Spooky Cute Mini Album Tutorial

Good morning, Crafters! I have a FULL Authentique tutorial for you today! 

Check out this spooky cute mini album featuring the Nightfall and Pleasant Collections! (I also found a 6x6 pad of the retired collection Enchanted, so I added a little bit of that, too!)

My mini this month is in the classic style that I usually make, but is a little larger than my usual offering. This one is 8" tall by 5" wide with a 1 1/2" spine. 

There are four pages and two large pockets on the inside front and back covers. 

The album has FOUR waterfall elements. Plus, there are lots of flaps, pockets, and tuck spots!

We have to start off by splicing some cardstock together because we need a 10" x 14" piece, and my cardstock only comes in 12" x 12". Cut one piece of black cardstock to 10" x 12" and a second piece to 10" x 4". Overlap the cardstock to create the 14" width needed. 

Note: You will need approximately twelve (12) sheets of 12" x 12" black cardstock for this album, if you make the album exactly like mine. 

For the covers and spine you need two pieces of chipboard measuring 8" x 5" and one piece that is 8" x 1 1/2". 

Attach the chipboard to the center of the 10" x 14" piece of cardstock, leaving a 1/8" gutter between the spine piece and the cover pieces. Angle the cardstock corners and apply double-sided tape to the flaps. 

Wrap the cardstock around the chipboard and gently score the gutters. Before you add your hinge mechanism to the spine, cover the spine chipboard with a piece of decorative paper cut to 7 7/8" x 1 1/2". 

To make the hinge, cut black cardstock to 7 1/2" x 6 3/4" and score on the shorter side at 1", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/4", 2 3/4", 3 1/4", 3 1/2", 4", 4 1/2", 4 3/4", 5 1/4", 5 3/4". Accordion fold the cardstock to create the hinges. You will have four (4) hings that are 7 1/2" tall with 1/4" gutters between the hinges.

Attach the hinge mechanism over the decorative paper strip on the spine. Attach decorative paper to the inside of the covers, as shown. Cut the cover papers to 7 7/8" x 4 7/8". 

Note: if you do not understand how to make this style of hinge, I recommend you do a YouTube search on one of these topics: accordion hinge, tab hinge, hidden hinge. There are many wonderful crafters how have filmed how to make this type of hinge.

We will decorate the cover last. I always save the cover for last so that I don't mess it up while assembling and decorating the inside of the mini.

To create the inside of the mini, follow these directions.

First, we will create some large pockets for the inside front and back covers. Cut black cardstock to 6" x 5 3/4" and score at 1/2" from the edge on three sides. Angle the bottom corners. Use a circle punch to punch a notch in the top edge of each pocket. Create two (2) of these pockets.

Add double-sided tape to the tabs, fold, and attach the pockets to the inside front and back covers. 

To create the four base pages, cut black cardstock to 7 3/4" x 8 1/2". Score at 4 3/4" on the long side. I used a circle punch to make a notch on the top right edge of each the page. 

We will glue one page to each of the four hinge tabs. See the directions below for proper placement of each page. I add my pages first and then decorate them, however. I will walk you through each page fully before moving on to the next page.

Attach the first base page to the first hinge so that the fold is on the right side of the page. This becomes Page 1 of your album. Open the flap and add a pocket to the base page (directions just below).  

You will create four of these pockets. Cut black cardstock to 3 1/2" x 5 3/4" and score at 1/2" from the edge on three sides. Angle the bottom corners. Use a circle punch to punch a notch in the top edge of each pocket. Add double-sided tape to the tabs, fold, and attach one pocket to the first base page, as shown above.

Set the other pockets aside. You will add a pocket to Pages 1, 4, 5, and 7. 

Decorate the inside front pocket, and then add some tags or other style photo mats. The paper for this large pocket is cut to 5 3/8" x 4 5/8" with a notch as shown. (To see more details, view the attached video.)

The paper for the flap on Page 1 is cut to 7 5/8" x 3 5/8".  Cut two pieces, one for the front and one for the back of the flap. (See below.)

Here is how Page 1 looks with the pocket decorated and filled. Cut paper for the pocket to 2 7/8" x 4 5/8". Cut paper for above the pocket to 5 1/2" x 4 5/8". 

I created a 6" x 4" card for my pocket and also added a small tag. 

Flip the page, the back of this page is Page 2 of the album. Attach the second base page to the second hinge, making Page 3. Attach the page to the hinge so that the fold is on the right side BUT make sure that the flap is folded in, to make page 4. 

Page 2 and page 3 are going to hold waterfall elements, so you won't need pockets on these two pages. (See directions below.)

Cover Page 2 and Page 3 with decorative paper cut to 7 5/8" x 4 5/8". Do this BEFORE you add the waterfall elements!

To create the waterfall pieces, cut black cardstock to 6 5/8" x 4 1/8". Score at 1/2" from the top edge. Round the two bottom corners. You will need eight (8) pieces for these two pages. (Note: You will need 12 total LARGE waterfall pieces for this album.)

Fold on the score lines to create hinges for your waterfall. Add double-sided tape to each hinge and starting at the top edge of Page 2, begin to add your waterfall pages. Add four pages to this page. Add four waterfall pages to Page 3 as well.

This is what it looks like under the last waterfall piece. 

The paper for each of the large waterfall pages should be cut to 6" x 4". You may also use the cut-apart ephemera cards for this. To see all the papers I used, check out the attached video below.

Flip Page 3 to reveal Page 4. Open the flap and add a pocket (described above) to the bottom of Page 4. 

Add the third base page to the third hinge so that the fold is again on the right, with the flap folded inward, making Page 5. 

Open the flap and add a pocket (described above) to the bottom of Page 5. Pages 4 and 5 are mirror image pages. 

The back of this third base page becomes Page 6 of your mini and will hold a small waterfall element (see directions below). 

The paper for the flaps is cut to 7 5/8" x 3 5/8".  Cut four (4) pieces, two for the front and two for the back of the flaps. (See below.)

Cut the paper and decorate the pockets as explained for Page 1 above. I used some square tags, decorated with Halloween images. To see details, view the attached video.

Flip Page 5. The back this base page become Page 6 of your album. We will create a small waterfall element for this page. First we will make a band to hold the waterfall. Cut cardstock to 6" x 1 1/4". Score at one end at 1/2" from the edge. Align the score with the very bottom middle of the page. Round the top two corners. Add a magnet to the underside of this strip. 

Next, cover the base page with decorative paper cut to 7 5/8" x 3 5/8". 

Now, we will cut the waterfall elements. Using black cardstock cut eight (8) pieces to 4 5/8" x 3 1/8" and score at 1/2" on the top edge. Round the bottom corners. Attach the waterfall elements to the page, starting at the top edge. Eight (8) little pages will fit. Add a magnet to the top waterfall page. Use the band and magnets to keep the waterfall from "flapping around" when the book is in use.

We will decorate the pages in a moment.

Add the fourth base page to the fourth hinge, exactly like you added the previous page. This becomes Page 7 of your album. Once again, add a pocket to the bottom of Page 7.

Cut papers for your waterfall element to 4" x 3". These are the perfect size for the smaller cut-apart ephemera cards. Also decorate your little "restraining strip." To see more detail, view the attached video. 

Decorate Page 7 by cutting paper for the flaps to 7 5/8" x 3 5/8".  Cut two (2)  pieces, one for the front and one for the back of the flap. (See below.)

Here is how it looks with the pocket decorated and filled. Cut paper for the pocket to 2 7/8" x 4 5/8". Cut paper for above the pocket to 5 1/2" x 4 5/8". The pocket fits the 6" x 4" ephemera cards perfectly.

Flip the Page 7 over. The back becomes Page 8 of your album, and will contain another large waterfall element. To create the waterfall, cut black cardstock to 6 5/8" x 4 1/8". Score at 1/2" from the top edge. Round the two bottom corners. You will need four (4) pieces for this page.

Fold on the score lines to create hinges for your waterfall. Add double-sided tape to each hinge and starting at the top edge of Page 8, begin to add your waterfall pages. Add four pages to this page. 

The paper for each of the large waterfall pages should be cut to 6" x 4". To see all the papers I used, check out the attached video below.

Decorate the inside back pocket, and then add some tags or other photo mats. The paper for the pocket is cut to 5 3/8" x 4 5/8" with a notch cut as shown. (To see more details, view the attached video.)

Thanks for watching! Now, you may read the directions below for completing the covers of your mini album!

Now, let's decorate the outside covers! For the front cover, cut decorative paper to just slightly smaller than 8" x 5". Cut a strip of the same print for the spine at slightly smaller than 8" x 1 1/2". Attach the paper with strong adhesive or with a multi-medium.

For the back cover, cut a piece of coordinating paper to just slightly smaller than 8" x 5" and attach.  

Trim coordinating decorative paper to 2 1/2" x 4 3/4" and double mat it with cardstock (I used black and orange Spectrum Cardstock). Wrap the bottom edge of this panel with ribbons, and then attach this panel to the front of the mini album, approximately 1" from the top edge.

Paint a chipboard phrase (spooky) black and add some white accents with a pen. Attach the phrase to the center of the coordinating panel as shown. Glue a bow and other embellishments to the bottom edges of the panel as shown.

Matt one of the 4" x 3" Nightfall images with black cardstock and tuck it under the bottom edge of the ribbon as shown. 

I added a chipboard spider web to the spine. I painted the web with white distress paint.  

Thanks for joining me today! 

I am adding this project to the October Mini Album Makers Challenge!

Authentique Collections:
Nightfall
Pleasant
Enchanted (retired)
Spectrum Cardstock: Black Jack, Cobblestone, Ginger Snap, Orange Blossom, Mustard Seed, Green Thumb

Other products:
Cardstock: WorldWin Midnight
Chipboard: Grafix, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Spooky Shape Set, Spiders and Webs (similar), Skeletons
Tags: Graphic 45 
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts (orange and leaves), Spare Parts (black)
Enamel dots: Doodlebug Matte Sprinkles Halloween
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Orange Plaid with Black Stitching, Spider Webs on Black Grosgrain
Charms: unknown
Dies: Graphic 45 Square Tag and Clock
Paint: Ranger Distress Picket Fence
Ink: Colorbox Pigment Pepper
Adhesive: Scor-tape, ATG tape, Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L 3D Foam Squares, foam tape, white glue, hot glue