Tuesday, September 1, 2026

SUMMER FUN MINI ALBUM | with Tya

There is just something extra special about turning favorite memories into a handmade gift! Today I’m sharing this bright and cheerful little mini album I created using the Summer Fun collection . This album is going to a sweet family friend so she can flip through it again and again and remember some of the fun times we shared at the beach. One of the things I love most about paper crafting is being able to take photos and memories and turn them into meaningful little gifts for the people I love. And with all of the happy colors and adorable beach-themed icons in Summer Fun, this collection was absolutely perfect!


For the cover, I wanted to give a little peek at all the color and texture tucked inside the album. I layered several different circular elements together, mixing patterned papers, die cuts, and embellishments to create lots of dimension. I added the cute “Happy” banner from the Chit Chat die cuts, across the top along with that adorable smiling starfish, and tucked a colorful beach ball, also from the Chit Chat and the “Best Day Ever” sentiment into the layers. The bright pink paper tassel and sheer polka-dot ribbon tied onto the album ring add such a fun finishing touch. I especially love the yellow pom-pom trim peeking out around the edges—it gives the whole album such a playful, summery personality!

Once the cover is opened, you can really see all those fun layers. I used circles in several different sizes throughout the album so that pieces from the pages behind peek out here and there. I love how this makes the album feel full and interesting before you even start flipping through it! The colorful beach ball makes a great focal point on this page, and I layered the “Best Day Ever” sentiment, which is a sticker from the This and That Sticker Sheet, across the bottom. A few tiny flowers from the Island Tropics Shape Sprinkles add just the right amount of extra detail without covering up all of those cute patterned papers. 


For the next page, I knew I wanted it to be bright and sunny. The bright yellow speech bubble with the “It’s a Beautiful Day!” sentiment from the This and That Sticker Sheet, makes such a happy introduction . A few shiny blue Sprinkles add another pop of color and dimension. The bottom page features this adorable beach photo, which I cropped into a circle to coordinate with the shape of the album. I added a sunshine embellishment along with a few tiny flowers, which are all from the Puffy Icon Stickers,  to frame the photo while still letting that sweet little face be the star of the page.


I continued the circular design on the next section with another favorite close-up photo. I layered the picture over colorful patterned paper and added the cutest little  Puffy Sticker jellyfish alongside it. The “Life’s a Beach” sentiment was the perfect phrase for this photo, and the bright pink heart from the Odds and Ends,  adds another fun pop of color. On the page below, I created a larger embellishment cluster using the “Summer Fun” piece, which is a sticker from the This and That Sticker Sheet, a flamingo sticker from the Icons stickers, umbrella, beach ball, bucket and other little beach icons. I love mixing embellishments of different sizes like this—it gives such a tiny album a surprising amount of detail!


I also wanted the album to have plenty of pages that were more decorative so that flipping through it feels like a little explosion of summer. For this page, I layered a large sunshine over the colorful plaid background and added the adorable rainbow flip-flops. The die cuts are from the Odds and Ends and the papers are all from the 6x8 Paper Pad. The “Sunny Memories” sentiment says exactly what this album is all about! Below it, I used the blue polka-dot paper to really make the bright green “FUN” title stand out. I tucked the photo behind the title and added the snorkel mask, colorful fish and “Summer” word strip around it. The yellow pom-pom trim framing this page might be one of my favorite details in the entire album—it adds so much texture and whimsy!


The next spread is filled with even more beach-day happiness! For the top page, I used the colorful dotted patterned paper and added the cute  umbrella ands and bucket and shovel die cut from the Odds and Ends along with the little seagull Icon sticker. The rainbow umbrella across the top adds another fun pop of color, while the “You Make Me Smile” banner , from the Chit Chat, stretches across the page and ties everything together. I added just a touch of dimension with a shiny pink Sprinkle. On the lower page, I fit two circular photos side by side and surrounded them with tropical flowers, a palm tree, starfish and heart. These are all from the Icon Stickers and the Odds and Ends . The bold “Fun in the Sun” title along the bottom, is from the This and That Sticker Sheet, and was just too perfect for these sweet beach photos!

 
I had so much fun creating this little keepsake with the Summer Fun collection. More than anything, I love knowing that it will be given to someone special who can flip through these pages whenever she wants and remember the fun beach days we spent together. Handmade gifts filled with photographs and memories will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this colorful little album has inspired you to pull out some of your favorite summer photos, get those memories printed, and turn them into a cute mini album of your own. Summer always seems to fly by, but capturing those sunny days in a handmade album means we can enjoy them over and over again! ☀️🏖️đź’•


DOODLEBUG PRODUCTS USED

8926 Summer Fun Icons Stickers
8927 Summer Fun This and That Sticker Sheet
8921 Summer Fun Odds and Ends
8922 Summer Fun Chit Chat
8907 Summer Fun Puffy Icon Stickers
8991 Summer Fun Assortment Sprinkles
8892 Island Tropics Shape Sprinkles
8925 Summer Fun 6x8 Cardstock Paper Pad
3207 Blue Jean Doodle Twine

OTHER

Circle Metal Dies
Manual Die Cutting Machine
Tassel Metal Die
Yellow Pom Pom trim
Book Ring

Friday, August 28, 2026

SUMMER FUN DISC BOUND MINI ALBUM | with Niella

Hi crafty friends! Nice to see you all pop by! Today I am so happy to show you my latest Summer Fun project which is a disc bound 6x4 hard cover mini album! It is full to the brim of hidden tuck spots, cute icons and fun areas to memory keep!  Stay tuned to see my video showcase of my mini album which shows all the pages and dimension!


For the focal point on the front over, I've added the sweet is the Diggin' Summer doodle-pop!  I've added some foam adhesive underneath to bring it forward a touch more and it looks so great! To add more dimension, I've added some glitter dust around the ledges and added some Shaker Bitty Bubbles, sweet!




I've loved re-visiting and re-designing with the Summer Fun collection.  Every pattern is adorable and the sea creatures and fun icons make putting together easy! I've just used whatever piece and pattern I've felt and in every Doodlebug collection there is so much to play around with.  From the darling papers to the happy stickers, whatever you pull out to create with is so cute!




To add special touches is my jam! I love to add sewing machine stitching on nearly every page.  The strands of thread add that whimsy touch.  I've enjoyed creating the front and back of every page and cannot wait to fill it with all my families memories.  This would also be such a darling gift.  You can create a mini then package up some more bits and pieces and gift it all together in a basket.  That would be such a well received treasure.


Thank you again for visiting crafty crew! I hope you found some inspiration today! Please remember to tag Doodlebug Design in your Socials when you create with our products so we can all admire your creativity! We love seeing your creations! Until next time; doodle doo!  Enjoy my video showcase!



DOODLEBUG PRODUCTS USED 

8923 Summer Fun bits & pieces ephemera pack
8921 Summer Fun odds & ends ephemera pack
8891 Summer Fun sprinkles summer assortment
8925 Summer Fun 6x8 paper pad
8937 paradise palms double-sided cardstock
8936 seashells by the seashore double-sided cardstock
8938 flamazing flock double-sided cardstock
8934 let's luau double-sided cardstock
8943 Summer Fun Textured Cardstock Assortment 
8903 Summer Fun diggin' summer doodle-pop

OTHER

sewing machine 
WE R Makers disc punch
WE R Makers discs
pop dots
translucent glitter dust

Thursday, August 27, 2026

SUMMER FUN POPSICLE GIFT CARD HOLDERS | with Karen

This has been my summer of the popsicle! I have two teenage daughters and neither of them were huge fans of popsicles growing up. So popsicles were not really something I had around the house for the last number of years. But this summer I remembered that I love popsicles! I decided to buy a box just for me to enjoy over the last few weeks. And boy, have I enjoyed them. Popsicles are amazing!
 

So for my project this week, I wanted to honour popsicles! I decided to use the iconic shape to create some gift card holders. Made with the amazing 12x12 patterned sheets from the Summer Fun collection in Pink Paradise, Beach Towel and Gull Friends, these little holders feature a slide out part that hold any standard gift card.
 

Pull on the little popsicle stick, made from some 12x12 Textured cardstock in Vanilla and the gift card slides out. This textured cardstock was perfect for the stick as it has an amazing texture that gives a wood-like feel!

  

Finally, I topped them off with some tiny little Shape Sprinkles from the Island Tropics pack. I think they give the illusion of little sprinkles sitting on top of each one.

  

As moms, I think sometimes we don't always do nice things for ourselves. So whether you love popsicles or not, go do something nice just for you today. You deserve it! Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs, 

DOODLEBUG PRODUCTS USED

8931 Summer Fun pink paradise double sided cardstock
8939 Summer Fun beach towel double sided cardstock
8940 Summer Fun gull friends double sided  cardstock
8922 summer fun chit chat
8892 island tropics shape sprinkles

OTHER

Adhesive
White cardstock
Ribbon

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