Graphic 45 Lost in Paradise Mini Album

Hello, Graphic 45 Fans! It is time to share another Graphic 45 project with you! I had such fun playing with the NEW Lost in Paradise collection a few weeks ago (see the project HERE) that I decided to dip into the papers again, along with some other (retired) collections, and make a mini album!

This chunky monkey mini is 6 1/4" x 6 1/4" x 2 1/2" in size! It is a nice, square, chubby book! I confess, I was a bit afraid of all the color and print in this paper collection. I finally had to throw caution to the wind and EMBRACE the vibrant colors and just create! 

There are six pages inside the book, plus a waterfall inside the front cover and a big pocket inside the back cover. This book is jam-packed with pull outs, flip ups, tags, and more!

I have used four collections for this mini, but don't let that scare you! There is plenty of paper in one collection, if you have the 12x12 collection pack and the 12x12 patterns and solids pad, to make this book. If you add in and 8x8 pad and a package of ephemera cards, you will be all set!

I have used: Lost in Paradise, Tropical Travelogue (I used the original, but you can use the Deluxe Collector's Edition), Nature Sketchbook, and Safari Adventure. You may be able to find Nature Sketchbook or Safari Adventure on Ebay, but they are both retired. 

To see all the pages and inside content, please view the video below. For the tutorial, keep reading.

I have a photo tutorial to explain how to create the album base, plus a few tips for decorating. Also, I have used a different hinge mechanism than the one I usually use. I have been finding that the old hinge piece is not always working the way I wish. So, I tried something else this time. See the directions below.

Start off with three pieces of heavy to medium weight chipboard. Cut two pieces for the covers to 6 1/4" x 6 1/4". Cut the spine piece to 6 1/4" x 2 1/2". 

Splice together black cardstock to make a piece that measures 8 1/4" tall and 17 1/2" wide. Place your chipboard pieces onto the cardstock, with a one-inch border all the way around. Make sure to space your spine chipboard piece approximately 1/4" from the cover pieces to allow the album to open and close without cracking the cardstock.

Cut the corners of the cardstock an an angle, as shown. Add double-sided adhesive to the tabs. Then wrap your cardstock around the chipboard to give a finished edge.

The book will have six pages (12 sides). To make the hinges, cut six pieces of heavy weight black cardstock to 6 1/8" x 1". (I used 110# cardstock.) Score each in half, fold and burnish. (Only five hinges are shown above, but please make six. One of my hinges was in the book before I thought to snap a photo!) 

Place double-sided adhesive on one side of each score line, as shown. 

To add your first hinge, line the fold of the hinge piece up with the very edge of the spine chipboard piece, with the fold on the LEFT. The 1/2" hinge will stick up, and the 1/2" gutter will be attached, as shown. 

For the second hinge, place the fold to the RIGHT and overlap the gutter from hinge number one. The gutter for hinge number two will be up against hinge one, as shown. 

For hinges three through six, make sure the fold is to the RIGHT. The gutter for each hinge should be placed up against each previous hinge, as shown. There should be a 1/2" gutter between each hinge. For hinge number six, line up the fold of the hinge piece with the very edge of the spine chipboard piece, with the fold on the RIGHT. 

This is what your project should look like so far. The six hinges will cover the spine piece. Each hinge is 1/2" high and there is a 1/2" gutter between each hinge.  

Cut five strips of decorative paper to 6" x 3/8" and sponge the edges with Abandoned Coral Distress ink. Attach one paper strip to each hinge gutter, as shown. 

Fold the hinges back and forth to make them more flexible. 

You can see in the photo above the gap between the spine and the cover chipboard pieces. I like to reinforce that and with the old hinge system, the space was always covered. With this type of hinge, we need to add a covering piece to the front and back inside covers to reinforce the gap. (This is optional and personal preference.)

Cut two pieces of black cardstock (use weight 65#-80#) to 6 1/8" x 1 1/2". Score both pieces at 1/2" and add double-sided adhesive to the 1/2" tab.

Place the 1/2" section on top of the first hinge to secure it in place (this will make the first hinge a double thickness). Once the piece is attached to the hinge, glue the 1" section to the inside front cover. Burnish and gently score the spine gap. Repeat with the last hinge and back inside cover. 

Trim two pieces of decorative paper to 6 1/8" x 6 1/8" and attach to the inside covers. (Sponge all papers for this project with the Abandoned Coral Distress Ink or Decades Rustic Orange, if desired.)

To create the waterfall section on the front cover, cut six panels from black cardstock to 3 5/8" tall by 4 1/8" wide. Score on the longer side at 1/2". Round the corners opposite your score lines. 

Fold on the score lines, making sure to fold the 1/2" tab to the back of the panel. Place double-sided adhesive onto the resulting 1/2" tabs. Start at the top edge of the cover and add your panels. Line up the first panel with the top edge of the cover, in the center. 

Continue to attach the panels, lining up the folded edge of each panel to the bottom edge of the tab of each previous panel. Trim thin strips of paper to place over each tab, covering the black cardstock. These strips are approximately 3/8" x 4".

Place a magnet onto the bottom center of the top waterfall panel.

To see all the pages of the waterfall, view the video linked above.

Cut a strip of cardstock to 4 1/2" x 1" and wrap it from the bottom of the cover up to the top waterfall panel. (I managed to slide my strip under the paper attached to the inside front cover.) 

Add a magnet to the strip. The magnet will line up with the magnet you placed on the first panel. This will also help your waterfall to stay neat and tidy. Cut decorative paper to cover both sides of the strip. Add an embellishment to the top, if desired.

Add ephemera cards and decorative paper to each panel. The papers are cut to 3" x 4". Round the corners, as shown.

Let's add the pages to the mini. I like to add my pages first, and then decorate them. I have fewer mishaps if I do it this way!

Trim six pieces of heavy weight black cardstock to 6 1/8" x 6 1/8". Round the corners on one side of each page. Place adhesive on the left side of each hinge. 

Attach a page to each hinge. 

Trim decorative paper for each page. Each decorative panel should measure 6" x 6". You will need twelve (12) pieces. Once you have paper on all the panels, you can decorate as desired.

Inside front cover and page one. The ATC tags make great tuck spots. The photo booklet on page one is 4 1/8" x 8 1/4" black cardstock, folded in half. Decorative paper folded inside and held with twine makes a fun place for some journaling.

Pages two and three. Here is a wonderful example of the Lost in Paradise Collection working together perfectly with the older collections! 

The pocket on page two measures 6 1/8" x 3", which means you need to cut your cardstock to 7 1/8" x 3 1/2" and score on three sides at 1/2" to make the pocket tabs. 

Fussy cut images, popped up with foam tape, make great pockets and tuck spots! 

Pages four and five. The Graphic 45 tags and tag dies are prefect for this style of project.

To create the band on page four, cut a border strip from the decorative paper, and attach on either edge with foam adhesive. Use a chipboard element as a "stopper" to keep the little accordion mini from sliding out of the book.

The angled pocket on page five is easy to make. Cut a square of cardstock to 6" x 6" and cut it in half diagonally. Set one of the resulting triangles aside. Score the triangle on the two 90 degree edges at 1/2" to make the pocket tabs. Attach the pocket to the page.  

To make the booklet, trim black cardstock to 4 1/8" tall. Then splice pieces together to make a length of 15 1/8". Score every 3 1/8" to create five panels that are 4 1/8" x 3 1/8" each.

The 4" x 3" ephemera cards are perfect for this accordion fold booklet. Lots of space for journaling! To see close-ups and the other side...you guessed it, view the video! 

Pages six and seven.Tuck spots and fold outs, oh my! Use an ATC tag as a tuck spot on page six.

To create the flip-out piece on page seven, trim black cardstock to 10 1/4" x 5". Score at 3" and 7". Glue the center section to the center of page seven.

Pages eight and nine. Photo booklets are a great addition to any album. And these sweet butterflies make great tuck spots for an ephemera card!

The photo booklet on page eight is 4 1/8" x 8 1/4" black cardstock, folded in half. For page nine, fussy cut butterflies and pop them up on the page to create tuck spots.

Pages ten and eleven. A riot of color! The pocket on page ten measures 6 1/8" x 3", which means you need to cut your cardstock to 7 1/8" x 3 1/2" and score on three sides at 1/2" to make the pocket tabs. 

On page eleven, a chipboard element makes a great tuck spot for another photo booklet.

Page twelve and the back cover. Use a chipboard element for a tuck spot on page twelve.

For the inside back cover, create a large pocket, as shown. Trim black cardstock to 7 1/4" x 4 1/2". Score on three sides at 1/2" from the edges. Fold the tabs, then add adhesive to the tabs and attach the pocket to the inside back cover as shown.

Trim decorative cardstock to 6" x 3 7/8" and attach to the pocket. Use a circle punch to cut a notch on pocket edge. Decorate the pocket and place tags or other items into the pocket. (Too see all the tags for this project, view the video linked above.)

I always decorate my front cover LAST. I am pretty rough on the covers while I am decorating the inside, so I like to save the covers until the end. Use a section of the Lost in Paradise Signature Sheet for the front cover. You need to cut a piece that is just slightly smaller than 6 1/4" x 6 1/4". 

I cut a piece of computer paper to size, and used that as a template to select the portion of the signature sheet that I wanted. This step saves wasting paper with false cuts!

I fussy cut two postage images and popped them up on a few pieces of scrap chipboard to give the upper left corner of the cover some interest. 

I fussy cut lots of flowers, a bird, and a butterfly from the various papers and then layered them in the lower left corner of the cover. I added a few Matte Pearl Gems to the flower centers. 

The cover is fairly simple, but very striking with all that lovely paper. 

Cut paper for the spine and back cover and attach. I added a chipboard piece and more pearl gems to the spine. 

I used ombre sheer ribbon throughout the book. I used a yellow/pink ombre and a yellow/parrot green ombre. (Really Reasonable Ribbon has some lovely Sheer Ombre Ribbons.) I love seeing the ribbon peek out around the edges!

Thanks for joining me today!

Graphic 45 Supply List: 

Lost in Paradise Collection12x12 Paper Collection
12x12 Patters and Solids Pad
Chipboard
Tags and Pockets
Stickers
Ephemera Cards
Tropical Travelogue Collection (original)
12x12 Paper Pad
8x8 Paper Pad
Chipboard
Nature Sketchbook Collection
12x12 Paper Pad
6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad
Chipboard
Ephemera Cards
Safari Adventure Collection
12x12 Paper Pad
8x8 Paper Pad
Staples Embellishments
Matte Pearl Gems (black)
Regular Tags - Black
Square Tags - Black
Artist Trading Tags - Black
Large Tag, ATC Tag and Flower Dies 
Regular Tag and Gears Dies
Square Tag and Clock Dies

Other Supplies:

Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Black, Recollections Black (110#)

Twine and ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Burlap String (black, orange, natural), Sheer Ombre Ribbon (yellow/pink, yellow/parrot green)
Magnets: Basic Grey

Ink: Ranger Distress Abandoned Coral
Dies: My Favorite Things Stitch Mini Scallop Stax, Stitch Square Scallop Frame; Spellbinders Butterflies Circles
Tools: Kadumaru Pro corner rounder, Provocraft deco scissors (postage stamp edge), foam mat, stylus, sharp scissors

Adhesive: white glue, ATG tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares, hot glue, Scor-tape