Mini Album Makers November Challenge

The Mini Album Makers Challenge will feature a monthly challenge, with each Design Team Member posting a link to a mini album tutorial, tip, or trick on the 1st of each month.  Then, one team member will post a full tutorial on the 14th of each month! (My BIG tutorial month is not until February, but I will post smaller tutorials monthly.) In addition, there will be guest makers each month!

Click HERE for the November Challenge! You will have all month to make a NEW project and enter the challenge for a chance to win a prize. (See prize details at the end of the post.) Winners will be posted on the 7th of each month on the Mini Album Makers Blog.

I have made another brand NEW project to share with you this month! I have gotten the happy news that I am to be a Guest Designer for Authentique Paper for the next few months, and when they sent me some product to work with, I could not resist using some of the BRAND NEW Alpine Collection for my project today! 

I think that a "folded" mini is the easiest and most versatile of all the mini album styles. Folded minis come in all sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Some have pockets, some have fold outs, and some have flip ups. Some have all the bells and whistles!

You can fold cardstock in so many ways to create mini albums. You don't need any fancy tools or supplies to make this style of mini, plus it is easy for beginners and fun for seasoned crafters! 

The tutorial today will show you how to make a 3 1/2" x 7" mini album with two pockets and an accordion fold out insert. 

You will need a few sheets of 12" x12" black cardstock, a score board and scoring tool (or a bone folder and ruler), a paper trimmer, adhesive, and some pretty papers and embellishments to match your theme. (For my full supply list, see the end of the post.)

To make the base of your album, start out by cutting black cardstock to 3 1/2" tall by 12" wide. Cut another piece of cardstock to 3 1.2" x 4". Measure 1" in from the left edge (on the 4" side) of the piece and draw a line. 

Place adhesive on the section of the smaller piece of cardstock, to the left of the line you drew. 

Attach the two pieces together to form one lone piece that is 3 1/2" tall by 15" wide. This will be the base of your mini album. 

Score the piece at 2", 2 1/4", 9 1/4", and 9 1/2". Fold and burnish on the score lines.  

The two 1/4" sections are the two spines for your album. The small left-hand section will slightly overlap the right-hand cover section. Open your mini again and lay it flat. 

Let's make the accordion fold insert. Cut black cardstock to 3 1/2" x 12" and score at 3 1/2", 7", and 10 1/2". Place adhesive on the small 1 1/2" tab as shown.  

Attach the tab to the inside of the mini, to the left of the second 1/4" spine, as marked above. There are three 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" accordion sections. (For my sample I added more sections, see those instructions below.)  

Add a pocket to the inside of the album. Cut cardstock to 4 1/2" x 7 3/8". Score 1/2" from the top, bottom, and right edges. Use a circle punch to punch a notch in the left edge. Fold on the score lines to make the pocket.  

Attach the pocket to the right of the first 1/4" spine section as shown.  

Let's make a small pocket for the back section. Cut cardstock to 4 1/2" x 2 1/2". Score 1/2" from the left, right, and bottom edges. Fold on the score lines to make the pocket.   

Attach the pocket to the right edge of the mini, as shown. 

Cut decorative paper to fit all the surfaces of the mini. I am using 6x6 pads from Authentique (Alpine, Loyal, and Flourish).  

Once I started my album, I decided I wanted to add two more sections to my accordion insert. If you wish to add more panels to yours, cut black cardstock to 3 1/2" x 10" and score at 3 1/2" and 7". Attach the panels together.  

 Now there are five (5) double-sided panels ready for decorating!  

Add paper to the back section and pocket. 

 Choose papers for each section of the accordion insert. 

Flip the insert over and add paper the other side of each panel. Before we decorate the inside, let's work on the cover.

Because I added those extra panels to my accordion insert, my album would not stay closed, even with the addition of magnets! I had to make a belly band to hold the little flap closed! If I had made my spine sections 1/2" rather than 1/4", that would have also solved my problem! Each mini is a learning experience!

To continue, cut paper for the cover and add a focal image or embellishment. I chose to add on of the Alpine images from the 12x12 paper. This little guy is so cute! We don't have winter here in southern California, but I remember it from my many years living back East and in the upper Midwest! Brrrrr

To make a belly band, cut black cardstock to 9" long and 2" wide. Attach a strip of printed paper cut slightly smaller to the front of the cardstock. Fold the belly band around the album and secure the edges together once you have a snug fit. Decorate the front of the band as desired. 

I chose to glue some frosty flowers and other embellishments to my band.

Remove the band and let's decorate the inside of the mini. 

Cut paper to fit each panel on the inside. I also added some sticker embellishments from the Alpine paper collection. I always place my stickers onto cardstock and then cut around them to give them more stability and dimension.

No mini is complete without lots of tags, at least in my mind!

To create a tag for the larger pocket, you will need a Graphic 45 Large Tag, in black. These come in a package of six, I believe. 

You will need to cut a bit from the sides and bottom of the tag in order for it to fit the pocket. The finished tag is approximately 6 3/8" x 3 1/8".

Cover the tag with paper. I am using the Alpine 6x6  paper pad, which works perfectly for this size mini.

I covered both sides of the tag with paper.  

Because I love tags, I also added four of the Graphic 45 ATC size tags, also in black.  

The three tags for the back pocket have paper and sticker embellishments on them. 

I decorated the back, too. Of course!

I used lots of the mini images from the 6x6 pad and some of the sticker elements to decorate each page of the accordion insert. (To see a larger photo, just click on it and it will "pop up"!)

Both sides of the accordion are decorated with little images.

The accordion page that is the "front" had a removable tag. I created a belly band with some paper and a sticker.

I covered the tag with paper on both sides.

To keep the tag from falling out, I added an embellishment to the tag with some foam tape. The little embellishment "catches" on the belly band, ensuring that the tag stays put!

Since the back of the mini is 7" wide I used a matching piece of the Alpine 12x12 paper.  

Your little mini is ready for photos and journaling!

Thanks for joining me today! Below is a full list of the Design Team, with links to their blogs!

Alison Bomber

Anne Redfern

Astrid Maclean

Autumn Clark

Gloria Stengel (you are here)

Inna Bronnikova

Nancy Wethington

Our Prize Sponsor this month is....

Website

Blog

YouTube

One lucky maker will receive....

Our challenge follows a few simple rules:

Any Handmade Book Goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini albums, scrapbooks, journals, and book arts. Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project. You do not have to provide a tutorial, but we wish you would. Feel free to use one of the DT tutorials to make your project and give proper credit where due. No back links allowed (this means your project must be first seen on social media between Nov. 1st and Nov. 30th, 2017).  Combine with any other challenges as applicable. No limit on entries. Share the love by visiting and commenting on other entries. Please become a follower. That's it - have fun! Click HERE to enter your project!

Come back on  December 1st for a new set of tutorials from the team!

Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Midnight (80 pound)
Printed paper: Authentique Alpine 12x12 and Alpine 6x6, Loyal 6x6, Flourish 6x6 (both Loyal and Flourish are retired collections)
Stickers: Authentique AlpineTags: Graphic 45 black Large and ATC sizes
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts, Prima, various floral department stock
Snowflake buttons: craft supply
Die cuts: My Favorite Things Stitched 2 BordersCircle punches: Stampin' Up
Corner rounder: Creative Memories
Score board: Martha Stewart
Adhesive: Scor-tape, multi medium, ATG tape, Hot glue