Mini Albums
Explosion Mini-Album
By Christine Ranson
Aug 12, 2005, 20:09

These albums are simple to make and adorable to look at. You can embellish them, add photos, stamp them-whatever you heart desires!

Supplies needed:

-3 different colored sheets of sturdy cardstock (such as Bazzill Basics or Scrapbook Sally)

-1 sheet of patterned paper (thinner paper works better as it folds easier)

Please note: Your cardstock and patterned paper should all coordinate

-2- 4.5” x4.5” square pieces of thin cardboard (like a cereal box)

-4 pieces of ribbon, each approximately 10” long

-Adhesive (photo squares or tape runner works best)

Step 1: Cut patterned paper so you end up with 4 6” x 6” squares. Set 2 of them aside (you won’t need them to make the album).

Step 2: Cut all 3 sheets of cardstock to 8” x 8”. Save your scraps, as you may want them to mat photos with later.

Step 3: Set patterned paper face down, and center cardboard on top. Fold corners of paper in and adhere them to the cardboard (See figure 1). Fold edges of patterned paper in and adhere them to the cardboard as well (see figure 2). Do this for both pieces of patterned paper.

Step 4: Take an 8” x 8” sheet of cardstock and fold them left to right and crease it. Unfold, then fold from top to bottom and crease it. Unfold, and then fold bottom left corner up to the top right corner. Crease and unfold. Do this to all 3 pieces of cardstock. See figure 3.

Step 5: Starting with 1 piece of cardstock face up, place adhesive along the top, middle, sides and bottom of a square on the cardstock.

Step 6: Place a square part of second piece of cardstock on top of adhesive, so that the corner of the second piece meets the middle of the first piece.

Repeat steps 5 and 6 for second and third pieces of paper, being sure that the first piece of cardstock goes in the middle. When finished, it should look like figure 5.

Step 7: Starting at one end of the joined cardstock, fold the top and bottom left triangles so that they touch the left square. See figure 6.

Step 8: Fold the right top and bottom triangles back onto the left triangles, back to back. See figure 7.

Step 9: Fold the right square onto folded triangles, as shown in figure 8.

Step 10: Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 until the 3 sheets of cardstock are folded into a 4” x 4” square. See figure 9.

Step 11: Take 2 pieces of ribbon and attach each piece to the wrong side of the patterned paper square, being sure that they are across from each other, as shown in figure 10. Do this to both squares.

Step 12: Keeping the cardstock folded, adhere one end to the wrong side of the patterned paper square. Do this to both ends, being sure that the squares are centered and the ribbons line up. See figure 11.

Step 12: Tie ribbons from the top to the ribbons on the bottom, and you’re done! The covers can be embellished, stamped, etc., and there is room for a few pictures and journaling inside. Just remember that if you want to use brads, snaps or eyelets, etc on the cover, do so before attaching it to the cardstock!