To begin making a mini album, you’ll start by making the binding. I chose to use eight (8) pieces of 6 x 6″ white chipboard pieces (link: https://tinyurl.com/yyx6hupp) and used black acrylic paint to paint the the edges and most of chipboard. I used black acrylic paint from Joanns’ link: https://tinyurl.com/yy62khsu with a foam brush Dollar Tree link: https://tinyurl.com/y5egsl4g. Once dry, they are ready to use.

Cut a piece of scrap cardstock to 1″ wide by 6″ tall and lay it on the left edge of each of your chipboard pieces, then draw a line with a pencil on the edge of the cardstock, so you have a mark running down the left side of your chipboard pieces that is 1″ from the left edge. I took gold colored (Stampin’ Up retired) cardstock and cut 8 pieces of 3″ wide by 6″ tall strips and scored them on the 3″ length at 1 1/2″. I used 1/4″ wide tear tape (link: https://tinyurl.com/y6zwd8rh) and wet glue (I think it was Art Glitter Glue link: https://tinyurl.com/y68b66hz )and laid two rows of tear tape (double sided tape) in the one inch space I created with a pencil line. I put wet glue between the two rows of tape and on the top and bottom and left edge of the 1″ space. To put the album together, take one of the chipboard pieces, add glue and double sided tape (tear tape), and use one of the strips that are 3″ x 6″ scored at 1 1/2″. Fold the strip in half so it’s now 1 1/2″ wide…With the folded part facing away from the album, lay the right side of the bottom of the folded strip on the 1″ line you made with pencil. Make sure it’s well adhered. Then take another chipboard piece and lay it on the top of the first chipboard making sure it’s lined up perfectly and that you’ve added double sided tape and wet glue to the 1″ space. Continue using this system until you’ve used all of your chipboard.

The top piece is your cover…don’t add another 3″ strip to the top of it, as you’ll be using other paper to wrap around the binding to make it more secure, once you’ve decorated the cover. I chose a cardstock that looked like black animal skin and scored it from top to bottom, every 1/8″ from 1″ to 5″ on cardstock that is 6″ tall by 6″ wide. You’ll want the first one inch and the last one inch to be attached to the front cover and back cover of the album. I also lined this piece of cardstock with black Recollections heavyweight cardstock that was 4″ wide and scored every 1/8″. I glued the Recollections to the inside of the center of the animal skin inspired cardstock as I knew the animal paper would tear with use without this additional layer.

To make the pull out pages… Use Recollections Heavyweight black cardstock (link: https://tinyurl.com/y4a5nnfw) two pieces cut to 5 3/4″ by 6 1/4″ and score them on the 6 1/4″ length at 1/2″, plus one additional piece of heavyweight cardstock for the top, cut to 5 3/4″ x 5 3/4″. On the first two pieces of cardstock with the score, fold over the 1/2″ piece and use a bone folder to flatten it. I added tear tape to the 1/2″ area and glued the first of the two 5 3/4 x 6 1/4″ pieces into the album, making sure the 1/2″ score was on the right side so I can add the next layer on top of it. Then lay the second piece of 5 3/4 x 6 1/4″ pieces with the score on the left side, adhering it to the 1/2″ scored area of the bottom piece. Add the 5 3/4 x 5 3/4″ piece on the 1/2″ glue score of the second sheet. I added magnets (link: https://tinyurl.com/y47xzfo4) to keep mine closed. One magnet attached to the right area of the bottom page, then other side of the magnet attached to the top of the right side of the top of the second page, and another magnet added to the left side top of the second page, and the other half of this magnet added to the left side on top of the 5 3/4 x 5 3/4″ page (third page) with tear tape under them. Once the magnets are in place, decorative paper can be added. I always lay my magnets at least 1/2″ from the edge of the cardstock, to ensure that the decorative paper covers it completely.

I didn’t show this in the video, but I also cut two pieces of purple cardstock cut to 3″ by 5 3/4″ and adhered them together with tear tape and wet glue and let them dry. I used a scalloped border punch link: https://tinyurl.com/y2mcl3nl on the 5 3/4″ length of the cardstock, then adhered this to the top cardstock so the scallops will hang out of the underside of the cardstock and the rest are adhered to the back of the top cardstock in the pull out. This will act as a handle to lift the pull out.

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