Hi friends! Today I’m sharing a very special project created with the brand new Cupcakes & Candles collection. This collection is absolutely gorgeous! The bold colors, adorable birthday icons, and all of the fun girly accents made it the perfect choice for a project that has been on my mind for quite some time.
For each of my kids, I started a small album where I document a little piece of who they are each year. My plan is to include a photo from every year, along with a notecard sharing some of their favorite things, interests, personality traits, and little details about who they are at that age.
But there’s another fun part to these albums too!
Along the way, I’m adding hidden cash bills throughout the pages, with the intention of gifting the completed album to each of them on their 18th birthday. I love the idea of giving them something that not only includes a little surprise, but also tells the story of their childhood and gives them a glimpse into who they were during each stage of growing up.
I originally started these albums using simple 4x6 photo albums. They worked for a while, but over time I noticed that they were beginning to fall apart—and, if I’m being completely honest, they just weren’t very cute! I decided it was finally time to give this project the makeover it deserved and create custom albums for each of my kids.
I started with my daughter’s album, and Cupcakes & Candles could not have been a more perfect collection for her. The album is sized 7.5 x 5.5" and the covers are chipboard, with the beautiful papers covering it.
I created a page for each year and filled the album with lots of bright colors, playful birthday details, and layers of those adorable Doodlebug embellishments. Once all of the pages were finished, I spiral bound the entire album to create something that feels sturdy, special, and completely custom.
I’m sharing several of the inside pages here, although not every year is pictured. Each page has its own little details while still coordinating throughout the album, and I love knowing that I can continue filling in the photos, memories, and surprises as the years go by.
This project has quickly become one of my favorites because it’s so much more than a mini album. It’s a keepsake that will continue growing right along with my daughter—and one day, she’ll get to look back through all of these little snapshots of her childhood.
Be sure to check out my Instagram Reel for a full look through the album so you can see all of the pages and details that aren’t pictured here!
I hope this inspires you to create your own version of a yearly memory album for someone you love. Sometimes the most meaningful projects are the ones we get to add to little by little over the years.
9151 cupcakes & candles chit chat
9152 cupcakes & candles bits & pieces
9142 hello cupcake just charming clip
9135 cute cakes doodle-pops
9130 sundae sprinkles doodle-pops
9133 birthday cake doodle-pops
9124 birthday girl assortment sprinkles
9127 birthday bouquet shape sprinkles
9136 sweet celebration shakers
9137 sugar sprinkles shakers
9139 cupcakes & candles puffy icons
9155 cupcakes & candles icons
9156 cupcakes & candles this & that
9171 cupcakes & candles petite print asst.
9236 swimming pool fancy frills
7399 blue jean alphabet soup
7391 bubblegum alphabet soup
7401 white alphabet soup
7398 swimming pool alphabet soup
9244 bubblegum wired pop pom boutique trim
9158-9169 cupcakes & candles papers
OTHER
1" circle punch
hole punch
cinch machine
cinch binding wires blue 1"
chipboard
