At the July ScrapBuddies Crop (last weekend) I demonstrated how to make an Accordion Spine Mini Album. In fact it was a bit of a workshop as we all did it together step-by-step. Here are some of the finished albums, which have 4×4″ pages (the covers are slightly larger).
All the albums have Cardstock covers, but some have cardstock pages and others have paper pages. The paper pages work well actually because the paper is doubled over, so you don’t have to use double sided paper. In fact it is a great way to make use of your left over sheets of paper (8×8″ size) by making a number of very quick albums. Here is a picture of them open.
As you can see from the photograph below, the spine is an accordion of cardstock onto which folded lengths of 8×8 are stuck. If you do use cardstock for your pages, you can leave the top open of a couple of pages to make instant tag pockets.
I came across a tutorial over on the Creativity Prompt Blog - this is the link to the Tutorial Post which includes a video. Avital, the blog author, makes the mini album with a “Funky Foam” cover, but I used cardstock for the workshop. One thing to point out is that you need 6 pieces of 8×4″ cardstock or paper for the insides (Avital says 5, but you need one for the spine and 5 for the pages)
One thing I will do on my albums is place patterned paper on the inside front and back covers to neaten those areas, or at least pretty them up. I have thought of other alternatives, such as “scalloping” the ends of the spine before sticking it to the cover and either shortening the overlap, or lengthening it by using a 12×4″, rather than an 8×4″ piece of cardstock.
Still a worthwhile mini album design for making one or more quick albums.
Hi Sunday,
This is my first visit to your site- I am on the hunt for ideas for my sister in law’s wedding card (not invitation-but congrats). I watched your video on changing background paper (distressing the edges/crumpling into a little ball and using an ink pad to add a little colour)- the card you used as an example ( it was blue and was about loving your partner)- it looked like one sheet of 12X12 card stock and I was wondering how you cut/folded it- it looked very interesting. I’ll definately be putting your site in my favorites.
Thank you-
Chrissy- Victoria BC Canada
Hi Chrissy, the video about the backing paper was part of a set and THIS is the link to the article all about the mini album you are asking about, including a video, and yes it is made from just one sheet of 12×12.
I’m so glad you like the site and I hope my future articles will prove of interest and use to you too.
Warm Wishes
SundayL
Sunday, Your things are Fabulous. I have been a ‘collector’ of paper and stuff for years–you have certainly inspired me to so somwthing with them. Thanks so much!
Hello,
Is it possible that I can have the spine made of leather while the album covers are of printed images as the inner pages? How?
Hi there, I’m not sure what you mean by having the spine made of leather, as the spine isn’t really seen once the book is made, as the cover wraps around the whole thing and would cover up the spine. I would think that leather stiff enough to fold would be too thick to work with in this project. If you wanted to use leather I would make the cover from it, or place squares of it on the pages within.
SundayL