Today’s tutorial is on a mini accordion album – it’s a real quick one, you could probably make the entire thing in 30 minutes. : )
You can see photos of my entire finished album right at the end of the tutorial.
What you need:
– 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock
– patterned paper
– scoring blade
– inks and embellishments
– twine
1. Start by cutting your cardstock into 3 equal strips measuring 4 x 12″
2. Pop your scoring blade in and score each strip at 3, 6 and 9″
3. Fold the creases accordion style: fold one piece to the back, the next to the front, etc. Then glue the two strips together as shown in the above photo. If you’d like more pages, go ahead and glue the third strip on as well.
4. Now cut your pages out of patterned paper. Measurements are 2.75 x 3.75″. Ink the edges if you desire. (I used Colorbox Dark Brown Ink). Glue your pages onto the album.
5. Cut a strip of cardstock measuring 7.5 inches. Wrap this around the middle of your album. If it overlaps in the front too much, trim a bit off. I ripped the edges of mine.
6. Glue a piece of twine to the strip on the backside of the album.
7. Tie the twine at the front of the album. Make it tight enough that it won’t fall off but not so tight that you can’t wiggle the middle band off the mini book without untying it.
8. You should be able to just slip it right off now.
9. Now have fun embellishing your book! A tip: – try not to make the book too bulky as you won’t be able to close it with the band you just made.
You can use any theme at all for this kind of album- it’s so versatile!
Here is my completed album:
Remember that you don’t always have to add photos to your mini books, sometimes journaling is all you need. My book turned out to be some Reflections about how life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it too. There are bumps in the road but also some unexpected surprises.
Here is a challenge for you if you’re up for it: Create your own little book of “Deep Thoughts”. Were there some things you expected to happen in your life that didn’t? What were some of the surprises?
If you do end up making one of these mini books, I’d love to see it! please leave a link to where it can be seen : )
Lastly, I want to share this cute photo of Oscar. I took it the other day and completely forgot about it, then when I was downloading the photos for the tutorial this morning, I found this little gem amongst them. I love it when that happens! The photo is a bit bright as he was sitting in the sun – but it was one of those moments where I had to rush to get the camera before he moved.
He sits like this a lot – it’s hilarious. Usually he moves though before I’m able to snap a photo of it. Geez, I can’t believe I’m not going to get to see this cute guy for an entire year (and Gracie too)…. (I won’t get any time off from school until next summer and it will just be for 1 week). I will miss them so much…. I can’t think about it right now cause it makes me feel sick : (
I love this! You are such an inspiration, and the pic of your kitty is adorable. Thanks so much for sharing!
This is super cute. I love accordian books and I love that you documented your thoughts and your life. Thanks for the inspiration!!
xoxo, Christine
Jess, love the mini book and how you shared your life in it. This is super neat.
This is so cute! I love how you are able to do a book like this without any pictures. Mine would never look this way. I am having a graduation party coming up I think I am going to make a couple of these to set out on the tables. I will also be making one of these for my senior year prom 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
Super tutorials-I’m going to copy and paste all of them. I have an orange/white cat-big and fluffy also-that sits the same way! I have a great picture of him siting under the Christmas tree!
Love your idea of a no photos, just journaling. I love making mini albums just for the creativity and this is a fun idea of what to do with them. Thanks!
Forgot to add…There is 12×24 paper but it’s hard to find. I saw it at a local craft store.
I like the way your mini turned out! Thanks for sharing the idea!
wow…I really love the idea, thanks for the tip with the string
I love this little book it’s so pretty I love the cat to he’s cute I have one that sits like him because she’s to fat to sit the normal way it’s hilarius she props herself in a corner to do it.
Great tutorial! Love the pix of the kitty sitting that way. It always cracks me up when mine sit this way.
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