Matchbook Mini Album Written Tutorial

Hey Scrap Fans! I promise you I would post a written tutorial for the match book mini album we did as a make and take at St. Andrew's this weekend. Thanks to all of you who took the class, I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you find many uses for this fun little album!

This was the album I used as an example. I left it unfinished, but there are sooooo many ways you could embellish this cover.

Ok....let's get started......

Starting with a sheet of 12x12 card stock, score at 4" and 8".

Rotate card stock 90 degrees and make the following sets of score lines:
2- 3/8" and 2-5/8"
5-5/8" and 5-7/8"
8-7/8" and 9"
These score marks are creating the spines of the mini album that give the papers room to fold up and lay flat. The first two sets of scores create 1/4" spines and the third a 1/8" spine.

The blocks at the top of the page are going to be smaller than the others. (2-5/8" tall as opposed to 3") This is where you will create the flap closure of your album by removing the left and right blocks and leaving the center.

Cut on the second score lines (where you scored at 2-5/8" on both sides stopping at the 4" and 8" score marks. This leaves only the center block, which will be your flap.

Using a craft knife and a ruler, cut on all of the score lines, stopping at the 4" and 8" score marks on either side. (you could use scissors, but I find a craft knife to be much easier to make these cuts) Remove the cut pieces to create the flaps of the album.

When you are all through cutting, your page should look like this.

Next you are going to create the pockets on your album but cutting three of the flaps in half on alternating sides. The flaps are 4", so you will want to remove 2" with scissors or a paper trimmer.

Put aside the remaining paper you trimmed off, as you will use this later to create your hinges.

In order to make it easier to embellish your pockets, you should place your patterned paper before adhering your pockets. Cut your pattern paper to 2x3" and adhere to all three pockets.

Use a 1" circle punch to punch about half way down on each pocket, creating an indent to make removal of the items placed in the pockets easier.

Next, take two of the three leftover pieces you removed from your pockets and cut them in thirds creating three pieces approximately 2"x1". They don't need to be exactly 1", they only have to be the same height of your pockets. Fold them in half, creating hinges for your pockets.

Place double-sided tape on both sides of the hinges and adhere the hinges along both edges of the pocket alining the fold of the hinge with the edge of the pocket.

Remove the double sided tape.

Fold over pocket and stick down.

Place pattern paper mat inside the pocket, making sure to place it over the hinges on the inside. This will ensure anything you place in the pocket will not encounter any obstructions.

Continue to embellish your album by placing mats on all parts of the album.

Use a border punch to punch a decorative edge on the flap closure if desired.

And of course, ink the edges of your project with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in whatever color matches your project.

I hope this written tutorial helps you to recreate this album. For those of you who attended the St. Andrew's Crop this weekend, I'm working on the pdf file I promise you, so keep an eye on your inbox, as I will try to have it done by the end of the week. I'm also working on the website to allow registration of the upcoming class online, so keep an eye on that too. Thanks for all of your support, and until next time, Happy Scrappin'!!

~Patrice