as a trial and if it works well then I'll do it as a class with a group of cross stitchers that I get together with every year in Myrtle Beach. We will stitch a small piece to attach to the cover to make it stitching related. We thought it would make a nice souvenier photo album for everyone. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you had any tips or suggestions that you could offer on what to do or not do when making a paper bag album.

Thanks for any help you can give!!!!!:flower3:

[rlovew]

I have done the kind with the bags folded in half- we did a swap of them a few years ago. I have just about used up the ones I got from that swap.

I would have to say my biggest tip is to bind them before filling them and adding on all the paper. I folded 3 bags in half and then added the binding onto it before punching holes with my cropadile and tying ribbons to bind. I left about 1/2 and inch of the binding paper undone and stuck that down after I adde the covers.

I would not even attempt them without a cropadile.

Rebecca

[PrincessNancy96]

fold the bags is the best... :)
then punch the holes and bind them...
then add the paper to the bags...

I found it easier to cut the papers to fit on the bag (giving a little wiggle room)....and I decorated the pages before I adhered them to the brown paper bags....

[morgansmom2000]

I do the fold in half type too. I used white ones and sprayed them with walnut ink, loved the look of that for the beach!