Mini Accordion Album
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You can create a mini accordion album with this easy to follow tutorial. The album is constructed from one sheet of thick paper or card and two pieces of thicker card for the cover. |
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Materials
- A piece of card stock or thick paper measuring 8 1/4" x 11". You just need to cut a small strip off a piece of A4 card to get this size.
- Two pieces of thicker card for the cover - each measuring 4 1/2" x 3 3/4".
- Two pieces of paper each measuring 5 1/2" x 4 3/4" for the cover papers.
- Adhesive: I use PVA glue to stick on the cover papers and to attach the covers to the album pages.
- Scissors or a craft knife and cutting board.
- A scoring board or a ruler and scoring tool.
- Paper and embellishments to decorate your album.
Method
Mark and score your 8 1/4" x 11" card stock on its longer side at 3 1/2", 7" and 10 1/2".
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I used a scoring board and in my picture the score lines are marked in blue. If you haven't got a scoring board you can find instructions for scoring and folding here. |
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Cut your piece of card in half lengthways. Cut off the 1/2" flap from just one of the pieces of card - shown on the bottom piece of card here. |
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Fold and crease along the score lines. Fold the two pieces of card accordion style. Stick the two pieces of card together. Apply glue or double-sided tape onto the flap and place the end of the other piece of card onto the flap - lining the edges up carefully. |
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The inside of your mini accordion album now looks like this. |
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I find it easier to decorate my pages at this stage before I put the covers on.
I used a foam applicator and an ink pad to ink the edges of the accordion. Then I stuck on my papers. Don't decorate the two end pieces where the cover will be attached.
I add photos and other embellishments after I stick the covers on.
Make the covers
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Apply glue to the cover boards and stick them centrally to the wrong side of the cover papers - leaving a 1/2" margin round the boards. Cut the cover papers off at the corners - close to, but not right up to the cover boards. |
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Apply glue to the paper borders, fold them over the cover board and press firmly into place. I put a heavy book on my covers and leave the glue to dry. |
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Attach the covers
Take the front cover, with the wrong side facing you, and put it on your work surface.
Apply glue to the front album page. Center the album page on your cover and press down firmly.
Repeat with the back cover - make sure you line up the front and back covers carefully, before pressing the cover firmly down. Again I use my heavy book and put it onto the album to hold everything together as the glue dries.
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Your mini accordion album is now ready to use. I am going to use mine as a mini scrapbook album and stick in photos from different Christmas celebrations. You can use yours as a scrapbook album, an art journal, or as a note-book etc. They are also a great book project for children to make and decorate. |