I wanted to share the football books I use to create every fall season. I have posted about this once before but I thought I would do a quick re-cap of more detail and eventually post a full step-by-step of the process so that others may also create they're very own football memory book.
This is the most recent creation. As of 2008. After that particular year my boys decided to take a break from the pigskin and took up skateboarding with a dedication I have never quite witnessed before in the little punks. But for now.. back to football.
Here is the book. (this book is the complete handmade version-there is another book which is less labor intensive-more on that later)
The football jersey is a paper piecing pattern I created to fit the size of book I needed. I traced the number of jersey's I needed and then cut them out.
It's a 5x7 accordion style book with a tie. I used a shoestring to mimic the look of the player's cleats.
When untied the book then fold's out.
I eventually created a book of this size shown to hold 4x6 photos. It was much more simple to just print and adhere the 4x6 photos rather than cut down photos to put in the smaller books I use to create.
As the book unfolds you can see how easy it would be to insert the 4x6 photos.
No extra cutting or measuring. Just pop those pics right in the book.
And when you are making the books for an entire team every little short cut helps. This book holds six photos.
Repeat times nineteen.
Books from 2006 looked like this. They were sporting red jersey's that year so I switched my background paper to white.
Books from 2005. Much smaller. Approximately 4x4 1/2.
This size made it more difficult to adhere 4x6 photos. But they were so cute.
Much cropping was needed to fit the images into the smaller books.
But the little players mom's were just as happy!
I think the details are what really make the books so special. Making sure to add the details from the players jersey's make it seem more real. The little guy's also think this is really super cool that they now have a book that looks exactly like the jersey they wore all season.
Details like the stripe and wedge on the shoulder of the jersey.
The jersey number's were traced from a Deja Views stencil/template. This particular one is the Lucky font in the two inch size. And I used it five years in a row and really liked it.
Yes, I cut out two sets of jersey numbers for each player (front/back) for at least 19 to 22 players every year for five strait years. And I have the carpel tunnel to prove it.
With all the die cutting machines out there today this step is no longer necessary. Where the heck was it when I needed it?!! I'm not bitter much. Just joking. Kinda.
There is also this version of the football memory book which I started to use when my littlest pip-squeak started to play this game and I then felt compelled to take pictures and scrapbook for the entirety of two teams. No I'm not crazy. Not at all.
This book was a time saving approach to the books I had made before because it was a store bought photo album and all of the photo's are simply inserted and you are finished. The only work is to create the front and back of the jersey to slide into the store bought album. Less adhesive. Much faster.
And the store bought books still look just as cute placed on the gift table at the end of the year team party.
I will also do a re-cap of the coaches clip board gifts (in the above picture) here soon.
It's football season people!
How will you thank your team and coaches for all of they're hard work this season?
(and lets not for get those cheerleaders)
Hit hustle and never quit!
Long live the pig skin!
The Sideline Mom
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