Mini albums have a very special place in my heart. There is something so satisfying about holding a completed mini album in my hands, turning the perfectly constructed pages one-by-one, seeing a creative display of BEAUTIFUL paper, running my hands across the cover, and feeling the strength and weight of each cardstock page. So today, I’m sharing a gorgeous mini album I made using the “Summertime Picnic” paper collection by Craft O’Clock.
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This project was SO SIMPLE to make, and I am certain to make TONS more of these little albums. The construction of the album came from the Lyriclover810 YouTube Channel and you can check out her video if you are interested HERE: https://youtu.be/Yc3t1q7Fn0I
Thank you for the inspiration!
I started with 5 sheets of 8-1/2″ x 11″ cardstock, and trimmed them to the following measurements:
9-3/4″ x 6-1/4″
9-1/2″ x 6-1/4″
9-1/4″ x 6-1/4″
9″ x 6-1/4″
8-3/4″ x 6-1/4″
I scored each piece horizontally at the 4-1/4″ mark. Then, I turned each piece around so I could score it on the OTHER END horizontally at the 4-1/4″ mark.
So, when you hold each piece of cardstock horizontally in your two hands, you have one score mark 4-1/4″ from the left edge and one score mark 4-1/4″ from the right edge.
Check out my flip-through video of the entire completed album!
I folded all the score lines with my bone folder and adhered them all together in the center, stacking the pieces of cardstock on top of each other like a little tower. I was careful to center each piece exactly.
Using wet glue gives you a bit of wiggle room, so you can adjust the position perfectly before the glue dries. Tape runners or double-sided tape are sometimes more convenient because there’s no dry time, but getting it exactly positioned can be tricky. I usually get my double-sided tape in place, remove the release paper, and then drizzle a little Un-Du Adhesive Remover liquid right over the sticky tape. The liquid temporarily makes the tape “not sticky”, so I can position the cardstock exactly, and then the liquid evaporates and the tape becomes sticky again in a few seconds.
You can choose to round the corners of each edge of the cardstock, if you want. It gives a nice look to the project. If you do that, be prepared to also round the edges of all your patterned papers as well. If you don’t, it won’t look as polished as if all the corners are the same.
This project uses one entire 6″ x 6″ paper pack, which is SO NICE! Simply trim down 20 sheets to measure 4″ x 6″. Again, if you rounded the corners of the cardstock, round the corners of the patterned paper, as well. I rounded the edges of my mini album and patterned papers, but I left the inside middle corners as actual square corners (not rounded).
Before you adhere the front and back cover papers, find the coordinating scrap piece in the scrap pile of 2″ x 6″ pieces. Trim that coordinating piece to 1″ x 6″, and use that to cover the outside spine.
If you want a ribbon closure, adhere one long piece of ribbon around the outside front and back cover BEFORE you adhere the patterned paper over top. I only used a small strip of double-sided tape behind the ribbon on the front and on the back (not on the spine).
To use up the 2″ x 6″ leftover strips, I created lots of little side “pockets” just by notching the middle of the strip with my envelope punch board and using a little 1/4″ double-sided tape on 3 sides. I also rounded the corners, as well. The We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board has a corner-rounder on one end and the “notch” punch on the other, so I only needed one tool for this project (besides my paper trimmer).
I also added a few interesting flaps inside the album, including one made from an acetate sheet. I imagined putting a photo behind the window when the album was complete.
I embellished the album with extras from the “Summertime Picnic” Collection: fussy-cut pieces from the “Extras to Cut” sheet, envelopes from the “Envelopes to Cut” sheet, plus die cuts and quotes from the collection, as well. I added some punched flower borders and a little paint spatter on the cover for a finishing touch.
This entire album took a little over two hours. SERIOUSLY. With the decorating and embellishing, I think I spent three hours or so. I think I have spent more time making a single 12″ x 12″ scrapbook layout! And as much as I love making 12″ x 12″ layouts, maybe that’s why I love mini albums so much: the feeling of completing a project is so satisfying!
Thank you for looking! Please share with your crafty friends! And don’t forget to follow the Sandpaper Road blog, so you never miss a dose of crafty inspiration!
