I created this album as a gift for a very special person, a person who loves cats! So I thought the “Paws of Happiness” paper collection by Craft O’Clock would be perfect (or should I say “purr-fact”) for this project!
Here is how to create the basics for this album:
Start with a piece of white cardstock. Measure and cut the cardstock to 9-1/4″ x 6-1/2″ (23,5 cm x 16,5 cm).
Score from the short end at 2″ (5,08 cm). Then score at 2-1/4″ (5,7 cm).
From there, score lines in the following pattern: 1/2″ – 1/2″ – 1/4″ (1,27 cm – 1,27 cm – .64 cm). Complete this pattern FOUR COMPLETE TIMES ACROSS. You should end up with a 2″ (5,08 cm) space at the end.
This will allow for a hinge binding with a 2″ (5,08 cm) wing span on each end, 1/2″ (1,27 cm) hinges and 1/4″ (.64 cm) gussets.
Add double-sided tape to the 1/2″ (1,27 cm) spaces. Fold the taped pieces together against each other. Burnish the score lines again and again to work the mountain folds into place (see photo above).
Use sturdy chipboard (or use two or three glued-together layers of cereal box) for the outside pieces. Measure the front and back pieces each at 7″ x 6-1/2″ (16,4 cm x 17,8 cm) and the spine piece at 7″ x 1-1/8″ (2,9 cm x 17,8 cm).
For this project, I used a large size cover by Craft O’Clock. The cover sheet measures 23-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ (60 cm x 24,2 cm). It is one nicely decorated sheet of matte-laminate paper, strong enough to handle layers of liquid glue on the inside and the repetitive abrasions typical of a mini-album cover on the outside.
Use double-sided tape and/or liquid glue to adhere the chipboard spine piece to the cover paper. Then, to create a nice space for the front and back cover to fold, I held two craft-type popsicle sticks together and used them as a spacer between the chipboard spine piece and the cover chipboard pieces. Use liquid glue and/or double-sided tape to adhere the cover chipboard pieces to the cover paper.
Once the chipboard pieces are completely dry (if you used liquid glue), carefully cut the corners of the cover paper. Make sure to leave at least a little bit of wiggle room at the corner (do not cut right up to the edge of the corners). Glue and fold the flaps of the cover paper to the inside chipboard. Then get ready to adhere the hinge piece to the chipboard. Snip the corners of the mountain folds so they are angled down toward the cover, but do not cut directly against the base (leave a little wiggle room).
There is a bit of a trick to adhering the hinge piece to the cover. First, adhere the MIDDLE of the hinge ONLY to the SPINE piece of chipboard. It’s okay to add the double-sided tape to the entire hinge piece ahead of time, but leave the release paper in place on the wings until after the middle of the spine is adhered in place. Once the middle is adhered, it is easy to just pull off the release paper and secure the wings to the cover. Don’t worry about covering the inside front and back covers just yet.
To create the pages, first cut 8 pieces of cardstock each measuring 6″ (15,24 cm) x 6-3/4″ (17,15 cm). Score the longer side at 1/4″ (.64 cm) and adhere two pieces together to create 4 “tunnel” pages. One of the open ends will slide onto the mountain-fold hinge, and the other open end will just stay open. Start by adhering the MIDDLE pages in place, and then work your way out. Leave wiggle room everywhere you place adhesive and everywhere you attach pages.
To mat the inside front and back covers, cut patterned paper to measure 6″ x 6-1/2″ (15,24 cm x 16,51 cm). I used the leftover corner pieces from the cover to create pockets.
Decorate the inside of the album as desired. You can keep this as simple or as complicated as you would like. If you would like to create a pocket, simply add patterned paper to the pages by gluing on only three sides of the paper.
See the completed album in this short video:
Complete supply list:
“Paws of Happiness” paper collection by Craft O’Clock;
Extras to Cut I;
Extras to Cut II;
“Animals Quotes” by Craft O’Clock (from the “Childhood Crayons” collection);
Large Cover #30 by Craft O’Clock;
Scor-Tape 1/2″ and 1/4″;
Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive;
Scor-Pal Scoring Board;
Small Magnets (K&J Magnetics: D501);
Other supplies: decorative frame and white cardstock from my stash.
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